Monday 22 January 2018

Best Markets to Sell Handicrafts & Decoratives

Do you sell and create handicrafts & decorative products? Whether you sell offline or you have your website, one of the toughest challenges you would encounter is how to get your home-made products in front of your buyers. 

Should you go offline or online, eBay or Etsy, Pinterest or Facebook?

The question is not easy to answer, it depends on your crafts business and where you think, you will get your customers. Some craftworks sell remarkably well on eBay while others do better on offline mediums.

To find out something meaningful, we have reached out some successful handicraft entrepreneurs and ask them to tell us about the best markets where to sell handiwork and decorative. In the light of experts opinion, here are some best platforms you need to think about to sell your products.

Etsy is one of the renowned selling markets for craftspeople and artisans of all types. You can find lots of handmade supplies and decorative items there on site. From the website, you can browse products lists by topic or category and even directory of local stores in your neighborhood by optimizing the country criteria on the web page. You can place all your products along country information on website to get generate potential leads.

Handmade Artists’ Shop serves as a community forum as well as a marketplace. This site is best to make your crafts seller profile and networking with industry professionals such as artists and craftspeople.

Folksy is an online home decorations and handicrafts marketplace based in the UK. From tiniest to huge pieces, you will find a wide variety of things like handmade goods, jewelry, decorative dishes, wall decorations, homemade clothes, shelves, etc. This platform is excellent for crafts entrepreneurs who sell wide variety of products in handwork. You just need to mention different product categories in your seller profile with eye-catchy product headings.

ExportHub is a B2B portal where several buyers and sellers connect with each other across different countries. EH comprises of numerous industries including Handicrafts & Decoratives. You can easily search several buyers of handmade products online and contact them for business correspondence. If you want to do competitive analysis, you can browse several products of your competitors and efficiently analyze their showcased products and price offerings.  

eCrater exists as a digital marketplace and a web store builder. If you are selling crafts and decoration goods, you can make your online store in few minutes free of cost. Also, you can import your e-Bay store into eCrater.

eBay is a worldwide renowned online shopping store. It’s a big marketplace where you can find out thousands of unique and trendy products. Many traders of handicraft and decoration industry display their products on eBay due to the vast traffic of buyers.

Do you know, e-bay has 171 million active buyers worldwide?  

The sites as mentioned above are the renowned and useful e-commerce sites for selling craftworks and decoration products. Now let’s take a look at physical markets of decorative and crafts goods.

Importing Countries


Handicrafts are usually exported by Asian countries and mostly purchased by the western states. European people have a keen interest in handmade products that’s why Europe and USA regions are considered as the most significant market for selling handiworks.  

According to USAID report, key importing countries include Netherlands, Spain, UK, France, Germany, USA, Hong Kong, Japan and many other western countries. America is regarded as the largest market of home-made products whereas Europe is a considered as a second largest market of handicrafts.

The global market worth for craftwork and decoration products is approximately $100 billion. However, only USA retail sales are worth $67.5 billion. It shows that the USA is a big consumer market for this Gifts & Crafts industry.

Trade shows

Decoratives and craftsmen tradeshows are held in most of the countries of the world. Tradeshow allows you to engage in face to face interaction with your clients, and give you great exposure to competitor’s products and consumer needs.

Exportdabase is tradeshow site where you can find tradeshow of all the countries across all the products and industries. In this way, you can also find out the crafts tradeshows going on in your city or town.

Similarly, there are many other sites of tradeshows where you can schedule your time to attend them. e.g., 10times.com , tradefairdates, etc. 

According to research survey of USAID, it is expected that buyers will be more likely to come from Eastern Europe, China, and Japan. Therefore, exhibitors and craftworks companies need to prepare pricing and product information in multiple languages. 

Traders and Consumers

If you examine the decorative and craftworks industry, there are two types of buyers – business buyers and consumer buyers. Business buyers are usually traders like wholesalers and retailers who buy directly from an authorized distributor or a manufacturer then sell these homemade goods from their store to consumer or end-user. Traders or business buyers buy in large quantities.

However, consumer buyer is a customer who directly buys from a retailer or brand website. They usually buy single or few pieces of products. You have to set your marketing strategy that can serve both consumer and business segments of handmade products.

The bottom line is

By doing dynamic market segmentation of consumer and business markets in particular regions. The seller can earn profits by leaps and bounds. Above mentioned sites and tradeshows will help you to explore more and re-make your marketing strategy.

