From improved branding control to easy access to company products, an online company store comes with significant benefits. Additional perks include minimized administration duties and an overall reduction in cost when it comes to supplying company products. Branded products are a top form of advertising, with each item in your shop having the potential to increase your ROI.
If you’re not sure if you’re ready for an online company store, these seven signs can help you decide. Those who are primed to move forward can make the process easier with proper preparation.
Proper preparation involves defining the products you’ll include, determining who can access the platform, and establishing way to spread the word internally. You’ll also want to decide on your internal payment options as well as ensure your reporting needs are met.
1. Define Products to Include in Your Store
The variety of products you can stock in your company store is enormous, particularly with vendors that have global sourcing capabilities and supply chain partners. Yet not every product is ideal for every company. Choose products carefully, ensuring they align with your brand, goals and objectives. Vendors with powerful networks are more likely to fulfill your orders accurately and rapidly, no matter what items you choose.
Free Guide: 10 Questions to Ask When Launching an Online Company Store
2. Determine who can Access the Platform
Establish different user groups who will be granted access to your online company store, and then set their access privileges accordingly. Some employees may require administrative access, while others may need to order items for company purposes or personal use. You may also want to provide access to all customers, select customers, or no outside users at all.
See Also: User Groups for Company Store
3. Establish Ways to Spread the Word Internally
For your online store to be most effective, your employees need to know it exists. Setting up an employee motivation or awards program that offers company store gift codes as rewards can generate automatic interest, as can using new hire packages and recruiting kits from your store.
Consider offering work anniversary gifts and other employee perks from the store to keep engagement and excitement high.
4. Decide on Internal Payment Options, Gift Certificates
Employees making personal purchases may need different payment options, including gift codes or gift certificates they’ve received as rewards. Other employees may need to purchase items for company marketing or recruitment purposes, in which case you can allocate orders to an internal company department, budget or cost center. Outside customers also need a convenient way to pay or use gift certificates, all of which need to be considered as part of the setup process.
5. Make Sure Your Reporting Needs are Met
Detailed online reporting is essential for making data-driven decisions about your online company store. Look for a platform that offers real-time reports from a central dashboard, along with standard and customized reporting options.
Making the most of an online company store starts with proper preparation, which you can achieve with help from these six tips. Once your store is up and running, a quality platform will do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. This leaves you and your employees free from the former hassles associated with supplying company products, which is now done with efficiency and ease.
