Online purchasing has become a popular habit for people all around the world. Online shopping is time-saving and hassle-free. It enables customers to compare competitive prices from reputable businesses, see a broader range of goods, find the best bargains, and read evaluations from other consumers.
According to Statista, by 2021, over 2.14 billion people worldwide will be purchasing goods and services online. And with the global auto parts industry surpassing $722.8 billion in 2020, it’s only natural that established businesses and new dealers from that industry would concentrate on creating their own online auto parts store.
Opening an online auto parts store is an excellent way for entrepreneurs to start their online businesses. This article will discuss how online companies can sell automotive aftermarket products online and the different marketplaces available for selling online.
What’s An Online Auto Parts Business?
There are several avenues that people can take when selling auto parts online. On the one hand, those looking to open an eCommerce store have the option of creating their own website. Such online stores need to be built on platforms such as Shopify or BigCommerce in order to set up an online shop. These types of stores offer many customization options to fit any niche, including car parts and accessories.
Another option is to create auto parts stores on online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay. Both sites allow sellers to create an online store where people can buy and sell auto parts online.
Selling Automotive Parts On Your eCommerce Website
Many spare parts business owners begin by creating their own websites before selling on eBay and Amazon’s marketplaces. You have two options for selling automobile parts on your website: you can either build it yourself or hire a web designer to host it.
Your eCommerce platform requires an open-source framework or self-hosted eCommerce software. WordPress is one of the most popular open-source website platforms. To construct the site, you’ll need assistance from a web developer or designer.
The limitless customization and integration options are for people who want to be in control of their destiny. A domain name and web hosting are required. The internet address is your domain name. It’s typically the brand or shop name for automobile parts online retailers. Website hosting is the service that allows you to connect your website to the internet. One of the drawbacks of self-hosted eCommerce website solutions is that you must maintain and manage the site yourself and accept all security risks on your own.
According to many industry experts, two of the most popular hosted eCommerce platforms are Bigcommerce and Shopify. Hosted systems are for people who don’t want to deal with the extra burden of maintaining their systems. The hosted eCommerce system completes all upgrades, maintenance, hosting, and so on. However, because customization options are restricted when using a hosted eCommerce system, online retailers who want complete control over their websites may find it a limiting factor.
While you may hire a professional to design your website from the ground up to have a one-of-a-kind website like no other, this method might be expensive since it necessitates paying someone who is competent in coding. Many people choose to use website templates instead. Website templates are pre-made HTML and CSS documents that can be used as-is or modified. It does require some programming expertise to customize it; however, this is far less difficult than building the site line by line. There are numerous pre-made auto-part website templates available already.
When picking an auto parts eCommerce website design, keep in mind that customers want to see decent photographs of the items. They will want to be able to zoom in. Customers also want to see all possible angles of the product. Clear and thorough descriptions of the components you’re selling are also crucial. It’s also important to have search capabilities and filters on your online store.
Setting Up An Amazon Online Auto Parts Business
Because of its vast client base, Amazon is the most popular sales channel for automobile parts and accessories. Only Professional Amazon vendors may market goods in the Automotive & Powersports category.
Because Automotive & Powersports is a restricted category, you must first obtain Amazon’s permission to sell automotive and Powersports parts, tools, equipment, and accessories. You must currently be a Professional selling member with an outstanding account to submit your listing. Alternatively, you may have Amazon review your website for you.
To open an online auto parts store on Amazon, businesses will need to accomplish the following:
- Be on the Professional Selling Plan.
- Be compliant with your product images.
- All major brands need to be listed with Universal Product Codes (UPCs).
- All certified Automotive & Powersports products need to be warranted with the manufacturer.
Setting Up an eBay Auto Parts Store
If you’re selling used auto parts or new aftermarket auto components and accessories, eBay is yet another of the most effective sales channels for automobile parts and accessory sales. It was designed for consumers and to improve sellers’ experiences. eBay has established a reputation as the web store where individuals can place bids or buy used auto parts.
eBay is a simple way to sell your automobile parts because it isn’t much different from selling any other item on the eCommerce platform. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to register with eBay and select the Sell option.
Create a listing and provide eBay with the information about your automobile part in order to become one of the many successful eBay sellers. In Categories, select eBay Motors, then Parts & Accessories. The categories gradually get more precise as you advance; therefore, you must specify what the part is for – automobiles, motorbikes, boats, and so on.
Consider utilizing eBay’s Seller Hub if you want to sell a large number of items. On Seller Hub, you may quickly set up listings. To create a parts and accessories listing, you can utilize eBay Motors Parts Compatibility, commonly known as “fitment.” You can also use the tool to record all of the fitment data in vehicle years, makes, models, trims, engines, etc., that your components fit.
Fitment information makes it simple for your purchasers to discover the right parts for their car with up to 3,000 options. When creating a listing for your item, the tool will display alternatives in the Compatibility section of the form. You’ll have the option of entering compatible vehicles manually or selecting a product that has pre-filled compatibility information. The majority of the listing details will be pre-populated if your auto part is already listed on eBay, including:
- Product title
- Detailed Product Description
- Category
- Stock Product Images
- Measurements
- Parts Fitment Information
Takeaway
Improving your auto parts eCommerce website’s fitment filtering is one of the most crucial elements to consider while developing an online store for automobile components. Taking your fitment data into consideration is essential while selling auto parts on both eBay and Amazon.
Anyone who purchases automobile parts on the internet understands that one of the most challenging things to verify is whether a part is suitable for their vehicle. Smart components, such as compatibility data extensions, improve the buying experience, expand your market, and boost revenue.
Customers will most likely not finish their purchase if they do not have fitment data since they are unsure whether the component is suitable for their vehicle. By providing comprehensive and correct fitment information on all of your product descriptions, consumers may see if the part fits, lowering returns, dissatisfied buyer experiences, and customer complaints. Many customers are unaware that their car could contain components that would be compatible with a different brand’s vehicle.
Whether you’re selling used automobile parts or brand new car components and accessories, companies offering on eBay, Amazon, or their own website should always keep their fitment data up to date, correct, and complete. To discover more about selling auto part products online, contact Illumaware for advice on smart fitment data extensions. Our tool, Evokat Premier, is a valuable and easy-to-use solution for the fitment needs of your automobile parts business.
