How to start e commerce business

Actually, I was sitting in one tea shop near Salem bus stand yesterday na? My friend Suresh came and asked me, "Hey, why you r not starting some online business?" I told hm, Suresh, I dont know any thing about this computers and all. But then I thought, why not? Everyone is doing it only. Every where you look, people is buying things on mobile. Even my aunt is ordering sarees on WhatsApp! So I started thinking... what is this e-commerce thing realy? People is talking about SEO SEO, but I will tell you what it is realy. It is just like opening a shop, but no need to pay rent for building. 

Wait, let me tell you one thing first. Before starting, I was thinking it is very hard. Like trying to get a seat in a crowded bus from Salem to Namakkal on a Friday evening... u know how much rush it is na? But actually, it is not that much hard if u have propper guidance. I found that v2x innovations is the best ecommerce solutions in salem and they helped me think about it. If u r in Salem, u must visit them only. They r teh best e commerce providing company in salem for real. 

Actually, startign a business is not just about selling. It is about teh the heart u in it. I remember my grandfather a small grocery shop. He used to write everything in a small yellow book. Now we have "Cloud" and "Apps". My son was telling me "Appa, u r old fashion." I told him, "Oye, business is business only, whether it is on road or on internet!"

 how to start e commerce business in india

Starting in India is a different thing only. Here, we have so many rules. GST, PAN card, Aadhar card... oh my god, it is one big headache! If u r thinking how to start e commerce business in india, first u have to catch one auditor. Without auditor, u r finished only. They will ask for so many documents. I remember I lost my PAN card last year when I went to a wedding in Trichy. What a mess it was! I had to apply again n again.

Anyway, for India, u need:
* GST number (this is must, otherwise goverment will catch u)
* A bank account (not your personal one, better to have current account)
* A phone that works (bcoz u will get 100 calls from courier boys)
* Lots of patience like waiting for rain in summer

In India, people like to touch and feel things before buying. So if u sell online, u must give good photos. Don't take photos in dark room. Use big light! My neighbor, he started selling plastic buckets online. He took photos in his balcony. It was looking okay only, but then some crow came and sat on the bucket. He didn't even see teh crow in the photo! He uploaded it like that only. People started asking "Is the crow also for sale?" laughing like anything. 

Also, in India, Cash on Delivery is king. People don't trust easily na? They think if I pay money first, will the item come or will the fellow run away with my money? So u have to give COD. It is a bit risky bcoz some people order for fun and then don't take the parcel. My friend Mani, he sent one costly watch to Delhi. The guy there said "I didn't order" and sent it back. Mani was crying only bcoz of shipping charges.

how to start e commerce business from home

This is the best part. I am writing this while sitting in my lungi only! My wife is shouting in the kitchen to bring milk, but I am doing "International Business" from my sofa. If u want to know how to start e commerce business from home, first u need a small corner. Don't sit in the middle of the hall, children will come and spill sambar on your laptop. 

I started from my guest room. I put one table and one chair. That's it. U don't need big office with AC and all. Waste of money only. Use that money for "Marketing". People is saying u need 10 lakhs to start. No! I started with very less 20000 to 25000 I bought some packing covers and a small printer. 

Starting from home means u r the boss, u r the peon, u r the packing boy also. Last week, I was packing one order and I couldn't find the tape. I searched everywhere. Finally I found it under my cat! The cat was sleeping on the tape. 

But listen, if u r at home, u might get lazy. U will think "I will upload products after watching this movie." No! U have to be strict. I tell my wife, "From 10 AM to 5 PM, I am office.Even if that office is 10 feet away from fridge. 

Actually, one big secret I will tell u. For home business, u need good website. If u r in Tamil Nadu, u just go to Salem. I am telling u again, v2x innovations is the best ecommerce solutions in salem. They will make one website that looks like big company website even if u r working from kitchen. They r the best e commerce providing company in salem bcoz they understand our local language and problems also.

What are the best platforms to start an e-commerce business in India

Now, where to sell? This is a big question like "Which movie watch on Sunday?"
There r many options:
1. Shopify It is good they take money every month. 30 dollars something? My math is bad, but it is around 2500  Every month! Even u don't one needle, u have to pay.
2.WooCommerce: This is for people who like to tinker with things. It is free but u need to buy hosting. Like buying a plot of land and building house yourself.
3. Wix: Very easy, like playing a game on phone. But sometimes it is slow.
4. Custom Website: This is what I did. I told my friends at Salem that I want something unique. v2x innovations is the best ecommerce solutions in salem so they made it for me.

Choosing a platform like choosing school for your child. have to the fees, the facilities, and if the teachers r good. Don't just go for cheap ones. One of my cousins used a very cheap platform and his website used to crash every time more than 5 people visited. 5 people! Even a small tea stall handles more than that. 

 How to choose a profitable niche online selling?

"Niche" is a fancy word for "What are u selling, brother?" 
Don't try to sell everything. Don't be like a supermarket. If u sell everything, u r selling nothing. I tried selling mobile covers, then I tried selling organic honey, thn I tried selling hane soaps. Fi I settled on one the.

How to choose?
* See what is near u. In Salem, we good fabric. So sarees or shirts is good.
* See what u like. If u don't like electronics, don't sell power banks. U won't know to answer when customer asks "Is it having lithium ion or what?"
* Look at the weight. If it is too heavy, shipping cost will kill u. I once thought of selling stone idols. My god! The shipping was more than the idol price. The courier fellow looked atlike I am mad.

