Amazon recently announced it will be closing its ecommerce platform: Amazon Webstore. Existing users have been given until July 2016 to close up their shops and find somewhere else to go. That’s sent countless Amazon sellers into a panic wondering what to do next.
I had an occasion to talk with the good folks at Shopify and – during our conversation – asked if they felt their solution would be a good replacement for an Amazon Webstore. They replied with a resounding, “YES!”
Welcome Gillian Massel of Shopify to the Marketing Words Blog. I’ll turn it over to her to explain what Shopify has to offer as you consider where you’ll set up shop next.
While the news may have come as a shock to some, Webstore’s shutdown gives users the opportunity to explore other ecommerce options out there. So far, it looks as though Shopify is the most attractive option for transitioning Webstore users because in 2014 twice as many Webstore users who were migrating went to Shopify instead of Bigcommerce. Part of the reason Shopify is such a good alternative is its ease of use, which will make the transition from Webstore simple and hassle-free.
How Do Webstore And Shopify Compare?
If you were satisfied with Webstore as an ecommerce solution, then you are likely looking for an alternative that offers comparative services and/or features. Like Webstore, Shopify is well suited for small or medium-sized businesses, but has the added ability to host enterprise-sized businesses with Shopify Plus if needed.
In addition, Shopify offers 24/7 support for all users, whereas Webstore is only available between 7:00am and 8:00pm CT. Finally, Webstore and Shopify actually share identical price points: both platforms charge a $79 monthly subscription fee. (It’s worth noting that there are additional plans available from Shopify priced at $14 or $29 monthly if you’re looking to save.) Unlike Webstore, Shopify doesn’t charge any transaction fees if you use their payment gateway, Shopify Payments. And even if you decide to use an external gateway like PayPal, Shopify only charges a 1% transaction fee — which is a big save if you consider the fact that Webstore charged a 2% transaction fee and “additional fees” depending on your store’s individual settings.
If you’re used to a hosted ecommerce solution such as Webstore, it makes sense to switch to another hosted ecommerce solution. Hosted solutions provide features like fraud protection, secure payment processing, and server maintenance — all important assets for running an online business. Moving to a hosted platform like Shopify ensures that these features are preserved even though your store is no longer on Amazon.
…but better!
What if you weren’t completely satisfied with Webstore as an ecommerce solution? According to a report by Internet Retailer, many Webstore users were frustrated by the Amazon branding that appeared on their sites, which encouraged prospective buyers to leave the store they were visiting and buy from Amazon instead.
The platform was also perceived to be unnecessarily complicated and difficult to navigate. In contrast, Shopify distinguishes itself as the best ecommerce platforms with regards to customizability and usability. Users have complete control over the look and feel of their websites — from domain name to layout, colors, and content – plus it’s extremely easy to use and quick to set up. Not only will it be easier to manage your online business once you’re on the platform, but switching to Shopify will be the easiest way to transition away from Webstore.
It’s worth noting that Shopify offers a 14-day free trial to anyone wanting to give the platform a shot. Either way, Webstore’s closure shouldn’t be seen as a hindrance, but rather an exciting opportunity to improve your (and your customers’) ecommerce experience.
I would love to use Shopify, Unfortunately they told me they could not import from Amazon. The idea of hand doing 3000+ items would be impossible. I know it can be done because http://www.bonanza.com can do it. Do you know if that is something coming in the future?
Vanessa, I’ve alerted Shopify about your question and they are looking for an answer for you 😉
To clarify for those of us in affiliate marketing this is different from Amazon’s aStores – I haven’t hear anything about them closing – have you or your readers hear anything???
I haven’t heard anything about aStores, Titus. Only Webstores.
Vanessa, just heard back from Bonnie at Shopify who says:
“So as of this moment there’s not a solution. With that said, there’s a big conversation about who is going to build this for us and quickly. I feel confident saying that it is definitely in the works, just don’t have a timeline today. Let me know if there are any other questions.”
This is good news because honestly, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and about anything else are so much better for a website than Amazon webstores.
Thanks for hunting down that answer from Shopify, too. Very helpful for some of our clients.
My pleasure!