Seeking buyers via Internet

As the competition among retailers has stiffened, many retailers have decided to develop online trade. They well know that it is not easy to succeed with this kind of trading, but they still hope that big opportunities will come in one or two years.

Several years ago, Duc, the owner of a children’s toy and household appliances shop in District 11, decided to set up a website to introduce his products. However, Duc said that the website did not help bring more business. Most of his customers preferred going directly to the shop to make purchases and they did not care to browse his website.

Recently, Duc once again decided to upgrade his website, because many more shops have been opened near his house, thus straining his business opportunities. A lot of new functions have been integrated and payment options have also been diversified. Buyers can make payments either in cash, or pay later at the shop. They also can pay with ATM cards, or money transfer.

However, the website has once again fallen into the abyss because Duc does not have money to advertise. In fact, the link to the website is shown on his name cards. However, people seem to be indifferent to the website.

It is clear that retailers not only have to spend money to build up websites but they also need to pay more money to maintain and advertise them.

Minh, a clothes seller, related that his business was terrible in 2010 because of too many barriers installed on the streets, thus making people hesitate to drop in his shop. Therefore, Minh decided to the return the retail premises to the landlord and begin selling goods online.

“I sent my staff to deliver leaflets to introduce my website. The website has been designed very well which allows visitors to easily find the products they want. I havea customer care division which stays until 10 pm to answer customers’ questions,” Minh said about the outstanding features of his website.

“Customers only need to book their items and pay 50,000 dong in advance. They will only have to pay the remaining sums of money when they receive their deliveries at home,” he added.

Low prices of goods prove to be the biggest competitive advantage offered by online traders. Thoa, who has kicked off her online business, related that she does not want to build up a website, because she fears that she does not have enough money to maintain the website. “I only put ad pieces on personal columns on websites and newspapers,” she said.

“I join forums and I make comments and give consultancy about fashion tendencies, where I introduce the products I have and want to supply,” she commented about her way of doing business.

Thoa said that low prices are the most important element for her business. Thoa does not have to pay for leasing retail premises, and she does not have to pay for staff and pay tax, therefore, she can sell products for cheap prices. In general, Thoa said, she can get a profit of 50,000 dong or 100,000 dong for every item of products sold.

Meanwhile, the owners of electronics and telecom equipment shops decide to do marketing through blogs. Though it is easy to create blogs, the retailers say, they will still have to spend a lot of time to write stories to introduce products, show detailed instructions and tricks to fix small problems. Therefore, blogs can become closer to consumers and can give consumers necessary initial information about the products.

“Before customers place orders, they always are given detailed advice about the products they plan to purchase. If buyers feel unsatisfied with the products, we will get the products back,” said the owner of an electronics shop, adding that nowadays customers are very choosy, and sellers need to satisfy all the needs of customers in order to turn them into loyal customers.

Many online traders admit that they do not hope to obtain many customers and earn large profits from online trade. However, they hope that everything will change in the near future.- Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon

Tags: Vietnam E-commerce