Starting an online business which sells cleaning fluid for glasses.

[JejuIslandKR]

I have a super-random question: let's say I wanted to start an online e-commerce business (no brick and mortar store) that sells small plastic bottles of eyeglasses cleaning fluid (not self-branded, but, rather, other brand's cleaning fluid). I just found a good domain for starting such a business.

I live in England and don't have any experience of running a business - however, I can make basic websites, I have experience of using WordPress.org, and I am an experienced logo designer - so I think I can build the requisite website and take care of the branding side of things.

I was wondering, though, if anyone on this forum had any essential tips on starting such a business. Like, are there any wholesaler websites you would recommend for finding wholesalers who sell glasses cleaner? Any WordPress plugins which would be ideal for this business? Maybe I should open a digital store on Amazon or something. Anyway, I will reply to helpful replies.

 

[fisicx]

Congratulations on your new business venture.

I wouldn’t start with a website. People buy cleaning fluid from existing marketplaces such as Amazon. That’s where you need to list your products. But even then it’s not going to be easy.

If you try to sell on your own website you will be swamped by everyone else all doing the same thing. It is possible to compete but to do so will mean either spend money on marketing or learning the skills yourself.

You mention wholesalers. To get the low prices others enjoy would mean buying huge quantities. Unless you have the funds your unit prices will always be higher.

Which ever method you choose it’s going to be hard work for a very small return.

 

[GLAbusiness]

Agree with fsicx. You seem to be concentrating on the website when you should be building your business plan

 

[JejuIslandKR]

Congratulations on your new business venture.

I wouldn’t start with a website. People buy cleaning fluid from existing marketplaces such as Amazon. That’s where you need to list your products. But even then it’s not going to be easy.

If you try to sell on your own website you will be swamped by everyone else all doing the same thing. It is possible to compete but to do so will mean either spend money on marketing or learning the skills yourself.

You mention wholesalers. To get the low prices others enjoy would mean buying huge quantities. Unless you have the funds your unit prices will always be higher.

Which ever method you choose it’s going to be hard work for a very small return.

ok thank you.

 

[JejuIslandKR]

Agree with fsicx. You seem to be concentrating on the website when you should be building your business plan

ok ty

 

[WaveJumper]

Yes business plan first and if you are focusing on just one product your price point is going to be crucial especially if you want to compete with the likes of Amazon sellers where you can buy the product for as low as £4.00.

Do your research and business plan first source, price, what will be your USP and why they going to come to your website

 

[Mark T Jones]

Reflecting most of the above - the one key question is

Why will they want to buy from you?

Crack that and you've cracked the business!

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Starting a business in a very specific product that you know nothing about, purely because you've "found a good domain for it" is a recipe for disaster, I'm afraid.

 

[JejuIslandKR]

Yes business plan first and if you are focusing on just one product your price point is going to be crucial especially if you want to compete with the likes of Amazon sellers where you can buy the product for as low as £4.00.

Do your research and business plan first source, price, what will be your USP and why they going to come to your website

ok thank you for the info, and, hey, i recognise that guy on your pic from The Thunderbirds

 

[JejuIslandKR]

Reflecting most of the above - the one key question is

Why will they want to buy from you?

Crack that and you've cracked the business!

ty for the info, my friend

 

[JejuIslandKR]

Starting a business in a very specific product that you know nothing about, purely because you've "found a good domain for it" is a recipe for disaster, I'm afraid.

Yeah you're right, I sometimes get a bit excited when I land a hot domain tbh. I sometimes start thinking I can build a commercial empire on a hot domain, but doing so is not easy.

 

[fisicx]

Yeah you're right, I sometimes get a bit excited when I land a hot domain tbh.

There is no such thing as a hot domain anymore. People think it’s important but it really isn’t.

 

[WaveJumper]

ok thank you for the info, and, hey, i recognise that guy on your pic from The Thunderbirds

5 4 3 2 1 Thunderbirds are GO

 

[Chris Ashdown]

A quick look on Amazon finds lots of competition at £5.00 (one selling 3 for £9) all selling on prime, I guess you would find it hard on those prices along with Amazon costs plus your purchase costs to be able to make any real money as a single identity shop
Maybe if you brought them unbranded and applied your own labels you could start your own branding but quiet honestly i think it's just a price driven market (a race to the bottom)