The United States has the largest furniture market in the world, with sales of about $116 billion in 2018 — and it’s surprisingly simple to get involved!
Introduction
Starting an online outdoor furniture business is a great way to make money from the comfort of your own home!
In this article, we will be discussing the various steps one needs to take to get started. We will be looking at the different selling platforms available and how to choose the right one for you.
Secondly, we will be discussing the process of uploading your outdoor furniture.
We will be looking at setting up payments and sorting out your shipping settings.
Finally, we will give tips on promoting your outdoor furniture and growing your store.
By the end of this article, you should have a good understanding of how to start an online outdoor furniture business! Or contact your reliable outdoor furniture supplier now!
What to expect?
- Choosing a Selling Platform
- Upload Your Outdoor Furniture Online
- Set Up Payments
- Sort Out Your Shipping Settings
- Promote Your Outdoor Furniture
- Manage Your Inventory
- Grow Your Store
How to Start an Online Outdoor Furniture Business in 7 Easy Steps
You have just decided that you want to start your own online outdoor furniture business.
Here are some reasons why this might be a good idea:
- You want to be your own boss 😎
- You are passionate about outdoor furniture 🛋️
- You have a lot of experience in the furniture industry 🏭
- You have a lot of knowledge about online selling platforms 📦
- You are creative and can come up with new ideas for customizing outdoor furniture💡
What is the biggest challenge that is stopping you from getting rich?
The common challenges people have when starting an online outdoor furniture business are not knowing where to start, not knowing what selling platform to use, and not knowing how to promote their furniture.
BUT
As someone who has always wanted to start an online outdoor furniture business, you can probably sympathize with the struggles of starting from scratch.
In this article, we will discuss the various steps one needs to take to start an online outdoor furniture business.
We will be looking at the different selling platforms available and how to choose the right one for you. Secondly, we will be discussing the process of uploading your outdoor furniture.
We will be looking at setting up payments and sorting out your shipping settings.
Finally, we will give tips on promoting your outdoor furniture and growing your store. Yes, you are about to know it all; Yoho is always at your service when it comes to the outdoor furniture business.
Let's get into the nitty-gritty:
1- Choose a Selling Platform
Choosing the right online selling platform is essential to the success of your online outdoor furniture business. Different platforms cater to different types of businesses,
It’s crucial to pick the right selling platform when launching an online outdoor furniture business. There are a lot of different platforms available, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
eBay, Amazon, and Etsy are the most popular online selling platforms.
– The Pros and Cons of Selling on eBay
eBay is a very popular online selling platform. It is easy to use and has many features that make it attractive to sellers.
The main advantage of selling on eBay is its huge customer base. This means that there are more potential buyers for your outdoor furniture.
Another advantage of eBay is that it is effortless to list items and set up your store. You can also create shipping labels and manage your orders easily on the platform.
A disadvantage of eBay is that it charges fees for listing items and final value sales. These fees can add up, and they can eat into your profits.
– The Pros and Cons of Selling on Amazon
When it comes to online retail, Amazon is the king. The online giant has dominated the space for years and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to a report by CNBC, Amazon’s market share of online sales in the United States is now 49.1%, compared to eBay’s 6.6%.
So why should you start an online outdoor furniture business on Amazon?
Here are some reasons:
1- Reach a Large Audience
As mentioned, Amazon has a huge audience of buyers looking for everything from books to furniture to even Orange Cat butt tissue holder. And when you sell on Amazon, your outdoor furniture will be exposed to this massive audience.
2- Easy To Use
Amazon is a simple platform to use, and it’s intended for internet sellers. You can easily upload your furniture and manage your orders on the platform. What could be easier?
3- Trusted Brand
Amazon is a trusted brand that consumers trust and buy from regularly. When you sell on Amazon, you benefit from this trust factor.
4-High Conversion Rates
One of the advantages of selling on Amazon is that it has high conversion rates. This means that more people are likely to buy your products than if you were to sell them elsewhere online.
5- FBA
(fulfilled by Amazon): Amazon has a fulfillment program called FBA, which allows you to ship your products to Amazon’s warehouses.
Amazon will then store, pack, and ship your products to customers. This is a great way to save time and money on fulfillment.
There are also some disadvantages of selling on Amazon that you should be aware of:
1- Fees
Amazon charges fees for listing products and for each sale that you make. These fees can cut into your profits if you are not careful. Otherwise, how do you think Jeff Bezos is the richest?
