Shift4Shop eCommerce Blog | Starting a Business (10)

In an incredibly competitive e-commerce market, many online businesses selling online place tunnel-focus on sales revenue, while overlooking an aspect just as important: reducing costs.

Here are three easy and often over-looked routes to reduce costs for your online business.

Have you ever wanted to create a site with specific areas for members only? Thanks to the features in 3dcart, you can customize your site to have a Members Only section. In the following article, we will discuss how to set the cart up in this way and why each feature or step is necessary.

Though the realization of a business is a byproduct of the drive and inspiration of its founder, success can only be achieved through the acquisition of hard-working, loyal employees. Dedicated employees are the driving force behind any business’s prosperity and fame, fueling the fire that allows big bosses to reap big rewards.

Your business plan is vital to your success, and for more than one reason. First, your business plan provides a strong foundation from which to move forward without losing momentum by wondering what to do next. Second, a well-written business plan is required when presenting your business to potential investors.

Don't be intimidated by the idea of writing. You can start with an informal plan and clean it up later by fitting it into a business plan template when (or if) you're looking to secure[...]

Starting a new online store is a very exciting and hectic time for Merchants. Whether you are an eCommerce veteran or starting your very first website, 3dcart offers a platform that is robust and flexible.

3dcart’s Technical Support Team often speaks with new customers who are excited about the many features available to them, but may be struggling to quickly prepare their site to go live. Certainly new Merchants have quite a bit to do, and one of the most crucial decisions they face is[...]

These days, more and more wannabe entrepreneurs are going for online businesses rather than targeting the traditional way. At the same time, there are plenty of existing traditional businesses who are also moving on to this modern cyber platform. Whichever of these two you belong to, it's essential that you understand the various shifts you ought to face and accomplish from conventional trade to online entrepreneurship.

After all the hard work that went into designing your website, coming up with stunning photos and descriptions for your products, and all that e-commerce jazz, you're finally ready to get launched!

So how do you go about opening your store for business?

Follow these 5 steps to have an unforgettable online store opening:

Since the dawn of WiFi, the world of eCommerce has revolved around a simple evolutionary guideline… big fish eat little fish. Powerhouse players like Amazon and eBay have all but cornered the market, and that's made it increasingly difficult for ‘little fish’ to carve out a secure piece of the e-sales ocean.

Online shopping cart software is much easier to use than it was ten years ago. Customers and merchants alike know what they want out of an eCommerce store. Innovative eCommerce platforms have made it easier than ever to start a successful online business. Over the years, features have been developed to improve all aspects of both buying and selling.

The only problem is that online store owners often don’t know where to start. With so many features available which ones are the most important?[...]

Ever wonder how online retailers get their product images looking perfect?  You don't need to invest hundreds of dollars in a digital camera and you do not need to have any photography experience to take professional photographs of your products.

One of the biggest mistakes we see for those just starting out with an online store, is having poor product images. Amy has posted a great tutorial that takes only a few minutes, and costs less than $5.00 and will have your products looking like they're[...]

Starting a business is never easy. There are always things that stand in the way of entrepreneurship, whether it be obligations, time or just plain fear.

There is new great news for online retailers! Research firm eMarketer estimates that apparel and accessories will grow by 20 percent, to $40.9 billion this year, up from $34.2 billion in the last year.

So if you're an eTailer, you're in the right industry at the right time. But of course, the growing market opportunity doesn't necessarily mean your online apparel store will automatically see more sales. But with a little hard ( and smart) work and the right eCommerce provider, your potential[...]

27 million business cards are printed daily. But why are business cards so popular and how can you ensure your business cards are correct before you invest in printing?

In this tough and challenging economic times, many people are searching for ways to supplement their income and earn some extra money. Some people may choose to take a part-time job at a convenience store or a restaurant; others might opt to do some freelance work. But an increasingly popular - and convenient - way to make money today is by selling things online.