Local Businesses

Everybody understands big shops like Amazon doing ecommerce. That's what Amazon is. And it even makes sense to see big stores like WalMart, Target, Best Buy and others doing ecommerce.

But is ecommerce really for local businesses? Yes!

Everyone throws up their hands and bemoans how the Internet giants are killing brick and mortar stores. But local businesses aren't going away. They just need to shift their focus to compete with the new digital reality. They need to think local and global at the same time.

Ecommerce can do the same thing for the local business that it did for Amazon. The Internet destroyed geographic limitations and that made Amazon so successful.

Local businesses are inherently local, but they don't have to be. Instead of worrying about bricks and mortar, how about embracing bricks and clicks. Do both!

Local businesses can have the best of both worlds: They can be the local institution, connecting with the immediate community, but they can also have a global reach, selling products worldwide. With geographic limitations gone, imagine the potential customers.

Let's break it down.

Retail

Ecommerce can be a major boost for local stores. Amazon may have the logistics covered down to the tenth of a penny, but they still lack the style, fashion and attitude of a good local shop.

Take your greatest strength and magnify it with the power of the Internet. Don't let your store be limited by geographic distance. Take your style worldwide.

It's not all about going global either. Just because you're busting down the limitation of distance doesn't mean you're neglecting your tried and true local customers who put you on the map. Going online can mean a better experience for your local fans. Now they can shop 24/7. Show inventory online and allow purchase for pickup. Going global should mean better service for locals, too!

Sell more stuff, more efficiently and have more time to do what you do best.

Manufacturing

This may seem like a weird sector for ecommerce, but why not? Ecommerce is all about greasing the wheels of transactions, making it easier to sell. Couldn't manufacturers benefit from that? Maybe it's making it easier to place orders or selling off old inventory.

And if you think manufacturing is too complicated for ecommerce, think again. Printing is notoriously complicated, yet print shops sell online all the time. They've found ways to simplify the process and add a layer of proofing to make it all work.

Manufacturing has taken a big hit recently, especially in the United States. If you're going to succeed, it's time to try new ideas, shift into new markets. Ecommerce could be just the opportunity you need.

Restaurants

Pizza Hut pioneered online ordering back in 1994, so don't even try to say restaurants can't do ecommerce. It might be online ordering with pickup or delivery, or even shipping baked goods or frozen treats. People will go through a lot for good food.

It might also be more about the brand than the food. Some restaurants sell branded merchandise. Ever hear of Hard Rock Cafe? You might not have global appeal, but you might have enough to sell a few T-shirts.