Belgian Ecommerce Is Booming

Should you get an online shop, or not? We say yes, and this is why:

Ecommerce A To Z

Even though ecommerce has been on the rise for years, many Belgian merchants have not jumped on the bandwagon. Only 23.9% of them currently have a website or online shop with the option to book or order online. Which is a shame, because without one, you are missing out on a lot of interesting opportunities.

In the first 9 months of 2020, the revenue of Belgian online shops increased by a whopping 33%, with consumers spending 4.9 billion euro. The biggest rise could be seen in the categories of ‘computers and accessories’, ‘clothing’, ‘shoes and personal lifestyle’, and ‘media and entertainment’. The travel and event category on the other hand, had to deal with a serious setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with revenue falling by 18%. Nevertheless, Belgian ecommerce is booming, and has some pretty impressive figures to show for it. The impact of stores reopening also appears to be limited, so it seems as if this trend will continue into the next few years.

13 new online shops pop up every single day, and every single second, 3 online transactions happen. If you want to keep up with the competition, you absolutely need an online shop.

Not entirely convinced yet? These 7 arguments will definitely help you see the benefits of online shops.

24/7 Available

Your online shop is your most loyal employee. All day, every day, 24/7, you can count on it. Your shop never tires, is always in a good mood, and has no personal preferences.

If you know that around 70% of Belgians made an online purchase the last few months, you’ll understand just how important it is for your shop to be available at all times when your target audience goes looking for products or services.

Stop Thinking Locally, Go (Inter)National!

Most of your store’s customers live nearby. If you want to reach a larger audience, that would generally cost you a lot of money. For example, advertising in magazines or newspapers with a large audience.

The audience you can reach with an online shop is much larger. Especially if you also bring in an SEO expert to optimise your visibility. And if you want to go international with your products or services, let an SEO copywriter and translator translate your pages for maximum effectiveness.

Knowledge Is Power

Most ecommerce platforms have the option of analysing the exact impact of your investments. Which products have the most views? What are your best-sellers? Which categories were viewed the most?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that data driven investments will generate more revenue in the long run. So by analysing your shop’s performance, you can make more accurate investments.

Ecommerce Is Cheaper

The price for an online shop pales compared to the cost of a physical location. And on top of that, your online shop will always be able to grow. Most popular ecommerce platforms constantly come out with new and improved features to enhance your shopping experience and customer service.

Additional Sales Channel

Investing in an online shop will give you an extra sales channel. And with a few minor additional investments, you can easily reach a much larger audience.

Larger Assortment

If you make clear agreements with your suppliers, you can stock a much larger assortment of products with little to no additional cost. No need for big investments or large storage spaces.

Create a Community Centred Around Your Brand

Social media platforms offer ample opportunities to increase your customer engagement. Reviews, giveaways, and shareable content are just a few examples of ways in which you can build a true community centred around your brand. That is why most well-known ecommerce platforms let you link your social media profiles to your online shop.