Online shopping is becoming an increasingly popular and sought-after practice in our country. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, lack of time. Going shopping in search of the right thing is a rather tedious and often lengthy activity. While online purchases are made in minutes.
Secondly, more choices. If in real life the offer is limited to the stores available in a particular city, then in the virtual space you can purchase goods from around the world. Thirdly, banal laziness or unwillingness to go somewhere if the right thing can be brought right to the doorstep. The most popular items for ordering over the Internet are clothing and shoes, electronics, household appliances and other durable goods.
If it comes to food, then we, without hesitation, go to the supermarket or to the market. If you want, you don’t want, but if the refrigerator is empty, you have to go. But if it were possible, many citizens would not refuse to order these goods on the Internet. The need for such a service exists, especially among busy people. So why not start a home delivery business? Some entrepreneurs have already taken this idea into circulation, but the niche is still free.
Ways to organize grocery delivery: which one to choose?
There are several options for providing this service. The first is to open your own online store with a certain range of products. However, this venture requires large financial investments and is quite difficult to implement. Need to think through transport logistics organize a warehouse where thousands of items will be stored (if the assortment is small, it will be difficult to compete with ordinary supermarkets), create a single IT platform.
The second way to implement this business is an online product store based on an existing, real trading network. This method is much simpler and more convenient, since only transport and courier are needed, and the "parent" company will supply the products. But the option is suitable for those entrepreneurs who already have such a business in real life.
The third is to organize the delivery of products from existing stores in your city, making money on courier services. This method is the most interesting, least expensive in terms of financial investments and quite attractive in terms of profitability, if you approach the implementation correctly. At the same time, there are free niches in business. In Russia, this service is not so popular, although in some regions it has already become quite popular.
Scheme of implementation of product delivery and the necessary attributes to start
The main platform for the delivery business will be an online resource. It should be as convenient and understandable to all categories of the population as possible. This is where ordering will take place. The essence of the work is as follows:
- Buyers go to your site, fill out a product order form and a questionnaire, which indicate the name and contact number. In addition to the list itself, stores are selected in which products should be purchased, and specific wishes for the goods. For example, brand, grade, fat content, etc.
- The operator receives the order and contacts the buyer to confirm it. If there are any clarifications, they are entered into the form according to the customer.
- Then a list with detailed instructions is transmitted to the courier. He makes a purchase, observing all the requirements and wishes, and delivers the order to the buyer.
- Payment is made either in cash to the courier, or through the site by bank transfer.
Such a home delivery business is unique, but in demand. The service will be interesting for both young people and the elderly. And for the service to be really convenient and of high quality, you need to think through all the basic nuances. So, the site should have detailed instructions for placing an order, information on the rules for the provision of the service, its cost.
When calling the buyer, the operator must warn that if the wishes of the product are not listed, for example, sour cream, then the purchase will be made at the discretion of the courier. Therefore, in the interests of the buyer himself, fill out the form as detailed as possible (when developing a site, pay special attention to the purchase field).
Features of ordering products: payment and other nuances
It is necessary to think in advance how payment for delivery services will be carried out. Will it be a fixed price or a percentage of the purchase amount? In both cases, there are pros and cons, so choose the one that is more convenient / profitable for you. It is possible to offer express delivery to especially impatient customers, when the purchase of products will occur as soon as possible, but at a higher price.
It is also worth offering customers the opportunity to indicate wishes for a specific delivery time. For example, make an order in the morning, taking into account the fact that the courier will bring it at 7 o’clock in the evening. It will be convenient for clients at work to make purchases and receive them upon arrival home.
In addition, some customers will be interested in specific services, such as home delivery of rural products. It can be offered as additional, if you have the opportunity to establish cooperation with farmers. However, this option is suitable as seasonal.
What do you need to organize a delivery service?
We figured out how to place an order and how to deliver food to your home. The business plan should include detailed information about all the attributes necessary to start the activity. Let's talk about what you need to get started.
The site of the company
It should be convenient, understandable, functional. If customers are confused about how to place an order, what needs to be filled out, where to find out about the price and other conditions, then they simply refuse to fill out the application.
Staff
This is a dispatcher who will receive and process orders, transfer them to couriers and provide comprehensive customer support by phone. It can work both in the office (then you have to rent a room and equip it with a workplace), and remotely. The main thing is that during the working day he was constantly in touch and monitored the receipt of orders.
The most important employees are couriers. Their number depends on the frequency and number of orders. At least two people. It’s best to hire people with a private car and just pay them gas. This will significantly reduce the necessary investment.
Transport
As mentioned above, the most convenient option is to hire employees with personal vehicles. Otherwise, you have to buy it, and this is a significant cost. The only thing that is desirable to do is to purchase one van equipped with a thermal body, on which specific orders will be delivered (for example, very bulky or requiring maintaining a certain temperature).
In general, that’s all. In order to organize a home-delivery business (not to be confused with an online grocery store), nothing more is needed.The most important thing is to correctly organize the work of the dispatcher and couriers. It is good if the employees will report on the status of the order (purchase / delivery) to the coordinator so that he can monitor the progress of its execution and, if necessary, inform the customer.
Together with the ordered purchases, the courier must give the customer a check - directly in hand, and not just in a grocery bag. This will avoid possible misunderstandings and complaints. It is also necessary to organize feedback from customers to know what points should be finalized / corrected.
Product delivery activities
The company can be registered as LLC or IP. It is only necessary to have permission to carry out business activities related to courier services. Since you yourself will not produce or sell anything, there will be no difficulties here. Your job is delivery services. This is a huge plus compared to other types of business, when the company itself rents a warehouse, buys and resells grocery products.
Conclusion
Nowadays it is very profitable to conduct a business of delivering food to your home. People now do not have much free time, which is often expensive. Therefore, many of them are willing to pay, so that someone else does the purchase and delivery of products for them. For a novice entrepreneur, this is an opportunity to start their own business with minimal financial investments and the prospects for good earnings.
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