Set Shop, Go
Building an online store is easier than you think, thanks to e-commerce enablers. Heres how you can set up shop online in just a few clicks.

- Feb 18, 2017,
- Updated Mar 16, 2017 1:57 PM IST
If you are an entrepreneur devoid of a robust online retail presence, you are losing out on a substantial source of revenue. Although listing on popular marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart seems like an obvious proposition, it is expensive, and does not assure you of a prominent presence - which to an entrepreneur or a start-up is of paramount importance.
Wouldn't it be ideal if you had your own online store, a Facebook page, and presence across online marketplaces? Sounds unattainable, but it is not really. Enter e-commerce enablers - from providing free domain names to making your products easily discoverable on the World Wide Web, their services mean (good) business.
Varidhi Arora, Founder of Gadget Protect, is a recent beneficiary of one such DIY e-commerce enabler. Her company, that manufactures cases and accessories for gadgets, would sell 160 pieces every month through offline channels. Her business has more than doubled - over 400 orders a month - after she built her own online store. Her e-commerce enabler offered ready-to-use templates for her website, even facilitated a payment gateway, and provided delivery and courier support for a monthly fee. "Apart from convenience, being on the e-commerce platform has helped in getting brand recognition," says Arora.
Entrepreneurs and start-ups are resorting to e-commerce enablers such as Zepo and Shopmatic that help individuals in setting up their own online stores or marketplace using their software-as-a-service (Saas) platform. One can start by creating a domain name and access a full suite of services offered - enabling payments and shipping, search engine optimisation, managing social media pages, listing on popular marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, and more - for a monthly fee. Some offer customised solutions, too.
Zencommerce, too, offers similar solutions to enable users create an online store instantly, including pre-integration with payment gateways such as CCAvenue, PayU and PayPal. Its integrated software is based on Google recommendations, and hence, your store will have an optimised structure that works with search engines.
There are inbuilt tools and features to ensure your web store is seen in the top position of the search results. There are options to optimise the store site yourself. Zencommerce helps in managing the Facebook store and also enables comments on the web store using Facebook account, supports Google+, and product pinning. Zencommerce offers a monthly Platinum pack for `1,799. For those looking at hosting up to 50,000 products can go for the `2,999 monthly plan.
Shopnix is yet another player in this domain that lets users create an online store with a single sign-up. The user gets a free e-commerce website equipped with shopping cart, store manager, and in-built marketing tools. Its services are priced in the range of `1,000 to `10,000.
If you are still undecided about which one to opt for, avail the free trials to experience the efficacy of the services offered.
If you are an entrepreneur devoid of a robust online retail presence, you are losing out on a substantial source of revenue. Although listing on popular marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart seems like an obvious proposition, it is expensive, and does not assure you of a prominent presence - which to an entrepreneur or a start-up is of paramount importance.
Wouldn't it be ideal if you had your own online store, a Facebook page, and presence across online marketplaces? Sounds unattainable, but it is not really. Enter e-commerce enablers - from providing free domain names to making your products easily discoverable on the World Wide Web, their services mean (good) business.
Varidhi Arora, Founder of Gadget Protect, is a recent beneficiary of one such DIY e-commerce enabler. Her company, that manufactures cases and accessories for gadgets, would sell 160 pieces every month through offline channels. Her business has more than doubled - over 400 orders a month - after she built her own online store. Her e-commerce enabler offered ready-to-use templates for her website, even facilitated a payment gateway, and provided delivery and courier support for a monthly fee. "Apart from convenience, being on the e-commerce platform has helped in getting brand recognition," says Arora.
Entrepreneurs and start-ups are resorting to e-commerce enablers such as Zepo and Shopmatic that help individuals in setting up their own online stores or marketplace using their software-as-a-service (Saas) platform. One can start by creating a domain name and access a full suite of services offered - enabling payments and shipping, search engine optimisation, managing social media pages, listing on popular marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, and more - for a monthly fee. Some offer customised solutions, too.
Zencommerce, too, offers similar solutions to enable users create an online store instantly, including pre-integration with payment gateways such as CCAvenue, PayU and PayPal. Its integrated software is based on Google recommendations, and hence, your store will have an optimised structure that works with search engines.
There are inbuilt tools and features to ensure your web store is seen in the top position of the search results. There are options to optimise the store site yourself. Zencommerce helps in managing the Facebook store and also enables comments on the web store using Facebook account, supports Google+, and product pinning. Zencommerce offers a monthly Platinum pack for `1,799. For those looking at hosting up to 50,000 products can go for the `2,999 monthly plan.
Shopnix is yet another player in this domain that lets users create an online store with a single sign-up. The user gets a free e-commerce website equipped with shopping cart, store manager, and in-built marketing tools. Its services are priced in the range of `1,000 to `10,000.
If you are still undecided about which one to opt for, avail the free trials to experience the efficacy of the services offered.