Written by Ordering | Jul 1, 2022 7:52:24 PM
One thing is for sure, people will never stop spending money on their favorite pets. If you are thinking of launching a D2C online delivery business, this article is for you.
We are going to dive into some projections as well as what tools are required to grow a successful online pet store, including features, speed, usability, and most importantly, the quality of products.
Globally, the pet care industry is expected to reach $261 billion in 2022, up from $245 billion in 2021. An expected 6.1 percent annual growth rate (CAGR) will drive that sum to $350 billion by 2027.
The high spending is here to stay, however, with the growing competition and number of pet item brands, it is very important to stand out with the branding and excellence of your online platforms.
What are some things to look out for when building an online pet store brand?
Pick the right technology that reflects the quality of your products
You may have the best products in the world, but if you do not showcase them in the right way, the message will not come across to the end customer.
One of the most important aspects of launching an online pet store is selecting the right technology that is going to help you bring the customer experience online.
Select a software provider that has excellent application and website usability and a short checkout process.
There should be an adequate amount of filters that help the user select exactly what they are looking for in your store. You can take the user experience even further by implementing interactive campaigns, like quizzes and questionnaires, to help the customers select a perfect product for their pet.
Be selective about collaborations
Another very important aspect is being very selective with partnerships and brands that your pet store is going to collaborate with.
When creating a selection of products, think about your niche and strategy, and make a list of requirements that a producer should fulfill before landing on your shelf.
For example, your point of differentiation could be organic pet food and toys from recycled materials, that are safe for pets and for the environment.
Having those criteria in place is going to increase your quality and reputation as an online pet store.
Even though the customer is not physically there, they have access to ingredients, the origin of your products, and transparent descriptions which are going to make them trust your brand and will be more encouraged to refer your store to someone else.
Application usability
Since nowadays most online transactions are happening on mobile, having an excellent mobile application or a mobile-friendly website is a must.
What exactly does a user-friendly mobile application email? When selecting a software provider for your online pet store, you should take into consideration the visual aesthetics. Is the application clear and readable?
How long does it take for a customer to find the right products? Is shipping available in their location, and how long does it take? Those are some of the questions that you should be able to answer when assessing your usability.
The best solution is to test things out. Some software providers offer demos, where you can test out the features using your own products and colors, to see what the experience will be like from the customer’s perspective.
Payment methods
A big part of the excellent usability of your platform is a wide range of payment options. The check-out process should be easy and quick, and payment options should be fast and accessible to the area that you are targeting.
Before selecting the payment options that you would like to implement for your online store, conduct thorough research on your target regions.
Perhaps, your customers prefer paying with Gpay or PayPal, or maybe a regular credit card. If you offer international shipping, be sure to also include research on those regions and be aware of their preferred payment options.
Nowadays, consumers do not like spending time on inserting payment methods and opt for websites that allow them to save all their info or use a social media account to log in quicker.
Let’s start your online pet store!
If you are still hesitant about where to start, contact a software provider like Ordering, Their team of specialists is going to provide you with advice on what features to include and select the best option that suits your needs.
Most importantly, the software offers a wide selection of features including real-time delivery tracking with push notifications, really upgrading the last-mile delivery game.
The order management system is sure to provide you will all the information you need about the current, pending, and completed orders, improving your customer service and the functioning of your website.
Amazon Web Services server is going to make sure that your platforms work flawlessly, and live up to the expectations of your customers.
Contact Ordering today and schedule a call with the team.