This episode introduces Shopatron's innovative solution for manufacturers to sell directly to consumers online without alienating their retail partners. By directing manufacturer website sales to nearby retailers for fulfillment, Shopatron helps ecommerce businesses bridge the gap between direct-to-consumer sales and traditional retail channels, fostering a symbiotic relationship rather than competition.
Key takeaways
Explore implementing a distributed order fulfillment model to leverage your existing retail network for online sales. This can improve delivery times and customer satisfaction.
Consider how to integrate manufacturers' direct online sales with your retail operations to capture additional revenue, rather than viewing it as competition.
Analyze the types of products manufacturers are selling directly that are then fulfilled by retailers. This offers insights into high-demand products that may be worth stocking.
If you are a retailer, sign up for platforms like Shopatron (or similar modern solutions) to gain access to exclusive order fulfillment opportunities from manufacturers and gain insights into trending products.
Understand that convenience commands a premium. Optimizing for customer convenience in delivery and pickup options can justify higher pricing and improve margins.
Themes
channel conflict resolutiondistributed order fulfillmente-commerce strategymanufacturer-retailer collaboration
Many ecommerce merchants sell products from large manufacturers and suppliers. Increasingly, those manufacturers and suppliers also sell the same products. There’s a company, Shopatron, that refers sales from manufacturers’ ecommerce sites to retailers, who then fulfill orders to customers and profit from the sales. The CEO and founder of Shopatron is Ed Stevens, and he joins Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.
Frequently asked about this episode
What does this episode say about channel conflict resolution?
Explore implementing a distributed order fulfillment model to leverage your existing retail network for online sales. This can improve delivery times and customer satisfaction.
What does this episode say about distributed order fulfillment?
Consider how to integrate manufacturers' direct online sales with your retail operations to capture additional revenue, rather than viewing it as competition.
What does this episode say about e-commerce strategy?
Analyze the types of products manufacturers are selling directly that are then fulfilled by retailers. This offers insights into high-demand products that may be worth stocking.
What does this episode say about manufacturer-retailer collaboration?
If you are a retailer, sign up for platforms like Shopatron (or similar modern solutions) to gain access to exclusive order fulfillment opportunities from manufacturers and gain insights into trending products.
What does this episode say about channel conflict resolution?
Understand that convenience commands a premium. Optimizing for customer convenience in delivery and pickup options can justify higher pricing and improve margins.
