{"id":4868,"date":"2022-02-14T13:44:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T13:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com\/blog\/?p=4868"},"modified":"2025-06-20T09:40:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T09:40:56","slug":"what-is-ecommerce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/","title":{"rendered":"eCommerce in 2025: Past, Present, &#038; Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4868\" class=\"elementor elementor-4868\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17a2be53 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17a2be53\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76a5ef99\" data-id=\"76a5ef99\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-390dfa05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"390dfa05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Millions of potential customers, low overhead costs, and unlimited potential&#8230; eCommerce sounds pretty good, doesn\u2019t it?<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, before googling \u201chow to start an eCommerce business,\u201d it\u2019s important to understand what eCommerce really is.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019re going to explain <\/span><b><i>the most important aspects of eCommerce, show you how to start an eCommerce business,<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b><i>analyze the current trends to understand the future<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of this increasingly profitable industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s take a look!<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What is eCommerce?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term <\/span><b>eCommerce<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, short for electronic commerce, signifies buying and selling products and services over the internet.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional commerce would require you to have a store. With eCommerce, you have an online store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t have to be in the same room as your customers. The majority of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.personizely.net\/blog\/sales-promotion-examples-to-skyrocket-your-sales\/\">sales promotion<\/a> and activities are conducted over the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce comprises of different business models (for example, <a title=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-dropshipping\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-dropshipping\/\">dropshipping<\/a>), but in general, if it\u2019s sold online, then it\u2019s eCommerce.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve probably encountered the following terms which can be used for eCommerce:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Online shopping<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Online retail<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Online business<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>eTrade<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>eBusiness<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s precisely because of the first term &#8211; online shopping &#8211; that eCommerce rose to popularity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back in the 1990s, people weren\u2019t willing to buy products online. However, we\u2019re currently in a situation where both small businesses and major chains like Ikea and Walmart sell their products online.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But how did we get this far?<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What is the History of Online Shopping?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the idea of processing transactions over the internet started way back in the 1960s, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/purple.ai\/blogs\/the-history-of-online-shopping\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the first online shopper<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bought at an online Tesco store in 1981, online retail as we understand it today hasn\u2019t gained traction until the 1990s.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first purchase recognized as an online purchase took place in 1994, when <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1994\/08\/12\/business\/attention-shoppers-internet-is-open.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The New York Times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> described how a man used the internet to buy a CD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/business-studies\/history-online-retail\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1995, both Amazon and eBay were launched<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The world wide web was chaotic at that point. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/money.com\/online-shopping-history-anniversary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Money.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, no one really knew where to find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/best-dropshipping-products-sell-2019\/\">products they wanted to buy.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Google it? Nope, Google didn\u2019t appear until 1998.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><i>It wasn\u2019t until 1999, when PayPal launched, that online shopping really gained traction.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People were afraid of sharing their sensitive financial information with virtual strangers, especially when hackers could intercept their connection at any point.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When PayPal opened for business, things started looking up for eCommerce business owners.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/5256ba246bb3f76338b9fab7?width=1100&amp;format=jpeg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Amazon.com books\" width=\"1100\" height=\"715\" \/><\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon in 1995<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/this-is-what-amazon-looked-like-in-1995-2013-10\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Insider<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, the number of internet users rapidly grew. People finally understood <\/span><b><i>how convenient it was to shop online<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And with PayPal ensuring the financial transactions went off without a hitch, there was no longer anything to fear.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2000, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/money.com\/online-shopping-history-anniversary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Census Bureau<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reported that online sales hit over $5 billion in the fourth quarter of 1999 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alone<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s, online shopping became a regular occurrence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More and more companies started selling online, with very few small businesses dabbling in eCommerce. Price-compare sites started popping up, allowing consumers to find the best deals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When <\/span><b><i>Facebook launched in 2004,<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it became pretty clear that there was no turning back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of internet users grew to almost a billion, with more and more joining the world wide web.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iPhones started enabling customers to use the internet on the go, and the whole world started shopping online.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By <\/span><b>2012<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, everyone was ready to swipe their cards or upload their products online, and eCommerce started becoming a viable business model, instead of simply a filler for brick and mortar stores.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Reviewing the history of eCommerce, a few things become immediately clear:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumers had to develop <\/span><b><i>a habit<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of using the internet to get information and shop in order for eCommerce to gain traction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most pressing obstacle to online shopping in the 90s and early 2000s was <\/span><b><i>security<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. After PayPal introduced their safer alternative to payment processing, more and more people started shopping online.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more the eCommerce tech developed, the easier it was for everyone to start shopping and selling online. Small businesses could easily get started with eCommerce after <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/article\/222967\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2009, when Shopify launched its app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while the early beginnings were rough, 2020 is the prime eCommerce time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What is the state of the eCommerce Industry in 2025?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2025, it\u2019s laughably easy to start an eCommerce business.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A potential eCommerce entrepreneur in 2025 doesn\u2019t face the challenges entrepreneurs faced in 2005.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back then, you\u2019d have to pay thousands of dollars for online storefronts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, you can simply pick from some of the readily available eCommerce platforms such as Shopify. The majority of plans won\u2019t cost you more than $50\/month in the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, if you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/modalysts-guide-drop-shipping-running-business\/\">decide to <\/a><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/modalysts-guide-drop-shipping-running-business\/\"><i>dropship<\/i><\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you don\u2019t even have to store your products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2025, it\u2019s completely possible to sell products without ever touching them yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><i>There is an eCommerce service for every online shopping need.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platforms like AliBaba connect online retailers with manufacturers and wholesalers. Even if you don\u2019t want to sell products from China, you\u2019ll find a vast variety of wholesale platforms that can connect you to American and European suppliers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><i>In 2025, there\u2019s something for everyone in eCommerce.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The eCommerce growth predictions of the early 2000s came true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All in all, it seems we\u2019re dealing with a thriving industry that shows incredible signs of growth. eCommerce is definitely not a passing fad, but a way of doing business in the 21<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">st<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re also seeing a lot of advanced trends being applied to small and mid-size eCommerce businesses, namely:<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Artificial Intelligence and Automation for eCommerce<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contemporary tools allow eCommerce business owners to harness the power of artificial intelligence and automation for sales. Be that nurturing more potential customers through email marketing automation, or leveraging website chatbots that act as sales representatives, one thing is clear:<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced technology has never been cheaper, and online retailers are taking notice.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Social Retail<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media started growing with Facebook, and it never stopped. It forms a whole technological bubble for certain customers. Platforms like Instagram are now allowing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/business\/instagram\/shopping\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online retailers to process payments and transactions through their social network.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In-app shopping experiences are all the rage today, fueled by the influencer marketing model which works perfectly for eCommerce.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mobilemarketingmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Instagram_Creator_Shopping.jpg\" alt=\"Instagram influencers for ecommerce\" width=\"1200\" height=\"694\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilemarketingmagazine.com\/instagram-shopping-creators\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile Marketing Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Subscriptions<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2010s also brought us a rise of SaaS (Software as a Service) companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of licensing tech tools, companies are now offering them to customers for a monthly subscription fee. The reduced costs make it much easier to start a business with all the necessary tools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Smarter Advertising<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since more and more <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quora.com\/What-percent-of-internet-users-use-adblock\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consumers block traditional banner ads<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, online retailers are turning to inbound advertising.