This book includes a plain text version that is designed for high accessibility. To use this version please follow this link.
ONLINE SALES


aware of the issue regarding data they enter into the free form text field and the issues created when con- flicting information is included. As mentioned earlier, scrubbing data contained in the free form text field often results in the reduction of parts presented to parts purchasers.


Our efforts will be successful for the sale of all parts uploaded to an online sales system when procurement parts software providers respond by including separate data fields in their systems to allow additional relevant information to be provided to the parts purchaser, thus limiting the need to utilize the free form text field for this purpose. We strongly believe the procurement parts software providers can help alleviate this issue by creating indi- vidual data fields based on additional parts documen- tation CIECA has identified as being included in the free form text field. Our ongoing role will be to increase the availability and sales opportunities of recycled parts and to support those entities involved in this effort.


As always, comments and questions are welcomed. These are being gathered by CIECA’s Recycled Parts and Inventory Committee, and responses to your comments and inquires will be included to assist in this effort.


Please send your Comments and Inquiries to Ginny Whelan (ARA) and/or Charley Quirt (CIECA). Thank you.


Sincerely, Ginny Whelan


vwhelan99@gmail.com Charley Quirt


charleyquirt@gmail.com


Online Sales Stuck in Neutral? Here’s How to


Get Them Back In Gear By Amanda Urban and Jordan Schware, Hollander, LLC


ou’ve established an online sales presence, but it feels like sales are creeping along in the slow lane. Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Drawn by the allure of a vast worldwide marketplace, some recyclers eagerly embraced e-commerce only to be disappointed when parts didn’t fly out the door as quickly as expected. Here are a few sometimes-overlooked tips to help move your online sales into the fast lane.


Y 46 Automotive Recycling | November-December 2016


If you’ve heard it once,


you’ve heard it a thousand times: photos are critical to selling online.


Your listings should feature plenty of images, including, at minimum, the part being sold, at least one close-up of any damage areas and the OE identification number.


Kick Your Doubts to the Curb


Before even considering pulling the plug on your e- commerce efforts, take a deep breath and remember why you began selling online in the first place. For starters, it’s where the customers are now and where even more will be in the future. Continuing a decade- long trend, U.S. e-commerce sales in 2015 rose 14.6% over 2014, while total retail sales grew just 1.5%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Plus e-commerce provides access to a younger, increasingly affluent, and internet-savvy customer base. It enables you to sell during the evening, with 46% of online shopping occurring between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., plus weekends and holidays. And, of course, an online sales presence enables you to go toe- to-toe with the big guys.


Image is Everything


If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: photos are critical to selling online. Your listings should feature plenty of images, including, at mini- mum, the part being sold, at least one close-up of any damage areas and the OE identification number (if stamped).


Equally important, your photos need to be high quality, showing the part clearly against a clean, uncluttered background. Fortunately, technology makes this easy. Even the most basic smartphone can snap crisp, high-resolution photos, and plenty of apps make uploading them to your sales platform a breeze. Take this simple test to evaluate your images. Look at your online listings and ask yourself, “Would I buy this part based on these photos?” If the honest answer isn’t an emphatic “Yes,” reshoot.


Broaden Your Sales Channels


With 14 million unique visitors a month and three parts or accessories sold every second, eBay is the pre- eminent parts marketplace. Of course, not everyone shops eBay. So augment your eBay efforts by listing


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