Friday 12 January 2018

4 Effective Lead Generation Channels in Chemical Business


Finding industrial chemicals & supplies buyer leads are a bit different as compared to other industries of the business sector. In the first place, you must know the industries and businesses where your chemicals are used as an ingredient because these businesses are your target audience. For instance, if your chemical is used in lubricants and construction material then you have to target lubricant and construction manufacturers.

Also, you need to determine who are the users and business buyers of these chemicals. They can be manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, indenters, and traders in this chemical.
  • Apparel & Textile Machinery
  • Bending & Metalwork Machines
  • Hydraulic & Pneumatic Machines
  • Seals, Oil Seals & Industrial Seals
  • Marking and Stamping Machines
  • Conveyor Machines & Conveyor Systems
Once you know your target audience, and then choose the best channel which can help you to bring quality traffic of leads. Here are few channels that can help you to find potential inquiries of chemicals.

B2B Portals

Make your profile on world top B2B portal such as Alibaba.com, tradekey.com and exporthub.com etc. These B2B portals carry a huge database of companies and manufacturers. So initially you can reach out the big number of manufacturers who use your chemicals in manufacturing their products.

Secondly, visit the buyer leads page on the B2B portal and write your chemical keyword in the search bar for browsing buyer leads. You will find out several companies and buyers who demand your product in certain quantities.

You can also browse some chemical B2B trade sites for finding good leads too. However, there are some B2B portals which are industry based. For example, if your chemical is used in paints you can check out coatings1.com where you can find out paint manufacturers and companies who only deal in paints and coatings.

In this way, you can approach a big data of leads by using B2B trade portals.

LinkedIn

  • Set up your company page and business Profile on LinkedIn.
  • Joint groups of relevant manufacturers and chemicals.
  • Post your selling chemical products with a small copy of sales pitch then share with related business groups. Interested customers will more likely to drop inquiry in your inbox.
  • Add and approach purchase professionals from your target audience companies. If your target market is 20 countries, then add relevant prospects only from those 20 countries. Consequently, LinkedIn will send you people add suggestions from specific 20 states. Then it will be easy for you to select the right person for the lead generation.
  • You can also publish content over the pulse about how your chemical solves your target audience manufacturing problems. As more as you write articles on the problem-solving areas of your audience, they will be more likely to engage with your content and expected to contact you at your LinkedIn Profile.

Business Magazines

Different business magazines are published across several industries. You have to choose the business magazine where you can find out the list of well-known companies across your target market. Also, check out their annual and monthly production capacity which can help you to estimate their purchase demand for chemical raw materials before contacting them.

Trade Shows

Participate in relevant trade shows and enhance your interaction with professionals of your target market. It will help you in building the strong relationship with client’s companies. Additionally, you are more likely to find some clues of significant leads. The trade show physical interaction plays the crucial role in setting up business meetings and visits.  Find leads associated with:

Conclusion

In the context of lead generation, you also need to evaluate your sales strengths which social site or tool you can efficiently use for lead engagement and conversion. In this regard, most of the sales and marketing workforce bring the lead into Whatsapp, Skype, we chat or Facebook Messenger for a chat and effective business communication. This tactic is practiced worldwide across several industries including chemical industry for lead nurturing and order closing.

Other Articles By Writer

Friday 5 January 2018

Modern Trends for Window Treatments

The window dressings and treatments are the crucial part of offices and consumer household interior designs. Therefore, it is highly critical for retailers and manufacturers of window treatments to keep track of modern trends in window dressings.

For last few years, people are looking for simple applications with eye-catchy designs in window treatments. These consumer preferences will further shape into upcoming trends of window dressings. Some of these top trends are:-

Greenery Trend

The green window dressings mean using wood and fabrics that are safe and sound. For instance, bamboo blinds can be a good choice because it’s easy to replenish and does not need to destroy its natural habitat. In this context, cork and hemp are also growing to be popular among people because rising spiritual thirst is leading people to embrace natural colors (green) of the earth.   

In this regard, retail merchants need to find out more fabrics with competitive nature in household and office decoration segment.

Color Inclination

Consumers are shifting from complex and bold colors of paisleys and are not inclined toward floral printed patters. People are moving toward simple lines that are displayed in cool; aqua, deep blue-based neutrals, and greens. The other desired color includes red along warm tones and neutral colors (earth complexion) such as taupe, tan and brown.

The window dressing entrepreneurs can position neutral colors as classic ones for consumers because they can fit effectively in any room style or décor.

