How to Start Selling Your Protein Bars Online, Fast
Having an eCommerce store is becoming increasingly important, especially in light of the coronavirus outbreak. With many brick-and-mortar stores and retailers now closed, consumers are relying on online shopping to fulfill their needs. Now more than ever, food entrepreneurs have a great opportunity to gain and maintain market share by selling their protein bars and connecting with their consumers online.
As more people shop online rather than venture outside, nimble food entrepreneurs are turning their focus towards eCommerce, creating digital storefronts that bring the physical store experience into an online space.
eCommerce Platforms for Protein Bars
The fastest way to start selling online quickly is to set up an Amazon storefront or use the Shopify platform to set up a simple online store.
Amazon is one of the biggest eCommerce platforms food entrepreneurs can use to sell their protein bars fast. 300 million customers worldwide shop on Amazon, opening a huge market to entrepreneurs looking to gain market share. From flexible selling plans to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), setting up and selling protein bars through Amazon can be done easily and quickly.
Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce platform that empowers independent entrepreneurs to start, run, and grow their business. With over 1,000,000 businesses worldwide currently using Shopify, this platform is perfect for food entrepreneurs looking to set up their online shop quickly. During this time, Shopify is offering an extended 90-day free trial to all new customers, as well as a host of other resources, including webinars, community support groups, funding, and local pickup and delivery options, to help entrepreneurs combat the effects of COVID-19.
Fulfillment Solutions for Protein Bars
Delivery is the trickiest part for food entrepreneurs looking to transition their business model from in-store to online. However, there are many fulfillment solutions entrepreneurs can consider to reach their consumers fast.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is one of the most advanced fulfillment networks worldwide. This Amazon service handles the shipping, refunds, and returns for all Amazon sellers. As an Amazon seller, food entrepreneurs new to the eCommerce space can benefit from FBA and its quick delivery times.
ShipBob is a popular eCommerce fulfillment solution for direct-to-consumer brands because it seamlessly integrates with Shopify and Amazon stores. Similar to FBA, ShipBob handles every aspect of the fulfillment process, from inventory management to reporting and analytics. It is the perfect option for food entrepreneurs who don’t want to use FBA but need to get their protein bars into the hands of their consumers fast.
Although a shift to eCommerce is not easy, selling protein bars online will help food entrepreneurs stay connected with existing customers and even gain new customers. Especially in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, eCommerce is an essential channel that entrepreneurs must adapt to in order to remain competitive in the food industry.