Spring has arrived, and it's time to shake off the winter blues and give your eCommerce business operations a fresh start! As an independent retailer, you understand the value of maintaining a clean and organized store to keep your shoppers coming back. To help you achieve this online as well, ShopHero has put together a simple checklist of tips to help you scrub away the dust and cobwebs from your store eCommerce operations, leaving them sparkling clean and running smoothly.
▢ Schedules
Online Shopping Dates and Times. Regularly reviewing your online shopping schedule is a good practice to ensure it aligns with your desired business strategy. Take a look at the times and number of days a week your online service is available to make sure it meets your shoppers' needs. You can easily do this in the admin panel of your website under "Logistics" with the "Schedule" tab. It's also a good idea to check for any outdated or blackout dates to make sure you're all set for upcoming holidays.
Pickup and Delivery. To ensure efficient scheduling for pickups, it's essential to set the start time 1.5 hours before, and the end time 30 minutes before the actual customer-requested pickup time window. For delivery schedules, times should be set 30 minutes prior to the beginning and end time displayed on the website. This allows sufficient time for order preparation and handling unexpected situations. Don't forget to assign notification groups to each time slot to receive notifications of incoming orders. Remember, there are separate schedules for pickups and deliveries, each requiring careful planning and management. By following these guidelines, you can create a reliable and effective schedule for your business.
▢ Review Open Orders/Orders in Collection
Take some time to clean up any open orders in your admin panel. In the "Orders" section located in the left-hand column of the admin panel, check for any old orders left over in the "Open" and "Collections" sections. These orders could be leftovers from tests done during onboarding or orders that your team forgot to close out. Review them and mark them as complete if needed. Orders in the "Collections" section may have had issues with their payments.
Please note that when the order is closed, shoppers will be charged. It's important to be aware that any old orders left in the Open status could cause problems for shoppers who weren't anticipating the charge.
▢ In-Store Advertising:
Make sure your in-store customers know that you also offer online shopping. Here are some ways to get the message across:
- Train your cashiers to tell every customer that you offer online shopping.
- Place a QR code on every card reading machine.
- Use posters and window clings throughout the store.
- Offer informational flyers at checkout stands.
- Offer bag stuffers with promo codes and QR codes.
These items are all included in a print marketing package available for purchase from ShopHero. All items are customized with a QR code for your store’s website. Talk to your account manager or click here for more information about obtaining your package.
You also have access to create your very own QR codes right from the admin panel, so you can place them wherever you like in your store. Additionally, you can purchase a marketing package from your account manager that includes window clings, bag stuffers, and flyers, all with your QR code.
▢ Promo Codes:
Promo codes are a great way to incentivize your customers to shop online. You can offer promotions such as:
- Spend $50 and get $5 off
- Give $10 off on their 50th order
- Offer 10% off on your store's anniversary date
- Waive the convenience fee on their first order
You are able to create your own custom promo codes in the admin panel. These codes can then be either manually added by customers at checkout or automatically added to any order that meets the requirements. Make sure to inform your customers about the promo codes you're offering by posting on Facebook, handing out flyers, creating bag stuffers, or creating a banner for your ShopHero site.
We hope that these tips will help you get your store operations back on track this spring. We know how hard you work.Your dedication to your business is truly inspiring. As a partner in your success, we are grateful to offer you the tools and resources to help you thrive and keep your customers coming back for more.
