If you run a direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce operation, you’ll inevitably ask yourself, “Do I need to sell on Amazon?” And why wouldn’t you? Amazon is a huge player—but they’re certainly not the only option for retailers looking for an online storefront. In fact, as Stephen McBride points out in an article featured in Forbes, major brands like Nike, Birkenstock, Rolex, Patagonia, and North Face are no longer selling directly on Amazon and are launching their own online stores instead.
“Well, that’s all fine and dandy for brands with deep pockets,” you’re probably thinking to yourself, “but can a smaller DTC merchant like me launch an online store, compete, and survive without Amazon?” Great question. The answer quite simply is YES—and it’s being done now more than ever before. As Stephen points out, thanks to a new breed of tech companies, “any mom-and-pop store can run an online store as good as Amazon’s.”
Case in point: Shopify or Shopify Plus (Shopify’s enterprise-level plan) gives DTC merchants access to the tools they need to set up and run their online businesses. And free and paid apps available through the Shopify platform can help expand and power a store’s functionality to deliver the best-in-class e-commerce experiences today’s shoppers expect.
Rethinking your fulfillment, returns, retention, and packaging plans for the year ahead
We live in a “now economy” where speed and convenience reign supreme in the online shopping experience. Shoppers are savvy and know what “best-in-class” looks like. And companies like Amazon have set a high bar where modern consumer expectations are concerned. Mind you, I said a “high”, not “insurmountable” bar.
To learn about tactics DTC brands are using to stay competitive and grow their businesses, check out the on-demand recording of the webinar Killing it Without Amazon below. You’ll hear what leading e-commerce strategists from ShipBob, LoyaltyLion, Packlane, and Returnly have to say about fulfillment, returns, customer retention, and packaging. Trust me, filled with tips to optimize strategies for the year ahead, this is one recording you’ll want to watch sooner rather than later.
Topics covered in this webinar include:
- How to build your own DTC flywheel that sees continual growth
- Why your current fulfillment operation needs a facelift
- How to save sales and earn loyalty with great returns
- The retention opportunities that aren’t available on Amazon
- How custom packaging can help your brand stand out
On-Demand Now: Killing it Without Amazon
This article originally appeared in the Returnly blog and has been published here with permission.
