Online shopping is part of our culture. During the pandemic we learned that even the least tech
savvy consumer was doing their shopping online. E-commerce is growing while retail businesses face declines in traditional in-person shopping. The trends in B2B shopping closely follow the consumer trends and the printing business is no exception. Online stores, also known as web-to-print or W2P, are an opportunity for printing companies to add value to their products, interact with clients in the ways they prefer, and grow their businesses.
A well-designed web-to-print solution can be a new sales tool for you, allowing you to make more sales to your existing client base. Online storefronts allow print service providers to reach a broader audience with their existing clients. You may have a relationship with a solitary print buyer, but his or her company employs many other individuals who also order print, such as managers, administrative assistants, salespeople, or support staff.
By analyzing the data collected from online storefront software about orders you receive, you can also gain knowledge about your clients or spot trends across market segments and adjust your marketing efforts accordingly.
Each print service provider should evaluate their own circumstances as they contemplate adding online stores. Compare software platforms and assess how well they fit with your production methods and your clients. Develop a clear profile of the clients for whom you want to attract to your online stores and create a plan for promoting stores to this audience.
Offering online ordering is becoming a must-have feature in the competitive world of print services. Failing to adapt to the desires of the marketplace can be detrimental to your company’s growth or even its eventual survival.
Gimbel & Associates is now offering our readers a free copy of our new white paper "Online Storefronts for Printers." In it you will find information on establishing and upgrading your storefront; how to decide what products to offer online; how to promote your online store and more.
To get your copy of "Online Storefronts for Printers," click here:
