Weekend reading: 7th May

It’s Friday then – which means that it is time for our weekly roundup of news from us and the retail and eCommerce industry at large. While we’re waiting for the warmer weather to really kick in, this week we’ve been busy – releasing new functionality for sellers, preparing for a Shopify webinar, and making a new supplier’s products available on the catalogue, with more exciting things to come.

This week in our reading we’re discussing abandoned cart rates; why the mobile experience is critical; how payment preferences have changed since COVID; how the demand for CBD products could increase your sales, and what you need to know as your business moves out of the start-up phase.

The latest from us

This week we’ve released a new integration for Wish – while sellers could use manual methods to sell on Wish previously, we’ve now automated many of the processes. You’ll now be able to link your Avasam account to your Wish store, with inventory levels, orders, and shipping instructions updated automatically.

We’re running a webinar with Shopify next Thursday, 13th May at 6pm UK time. We’re discussing product category trends, recommended products and how to use our automated product listing tool. You can sign up here, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Our newest supplier GB010083 has brought fantastic a range organic shampoos, conditioners, and skin care to the catalogue. These products make perfect additions to hair care and beauty stores, or to continue to grow and diversify your inventory – log in and filter to see their products in the product type drop-down menu.

The weekend reads

Are you seeing a lot of customers abandoning their carts? Your business isn’t the only one. The average online shopper abandons around £100 of items every month – most at around 4pm. Find out the categories that have the most abandoned carts, and the incentives that could increase completed purchases here.

Want to increase the number of customers recommending your business? Daft question, of course you do… Well, one strategy that often gets forgotten is the mobile experience. 45% of customers in the UK would recommend a retailer with a great mobile experience, so if you haven’t reviewed yours recently, then maybe now is the time. Find out more here.

Up to 80% of consumers changed their payment habits during lockdowns, with digital and contactless payment methods becoming more popular. With 32% of consumers now using digital wallets more often, it is a good time to consider what payment options you offer your customers. Read more about the research here.

With COVID taking a huge toll on all of our mental health – there are few of us who can say we didn’t feel the impact of being in lockdown, and consumers are looking to support their health with natural products. While carrying and using cannabis is still off the table legally in the UK, products containing non-hallucinogenic cannabinoids are allowed, and the demand for products containing CBD has increased significantly. We have a range of CBD products available on our catalogue for you to start DropShipping today, simply log into Avasam and search CBD in the catalogue.

Is your business moving from start-up phase to fully-fledged business – maybe in part supported by inventory from Avasam suppliers? Many of you will know Mark from team Avasam, who has been in eCommerce and retail for well over a decade, and has shared some of his knowledge in this article.

Dates for your diary

We’ve already mentioned it, but our webinar with Shopify is running next Thursday, 13th May at 6pm UK time. Sign up here!

There’s still time to get registered for Tamebay Live, which is running from Monday 17th May until Friday 21st May. With a range of workshops and masterclasses, there’s something for everyone for those of us in eCommerce. Register here.

If scaling your business up and reaching customers overseas is on your agenda this year, then you’ll want to attend this event. The Department for International Trade in partnership with eCommerce Expo are running a virtual event on Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th May. It is free to register, and there are some fantastic experts involved. Sign up here.