Benefits of Having an Online Company Store

While the idea of creating an online company store may seem like a daunting and expensive undertaking, the truth is they are fairly easy to setup and can actually save companies time, money and resources. If you are not currently taking advantage of an e-commerce solution, you may want to consider the many benefits and decide if one may be right for you.

Decrease Cost and Investment
One of the biggest advantages to having a company store is being able to obtain lower pricing without committing to large inventory levels. When products are placed in a company store program, co-op pricing is often available. Many times products can be purchased for the lowest industry published price, while only ordering the minimum quantity for stock. Merchandise can then be bought through the online store in quantities as low as 1 piece without being charged upfront for the inventory.

Save Time
Company stores save time for sourcing agents by allowing each department to easily order their own branded merchandise. Once products are chosen and added to the store, orders can be placed directly through the website in just a few clicks. Your promotional products distributor takes on the responsibility of website maintenance, inventory management, order processing and customer service, freeing up time for sourcing agents to attend to their other responsibilities.

Control Branding
Logoed products, whether apparel or hard goods, are often ordered by a number of different departments. Creating an online store where these products are available for purchase makes it easy to keep branding consistent across all departments and locations. The artwork for all merchandise is approved by someone proficient in the companies branding guidelines, thus preventing anyone from using your logo improperly.

Manage Spending
Having an online store makes it possible to monitor and control who is able to buy what. There are a number of different payment options available, so you can allow people to buy with a credit card, purchase order, pre-approved company budget or gift certificates. A login/password can also be created to limit access to certain sections of your website or display different pricing for different users.

Shorten Production Times
The standard production time for branded merchandise is approximately 7-10 business days. When products are stocked in a company store program, orders can ship within 24 hours, making it possible to meet last-minute promotional needs.

There are many different types of companies that can benefit greatly from having an online store. You may be a good candidate if you:
- reorder the same products frequently
- have a number of locations that use branded products
- require employees to wear uniforms or specific attire when attending conferences, meetings or other events
- sell your branded merchandise to distributors or the general public
- want to give employees access to place personal orders for branded merchandise
- are looking to streamline an awards or recognition program

Any company considering an e-commerce solution should contact their promotional products distributor to discuss what type of program will best fit their unique needs.