What a buyer is getting online vs. what they are buying in store is very telling. There are serious differences in what is and is not a great fit for online consumer purchase. The folks at Permuto Discoveries (http://www.permuto.com/blog/) took the data from the U.S. Census Bureau and made this great chart on the breakdown.
It’s 2010 and things have changed, I remember back to 1997 when I sold my very first item on eBay long ago. It was a pair of tickets to see Elton John at Madison Square Garden in New York City. I scored some sweet lower level seats that cost me $300 bucks and then I could not get the time off to fly from Atlanta to New York so I had to sell them. I put them on eBay and started the auction at $99.00. Those tickets ended at $800 for the pair, and I was instantly HOOKED on eBay.
Of course it was years later in 2001 that we created the company that is now one of the more successful 3rd party sellers on sites like eBay, Amazon, Yahoo and the web. The ONE thing that I would attribute our multi platform success to is our constant tweaking of the brand. The ability to move and shift with the state of eCommerce has made my company successful in marketing on these different venues by simply keeping up with the Jones’ and then out pacing them.
When "everybody" is doing it, that is when we STOP doing it. When "everybody" sits, we stand. And I am personally pushing the envelope in design to really bring our look and feel to maximize the direction of the different platforms we sell on. And EACH platform has its own uniqueness, and what works on one, will not work on another. I feel like a mad scientist trying to concoct plans and scenarios to get a perfect blend and balance. So every year we look to update and redesign components of our stores and templates to keep positioning for success. So this is one of those times.
eBay is CHANGING and the entire world is changing whether you or I like it or not. And the eBay platform is NOT in the forefront of this change, their customer are. That is one of the things I think constantly gets dismissed every time eBay takes a dramatic step, the sellers scream and yell, but I NEVER hear the buyers complaining?!? Some point to declining sales on eBay to the changes on the platform, but I think a more realistic analysis would show that the declines are due to the platform not changing ENOUGH to keep pace with a very fickle consumer. Are these the correct changes? I don’t know, time will tell. What I do know is what changes will be right for my company.
eCommerce is changing rapidly and eBay MUST change just to stay competitive. You know why? Because eBay is trying to keep up with a buyer base that is changing and evolving and they are somewhat stuck with a small portion of their seller community that is fearful of any change. They are comfortable with ways of 15 years ago, still reminiscent of Beanie Babies and Jesus Toast auctions. Unfortunately time does move on and if you are not willing to move with it you get to sit on the sideline and watch. Some will close their shops, some will leave the platform, some will just give up. After you "give up the ghost", you can always create a "sideline spectator" blog site about it too if you like, I know several that choose to do that instead of actually selling on eBay…guess it pays more?!?
I found these pictures the other day on my PC and I had not seen them in years, this was my business in the early part of the last decade. I have never been so attached to a product line or ideal that I would not abandon it for success. I got in business to be successful in BUSINESS not be successful at selling a particular product to the detriment of my livelihood, WTH is that?!? There is an old saying that "pride goes before a fall", so I am not too proud to adjust my business plan instead of falling. We can not control the changes to the platform, but we can control how we react to the changes.
Sure I am like most sellers, I bitch and moan sometimes but then I have a funeral. I bury the past knowing it will NEVER return and move on to the next great thing. So here are just a few pictures of our past…
This one was early in our game, I was not too proud to use my kid as a model for our rolling coolers. This was back in 2002 when it was a novel idea and new to the market.
This was around 2004 when we were selling desktop and laptop PC’s. That was our business for years, selling electronics and PC’s. That was my dining room!!! We were eating in the living room back in a 2 bedroom condo long ago…wow.
Then I came across these pics, LOL! We got lucky and scored a van load of Tickle Me Elmos, just b4 Christmas in 2006, man those were FLYING off the shelf. We don’t even sell toys normally, but I was happy to sell the hot Christmas toy that year and would do it again to have a successful season.
"Change is hard." "People hate change." Those are two of the most common quotes heard when you study change management. It occurred to me that if people hate change, they have a funny way of showing it. Every iPhone sold serves as counter-evidence. So does every text message sent, every aluminum can recycled, every new Facebook post. And I haven’t even mentioned the biggest changes: Getting married and having kids. (If people hate change, then having a kid is an awfully dumb decision.)
It puzzled me–why do some huge changes, like marriage, come joyously, while some trivial changes, like design or business plan changes, meet fierce resistance?
