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ecommerce platforms provide: promotions

free plan does have some limitations, such

(discount

multiple

as only one image per product and limited

shipping options (single option limiting you to

store statistics, it is a great way to test the

NZ sales), full mobile optimisation (allowing

water. It also has the ability to grow with your

people to shop from their smart phones etc)

business with the first paid option costing just

and perhaps most importantly to those that

US$9.99/month for 25 products or less. Even

lack confidence setting up an online store a

with very little computer knowledge BigCartel

good support network.

allows you to design a great looking site with

codes,

voucher

etc),

three free themes at the gold level and more So if MYOB Atlas is one you should stay away

customisation available on paid plans - you

from, what other options are there? Designed

can even buy complete themes.

specifically for artists and designers Big Cartel has four different plans; the most basic, gold,

Among the downsides to BigCartel is the

allows you to list up to five products for free

fact it only accepts PayPal, this means every

- if you are looking at getting online and only

sale you make will be subject to PayPal

have a very small range of goods BigCartel is

transactions fees and you may lose customers

a far superior choice to MYOB Atlas.

who would prefer to make a payment by other means such as direct credit. Other areas

BIGCARTEL is easy to set up and maintain;

where BigCartel could be improved is SEO

customisation, integrating most forms of

(how customers find you on Google), shipping

social media, and managing orders is easy

options (you can only set a per country rate

and intuitive and it is much more attractive

for each item making it difficult to charge rural

and versatile then MYOB Atlas. While there

or Saturday delivery fees), and e-marketing

are a few areas BigCartel could improve it

(capturing email addresses so you can send

is one of the few platforms that specifically

newsletters etc directly to your customers).

targets

artisans

and

creatives

-

it

was

originally designed by a musician wanting to

Another platform aimed specifically at small

get his band merchandise online. The fact

businesses, but this time specifically New

it claims to have over 200,000 artists using

Zealand businesses is SMALLFISH. Based

it suggests it meets their needs. While the

in Wellington at $39/month for up to 150

BIGCARTEL


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