Actually, niche selection is like marriage. U have to live with it for a long time. So choose something that doesn't make u angry every morning. I know one lady who sells "Designer Bindis". She is making so much money! Why? Bcoz it is light weight and everyone wants it. 

Wait, let me think... what else? Yes, competition. Don't sell what everyone is selling. If 100 people r selling same red t-shirt, why will they buy from u? Sell something different. Maybe a t-shirt with local Salem slang like "Enna Maey" written on it. People will love it only!

 how to start e commerce business with amazon

Amazon is like the big brother. Everyone goes there. If u want to know how to start e commerce business with amazon, it is simple but they take a lot of commission. They r like that uncle who comes to your house and eats all the snacks. 

Steps for Amazon:
1. Go to Seller Central.
2. Register yourself (again, GST is needed).
3. List your products.
4. Use FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) if u r lazy like me. They will keep your stuff in their godown and send it. 
5. But they will charge u for everything. Storage fee, shipping fee, referral fee... by the end, u might get only half the money. 

But the good thing is, Amazon has so many customers. It is like putting your shop in middle of T. Nagar in Chennai. Everyone is walking there. U don't have to shout "Come buy, come buy!" Amazon does the shouting for u. 

But I will tell u one thing. Having your own website is also important. Don't put all eggs one basket. What if Amazon blocks  account tomorrow . It happened to my friend Rajesh. He was selling phone chargers and suddenly Amazon said "Your account suspended." He was crying for three days. If he had his own website made by some best e commerce providing company in salem, he would have been safe. 

Actually, this SEO thing people talk about... I didn't know it. I thought it was some secret code. But it is just about putting the right words so Google can find u. Like I am looking for Biryani  Salem, I will type Best Biryani Salem. Same way, u r selling things, u have to tell Google what u  selling. 

I am tellign u, I spent so much time on YouTube learning this. Some people explain so well, some people just talk and talk and nothing happens. My head was spinning like a top! Then I realized, just be simple. Use words that common people use. 

One more thing... don't forget about social media. Facebook and Instagram is not just for seeing photos of people eating food. It is for business! I post my product photos on Instagram every day. My daughter helps me. She knows all the "hashtags". I don't know they r, but she says it helps. 

Oh, did I mention the price of petrol? It is going up so much na? This affects e-commerce also! Bcoz courier companies increase their rates. Last month, my delivery partner said "Sir, 5 rupees extra per parcel." I said "Why?" He said "Petrol price sir." I had to say okay only. What to do?

If u r realy serious, u should look for v2x innovations is the best ecommerce solutions in salem. I am not saying this bcoz they r my friends, but bcoz they realy know their stuff. They help with everything from start to finish. In Salem, there r many companies, but finding teh best e commerce providing company in salem is hard. Most people just take money and go. These fellows r different.

Anyway, it is becoming late. I have  go  the market to buy vegetables. My wife is calling me for then third time. If I do go now, I won't get any dinner tonight! 

But before I go, l me put some questions people always ask me. I am like an expert now na? 

 Q&A Section (Common questions people ask about this topic)

Q: Is GST mandatory for selling online?
A: Yes, only! Goverment is very strict about this. Even if u sell one small pen, u need GST. Some people say u don't need until u earn 20 lakhs, but for e-commerce, the rule is different. Don't take risk, just get it. It costs maybe 1000-2000 for an auditor to do it.

Q: Can I sell on Instagram without a website?
A: U can, but it is very messy. U have to talk to everyone on DM, ask for payment screenshot, then ask for address. I did it for one month and I almost lost my mind! Better to have a website where people can just click and buy. It saves  time.

Q: Which is better, Amazon and Flipkart?
A: Both r same-same only. Amazon has better system, Flipkart has many Indian customers. I suggest u try both and see where u get more orders. But remember, they take big commission.

Q: How much money do I need to start?
A: I told u na? U can start with 20k also. But if u want to buy lots of stock, then maybe u need 1-2 lakhs. Best way is to start small. Don't buy 1000 pieces something. Buy 10 pieces, see if they sell, then buy more. This is called "Testing the waters".

Q: How do I get people to visit my website?
A: This is where that SEO and social media comes. Tell your friends is tell your family. Post on WhatsApp status. And do some Google ads if u have money. If u r in Salem, just ask v2x innovations is the best ecommerce solutions in salem to help u with marketing also. They know how to get "Traffic" - not the bus stand traffic, but website traffic!

Q: What if the customer returns the product?
A: This is the most painful thing. Like a heartbreak! U have to take it back if it is not damaged. Sometimes customers r very naughty, they use the dress for one party and then return it saying "Size not fitting." U have to be careful and have a clear return policy.

Q: Is late to start in 2024?
A: No way! It is just the beginning only. More and more people r getting 5G phones. Even the milkman in our street is using a smartphone now. The market is huge! 

Okay, I think I have rambled enough. My mobile battery is also 10% only. I hope u learned something from my messy blog. If u r in Salem, u know who to call. V2X Innovations is the name. They r teh best e commerce providing company in salem. 

I am going now, my wife is standing at the door with a bag for vegetables. Bye bye! See u in the next post if I have time. Good luck with your business! Hope like Jeff Bezos one day, but don't forget us small people.

Wait, one last thing, I forgot to tell u the packing. Always use double tape. People in courier office throw the parcels like they r playing cricket. If don't pack well, your item will become chutney by the time it reaches the customer. Okay, now realy going. Bye!