Some brilliant psychologists discovered that people have two separate “systems” in their brains—a rational system and an emotional system. The rational system is a thoughtful, logical planner. The emotional system is, well, emotional—and impulsive and instinctual.
When these two systems are in alignment, change can come quickly and easily (as when a dreamy-eyed couple gets married). When they’re not, change can be grueling (as anyone who has struggled to quit smoking can attest). In those situations where change is hard, is it possible to align the two systems? Is it possible to overcome our internal "schizophrenia" about change?
I am a stubborn spirit, I simply do not have an "I QUIT" bone in my body. Neurologically I don’t have the option to just give up?!? This business is how we feed the kids, this is our business and we own it, to quit this and just get a job?!? HELL NO, that is not a option. My ONLY option is to "meet and overcome all obstacles in my path" and that included the changes to eBay.
eBay would have to simply shut me down for me to run away from this venue. Honestly, I am not cheering the changes, I just know they are HERE to stay and that they come every year, like the seasons. After nearly 10 years in ecommerce, I not only expect them, I now have begun to embrace them. It is a challenge that I look to come at me year in and year out. But of course if I could not stand the heat, I guess then I would leave the kitchen…that day has not come. We have changed and tweaked the business model, the product lines and the pricing to stay on top of our game.
This should really be an interesting year and I am sure the next 2 change cycle announcements will not be as easy on us as this one from January. My guess is this 1st set of changes were the "easy" ones…hmmm. Gird up your self, cause there could be more arrows coming from San Jose. Will you stand or fall? Like the Elton John’s song says….I’m Still Standing (Yeah Yeah Yeah). Dayam, this video is soooo ’80’s LMAO
I carefully selected my neighborhood nearly 6 years ago based on its location to recreation and shopping. When we moved in years ago, this area was a booming suburban area with access to all kinds of retail locations. However since the softening of the economy back in the fall of 2007 that has changed DRAMATICALLY for the folks in our area.
Just the other day I was driving past our Mega Target with the food store and I decided to dip in and grab some meat, bread and vegetables. As I walked up to the door, there were giant red signs up on all the entry doors, uh oh….Another one bites the dust!
Please Follow Our YouTube Channel
In just my area of town since ‘07 the effects of the economy have seen the demise of the follow just around my house!
That is just a list of the nationally recognized names. If I were to go down the list for mom and pop type operations it would be a long list. And do not get me started on the list of restaurants, banks and gas stations that either closed or changed hands. The cost of doing business gets tighter and tighter everyday. While things seem to have leveled off in our economic decline, there could be another BUST leering around the corner…what is it????
The COMMERCIAL properties bust is what I am afraid of next. We saw the effects of the economy when the housing bubble burst and banks were left with foreclosed housing. As I drive the streets today, strip malls and convenience centers are less than 1/2 full with renters. At some point I fear that many of these commercial property owners will have to go into foreclosure en-mass too. What would that do to the recovering economy?
Maybe it is just my city, town, neighborhood?!? What are you seeing as you drive your towns? Please leave your comments guys, are you seeing the effects on brick and mortar stores and shoppers?
Fewer Definite Declines, More Flat and One Moves to the Almost Certain Growth Column
COLUMBUS, OH – (MARKET WIRE) – 1/26/2010 – Forecasts for same store sale growth are inching upward for retailers from a year ago, according to the January ForecastIQ® (a service from Prosper Technologies, LLC). Of the 27 retailers ForecastIQ® tracks every month, eight are likely/almost certain to see an increase in same store sales over in February and March (compared to seven in January ’09). More retailers are predicted to be flat and less are forecasted declines through March, indicating retailers aren’t necessarily as “sick,” but not yet on the road to a full recovery.
Total Number for Retailers Tracked
|
JAN-2010 |
JAN-2009 |
|
|
Almost certain increase* |
4 |
3 |
|
Likely increase |
4 |
4 |
|
Flat |
4 |
2 |
|
Likely decline |
4 |
2 |
|
Almost certain decline |
11 |
16 |
*An “almost certain increase” indicator means that in February and March, retailers are almost certain to experience same store sales growth from the same period a year ago.
Ross, TJX, Aeropostale and Buckle are almost certain to see an increase in same store sales through March. However, both Aeropostale’s and Buckle’s projected growth have leveled off since last year, while Ross and TJX make larger strides. Warehouse clubs BJ’s and Costo are likely to see an increase.
