Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, was originally founded as an online bookstore. While most online stores won’t grow into
If you are thinking of opening your own online bookstore, there is plenty of potential. But, as with any business, you won’t find much success without careful planning. Starting an online bookstore requires research, strategy, and a bit of creativity. Want to learn more? Here is everything you should know about how to start a profitable used bookstore online.
Why Sell Books
Books are a timeless and simple source of entertainment and enrichment. Even with the abundance of entertainment options available today, reading remains extremely popular. Over 70% of U.S. adults read books regularly, with reading habits increasing worldwide during the pandemic.
On top of being an evergreen retail product, books are also very
E-books vs. Paper Books
One concern online bookstore owners may have is the rise of
Additionally, hardcover and paperback books continue to dominate, accounting for the majority of all books sold, both globally and in America. These numbers are backed by studies about reading habits. According to one study, 37% of respondents claim they only read physical books, compared to 28% who read a mix of print and
All of these statistics suggest that online bookstore owners do not need to worry about competition from
How to Start an Online Bookstore: Where to Find Stock
One of the most important problems to solve when starting any retail business is where to find stock. Online bookstores have a few more options than most in this regard. For your bookstore, you can choose to get your stock from book wholesalers or dropshippers. In either of these models, you will buy new books from vendors and resell them to your customers.
However, bookstore owners also have the option to sell used books. Used books can be found all over the place for very cheap. Flea markets, thrift stores, and yard sales are all great places to search for used books. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of each business model.
Wholesale
The advantage of reselling books wholesale is that you have complete control over your inventory. When you resell wholesale books, you always know exactly what you have in stock. On top of that, your books will be brand new and of pristine quality. This means they can be sold at a higher price point.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a very
Used
Selling used books is also a viable option for online bookstores. A book’s quality does not diminish much, if at all when it’s used. It is easy to find used books for very low costs at flea markets and estate sales and resell them for a
The drawback of selling used books is that you may struggle to have a consistent inventory. Selling used books is dependent on what you can find for resale. In addition, used books also sell for less than new books in most cases. However, they can still turn a profit.
Ultimately, you do not need to choose between either used or new. Many online bookstores offer a mix of new and used books and make good money doing so.
Creating a Website For Your Online Bookstore
Your business model is very important to determining the success of your online bookstore. The same can be said about your website. As an online retailer, having a
An
What to Look For in an E-commerce Platform
The most important qualities to look for in an
Flexibility refers to the platform’s ability to allow you to adapt, add new features to your website, and grow. A platform that only provides the basic features for starting your online store will become less useful over time.
Accessibility refers to how easy the platform is to use. Managing your business is hard enough already. You don’t need to make things worse by getting stuck with a platform that is not
And last, you want a platform that is not hard on your budget. Most
Ecwid is an
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