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumers no longer randomly see ads; instead, every ad they see is <\/span><b><i>hyper-personalized<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and caters to their interests, increasing conversion rates for retailers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advertising in 2025 is all about matching the potential customer\u2019s intent, and giving them what they need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And all of this is just the tip of the very profitable eCommerce iceberg.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What Are the Different eCommerce Business Models?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While eCommerce is an umbrella term for businesses operating online, there are a few specific business models:<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Dropshipping<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dropshipping is generally considered to be one of the best ways to get started with eCommerce.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the main advantages of dropshipping is <\/span><b><i>cutting overhead costs<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional eCommerce requires you to store your products in a warehouse. But with dropshipping, you\u2019re just selling them. The actual supplier takes care of handling and shipping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All you do is market products, process orders and take your cut.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hackernoon.com\/photos\/igt8CfRKG3PcMuovWgbcGOHCkNK2-oq9l321r\" alt=\"Dropshipping vs Traditional Retail\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hackernoon.com\/what-is-dropshipping-zv4532ux\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hacker Noon<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re running a dropshipping eCommerce business, your <\/span><b><i>main costs will be marketing and sales.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You don\u2019t have to pay the supplier\/manufacturer for a single product until someone buys it through your site, and the money is deposited in your account.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So if you want to test the waters of eCommerce, <a title=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/\">dropshipping with Modalyst<\/a> is a great starting point.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Private Labeling eCommerce Business Model<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where dropshipping focuses on reselling products that already exist, private labeling is the perfect eCommerce business model for entrepreneurs that have a great idea, but limited resources.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re private labeling, you\u2019ll be <\/span><b><i>outsourcing product creation to manufacturers.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, those are overseas manufacturers in China. This is a bit more complicated but again, you\u2019re still cutting costs as you won\u2019t have to manufacture your products yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, you can even have the manufacturer ship the products directly to your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/business.ebanx.com\/hubfs\/Blog\/EN\/2017\/11_November\/IMG_POST-Ecommerce-Business-Models-WHITELABEL.jpg\" alt=\"Whitelabel Business Model Chart\" width=\"2160\" height=\"683\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/labs.ebanx.com\/en\/articles\/ecommerce\/ecommerce-business-models-which-one-is-best-for-your-store\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ebanx<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other version of private labeling can be buying products from manufacturers, and adding your twist to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, a tooth brush comes as a generic product. Then you ask the manufacturer to customize it (for example, change the color, add other features), and add your branding to the product.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the main advantages of private labeling is certainly the ability to <\/span><b><i>customize the product to your liking and branding<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All in all, private labeling is a sector with a huge potential. Its growth is predicted to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progressivegrocer.com\/private-labels-ecommerce-opportunity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quadruple in the next five years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>White Labeling<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you can modify product specifications if you\u2019re private labeling, you\u2019ll make do with a generic product if you\u2019re white labeling.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In that respect, white labeling is pretty similar to dropshipping. You can customize your packaging, but you can\u2019t customize anything about the product.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To put it simply: it\u2019s take it or leave it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to white labeling, <\/span><b><i>your niche matters<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll face a lot of competition, so it\u2019s important to conduct extensive research prior to selecting the products you\u2019ll offer in your online store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce entrepreneurs that focus on white labeling typically <\/span><b><i>differentiate their products<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> either through pricing (being cheaper than competitors), or by adding value with useful content and branding.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Print-on-Demand<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This eCommerce business model is a great fit for artists and creatives.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Print-on-demand is exactly what it says on the tin: the printing company takes their cut from customers when they order your products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Normally, <\/span><b><i>you don\u2019t have to pay anything in advance<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to print books, canvases, T-shirts, mugs, and other products. There are no overhead costs per se; you don\u2019t need a warehouse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You just need a great website and a steady stream of customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon\u2019s Kindle Direct Publishing is a great example of a print-on-demand service for books, while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printful.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Printful <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gives you the opportunity to sell anything from mugs to hoodies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you\u2019re interested in this business model, <\/span><b><i>you\u2019ll have to put your best marketing foot forward.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Branding and customer service are crucial to your success with this eCommerce model.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Subscription-Based eCommerce Business Models<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, while eCommerce <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online retail, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t use it to offer subscription-based services.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can create a subscription business like the Dollar Shave Club, who send regular shipments of shaving products to their subscribers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/dsc-assets.imgix.net\/images\/face-landing\/product-images\/quiz\/questionnairefunnel-family-pq.png?auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=675&amp;q=75&amp;dpr=1\" alt=\"Wanderer hygiene products\" width=\"675\" height=\"322\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dollarshaveclub.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dollar Shave Club<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also create <\/span><b><i>a membership website<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with courses and learning materials.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not even the sky is the limit; you can sell just about anything online!<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main advantage of subscription-based eCommerce businesses is the fact that you\u2019re getting<\/span><b><i> recurring revenue.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> However, in order to retain customers, you\u2019ll have to focus on <\/span><b><i>product quality and customer service<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Traditional eCommerce<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, there is also the option of <\/span><b><i>doing everything yourself while operating an online storefront. <\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the so-called traditional eCommerce business model, also known as warehousing and wholesaling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s your run-of-the-mill Walmart eCommerce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The only difference between traditional retail and online retail<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the fact that you\u2019re selling products online, and not (just) in a brick and mortar store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everything else stays the same; from inventory management, to handling and shipping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, if you\u2019re in the B2B sector, you can also <\/span><b><i>offer discounts for customers who order in large quantities<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is the wholesaling part of the model.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ikea.com\/ms\/en_JP\/media\/images\/_customer_services\/about_shopping\/online-store\/seo_image\/add%20to%20shopping%20cart__20170130_ibes_addtolist_624x365.jpg\" alt=\"Ikea.com product page\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ikea\u2019s webshop is a great example of traditional eCommerce with wholesaling and warehousing<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you already run a profitable business but you haven\u2019t created an online storefront yet, then it pays to consider this eCommerce model.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What are the pros of e-Commerce?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>You Can Sell Wherever You Want to Sell<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With traditional commerce, you\u2019re either limited to your geographical area, or you have to worry about logistics and additional costs to deliver your products to customers not in your immediate vicinity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce overcomes this barrier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regardless of your business model, there are services you can use to handle and <\/span><b><i>ship products across the world.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Talk about increasing your revenue!<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Low Costs<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce significantly reduces overhead costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if we just start from the fact that you don\u2019t need to pay thousands of dollars for rent, it becomes pretty clear that <\/span><b><i>eCommerce generates a better return on investment.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, you\u2019ll need to pay for a website and subscriptions to eCommerce platforms, but you still won\u2019t have to shell out thousands of dollars &#8211; a standard requirement when managing traditional stores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>24\/7 Sales<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best things eCommerce store owners get to experience is <\/span><b><i>waking up to find out that you\u2019ve earned a lot of money overnight.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike regular stores, your online store stays open 24\/7. And with automation tech, you can run advertising, order processing, and shipping on autopilot.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Personalization<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personalization works great for marketing, but it also works great for <\/span><b><i>customer experience<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Your automation tools will know exactly what (potential) customers want to buy, allowing you to up-sell and cross-sell easier than ever before.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Scalability<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s really, really easy to scale an eCommerce business. You don\u2019t even have to hire more employees. All you have to do is <\/span><b><i>improve your marketing game, and customers will come pouring in.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrepreneurs who start out with a few dozen customers often end up with thousands as soon as they invest into strategic marketing, advertising, and re-targeting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What are the cons of e-Commerce?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where there are advantages, there are disadvantages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, eCommerce doesn\u2019t have plenty:<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Consumer Behavior<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often, people want to try products before they buy them. Unfortunately, for the majority of B2C eCommerce businesses, this just isn\u2019t a possibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can mitigate this by offering size charts for clothing, and implementing similar strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Reliance on Technology<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you run an online store, you rely on the technology powering it; from website hosting, to automation tools connecting your storefront with your suppliers\u2019 inventory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Normally, this isn\u2019t a problem at all. However, if your website crashes, your customers won\u2019t be able to access it, so it pays to invest in reliable hosting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>eCommerce Is Highly Competitive<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce has a low barrier to entry because of the reduced start-up costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, if anyone can start a business, then it\u2019s bound to be more competitive.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key is in <\/span><b><i>differentiating your product and your brand<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A good marketing strategy and high-quality products will go a long way towards increasing your market share.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Can anyone do eCommerce?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not exactly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some products and services are simply not a good fit for eCommerce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, you can\u2019t really imagine a plumber selling their services online, whereas for a marketer, that\u2019s completely normal.=<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><b><i>eCommerce works really well for products and services that don\u2019t require you to be in the immediate physical vicinity of your customers<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, eCommerce might not be a good fit if your <\/span><b><i>target customers are older than 70.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While the times are changing, older generations may still be wary of technology &#8211; especially if your products come with a hefty price tag.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to this rule, so make sure you <\/span><b><i>conduct your own research.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, it\u2019s important to understand that <\/span><b><i>eCommerce is not a get-rich-quick scheme<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It takes time and strategy to successfully run an online store. If you\u2019re not very tech savvy, you should invest in courses and education.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, eCommerce\u2019s main advantage is flexibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So even if it looks like you couldn\u2019t use it on paper, make sure you do your own research, and make the best decision for your unique business.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>The 10 Most Popular eCommerce Platforms to Start Your Online Business<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Shopify<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopify.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the go-to solution for eCommerce sites. In fact, it\u2019s widely considered to be the best eCommerce platform, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capterra.com\/p\/83891\/Shopify\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a Capterra rating of 4.5\/5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It comes with an eCommerce website builder, as well as hundreds (if not thousands) of additional integrations to attract new customers, and improve their experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify also offers <\/span><b>shipping discounts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if you ship with their partners, and other perks such as point-of-sale apps and Shopify Payments gateway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopify.com\/pricing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify plans start from $29\/month.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>WooCommerce<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to run your eCommerce website on WordPress, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/woocommerce.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WooCommerce <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a great solution.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/woocommerce\/assets\/screenshot-6.jpg?rev=2074177\" alt=\"Woocommerce ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only does it integrate with WordPress, but WooCommerce is also an <\/span><b><i>open-source platform<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you want additional features, you can have a developer customize your website. This is usually not the case with other platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like Shopify, WooCommerce also has plenty of integrations to pick from.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/woocommerce.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WooCommerce is actually a free eCommerce platform.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> However, you\u2019ll need to pay for WordPress domain and hosting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>SquareSpace<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squarespace.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SquareSpace <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was originally designed as a visual, drag &amp; drop website builder, but they do offer eCommerce features.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/5134cbefe4b0c6fb04df8065\/t\/5c0a99150ebbe8ccf43d9072\/1544198424816\/F1B.jpg?format=1500w\" alt=\"Squarespace ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a good choice for everyone who needs an aesthetically appealing website to sell their products.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squarespace.com\/pricing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SquareSpace plans for eCommerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> start from $18\/month.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>BigCommerce<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly to Shopify, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcommerce.com\/essentials\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BigCommerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is considered to be one of the best eCommerce platforms today. It\u2019s rich with features and eager to please eCommerce business owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcdn.bigcommerce.com\/www1.bigcommerce.com\/assets\/scale-your-ecommerce-business.png?mtime=20190206172013\" alt=\"Bigcommerce ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One notable difference between BigCommerce and competitors like Shopify is that their platform was made for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcommerce.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wholesalers and B2B businesses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcommerce.com\/essentials\/pricing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BigCommerce pricing plans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> start from $30\/month.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Magento<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/magento.com\/products\/magento-commerce\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magento <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a great, open-source eCommerce platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a great choice if you want to supercharge your business from the very first day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.digitalsix.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Magento-Commerce-Checkout-Optimisation-blog.jpg\" alt=\"Magento ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to providing standard eCommerce features, Magento Commerce also offers <\/span><b><i>business intelligence, merchandising, <\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and other tools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a great choice if you\u2019re already running a profitable business and want to expand.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>BigCartel<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re an artist or a creator looking to sell your products online, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcartel.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BigCartel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a sound choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/pkn4mh4dn52b\/1wWIHjN8d2wECysQyKCUgy\/e3bbf74764ed5a549b33ee9ee5f81b50\/home-makers.jpg?q=75&amp;w=1189&amp;fm=webp\" alt=\"Bigcartel ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BigCartel plans start at less than $10 per month, and they depend on your product quantity. This is what makes it a great fit for creators with just a few products.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Wix.com<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally known as a website builder, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wix.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wix <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has recently branched into eCommerce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d2x3xhvgiqkx42.cloudfront.net\/12345678-1234-1234-1234-1234567890ab\/8769cf44-f342-494c-b25f-cc98c9da3e82\/2019\/04\/04\/3666385e-f0e7-402d-a711-29e6ebb759ab\/72ffffb8-ac06-4efd-9b3e-d1668d2aa04e.png\" alt=\"Wix ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wix is more than just an eCommerce website builder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They recently partnered with <\/span><b><i>Modalyst, a supplier platform<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so it\u2019s even easier to find products you love and display them in your online store.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wix.com\/upgrade\/website\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pricing starts from $17\/month<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with 25GB of storage and $75 ad vouchers. You can also create a free eCommerce website before paying for any plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>3D Cart<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dcart.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3D Cart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the smaller eCommerce software players, but they still offer the functionality you need to get your online business up and running.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dcart.com\/2015\/images\/home\/new\/optimized.png.pagespeed.ce.BraR9ze0z7.png\" alt=\"3dcart ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019ve also been named as <\/span><b><i>the best eCommerce platform for SEO<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by PCMag. If you plan on making SEO a vital part of your marketing strategy, 3D Cart is a solid choice.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dcart.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3D Cart pricing starts from $19\/month<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with no transaction fees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>PrestaShop<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you like open-source platforms that allow you to customize everything about your eCommerce sites, you\u2019ll love <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prestashop.com\/en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PrestaShop<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medias1.prestastore.com\/1024603-pbig\/lifestyle-by-prestashop-fashion-design.jpg\" alt=\"Prestashop ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the platform itself is <\/span><b>free<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, add-ons and integrations can be between $50 and $150.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Weebly<\/b><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another website builder has joined eCommerce ranks: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weebly.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weebly<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.editmysite.com\/images\/vue-landing-pages\/online-store\/theme.png\" alt=\"Weebly ecommerce platform\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weebly has joined the race relatively late, but they\u2019re still used by thousands of eCommerce business owners. It\u2019s not surprising, since <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weebly.com\/pricing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">their plans start from $12\/month<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; perfect for testing the waters of eCommerce!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Can smaller eCommerce Websites compete with Amazon and eBay?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, but you shouldn\u2019t want to compete anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon and eBay\u2019s main strength is in their <\/span><b><i>search engines<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re the go-to resource for millions of shoppers every day. It\u2019d be pointless to compete with that. However, a good online store that\u2019s renowned for its products and beloved by its customers can go much further.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, dreams of making it as big as Amazon are nearly impossible. But it is possible to <\/span><b><i>run a profitable and successful business by using both your website, and big sites like Amazon.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can list your products on both, while keeping your branding on point.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This way, you always have an online storefront to sell through, even if Amazon and eBay change their rules and algorithms (and it happens more often than you think).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, you\u2019ll be getting traffic and sales from them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a win-win!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><i>Just make sure you check the rules, especially if you\u2019re dropshipping. <\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon and eBay require you to control products for quality before shipping them to customers. This is especially true for eBay, which states that you shouldn\u2019t list products you don\u2019t have in your possession.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/994197\/pexels-photo-994197.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940\" alt=\"Mobile ecommerce \" \/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What Is the future of eCommerce?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n<div>\n<div class=\"grid-cols-1 grid gap-2.5 [&amp;_&gt;_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5\">\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What Is the Future of eCommerce?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The future of eCommerce is more exciting than ever! With the global eCommerce market expected to reach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopify.com\/enterprise\/blog\/global-ecommerce-statistics\">$4.8 trillion in 2025 and 23% of all retail sales happening online by 2027<\/a>, staying ahead means watching these key trends:<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>AI-Powered Personalization and Automation.<\/strong> Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing eCommerce, with the AI-enabled market valued at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sellerscommerce.com\/blog\/ai-in-ecommerce-statistics\/\">$8.65 billion in 2025<\/a> and projected to reach $17.1 billion by 2030. Today&#8217;s consumers don&#8217;t just prefer personalization\u201477% actually expect it. AI algorithms now provide hyper-personalized product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and automated customer service that learns from every interaction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>Mobile Commerce Dominance.<\/strong> Mobile shopping is absolutely crushing it, expected to hit $710 billion in 2025 with 20% growth from 2023. With 21% of all retail purchases now happening online, your mobile experience isn&#8217;t just important\u2014it&#8217;s make-or-break. Mobile searches for personalization alone have grown 60% in the past two years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>Social Commerce Revolution.<\/strong> Social media platforms have become shopping destinations. Consumers want to discover, research, and buy directly through their social feeds. The integration of shopping features across Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms is creating seamless purchase journeys that start with social engagement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>Omnichannel Excellence.<\/strong> Modern shoppers move fluidly between digital and physical touchpoints, expecting brands to recognize them across every interaction. Whether they start browsing on mobile, continue on desktop, or finish in-store, the experience must be seamless and personalized throughout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>Sustainable Commerce.<\/strong> Environmental consciousness is driving purchasing decisions, with 40% of consumers unwilling to buy from companies not actively pursuing sustainability goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>Global Market Expansion.<\/strong> eCommerce growth isn&#8217;t limited to traditional markets. As digital payment methods expand globally (QR code payment users are expected to exceed 2.2 billion by 2025), new international opportunities are opening up for businesses of all sizes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\"><strong>Composable Commerce Architecture.<\/strong> Brands are moving toward flexible, API-first commerce platforms that allow them to customize and adapt quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The brands winning in 2025 understand that technology serves experience, not the other way around. Success comes from combining cutting-edge AI capabilities with genuine customer understanding to create shopping experiences that feel both magical and effortless.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"h-8\">\u00a0<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Millions of potential customers, low overhead costs, and unlimited potential&#8230; eCommerce sounds pretty good, doesn\u2019t it? However, before googling \u201chow to start an eCommerce business,\u201d it\u2019s important to understand what eCommerce really is. In this article, we\u2019re going to explain the most important aspects of eCommerce, show you how to start an eCommerce business, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[277],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ecommerce"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Ecommerce in 2020: Past, Present, &amp; Future - Modalyst<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is Ecommerce in 2020? Millions of potential shoppers, low overhead costs, &amp; unlimited products to sell by dropshipping...sounds perfect, doesn\u2019t it?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is eCommerce in 2020 - Modalyst\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"eCommerce in 2020. What is eCommerce in 2020? Is it worth it? How about eCommerce dropshipping?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Modalyst\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/modalyst\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-02-14T13:44:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-20T09:40:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/5256ba246bb3f76338b9fab7?width=1100&amp;format=jpeg&amp;auto=webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alain Miguel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@modalyst\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@modalyst\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alain Miguel\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"20 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Alain Miguel\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/#\/schema\/person\/20794b977efaee9570ba99393e5b1aea\"},\"headline\":\"eCommerce in 2025: Past, Present, &#038; Future\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-02-14T13:44:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-20T09:40:56+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/\"},\"wordCount\":3839,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/5256ba246bb3f76338b9fab7?width=1100&amp;format=jpeg&amp;auto=webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Ecommerce\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/\",\"name\":\"What is Ecommerce in 2020: Past, Present, & Future - Modalyst\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.modalyst.co\/blog\/what-is-ecommerce\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/5256ba246bb3f76338b9fab7?width=1100&amp;format=jpeg&amp;auto=webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-02-14T13:44:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-20T09:40:56+00:00\",\"description\":\"What is Ecommerce in 2020? 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