2- Competition
Because Amazon is such a popular platform, there is a lot of competition from other sellers. This can make it hard to stand out from the crowd and drive sales. But don’t give up yet; success’s taste is beyond your imagination.
3- Strict Rules
Amazon has many rules you need to follow to sell on the platform. These rules can be restrictive, and if you don’t follow them, you could get kicked off Amazon.
– The Pros and Cons of Selling on Etsy
Should you sell your outdoor furniture on Etsy?
Here are some advantages of selling your outdoor furniture on Etsy:
1- Easy To Use
Etsy is a user-friendly platform that is geared toward online vendors. You may quickly post your items and manage your orders on the platform.
2- Wide Audience
Between the ages of 18-35, Etsy customers make up many Millenials, with outliers of older generations who love to buy their crafts from the online creative community.
Of those Millenials, many Etsy customers are female; the top categories on Etsy are for bridal parties, brides, and weddings.
- Source: https://techpenny.com/typical-etsy-demographics-stats/
3- Trusted Brand
Etsy is a well-known and reputable e-commerce platform from which customers trust and purchase regularly. You earn the benefit of this trust via Etsy selling.
How do I choose the right selling platform for my online outdoor furniture business?
A: The best-selling platform for your online outdoor furniture business will depend on your budget, the type of furniture you sell, and your target market.
eBay, Amazon, Etsy: Which One Should You Use For Your Business?
When it comes to online retail, Amazon is the king.
Amazon is the best online platform for a few reasons.
Firstly, it has a huge audience of buyers looking for everything from books to furniture.
Secondly, it is easy to use; Amazon is designed for online sellers. You can easily upload your products and manage your orders on the platform.
Finally, Amazon is a trusted brand that consumers trust and buy from regularly.
Note that there is also an Online Marketplace; what is it?
Some websites let you create an account and sell a few pieces of furniture. It’s not our main topic, so we won’t dive deep into it.
2- Upload Your Furniture Online
The next step to jump into is to upload your outdoor furniture online; you will need to create a product listing. It’s where you will provide information about your product, such as the name, description, price, and images.
A well-optimized listing is important since it will help your product appear higher in search results, leading to increased sales.
Here are some tips for creating a well-optimized listing:
- Use keywords
- Use high-quality images
- Write a compelling description
- Choose a competitive price
1- Use High Volume Keywords
When you create your listing, use relevant keywords that buyers would use when searching for outdoor furniture.
Including these keywords in your title and description will help your listing appear higher in search results.
2- Use High-Quality Images
Buyers want to see clear, high-quality outdoor furniture images before purchasing it.
Take several well-lit pictures of each piece of furniture from different angles, even if you have to invest in a good camera, don’t hesitate.
3- Write a Compelling Description
In your description, include all the important details about the furniture, such as the materials, dimensions, and shipping information. Talk about features and benefits were 30% features and 70% benefits.
4- Choose a Competitive Price
Take some time to research similar products’ prices before setting your own price.
You want to make sure that your price is competitive. Otherwise, your visitors will make sure not to revisit your store. (UX IS CRUCIAL)
3- Set Up Payments
Maybe you are not doing the business to make money, but 95% of my readers are here for the money part. Let’s get into some payment methods.
There are a few different payment methods that you can use:
PayPal
PayPal is the most popular online payment method. It is easy to set up and allows you to accept payments from buyers worldwide.
Credit Cards
You can also accept credit card payments on your website or online store. You have to set up a merchant account with a payment processor such as Stripe or Square.
Bank Transfer
Some buyers may prefer to pay by bank transfer. If this is the case, you will need to provide your bank account details so they can send the money directly to your account.
Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is a payment method that allows buyers to use their Amazon account to pay for purchases on your website.
Other Payment Methods
There are a few other payment methods that you can use, such as Bitcoin, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
4- Sort Out Your Shipping Settings
When selling online, setting up your shipping settings correctly is essential. This will ensure that your outdoor furniture is shipped to buyers accurately and on time.
There are a few different ways that you can ship furniture:
A- Parcel Delivery
Parcel delivery is the most common way to ship furniture. It is affordable and allows you to track the package online.
B- White-Glove Delivery
“White glove” is a phrase used to describe excellence in care, service, or attention. White glove delivery service is a method of shipping or receiving products that need more attention than regular parcels due to their size, value, or fragility
Source: https://www.purolatorinternational.com/what-is-white-glove-delivery-service/
White glove delivery is a more expensive option, but it is the best way to ensure that your furniture is delivered safely and on time.
C- Freight Shipping
Freight shipping is the best option for large or heavy pieces of furniture.
