Small towns, about 20-miles apart, the distance a stage could travel in a day, dot the backroads of Texas, and other western states. For decades, I’ve taken pictures of these main streets, some thriving, some abandoned. I’ve thought a lot about the economic frailty of small towns. There is a mystic mix of location, people, goods, and money that keeps one town vibrant and dooms another.
I grew up 7 miles outside of a town of 729 souls, that was simply overrun by the relentless expansion of a nearby city. Population + Progress = Housing Developments in Cow Pastures.
But some of those towns have not been overrun. They dot the prairie like lonely citadels, watching the next crop of bright youngsters head off to the city to begin a career, probably in tech.
I find myself looking for nearby cell towers or any other evidence of connectivity. The more I have worked with web development and eCommerce, the more optimistic I am about the economic vibrancy of small towns, here in Texas and where ever we can get a decent internet connection.
Why eCommerce has become the preferred way to sell products and services
Amazon has become both a blessing and a curse. The Amazon buying experience has set the expectation of millions of buyers around the world. It has also changed our buying habits. Seriously, when was the last time you actually trolled a Mall. If your anything like me, you fervently believe that is why God gave us an internet connection and a mouse.
eCommerce has few restrictions. Online sellers market products and services to a global audience 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, 365-days a year. An eCommerce enterprise serves customers, accepts and processes purchase orders without the need for the store owners intervention or supervision. The level of automation eCommerce offers results in cost savings and convenience for the customer and freedom to live anywhere there is an internet connection for the seller.
In the past, a brick and mortar store was the first step toward setting up a retail business. Back then, it was obvious that you needed a physical store to represent your identity and brand. Now, you can easily start a business or enhance your existing one through eCommerce. If you’re looking to expand your brick and mortar retail business to larger markets, then eCommerce is your answer.
Why is starting an eCommerce store a good idea right now?
The benefits of selling online are evident in today’s fast-growing eCommerce market. It’s a real business and the rules of prudent good financial management and good business practices still apply. However, the barrier to entry has never been lower and the opportunity to build a business that can comfortably support you and your family has never been more accessible.
When you combine the power of social media and omnichannel marketing, you can basically tell the world about your business. This will increase your clientele and in turn, your revenues. This is also your opportunity to expand into international markets without opening new outlets, making it more cost effective for you.
My next post will review the basics of how to set up an eCommerce store.
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