Tag: live commerce

Live commerce and Live Shopping Podcast

In search of a new resource to help your ecommerce business? My bet is a live shopping podcast would be the perfect find. That’s why I’ve created one. In the past year or so I’ve been digging really deep into how digital commerce can become better for small and mid sized business. Right now huge brands like Amazon, Walmart or Alibaba are covering too much of the market for the “rebels” to stand a chance.

Small online stores, eCommerce entrepreneurs and direct to consumer small manufacturers need better ways to sell online. Right now you might optimize your page speed or Google SERP, maybe add a better product but trough be told …

Most ecommerce sales are in the hands of very, very few people

Playing in the same league as Amazon doesn’t get you very far as they’ve been losing money for the last 20 years or so, just to gain market share. Spending money on Facebook or Google Ads won’t do much better. As a small company or entrepreneur you don’t have much options into how you can beat the big boys, even in small niches. But you do have one big thing: you are a real person, with a passion for what you are doing. And this can be big. You can be the real you, online and earn big for it.

The solution: live commerce and live shopping

So how do you make your personality shine through your web store? The solution is simple: by using a thing called live commerce or live shopping. I’ve wrote a bit on the background in a previous post. In a nutshell it’s you, live streaming a product presentation to customers, with ecommerce and social (chat, questions) features on top of the video.

Using live shopping for ecommerce stores is still a blur

There’s a small issue with live commerce: most ecommerce entrepreneurs don’t know about it and those who do, don’t know how to start a live session. As such – I’ve started a live commerce and live shopping podcast: Live Commerce World. You can subscribe to it via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

What will this podcast be about?

“Anyone can start a podcast. Why should I listen to it?” you might say. I hear you.

This is a very specific podcast: it focuses on live shopping and how this changes customer behaviour and why it is a perfect channel for younger generations. The podcast also focuses on why live commerce is this huuuge, emerging trend and how you, as an ecommerce professional, can benefit from it.

It starts off with some tips and tricks my team and I have put together over the last year working with customers all over the world, from companies of all sizes. We’ll continue with interviews and success stories, helping you benefit from live commerce and live shopping.

Listen to the your first episodes below or subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

How to sell cars online with live stream shopping

The Renault Group used a special approach to selling cars, as car sales have dropped in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. What’s the secret sauce? Live stream shopping and online car sales.

Listen to this post or read below:

New car sales have dropped by 20% in 2020

According to a study by JD Power and Motor Intelligence, new car sales have seen a 20% decrease in sales in 2020, with a low point of -46% YOY new car sales in April.

This means the auto industry and especially auto dealerships have taken quite a hit. The main culprits: restrictions, Covid-19 related health worries, uncertainty about future income.

Decrease in car sales in 2020

As such consumers have postponed planned purchases. However, the desire for purchasing new cars shows a quick rebound. However, the Covid numbers are still high. Automotive companies needed to find a way to replicate the in-dealership car sales experience, without endangering their staff and customers.

Car sales through live stream shopping

Some companies have taken bold approaches to selling their cars in times of trouble. One such company is the Renault Group. The company launched their new Dacia models (Stepway and Logan) in a live stream shopping session. For three days (2nd to 4th of December 2020), they’ve streamed a real-life presentation of the cars, using hired actors that were briefed on the car features.

Selling cars online
Using a virtual showroom, the company was able to replicate the real life shopping experience for their customers.

The company used a live commerce solution to manage their live showroom and allow customers to ask questions. The flow of information was interactive, from the presenters to the audience, with the audience asking questions that were answered in real-time.

This is one of the first online campaigns for car sales that involves a direct to consumer sales channel. Traditionally, consumers were unlikely to buy through the usual ecommerce sites, given obvious lack in experience features that would convert visitors so prospects or directly buyers.

What does this mean for the automotive industry?

Covid has accelerated the digitalisation of many industries and marketing approaches. Big ticket item sales, such as cars, jewellery or real estate have resisted using digital channels to reach their customers.

What Renault has proven in their Dacia sales is that anything can be sold online, with the right experience. We just didn’t had the right tools. Until now.