Couriers
Another vital point to consider is which courier you’ll use to transport your furniture. They must be reliable— you don’t want dissatisfied clients complaining about their furniture being damaged, broken, or shattered due to poor courier services.
Here are some of the biggest and most popular couriers:
- USPS
- UPS
- UK Royal Mai
- FedEx
- Canada Post
- DHL
To set up your shipping settings, you will need to:
- Choose a shipping method
- Calculate shipping costs
- Set up shipping insurance
5- Promote Your Outdoor Furniture
To grow your online outdoor furniture business, you will need to promote your furniture. You can do this in a variety of ways, such as:
- Social media
- Google AdWords
- Email marketing
- Blogging
- Social media: Social media is a great way to reach a large audience online. You can post photos of your outdoor furniture on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Google AdWords: Google AdWords is a paid advertising service that allows you to place ads on Google.com.
- Email marketing: Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your customers and promote your outdoor furniture. You can send weekly or monthly newsletters with new arrivals, special offers, and coupon codes.
- Blogging: Blogging is another way to connect with your customers and promote your outdoor furniture.
- You can write blog posts about new arrivals, how to style your outdoor furniture, and tips for choosing the right piece of furniture for your home.
6- Manage Your Inventory
Time to keep track of your outdoor furniture. Inventory Tracking in plain English means monitoring your available pieces of furniture.
This will ensure you always have enough furniture in stock to meet customer demand. There are a few different ways that you can manage your inventory:
– Inventory Management Software
Inventory Management Software is a computer program that helps you keep track of what furniture you have and how much of each piece you have. This helps make sure you always have enough furniture to meet customer demand.
– Stock Levels
You will need to decide how much furniture you want to keep in stock. This will vary depending on your customer demand and the space you have to store furniture.
– Reordering Inventory
When you run out of a specific piece of furniture, you will need to reorder it from your supplier. This process can be automated so that you always have enough furniture in stock.
7- Grow Your Store
Now that you’ve already stood up on both your feet, it’s time to grow wings and discover new areas.
There are a few things you can do to grow your store:
Add New Furniture
You can add new furniture to your store by designing pieces or importing furniture from other suppliers.
Increase Online Visibility
You can increase online visibility by optimizing your website for search engines (SEO) and using online advertising tools like Google AdWords.
Increase Customer Loyalty
You can increase customer loyalty by offering loyalty programs and providing excellent customer service.
Conclusion
Starting an online outdoor furniture business can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and advice, you can make it a success. We have provided you with the steps to start, from choosing a selling platform to promoting your furniture. We have also given you some tips on how to grow your store. Now it’s time for you to get started and grow your business!
Are you looking for wholesale outdoor furniture? we could help you
FAQ
Q: How can I make my online outdoor furniture business successful?
A: You can make your online outdoor furniture business successful by optimizing your website for search engines, using SEO
Q: What different selling platforms are available for online outdoor furniture businesses?
A: The different selling platforms available for online outdoor furniture businesses include websites, online marketplaces, and social media.
Q: How do I choose the right selling platform for my online outdoor furniture business?
A: The best-selling platform for your online outdoor furniture business will depend on your budget, the type of furniture you sell, and your target market.
Q: How do I upload my furniture to my chosen selling platform?
A: The process of uploading your furniture will vary depending on your chosen selling platform. Generally, you will need to create an account and follow the instructions on adding products to your store.
Q: How do I set up payments for my online outdoor furniture business?
A: The process of setting up payments will vary depending on your chosen selling platform. Generally, you will need to create an online payment account and add your payment information to your store.
Q: How do I sort out my shipping settings for my online outdoor furniture business?
A: The process of sorting out your shipping settings will vary depending on your chosen selling platform. You will need to create a shipping account and add your shipping information to your store.
Q: What are some tips for promoting my online outdoor furniture business?
A: Some tips for promoting your outdoor furniture business include optimizing your website for search engines, using online advertising tools like Google AdWords, and creating a social media marketing strategy.
Q: How can I grow my online outdoor furniture business?
A: There are a few things you can do to grow your online outdoor furniture business, including adding new furniture to your store, increasing online visibility, and increasing customer loyalty.
Q: What should I include in my online outdoor furniture business?
A: Your online outdoor furniture business should include a selling platform, payments, shipping, and promotions.
Q: How do I start an online outdoor furniture business?
A: You can start an online outdoor furniture business by following these seven easy steps: choose the right selling platform, upload your outdoor furniture, set up your payments, sort out your shipping settings, promote your outdoor furniture, and grow your store.
