online store

What is an online store?

An online store, also known as an e-shop, is a digital platform that enables the sale and purchase of goods and services over the internet. These applications fall into the category of e-commerce, which includes all commercial transactions conducted online. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar stores, online stores offer customers the convenience of shopping from the comfort of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Advantages of Online Stores:

Why are online stores so popular? There are several reasons:

• Convenience: Customers can browse and shop for goods from the comfort of their home, without the need to travel to brick-and-mortar stores.
• Availability: E-shops are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering customers flexibility in shopping time.
• Wide selection: Online stores can offer a much wider selection of goods compared to brick-and-mortar stores, as they are not limited by physical space.
• Competitive prices: Due to lower operating costs compared to brick-and-mortar stores, e-shops can offer goods at lower prices.
• Quick price comparison: Customers can compare prices of goods in different e-shops within a few seconds, saving time and money.
• Detailed product information: On the websites of e-shops, customers find detailed information about products, reviews from other customers, photos, and videos, which makes it easier to choose.

Types of Online Stores:

E-shops can be categorized into various types according to different criteria:

• By type of goods sold: We can encounter e-shops focused on selling electronics, clothing, food, cosmetics, furniture, toys, and many others.
• By target group: E-shops target different groups, such as B2C (selling to end customers) or B2B (selling to businesses).
• By size: There are small e-shops operated by individuals, medium-sized e-shops, and large e-shops with global reach.
• By type of platform: E-shops can be created on a proprietary platform, rent a platform from an external provider, or use open-source solutions.

How does an online store work?

From a technical standpoint, an online store consists of two main parts:

• Backend: The backend is the technical background of the e-shop, which is not visible to regular visitors. It includes a database of products, orders, payment system, administrative interface, and other components. Here, all data is managed, and all important e-shop processes take place.
• Frontend: The frontend is the part of the e-shop that customers directly interact with. It consists of the graphical user interface (GUI) – design, layout, and all the elements that customers see when browsing products, adding goods to the cart, and placing orders. It is crucial for the frontend of the e-shop to be clear, user-friendly, and optimized for various devices (desktops, tablets, mobiles).

• Setting up an online store:

  Have you decided to embark on the journey of e-commerce and open your own online store? Before you get started with the actual setup, several important factors need to be considered:

  • Business plan: Developing a detailed business plan is the first step. It should include market analysis, target group, competition, product offering, marketing strategy, and financial plan.
  • Product selection: It is important to choose products that have market potential and that your target group will be interested in. Consideration should also be given to suppliers, logistics, and margins.
  • E-shop platform: There are several options for setting up an e-shop: 
    • Custom e-shop creation: This solution offers the greatest degree of flexibility and customization, but it is also the most expensive and time-consuming.
    • Rented e-shop: A faster and cheaper alternative, where you rent an already finished platform from an external provider. Customization options are usually limited.
    • Open-source solutions: Free options for the technically savvy, which, however, require an investment of time and expertise for implementation and management.
  • Payment methods: The e-shop should offer customers various payment options, such as credit cards, online payment gateways, bank transfers, or cash on delivery.
  • Marketing and promotion: To succeed in a competitive environment, a well-thought-out marketing strategy is key. Consider using various marketing channels, such as SEO (search engine optimization), PPC advertising (Pay-Per-Click), social networks, email marketing, and content marketing.
  • Logistics and shipping: Ensuring reliable and efficient logistics is key to the success of an e-shop. It is necessary to choose a suitable carrier, set up shipping zones and prices, and build a good relationship with suppliers.
  • Customer service: Professional and willing customer service is essential for building trust and loyalty among customers. The e-shop should offer various communication options with customer support (email, phone, chat).

  The future of online stores:

  E-commerce continues to grow and evolve. In the future, we can expect further trends that will influence online stores:

  • Personalization: E-shops will use advanced technologies to personalize the shopping experience for each customer.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI): AI will play an increasingly important role in e-commerce, for example, in product recommendations, process automation, and price optimization.
  • Voice control: Shopping through voice assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa will become more common.
  • Mobile commerce: Shopping from mobile devices will play an even more dominant role. E-shops must adapt to the mobile environment and offer customers a seamless shopping experience on mobile.
  • Social commerce: Social networks will merge with e-commerce, allowing for example purchases directly from social media.