What Growing eCommerce Brands Struggle With Most

Starting an online shop is exciting - you create your products, take great photos, post them online, and wait for sales to come in. At first, it’s fun, and you might be packing orders in your living room and writing thank-you notes by hand. Each and every order that comes in feels like a big deal. 

But then, things get busier, and although it’s great when sales go up and orders come in, it’s when it all happens quickly that causes stress, and you suddenly have to keep up with everything. What used to feel fun is now scary and unpleasant, and you might wonder if you can keep going. The good news is that there are ways to fix things.

How to Solve Common Problems eCommerce Brands Face

Here are some ideas for solving common problems many growing eCommerce brands face.

Not Enough Space

One of the big problems that growing eCommerce brands struggle with is space - even if you started out in a spare bedroom at home, that might not work once you get bigger, and if you don’t want to stack stock in your hallway, kitchen, living room, and anywhere else it can fit, you’re going to need to think of a new plan. 

That’s when many small brands start looking into outside support, and some might want to use a 3PL provider, which is a company that helps store, pack, and send your orders for you. That’s going to take the pressure off, and it gives you more time to focus on your products and your customers. 

Customers Expect More

Even with help, growing a brand is tricky, and customers expect fast shipping and quick replies when they get in touch - you’ll want the same when you buy things online, so it’s important to understand that your customers are going to ask that of you.

A good system to handle everything as it comes in is crucial, but it may not be enough to keep up with growth. The key is to be as clear and honest as possible on your website about delivery times and return policies. Plus, it’s wise to set up automatic replies to let customers know when they’ll be hearing from you. And if something does go wrong, reply kindly and offer a fix quickly. People are far more forgiving when things are dealt with in the right way. 

You Start Spending More Than You Make 

Growing often means spending more on things like stock, packaging, ads, or even help (outsourcing can really help, for example). But if costs aren’t managed properly, profits can disappear fast, and you’ll quickly end up in a lot of trouble. 

The way to handle this situation is to keep track of every penny - use a simple spreadsheet or free accounting app to watch your income and expenses. On top of that, only ever order stock you know you’ll sell, and don’t rush into big spending just because business is busy - you’ve got to test things first to make sure it’s sustainable. Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to business, and especially business finances. 

Try these tips to turn your challenges into triumphs as your eCommerce brand continues to grow.