Shopster's Help and Support

FAQ's - Merchant Suppliers - Selling Your Own Products Through Shopster

As a Merchant Supplier, I have products to sell already and I want others to sell my products for me.

1. How does the Shopster Network help me make more sales?
   • List your products on Shopster and build up a sales force of trusted resellers who are selling your products for you.
   • It’s simple, and free to list your products on the Shopster network.
   • In addition to making your products available on the network, you can list your products on your own powerful and customizable Shopster storefront.
   • You have the option of which of your products you make available for network sellers and which products are only for your own Shopster storefront.
   • Either way, the first step is to list your products.
     
     
2. How do I list my products?
   • Simply go to the Add Products screen and fill in the required product information.
   • If you wish for your product to be available to network sellers, simply include a network price in the product information fields. The network price is the price that Merchants who join your network can buy the product from you for. The network price should be lower than your regular retail price if you hope to attract reseller’s to spend their time and money to sell your products.
   • If you do not list a network price, but you fill in the rest of the product information, your product will not be made available to Merchant’s in your network, but it will be available for you to sell on your own Shopster storefront.
     
     
3. How do I build my network of trusted resellers?
   • The first thing you need to do is list your products (as outlined above), then create your network profile.
   • It’s that simple. Now your business and products that you have added a network price to are available to Merchants in your network to sell.
     
     
4. How do Merchants gain access to sell my products?
   • Simply by listing your business and products on the Shopster Network, your business will appear in the Shopster directory. This does not mean that Shopster Merchant have access to sell your products. Instead, they must apply to join your network.
   • You will receive a message request within Shopster when a Merchant would like to join your network and sell your products. Based on the Merchant’s profile you can approve or reject the Merchant to join your network. When you approve the Merchant, they now have access to purchase your products at the network price.
     
     
5. How will I receive product orders from my network Merchants?
   • You will receive payment into your Merchant account for orders from your network Merchants and a message within Shopster asking you to confirm and ship the order.
     
     
6. How do I build up my network of trusted resellers and profits?
   • You should market your business to reseller’s much like you market your products to consumers. Keep in mind that one great reseller can make hundreds of sales for you, whereas one consumer usually won’t buy more than a couple orders from you. Reseller’s are more valuable than consumers, so you should spend your marketing time and dollars accordingly.
   • It’s easy to get reseller Merchants selling your products and Shopster makes it easy to manage all your sales and relationships.
   • Here are some suggestions to grow your network of resellers:
     1. Search the Shopster Merchant directory. Some reseller Merchant’s have filled out profiles. Consider sending them a message letting them know about your business, your products and your offer.
     2. Optimize your Merchant profile by including the following information:
        1. Your business name, address,
        2. Your return policies
        3. Your product line
        4. Your company history
        5. Why your business does what it does
        6. Your general customer satisfaction
        7. What kind of Merchants you would like to have in your network
        8. Your great products and prices!
     3. Advertise on any of your other Websites in addition to your Shopster storefront and everywhere you can about the opportunity for resellers to resell your products. Include a link to Shopster sign up and give them your warehouse name.
     4. Use Twitter, Facebook, Digg.com and other social networking opportunities to announce the opportunity to resell your products.
     5. Contact business associates who have complimentary lines of products that may be interested in adding your products virtually to their offering. Send them an email with a link to the Shopster sign up and your Shopster name.
     6. Contact high traffic Websites that have the type of customers that would be interested in your product line. Tell them about the opportunity to create a custom storefront selling your products for a profit to their customers. Send them a link to the Shopster sign up with your Shopster name.
     7. Get creative. You know your business better than anyone else. Brainstorm on who best to make strategic relationships with and follow up.
        
        
7. Why should I invite businesses who are not currently on Shopster to join to sell my products?
   • The reason that many businesses do not typically get involved in drop shipping is because it can be a real pain and a big headache to manage multiple selling relationships with traditional systems. You have to update everyone’s data independently, receive orders in all sorts of different methods, track reseller relationships with separate systems and handle dispute resolution individually.
   • Shopster changes all of that. We make it easy and seamless to manage all your sales, data and relationships.
   • Every reseller you add to your network can increase your profitability very significantly. When you contact resellers and establish relationships with them from outside of Shopster and bring them on the system, there is a very strong likelihood you will be able to maintain their loyalty and create long term selling relationships within the system.
   • You can target businesses and high traffic Websites that you are familiar with, already have relationships with, or that are targeted towards your niche. What are some Websites you are familiar with that have visitors that are your target customers? That’s a perfect match. Let them know about the opportunity to sign up for a free Shopster storefront selling your products! Let them know what kind of discount you offer and how much they can make.
   • There’s endless opportunities for you to grow your reseller network, take advantage of them and watch as your sales increase exponentially.
     
     
8. Do I have control over who can sell my products?
   • Yes. Only Merchants you approve to be in your network have access to purchase your products at the network price and have them shipped to their customers. Your business can be very exclusive and only work with Merchants you know personally, or you can open up your business to a larger network of Merchants selling your products for you. The Shopster system leaves that decision up to you, based on your business needs.
     
     
9. What are my fees?
   • Fees for selling products on my Shopster storefront or through the network to other Shopster Merchants:
   • When an order is placed for your product and you receive payment for it, you will owe a small sales fee for that order. Transaction fees are based on the Shopster package you are signed up to. The sales fee is as follows:
     1. On the free account: 5% of sale price
     2. PowerMerchant Starter: 2.3% of sale price
     3. PowerMerchant Pro: 1% of sale price
   • Shopster bills you monthly for sales made in the past month.
     
     
10. Can I see an example of how I can make sales and what my fees are when I sell my own products?
    • For a sale of your own product on your Shopster storefront:
      1. List and sell your product on your Shopster storefront.
      2. You receive payment from your customer through your Merchant account.
      3. You ship the order to your customer.
    • Your fees Associated with sale:
      • Sales fee to you for 1%, 2.3% or 5% depending on your account level. Upgrade your account for lower sales fees and other great features.
    • For a drop ship sale of your own product made by another Shopster Merchant:
      1. You receive payment from your customer through your Merchant account. Confirm payment and review the order for fraud.
      2. Print the packing slip and package product for delivery.
      3. Ship the order to the Merchant’s customer.
    • Your fees Associated with sale:
      • Sales fee to you for 1%, 2.3% or 5% depending on your account level. Upgrade your account for lower sales fees and other great features.
        

Read FAQ's - How to sell Products from the Network