By using Apprenticeforums services you agree to our Cookies Use and Data Transfer outside the EU.
We and our partners operate globally and use cookies, including for analytics, personalisation, ads and Newsletters.

  • Join our UK Small business Forum

    Helping business owners with every day advice, tips and discussions with likeminded business owners. Become apart of a community surrounded by level headed business folk from around the UK


    Join us!

How Much Do You Sell Online?

L

Lauren Turner

New Member
I was thinking recently about the portion of my sales that are done online, and it made me think about how much other people are able to sell on Facebook. Because of the nature of my business, I sell more from being able to show people what I do rather than anything else, and Facebook is great for that. I get a lot of postal orders and I'm happy because I've only really discovered the possibilities recently! How much of your work is secured from social media, do you think? Or do you find that there's no place for it at all?
 
Gemma Rowlands

Gemma Rowlands

New Member
Well, technically I sell MOST things online, because we're an online business. Well, we do have SOME face to face meetings, but most of the time we talk to clients via email. I think it's great as you can reach so many more people. But then of course you do have to make sure you're as good as the competition, but as long as you keep yourself "up there" I'd say selling online is a great thing to do.
 
P

Pete Brindle

New Member
We don't sell very much but do sometimes get some new people coming to us through social media. They're not online sales but clients found us online if that makes sense.
 
M

Mike Turner

New Member
Don't make any sales directly but I do think people have got our number from Facebook, when people have posted to recommend a mechanic, people who have used us in the past will recommend us because of that. So that's nice. We're thinking about an appointment booking system to be used online but haven't really got very far with that, it's all in the planning stage. I actually want to make a thread about that so I'm glad it's reminded me.
 
L

Lauren Turner

New Member
We don't sell very much but do sometimes get some new people coming to us through social media. They're not online sales but clients found us online if that makes sense.

I would class that almost as selling online really, because if it weren't for the internet then they wouldn't have been able to find you, would they. I do think that the internet is awesome for that reason, because there are so many people who you're able to be in touch with who you wouldn't have been able to be otherwise.
 
Gemma Rowlands

Gemma Rowlands

New Member
I would class that almost as selling online really, because if it weren't for the internet then they wouldn't have been able to find you, would they. I do think that the internet is awesome for that reason, because there are so many people who you're able to be in touch with who you wouldn't have been able to be otherwise.

I have said that. I know of some people who are still unemployed despite graduating from their degree some time ago now, yet there are some other people, like myself for example, who have been able to find work doing what they actually enjoy doing, and that means that I haven't had to rely on benefits like so many of the other people who I know.
 
M

Mike Turner

New Member
I have been thinking about selling second hand car parts online. Do you think this is something that people might want to buy, or would I be better just sticking to what I know and what I'm used to? I do often get bits and pieces that I could do something with!
 
Gemma Rowlands

Gemma Rowlands

New Member
I have been thinking about selling second hand car parts online. Do you think this is something that people might want to buy, or would I be better just sticking to what I know and what I'm used to? I do often get bits and pieces that I could do something with!

People would buy that. I know I would, but you'd have to make sure that obviously they're all safe, that they stand up as good as new ones, and that they're at a decent price. There are certain parts where people don't really need them brand new, so a bit of a price cut would certainly be a good thing for them.
 
B

Branded Merchandise

New Member
I have been thinking about selling second hand car parts online. Do you think this is something that people might want to buy, or would I be better just sticking to what I know and what I'm used to? I do often get bits and pieces that I could do something with!

If you get bits and bobs that you don't do anything with then I definitely would!

I wouldn't start a website though - I'd look for a marketplace that sold used car parts. Like an ebay for car parts, I'm assuming there will be a few of those types of websites

Do garages sell to each other? Maybe you could also start something with 5-10 of your local garages where you could swap spare parts with each other etc
 
Gemma Rowlands

Gemma Rowlands

New Member
If you get bits and bobs that you don't do anything with then I definitely would!

I wouldn't start a website though - I'd look for a marketplace that sold used car parts. Like an ebay for car parts, I'm assuming there will be a few of those types of websites

Do garages sell to each other? Maybe you could also start something with 5-10 of your local garages where you could swap spare parts with each other etc

I don't think I'd want to buy car parts from the internet, not second hand ones anyway. I'm all up for buying used things, but the problem is that when things have been used, you never really know the state they're going to be in!
 
P

Pete Brindle

New Member
I would class that almost as selling online really, because if it weren't for the internet then they wouldn't have been able to find you, would they. I do think that the internet is awesome for that reason, because there are so many people who you're able to be in touch with who you wouldn't have been able to be otherwise.

Yeah that is true, I suppose the placement of ads online is like marketing material, and that material boosts our sales a little bit, which is always very welcome to be honest. We are thinking about creating a little online shop at the moment for various things that people might need for playing a musical instrument, like things to maintain their instruments and things like that.
 
M

Mike Turner

New Member
People would buy that. I know I would, but you'd have to make sure that obviously they're all safe, that they stand up as good as new ones, and that they're at a decent price. There are certain parts where people don't really need them brand new, so a bit of a price cut would certainly be a good thing for them.

Oh I would make sure they were safe, no need to worry on that front. We get a lot of cars basically given to us because they're not worth anything to the owners, but there are still parts that we can use. They were the types of things that I was talking about. Of course everything would be tested properly to make sure they were in good working order before we did anything with them.
 
Business Upside

Business Upside

Member
Yes, it is profitable to be an online seller. It is just like any other business, any other industry, where you need to take risks and learn on the job.
 
zwilliam

zwilliam

New Member
Hi,

There are many platform except facebook to sell online as well.
 
B

Brandon Kooper

New Member
Social media platforms like Facebook can indeed be powerful tools for showcasing products and attracting customers. I've found them to be quite effective for generating sales and increasing brand visibility. It's great to hear that you've had success with postal orders through Facebook.
 
Adam NN

Adam NN

New Member
I was thinking recently about the portion of my sales that are done online, and it made me think about how much other people are able to sell on Facebook. Because of the nature of my business, I sell more from being able to show people what I do rather than anything else, and Facebook is great for that. I get a lot of postal orders and I'm happy because I've only really discovered the possibilities recently! How much of your work is secured from social media, do you think? Or do you find that there's no place for it at all?
Social media is great for selling even without advertising. My son made a video of how he twisted a T-shirt, dipped it in paint, and then it turned out to be a colorful spot in the middle of the chest, the video went viral and many began to place orders from him, despite the fact that he did not even plan to sell anything, besides, anyone can even do it themselves do it manually, but people still continue to send orders.
 
Top