From passion to e-business. E-shop with children's goods

In the popular comedy "Boys Don't Cry," a fundamental point is made: "You have to answer one busy...important question: what do you like to do in life? And then start doing it." With these words, the beginnings of many online businesses could be characterized, as confirmed by the owners of children's e-commerce stores operating on the Shoper platform.

You don't have to look far for an idea for your own business - often all you need is a passion for your hobby and the consistency to turn that passion into a business plan. Such energy is demonstrated by the owners of children's stores: enterprising women and - often - young mothers who run online stores. One of them, Maria Boczar, was already looking into her neighbors' strollers as a few years old, delighting in their little passengers. - They predicted a future for me as a kindergarten teacher, but I became a chemist," she recalls. Then there was the adventure with the School of Arts and the dream of being a conservationist, and finally Kosi£apci, an online toy store.

E-shop for the love of...

- The e-shop is a resultant of unfulfilled childhood dreams and great love for children. It is also an attempt to develop a niche in the Polish market of toys for the youngest, sewn from the best quality materials," says the owner of Kosi£apci. - Being a small manufactory, we have an influence on every stage of creating our works, which is a key element of our business.

A slightly different reason for going online with her business is revealed by Magdalena Mrugala of the mrugala.pl store, which offers footwear for the youngest. In this case, the e-store is a new sales channel, an addition to the stationary business. - We've been producing shoes for more than 25 years, but we've only been involved in retail sales since 2012; that's when the online store was established. The company wanted this way to be able to present customers with designs that distributors were not willing to order.

The goal of the founders of the samiboo.com store (bedding, clothing and accessories) was to launch a brand that stands out in terms of design, quality of finish and safety of the materials used. On the other hand, Maria and Dorota, founders of the kutikai.pl store (furniture and accessories), come up with ideas for new products while playing with their children and doing everyday maternal activities, and use the knowledge they acquired during their architectural studies to create them.

Benefits of running an e-shop

Whatever the motivation, an online store with a children's assortment is an increasingly popular form of business, and not just among women. According to data collected by Dreamcommerce S.A., a provider of Shoper ready-to-use e-commerce software, at the end of 2014, e-businesses with a children's assortment (ranging from clothing and cosmetics, to toys and school supplies, to musical instruments and jewelry) accounted for 2.78 percent of all stores operating on the Shoper platform. At the end of 2015, the percentage of such entities was already 4.81 percent, and at the beginning of 2016 - 5.9 percent. The value of transactions conducted in them in mid-2016, in turn, accounted for 5.77 percent of the total value of sales in Shoper e-shops. And it continues to grow.

- E-shopping is a great way to have your own business, especially for those who care about flexible time management, according to Tomasz Tybon, director of marketing and sales at Dreamcommerce. That's why it works well for young mothers who have to combine numerous childcare responsibilities, but at the same time want to remain professionally active. - The start-up cost, associated with the purchase of an e-commerce platform, is also low and closes in the amount of PLN 1,000, says the Dreamcommerce representative.

The retailer also benefits from its online presence by being able to fulfill foreign orders. - Our toys have already reached England, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, the United States or even Senegal," says Maria Boczar. The online store also allows us to create a new image of both the company and its products. - Thanks to it, we have reached mothers who were looking for unconventional shoes for their children," adds Magdalena Mrugala.

Tips for future entrepreneurs

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hat advice would female e-shop owners give to other enterprising women, but who are just considering starting an e-commerce adventure? - Small details make a big difference, that's why we pay a lot of attention to details - from materials starting with materials, to the finishing of products, to packaging," judges Sabina Pajdowska of samiboo.com. - Let's listen to what our heart says. The most important thing is to be authentic. What you do entails who you are and what is important to you," points out owner Maria Boczar in turn. Magdalena Mrugala assesses more prosaically: - The most important thing is to know what and, above all, to whom you want to sell. Without this in e-business you can't move.