On the other hand, forecasts remain soggy for higher-priced retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap and Neiman Marcus; they are almost certain to post declines. Hot Topic is almost certain to see a decline as well, whereas a year ago they were likely to experience an increase.
I am sitting at home minding my own bees wax and hanging out on Twitter. Suddenly a tweet pops up from a friend and says:
Then a few minutes later here comes another reTweet from my buddy Cliff, who by the way, has been a guest blogger her on ColderICE.com chimed in:
So what the hell? Are you serious? So I had to go over there and look!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, Wow right? That is so freakin sweeeet!!! eBay’s web voice is put forth by a good English gentleman named Richard Brewer Hay better know as RBH to some "in the know". RBH is the editor of eBay Ink Blog and he is the Web 2.0 voice of eBay.
eBay Ink is the official source for information, opinion and perspective on eBay Inc. It’s also one employee’s exploration and chronicles of the conversations happening inside eBay and outside of it too.
In his review he writes: "Never one to pull any punches, John provides experienced insight into the world of eCommerce and all things Web 2.0. His unique and passionate delivery makes the show incredibly entertaining as well as informative."
-RBH eBay Ink Blogger
Last year at the Ecommerce Summit I had the please of meeting and even sitting down and speaking with Richard. He was simply cool, personable and a complete and total nut (kinda like me) LMAO!
Check out this interview he did with me
Please Follow Our YouTube Channel
ChannelAdvisor CEO Scot Wingo sheds some light on the recent partnership announcement between Yahoo! Shopping and PriceGrabber in this short video.
For further details and to learn how this deal will affect your comparison shopping engine strategy, see a replay of ChannelAdvisor’s webinar and others archived at http://www.channeladvisor.com/webinars.
Now that 2009 is behind us, it’s time to make 2010 the year that you SELL MORE!
Top 5 reasons to attend Catalyst 2010:
Season Features Early Start and a Strong Finish
Larger Retailers Outperform Smaller Ones
Consumer Electronics Category Shows Strongest Growth
RESTON, VA, December 30, 2009 – comScore (NASDAQ : SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported retail e-commerce spending for the holiday season from November 1 through Christmas Eve. During this period, approximately $27 Billion was spent online, which represents an increase of 5 percent over the same period a year ago. For the period from Black Friday through Christmas Eve, and after adjusting for the additional shopping day in 2009, sales grew by approximately 3.5 percent.
| 2009 Holiday Season vs. 2008 Non-Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations Source: comScore, Inc. |
|||
| Millions ($) | |||
| 2008 | 2009 | Percent Change | |
| November 1 – December 24 | $25,845 | $27,121 | 5% |
| Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) | $288 | $318 | 10% |
| Black Friday (Nov. 27) | $534 | $595 | 11% |
| Cyber Monday (Nov. 30) | $834 | $887 | 5% |
| Green Monday (Dec. 14) | $859 | $854 | -1% |
| Tuesday, Dec. 15 | $754 | $913 | 21% |
| Weekend of Dec 19 – 20 (winter storm) | $677 | $767 | 13% |
*Individual days and weekends are compared to corresponding shopping days in 2008
“Following last year’s disappointing performance when sales fell by 3 percent, the e-commerce sector saw a positive 2009 holiday shopping season with sales up by 5 percent,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “Online sales growth this year was driven by a continued increase in the number of people buying online, but consumers’ economic challenges resulted in a slight decline versus last year in the amount spent per buyer. The season featured a strong start as a result of early retailer promotions and a very strong finish helped by the snow storms that occurred the weekend of Dec 19 – 20, retailers’ willingness to offer free shipping later in the season, and consumers’ confidence in expedited shipping arriving in time. This was also a year when retailers substantially boosted their use of social network marketing and the larger retailers significantly outperformed their smaller brethren. In these tough economic times, the retailers with sufficient financial resources and a willingness to invest in aggressive marketing and free shipping offers were clear winners. In terms of individual product categories, consumer electronics saw particularly strong sales growth of slightly over 20 percent, while jewelry and watches also turned in a strong performance, but which followed a very weak 2008 season.”
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world and preferred source of digital marketing intelligence. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo.
Contact:
Andrew Lipsman
Director, Marketing Communications
comScore, Inc.
+1 312 775 6510
press@comscore.com
Please Tell A Friend
