A new online parts shop

[JanJan]

I think that the general mainstream parts industry is a bit flooded. I doubt that you will get better prices or provide a more streamlined service than the larger online stores.

 

My 99c: host a platform for high volume orders of niche parts. Customers place long lead time orders for specific parts until you can fill 1/4 of a container from europe/asia. You will basically need to do the logistic management. Once a shipment is full, you request the customers to pay and the total shipping cost is divided and minimal. Just an idea...

[cfcjim]

Have a look at squarespace for artwork and a complete solution. Check their pricing vs your art guy.

 

They have specials via various podcasts.

[Christian van Zyl]

I think that the general mainstream parts industry is a bit flooded. I doubt that you will get better prices or provide a more streamlined service than the larger online stores.

 

My 99c: host a platform for high volume orders of niche parts. Customers place long lead time orders for specific parts until you can fill 1/4 of a container from europe/asia. You will basically need to do the logistic management. Once a shipment is full, you request the customers to pay and the total shipping cost is divided and minimal. Just an idea...

Great idea...

 

I must add that SA consumers are very demanding and expect quick service. 

 

I'm not sure if our market will have the patients to wait very long, Chain Reaction and Wiggle can send you stuff very fast. 

[lerouc]

Never heard of it before you mentioned it, but have had a quick look around their site and I must say that looks like a really cool option for anybody wanting a quick and easy e-commerce site, as long as you have Windows hosting. (I'm sure there's other Linux based options too)

I used to do some PHP development on the side back in the day, but I always passed on anything that needed e-commerce because I just didn't have the knowledge, something like this would have been really useful back then...

I purely looked at them because they are opensource and .net. I looked at using this as a potential for our local cycling club to use for its early memberships because they have a "custom" written online tool which requires months of development each year and being from IT i couldn't understand what the issues were, needless to say, they opted to stay with their current system, does not make any sense to me but who am i to judge.

[lerouc]

I run linux

Have MySQL

Normally run PHP based CRMs on word press

I dont do art so I always use to have a guy

 

But right now I have a clean slate and about 73 ideas

 

Dave

Do a quick search for open source ecommerce sites, there will be quite a few for php. Gives you the ability to customize something but also stick with an existing working product.