With the power of online marketplaces and ecommerce websites, it’s easy to be a
What Will You Sell?
The online car parts market has many different lanes, and it’s helpful to consider which one you might like to occupy. Are you interested in selling used car parts? Do you want to supply repair shops and
You should also decide whether you’d like to sell a broad range of car parts, or whether you’re interested in selling a specific type. For example, if you want to sell external parts like bumpers, grills, and hubcaps, you’ll need to be prepared for the logistics of shipping larger items. If your focus will be on internal parts like spark plugs, transmissions, and cylinders, you’ll need to carefully package your items to ensure they arrive undamaged.
It’s always helpful to research current trends when you’re beginning to compile your own inventory. Browse marketplaces like Amazon and eBay and call local garages to see which parts they’re having trouble getting or that are most
Where Will You Sell?
There are two main choices when it comes to deciding where to sell car parts online. You can sell your parts in an online marketplace, like Amazon or eBay, or you can use an ecommerce platform to build your own online car parts store.
Marketplaces
Selling on eBay or Amazon comes with the advantage of a large,
With Amazon, you’ll need to apply and be approved before you can begin selling. These sites are preferable if you’re focused primarily on selling directly to individuals, rather than mechanics or repair shops. If you’re occupying a niche of car part
Online store
Creating your own auto parts store and selling through an ecommerce website might seem daunting, but this option can ultimately allow for greater freedom and flexibility. If you’d like to sell to other businesses, having your own store and website will help you stand out as professional and dependable. Much like marketplaces, ecommerce websites can simplify the
Once you’ve chosen a template and made any tweaks you’d like, you’ll simply need to upload your inventory, connect a payment method, and begin selling. A major advantage of ecommerce platforms is that they provide the flexibility and connectivity to share your store and car parts across Amazon, eBay, and other social media sites. Ecommerce sites offer the best of both worlds.
How Will You Sell?
Once you’ve decided what types of auto parts you’re interested in selling and where you’d like to sell them, the most important step is getting your parts into customers’ cars and customers’ dollars into your wallet.
Hopefully, in doing your research, you were able to connect with auto shops and mechanics. At this point, it’s time to leverage those connections and let your contacts know that you are open for business. If you haven’t yet made connections, now is the time to start! When building your customer base, consider incentivizing
Whether you’re selling from your own site or on a marketplace, it also pays to advertise. Both Amazon and eBay have internal features that allow you to boost your listings and advertise your products on their sites. Ecommerce websites offer similar services, but they can also help you advertise on social media channels like Facebook and Instagram. You may also find it worthwhile to create social media profiles that help establish your brand.
Of course, finding customers interested in your products isn’t the sole step for completing a sale. You’ll also need to ship your auto parts to their new owners. Amazon offers a fulfillment service and eBay recently launched their Managed Delivery program, both of which allow sellers to send their products to the companies’ distribution centers for packaging and delivery to customers. These services do come with fees based on the number of products shipped, their sizes, and other factors.
For sellers using ecommerce platforms, you can manage your own shipping or utilize an independent logistics service.
When Should You Start Selling?
The simple answer is right away!
Online sales are booming across the board, and this is particularly true for car parts. Ecommerce revenue for auto parts hit sixteen billion in 2020 and is predicted to climb to
Ecommerce sites like Ecwid are here to empower you to launch your own business. Ecwid lets you set up a free account and keep it as long as you need it. We also include all the features you