Simplicity


The user needs the simple appearance of window dressings with smart designs that allow unlimited light which can easily shine up the entire room of the home or office space. The big rooms are getting popular in this context. On the other hand, people also demand window curtains treated with simple finishes, limited hardware, and cleanliness.

Some retail shops of window dressings provide adjustable blinds that redirect light and heat along selective privacy. 

Woven Fabric

The users are looking for woven fabric in their window curtains that are light and less bulky. They want window framings of layered valances, drapes, and sheers. Many window dressing suppliers receive a high demand for satin fabric; velvet tassels and furs incorporation into valances and swags.

Creative Options

Creative options are getting popular across the window dressing industry. Office and household customers are inclining toward curtain rods that look like hockey sticks and boat paddles instead of using traditional valances and swags.

Bold Prints


People are trending toward printed fabrics that are large and contain repetitive patterns. Designers are choosing strips over solids while crafting window dressings.

Conclusion


The above trends play the decisive role in influencing consumer buying behavior for choosing window dressings. Window Curtain Suppliers & Manufacturers need to understand that fashion trends are not the only element that determines the window curtain design. The function and form also play a crucial role in making a drawing of window dressings.

Therefore, it is essential for retailers and suppliers of window dressings to establish online and offline interaction with consumers. It can be helpful for entrepreneurs to keep track of customers changing interests and preferences regarding window treatments.

Wednesday 3 January 2018

B2B Challenges facing the Automotive Industry

Do you know automotive industry will close sales of 8.9 billion dollars by the end of 2017? However there will be around 16 percent increase of sales forecasted in 2017.






The automotive industry is progressing with revenue due to the digital revolution and meeting traditional needs of transportation.

However, the digital revolution has created different challenges in the auto industry. These challenges comprise of benefits as well as difficulties too. Hence, it is evident that future of vehicle industry revenue is online. 

In this way, E-Commerce offers efficient solutions to meet automotive challenges effectively. The few challenges have been shown below:-

Order Processing Complex Procedure

Automotive parts sales have been done a lot because auto parts are demanded by clients after sales too. The demand can be low or high with the passage of time.





        
As you can see the above chart, automotive parts are ordered massively. In this context, challenge is that mass ordering contains wide variety of customizations and components. In this way, complexity rises for delivering an order of auto parts because it may also allow errors during processing.

In this case, it is better to execute orders through ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning).  Therefore, automotive companies need to establish their auto site by ERP.

ERP can use data and logic through company web store. This feature reduces error possibility on one side and on other side support sales and other essential operations.

ERP also helps in seamless information exchange of inventory management, financial transactions, and sales management. All these functions are executed efficiently through your website due to ERP.

Handling Bulk Orders at the Single Point of Time

     
  
The above picture shows types of automotive customers and order frequency.

Automotive & Parts Manufacturers faces error frequency in bulk orders. In every order, there are complex variables to judge with each order like shipping requirements, payment options, and special conditions. Especially in large orders, custom work is required at the mass level.


The same situation is encountered by many other industries like Hand & Machine ToolsTelecommunications, Electrical SuppliesMachinery Parts & Accessories, Lighting Bulbs & Tubes and Fitness & Body Building.

In this context, the integrated auto website provides flexibility and freedom and all the essential options with information to place order online error-free. Some E-commerce platforms like Sana Commerce assists B2B automotive processes and operations to help automotive buyers in developing and finding multiple payment addresses, different shipping addresses, specific instructions of delivery and uploading attachments of returns and orders.

Difficulties to Market Products Relevant to Customers

Digital solutions allow automotive sites to market their products according to the needs of the clients. They can track buyer searches on Google and over their website. In light of searches data and ERP assistance, one can develop a link related to auto products in ERP. In this way, the auto website displays products to the buyer when they check out relevant pages of the product.

For instance, if the prospect is looking for a radiator on a website then auto web can give options for coolant fluid, fans, and tubing.

Conclusion


Automobile organizations are looking ways to cut more costs and be more competitive. They are
  • Utilizing different B2B portals for buyer searches and acquiring quality traffic of inquiries.
  • Improve external and internal communication between manufacturing sites and plants.
  • Focusing on efficient utilization of online marketing to establish new channels of revenue along with offline channel.
  • Decrease disruption in supply chain via improved collaboration and information management.

All Types of automotive parts like Cross Head,Ball, SKF & Compressor Bearings Manufacturers and Suppliers Available at ExportHub.com

Related Industries