| Online storefronts are revolutionizing an important | | | | storefront, they gain flexibility and time. Rather than |
| sector of the small business world these days. Many | | | | hours, days or weeks trying to develop the |
| small businesses in the past have been primarily | | | | storefront themselves, they can use a customized |
| focused on local customers and local advertising | | | | plug and play package that customizes templates |
| simply because they didn't have the budget or | | | | that combine functionality and design. |
| know-how to branch out. These small businesses | | | | Online storefront solutions are perfect for those who |
| simply didn't have the staff or time to reach a wider | | | | lack in-depth computer skills. Small business owners |
| audience. The pervasive presence of the Internet | | | | who understand the fundamentals of the Internet |
| and the availability of online storefront options have | | | | but don't have in-depth computer programming skills |
| changed all that for small business owners. | | | | are perfect candidates for storefront software and |
| In the early days of the Internet retail giants who | | | | hosting packages. One group that has taken great |
| already had numerous traditional stores across the | | | | advantage of this is artisans. Although artists who |
| country or around the world primarily used online | | | | design jewelry, make fine quality pottery or paint |
| storefronts. These were the companies that could | | | | original artwork are skilled in their area of expertise, |
| afford the extensive costs involved in developing an | | | | many don't feel computer savvy enough to design |
| e-commerce website and maintaining customized | | | | their own site from scratch and have no idea how to |
| shopping carts for easy purchasing. They also had | | | | set up a shopping cart system so that customers |
| the warehousing facilities and in-house software and | | | | can order their creations. |
| source code specialists to maintain their online | | | | Online storefront programs allow artisans to use |
| storefront sales. | | | | templates and skins to customize a particular style of |
| Today, however, there are many e-commerce and | | | | website, uploading their own photos or graphics to |
| online storefront software packages that run the | | | | give the site a custom look for a minimal investment |
| gamut from basic to fully customized. These | | | | of time. Shopping cart options can be easily set up |
| packages enable even the smallest businesses to set | | | | and updated regularly as inventory changes and the |
| up and operate websites that include shopping cart | | | | artist's craft evolves. It broadens the audience base |
| programs for easy customer use. Small, home-based | | | | for artisans as well - from being regionally known and |
| businesses can now offer various shipping options, | | | | admired, they can become nationally recognized and |
| credit card and PayPal sales and detailed information | | | | develop a following in other countries. While local |
| on everything from available inventory to package | | | | galleries offer a great regional audience, a |
| deals to their customers. Rather than spending hours | | | | well-designed website with an online storefront gives |
| a day answering emails and filling orders, automatic | | | | artisans an audience as big as the Internet. |
| software programs make it easy to offer products | | | | More and more small business owners, individual |
| and services in streamlined online transactions. | | | | craftsmen and sales people are taking advantage of |
| These next generation online storefront solutions can | | | | the Internet to increase sales. By using online |
| be customized to allow business owners the | | | | storefront software packages, they can insure that |
| opportunity to give their sites a personalized look and | | | | they are giving their customers great options and |
| feel that reflects their product or services in a unique | | | | reliable service. |
| style. When buying software packages for an online | | | | |