We found this one @ quora.com: “Can I create a shopping website like Flipkart, for free?“. Sorry man, you can’t. Not for free. But you can create an online store much cheaper than Flipkart, Snapdeal or any other webshop available in India. Let us give you an example.
In today’s digital age, starting an online store has become an appealing option for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to expand their reach and tap into the vast e-commerce market. With giants like Flipkart dominating the Indian e-commerce landscape, aspiring business owners often wonder if it’s possible to create a shopping website like Flipkart for free. While the answer may not be a straightforward “yes,” there are cost-effective alternatives and solutions available. In this article, we will explore the options and discuss how Zencommerce, India’s leading e-commerce solution, can help merchants open and operate their online stores.
Website like Flipkart: Understanding the Landscape
Before delving into the details, let’s take a closer look at popular webshops like Flipkart and Amazon. These platforms operate as marketplaces, where independent sellers list their products alongside those of larger businesses. While being associated with an international brand offers certain advantages, it also means that your business may struggle to stand out, establish a strong brand identity, and cultivate customer loyalty. Consequently, it’s essential to consider alternatives that provide more control and flexibility over your online store.
Let’s take a look at some example webshops from Flipkart or Amazon.
OK, they look like… Maybe we should say: websites where you can buy products? Typical marketplaces? Yeah, this is it. At Amazon or Flipkart your products are only parts of larger business. So there’s hard to stand out with your “own business”, there’s hard to be remembered and create strong brand. If we talk about shop identification we could say: if someone buying on Flipkart, he buying from Flipkart – not from you. But when you choose online store software in SaaS (software as a service), then you are his master and you have full control.
Easy Setup and Customization with Zencommerce
Zencommerce offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, providing a hassle-free way to set up and customize your online store. SaaS entails renting software over the internet, eliminating the need for extensive investments, maintenance, and upgrades typically associated with dedicated online stores. By opting for Zencommerce’s SaaS platform, you can leverage the latest technology trends without significant time or financial commitments.
Cost-Effectiveness and Control
One of the primary concerns when starting an online store is the cost involved. Setting up a dedicated online store often requires substantial upfront investments, leading to apprehension among aspiring entrepreneurs. However, with Zencommerce, the expenses associated with equipment, licenses, adjustments, and installations are significantly reduced. Instead, the software vendor assumes responsibility for infrastructure maintenance and associated costs.
Additionally, Zencommerce’s SaaS model empowers you to have full control over your online store’s appearance and functionality. Even with basic IT knowledge, you can easily customize the storefront and adjust various features. The user-friendly admin panel allows you to modify graphic details, such as logos, banners, and icons, to create a unique brand identity. Zencommerce also provides a catalog of graphic templates to choose from, enabling quick and attractive graphic uploads.
Transparent Pricing and Additional Features
In terms of pricing, Zencommerce offers a compelling advantage over marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart. While these platforms often impose subscription fees, commissions, and listing fees, Zencommerce operates on a transparent pricing model. There are no hidden costs or commission fees involved. Instead, you can choose from different packages tailored to suit your business needs. Moreover, Zencommerce offers a range of features, including a free domain for one year, a Facebook store integration, support for up to 50,000 products, unlimited data transfer, various payment gateways like PayU, CC Avenue, and PayPal, and reliable customer support through multiple channels.
Zencommerce: Empowering India’s Online Businesses
In addition to its cost-effectiveness and customizable features, Zencommerce provides various other advantages that make it an attractive choice for aspiring online entrepreneurs. Let’s explore some of these advantages in detail:
1. Scalability: Zencommerce offers scalability, allowing your online store to grow as your business expands. You can easily add new products, manage inventory, and accommodate increasing customer demands without any hassle.
2. SEO-Friendly: Zencommerce understands the importance of search engine visibility for online businesses. The platform is designed with SEO best practices in mind, enabling you to optimize your website for search engines and improve your chances of ranking higher in search results.
3. Mobile-Friendly Design: With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets for online shopping, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial. Zencommerce ensures that your online store is optimized for mobile devices, providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers on any screen size.
4. Integrated Marketing Tools: Zencommerce offers integrated marketing tools that help you promote your online store and attract more customers. These tools include email marketing, social media integration, discount coupons, and customer loyalty programs.
5. Analytics and Reporting: Understanding your store’s performance is vital for making informed business decisions. Zencommerce provides comprehensive analytics and reporting features, allowing you to track sales, monitor visitor behavior, and gain valuable insights into your customers’ preferences.
Conclusion
While creating a shopping website like Flipkart for free may not be feasible, Zencommerce provides an affordable and user-friendly solution for aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses looking to establish their online presence. By opting for Zencommerce’s SaaS platform, you can enjoy easy setup, customization options, cost-effectiveness, control over your online store’s appearance, and transparent pricing. With the advantages offered by Zencommerce, you can embark on your e-commerce journey with confidence and start building a successful online business.
SaaS has another advantage: you have a REAL impact on how your business looks like. If you have also a basic knowledge of IT, you can adjust the functionality of the store very simple. If not – with the help of our support – you’ll easily solve any problem.
Zencommerce’s Flipkart alternative solution
For sure, the change of the storefront does not require engagement of any other people. You can do it by yourself. Even the smallest graphic detail can be changed individually in the store admin panel. Logo, banner or a small icon – no difference. Zencommerce software also give you catalogue of graphic templates to choose from – that will help you quick upload attractive graphic skin to your online store.
And, what’s the most important, you’ll pay for the basic version of the store less money than on any marketplace or ecommerce platform in India. Comparing SaaS to marketplaces here you get complete transparency and no hidden costs. At Amazon you have to pay subscription fee (Rs. 499 /monthly), commission (5-15%) and listing fee (Rs. 10/sale), also @ Flipkart you need to manage commission (depends upon product category, from 4 to 20%). In the other hand, at Zencommerce you won’t pay commission or any other fees. And you get:
☛ Free domain (1 year)
☛ Facebook store
☛ Up to 50,000 products
☛ Unlimited transfer
☛ Mail, telephone & online help
☛ Email notification
☛ PayU, CC Avenue & PayPal and many more features.
Just pick the package that is most useful to your business and just get started.
Learn more about Zencommerce advantages:
