What is a company store?
A company store is a custom web store built for a client and stocked only with their branded merchandise. The company store is branded with the client’s logo rather than the distributor’s. From schools and sports teams to hotels and restaurants, company stores are becoming a popular way for many industries to provide a streamlined order process to their employees. Today, companies like Amazon set the standard for a user-friendly e-commerce experience, so the more friction you can reduce in the order process, the more likely your clients will stick with you. Here are the ways Company Stores keep your clients coming back time and time again.
Easy Ordering
An easy order process has become expected for all online stores, it also helps increase customer retention and loyalty. With company stores, visitors can easily request information, get a quote, place an order, and view detailed product information or order history all in one place. They are also available 24/7 so your clients can place an order at any time and each branch of the client’s business will be able to have their products shipped directly to their location.
Brand Image Control
Company stores allow your clients to implement their own branding guidelines. From PANTONE® shades to font sizes, they have complete control of their brand image throughout the company store. The products in their company store will also have consistent branding. Your clients will love that products appear in their preferred brand color and preloaded with their current logo.
Complete Customization
Along with a clean design and navigation, a company store can be customized to match the client’s branding. Company stores are equipped with fully customizable product information and photography, as well as an easy to use checkout system. Design matters! The aesthetics of the store will win the program while function will retain their business.
Flexible Payment Options
Company stores are fully e-commerce enabled with flexible payment options, including credit cards, purchase order numbers, account credit and promo code support. Stores also have an option to use a points system as an additional form of currency. If your company awards employees points for excellent performance, they can use their points to shop for what they want on the company store. You can also provide a FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Canada Post shipping charge integration.
Mobile Friendly
People are constantly using multiple devices with different screen sizes and no one wants to be pinching and zooming in and out to make your website fit on their phone screen. It’s important for all online stores to be mobile responsive so they will adjust to different screen widths and give customers a seamless experience from their computer to their phone or tablet.
Now that we’ve covered some of the most important ways company stores can make life easier for your client, let’s talk about how it can make life easier for you!
How company stores help the distributor:
Streamline order management: Instead of clients contacting the distributor personally with calls or emails, employees can place the orders themselves online.
Avoid lengthy approval process: Since the store is stocked with products already selected and customized by the client at approved price points, orders do not need to be shepherded through decision makers first.
Strengthens the client-distributor relationship: By offering a flexible and advanced solution, company stores reinforce your role as the client’s premier resource for every type of promotional product need.
Increase sales: In larger organizations, departments may source their promotional products from different distributors. An official company store rolled out across the client organization will funnel those purchases to the company store distributor instead.
Locks in business: Company stores provide value that will tend to make the client more loyal and less likely to be enticed away by another distributor. As the client’s preferred distributor, the cost and time associated with switching to a new provider will help protect you from losing the client’s business.
SAGE Company Stores now feature modern, responsive full-width layouts with background customization options. You can rearrange the home page, include custom content, and completely customize the navigation to suit anything your client wants to offer in their store.
Setup is Super Simple
You don’t have to know anything about web development to set up a SAGE Company Store for your client. We’ve made it super simple to build an online store with easy drag & drop options and user-friendly text editors.
Add Unlimited Custom Pages
You can create an unlimited amount of custom pages for your client! The new file library allows you to host and include custom content like images, PDFs, and other files on your Company Store.
To spark the idea of a company store in your clients’ minds, here’s an end-buyer video that you can share with them.
Want to see all these great features for yourself? Check out SAGE Company Stores!
