Online Shop
The internet has dominated the world in this era and the centuries to come. It has simplified all facets of our lives as time and money is significantly saved. Billions of people use the internet daily with a substantial portion shopping for commodities. In America, roughly 96% of the population shop online. Due to this and factors like flexibility, simplicity, and affordability of online stores, I plan to create such an organization. The shop will focus on the selling and delivery of fruits and vegetables, more so, those that are universally commended by doctors for their unique health benefits like grapefruits, avocado, blueberries, apples, pomegranate among others. I will mostly target patients, especially the elderly, because of their limited movement.
The first thing I will do is to set up the infrastructure, which will be a home office with a proper communication system comprising of a wireless telephone and computer structure. Additionally, I will purchase a bicycle and motorbike, for delivery purposes and recruit two couriers. Then, I will develop the website, app, and pages for the online store, purchase the products- locally or importing, and lastly, conduct marketing through various platforms. Nonetheless, I know there will be challenges in staffing, obtaining the fruits, and getting hold of the market. The first one will result when several orders happen at a time, and I will not have enough boots on the ground. Importing of the commodities will be more problematic than buying locally, as it involves a lengthy process and delays of shipping and clearing of the goods in the respective ports. Furthermore, the supplier may ship the wrong or spoilt commodities. The last challenge, bringing the product to the market, will be the hardest of all, as there exist multi-mullion established international online stores such as Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba.
To ensure the business is successful, it is a prerequisite I carry out several strategies. Foremost, an in-depth feasibility study which will touch on elements such as the economy, legal, technical, and scheduling concerns. After laying the business guidelines, I will seek specialists to develop the app and website. These two platforms are the lifeline for a prosperous business, therefore very critical. They demand creativity, as first impressions to customers matters a lot and can last for years. Consequently, I will invest in the design and layout that is most attractive and customized uniquely to the experience of the users (customers). It includes incorporating features like ease of use, faster site loading times, optimization for mobile gadgets, myriad preferences for payment getaways, and user reviews.
Once the platforms and products are in place, I will carry marketing by utilizing multi-dimensional techniques. I will create social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where I will provide details of the products and discounts. For individuals who rarely use the internet, I will get to them by the distribution of fliers in public places, mostly hospitals. To curb the issue of understaffing, I will mention to the customer the time range expected to deliver their purchases. Whereas, on delays in the importation, I will make arrangements before the goods in the store are finished.
Concerning my savings ($350,000), this business idea is very affordable as I will only rely on specialists– programming developer and telecommunication technician, during the establishment process. From there on, I will manage the platforms and customer care services, employ two couriers, purchase vehicles and refrigerator, and develop fliers. On top of these, I will need to insure the vehicles, get a business license, food permit, and retain a six-month amount for employer salary. The rest ($150,000) I will set aside in a savings account for back-up. Below is a budget for the expenditures.