Possible new merchant - feedback!

[Stuart]

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Hi,

My parents have been running a small shop in Cambridge and have an e-commerce site www.reedsofcambridge.co.uk


I am helping them with ideas and plans to improve the on-line operation and increase sales. Part of this would be to improve the site layout, add new products and features. We want to create a site that is focused on Active Leisure and Fitness with the message being all about helping people get active and fit – for the young or old. We are also looking to see if we can partner with some activity holiday companies and offer special deals for tings like cycling, walking or canoeing holidays as well as anything activity or leisure related…

Examples of the categories are as follows:

Active Leisure
Canoeing – Cycling - Running – Swimming - outdoor activities/sports – Camping

Fitness
Yoga – Weight Management – Pilate’s - Energy Drinks/Food – DVD’s and Books

Outdoor
Trampolines – Outdoor games

Gadgets (Sports and Leisure related)
Pedometers – Heart Rate Monitors etc

Clothing and Accessories
Trainers – Sunglasses – Shorts – T-shirts – vests – Holdalls – Watches –
Anything relating to the above categories

I am interested to know if this is an area that people would be interested in promoting and what your thoughts are in the proposition, they want to be slightly different in the approach with a clear message as to what we are selling and why!

Thank you for your time

Regards
Stuart

[Stuart]

Hi,

Sorry I forgot to add, as part of the development and change in brand/focus, we will be setting up an affiliate program.

What levels of commission would affilaites like to see for this type of product/industry?

I am keen to help reeds make a success of the new brand and on-line store and part of this will be to look at active affiliate management and provide feeds/banners and weekly communication on sales/promotions/offers and new products. What else would affiliates like us to provide enabling you to promote the new store and products?

Thanks again

[eliteshops]

Hi,

Sorry I forgot to add, as part of the development and change in brand/focus, we will be setting up an affiliate program.

What levels of commission would affilaites like to see for this type of product/industry?

I am keen to help reeds make a success of the new brand and on-line store and part of this will be to look at active affiliate management and provide feeds/banners and weekly communication on sales/promotions/offers and new products. What else would affiliates like us to provide enabling you to promote the new store and products?

Thanks again

This was written by Matt i another thread but is really good advice and worth ressurrecting

Incentive schemes should do just that; incentivise... Unless you're the super affiliate for a program then nothing is less appealing to the broad affiliate base than a merchant saying 'the affiliate who generates the most sales between blah and blah will receive £1,000"

So incentivise all groups of affiliates, those who do 5-10 sales a month, to those who may do 200+

You can do this with tier levels - thankfully becoming more popular now - though these can alienate new affiliates if using PPC as the lower commission rate is a barrier to entry for them. - Virtually all networks can accommodate this.

Bonuses are good (like DGM often do) - however personally I prefer a set higher commission based on previous months sales. You can record your ROI throughout the month better.

You'll need to get your affiliates moving and giving you that all important exposure. You're in a competitive market, and people will have tried and tested programs which they may not want to downgrade to give you a chance - harsh but that’s reality. You may not have the same problem with ‘product feed’ affiliates.

Early adopters to your program re important, especially ones who can give you sales. Keep them sweet – they may be pushing your program at a loss or at less EPC than other programs. Take care and communicate with them to keep them sweet and loyal.

I’d also put some budget aside to send them a surprise gift – always goes down well. We are your sales force after all.

Get feedback (on here) and by email from your affiliates – be proactive and you’ll get good results.

Product specific incentives may also be worth a try – perhaps on one of your most keenly prices lines? Could get some PPC affiliates interested - for example the affiliate who sells the most DVD recorders (across all brands) will win one or £xxx cash.

In the end though you can incentivise your affiliates by keen, polite communication, ensuring tracking pixels don’t get ‘lost’ and by posting on here all for free.

Good luck.
Matthew.

We also like exclusive money off vouchers
Special offer pages
No visible telephone numbers
Product Feeds


Its all here in this forum

finally, and without sounding too disrespectful, your site could do with a revamp. It looks very homemade and may put of potential buyers

hope this helps

[Stuart]

Thanks Alan,

Pretty much what I thought on the affiliate program, have been told this before, was more interested in what kind of commission levels we should be aiming at providing, we do aim to be pro-active in the management, regular communication and offers etc

The site will be having a complete re-vamp and probably moving away from Actinic, although it is a good piece of software, it can't do everything we need easily.

Anyone else got any feedback regarding the store/products and if this is an earea you can/would promote, rather than the affiliate management side of things

Cheers
Stuart

[crazihos]

This may be way off the mark - but regarding the domain name. Is a localised domain a good idea in online shopping or are you better off stearing clear of names like cambridge etc.. as its more a nationwide/global audience your trying to appeal to?

[eliteshops]

Anyone else got any feedback regarding the store/products and if this is an earea you can/would promote, rather than the affiliate management side of things

Cheers
Stuart

Hi Stuart

I think the canoes and outdoor equipment should sell well as these are quite specialised. As should the gadgets.

clothing might be a little more competative but if you base your commission levels against the popularity of the products ie higher commission for more common items that might help

I would look at the levels of commission for your competitiors and try and be 2-3% higher

hope this helps

[Stuart]

Thanks crazihos,

The domain will change as well as the brand image the existing name will be re-directed and something will be added to the site to say the company has changed its name!

Cheers
Stuart

[Edwin]

Slight aside, but if your parents have a website that talks specifically about their PHYSICAL shop in Cambridge (and if they still plan to keep that shop open) then drop me a PM with the URL and I'll list them on Cambridge.co.uk.

[Stuart]

Thanks again to those that replied!

Edwin they will be keeping the shop in Cambridge - they may be moving to bigger premises in a few months, so we will let you know if the address changes

Regards
Stuart

[Abertawe]

Hi Stuart

Totally unrelated, but my wife purchased a watch via the reed website for my little boy to buy my father's day present.

She was impressed with the website and the rapid delivery. Credit where credit is due. Congrats to your folks.

By the way it was a speedo watch. Active or what.

[Stuart]

Hi Abertawe,

Wow that was an old post

Fantastic, thank you for the feedback I will pass that on to my folks

Regards
Stuart