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Trading CFDs

Elliot
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Trading CFDs

One of the most popular trading financial instrument today in the UK and many other parts of the world is contracts for difference (CFDs). They have unique properties that make trading very different. This uniqueness coupled with complexities of the CFD products also requires the traders to understand what they are getting into to avoid losses and disappointments. With CFDs, traders can profit both from rising and falling markets. This they can do without owning any assets. To understand this complex trading, let us first understand fully what trading CFDs is.

What are CFDs?

CFDs are more of a betting financial industry where traders and investors speculate on the direction the share price will move. They also speculate on the direction of the financial products, extent of the price changes, currency movement changes expected. In the UK alone, there are over 90 CFDs firms that serve well over 100,000 customers in the UK alone and another 400,000 customers and more from across the globe.

Regulated by the rules set by the European Union, CFDs investors can take on trading which are much larger than their investments. These might either offer very huge returns to their customers or leave them open to risks of encountering immense losses.

In other words, CFDs is a contract between brokers like Saxo UK and traders where there is an agreement on the entry and the exit prices of any underlying asset. The same contracts can speculate the forex markets and bet on assets such as oil, precious metals and indices. Investors are at an advantage of choosing the currency they want to trade in in CFDs and choose their own increment values. The calculation of the loss and profit derived from these trading is the difference between the prices, both entry and exit and then multiplying the number they get by the CFDs units used.

How CFDs work

When a CFD asset value rises after a trader buys it, then that means the trader has made profit on the asset. If on the other hand the asset decreases its value, then this is a loss for the trader. Before the start of any trading, the trader will only predict the price performance but have no control of which way the process move. If for example you are a trader and believe that a certain forex currency will be on the rise, then you look for a CFD broker and enter into a contract. You then agree to buy a certain amount of the forex exchange at a certain fee. The broker will require a certain fee from the trader in order to enter into the contract. If the forex increases in value as anticipated, then the trader sells it and gains as [profit. If it loses, the trader goes at a loss too. In some cases, the loss may exceed what the trader deposited to begin with.

Types of CFDs

Stock Indices

Trading on stock indices allows trading on various products without minding about the distances. This means you can trade US500, UK1000, NAS100, and GER30 and so on. All the trading is on real time prices. Trading in stock indices with no minimum distance, gives better advantage with no commissions added to the required margins.

Commodities

These can be liquid commodities within the following markets such as Metal, agriculture, energy, emissions and softs.

Single Stocks

These are stocks like google, apple, Barclays, amazon and over 8000 other single stocks from across the globe.

Bonds and forex

There are no commissions when trading in bonds and forex.

Advantages of CFDs

The advantages of CFDs to a trader are

Leverage

Traders gain from leverage given by brokers on CFDs. These can either be extremely high or less high advantages. Leverages allow more profit from small amounts.

Very little capital required for investment

Because of the advantage offered by the brokers, CFD trading is both flexible and cheap. All you need especially if you are trading in stock is a share of the stock you are trading in as the minimum capital.

Wider selection

Trading in CFDs, gives a wider range of what to trade in. there are stocks, forex, currencies, cryptocurrencies and commodities.

No commission charges

When trading with CFDs, you do not have to pay any commissions.

Disadvantages

  • They are a risky business because they are more of bets than anything else is
  • They are over the counter derivative, which means, the deals are between the traders and brokers and in some countries, and these deals do not go through regulations.

Geek Chic – The Rise of Contactless Payment Wearables

Elliot
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Geek Chic – The Rise of Contactless Payment Wearables

After contactless payment chips started popping up in bank cards and smartphones, it was never going to take long before someone with a little more fashion sense started putting them into wearables. As a result, we’ve now reached that previously unimaginable situation where geek and chic come together. Say hello to the contactless payment wearable.

The technology behind this latest trend are NFC (near field communication) chips which have three perfect features for contactless wearables: they don’t need their own power supply, they’re incredibly secure and, most importantly, they are small enough to embed into things.

One place where payment wearables have made their mark this year was at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea. High profile sporting events are the ideal location for big name brands to launch innovative products and it was the team from Visa who went for gold with their cleverly practical contactless payment gloves.

Winter Olympics are necessarily cold, so gloves are a fashion essential. However, they also make it annoyingly difficult to pay for things. Using cards or smartphones is anything but simple with padded fingers, however, if the contact payment chip is built into the glove itself, it makes payment much easier.

Working with their South Korean partner, Lotte Card, Visa managed to produce a wearable that fulfilled three functions exceptionally well: keeping hands warm, being on-trend and making payment easy. By embedding the NFC chip into the fabric, all customers had to do was place their hand near the payment terminal.

It wasn’t just gloves that Visa put on show at the Olympics. Also on the catwalk were contactless pin badges and stickers. Perfectly designed souvenir items, these featured the PyeongChang Olympic logo and, like the gloves, let customers spend prepaid sums at participating venues. The flexible and thin adhesive stickers proved very popular as shoppers could stick them to anything they wanted, such as scarves, purses, watch straps and jacket cuffs.

Perhaps surprisingly, the origin of payment gloves was not in hi-tech South Korea, home to technology giants Samsung and LG, but back here in Blighty. They were first trialled four years ago by Barclaycard as a way to let consumers pay for items even when their hands were full of shopping. Although an innovative move by Barclaycard, it was probably too early to be successful. At the time, the contactless infrastructure was less developed and consumers hadn’t really taken the technology on board. Today, things are much different.

Indeed, the UK is leading the way when it comes to fashionable contactless wearables. Take Kerv, for example. This ultra-smart, Mastercard payment ring, made from scratch resistant Zirconia, has been getting a lot of press attention recently, perhaps most notably from gadget guru, Jason Bradbury, the well-known face of Channel 5’s Gadget Show. He was so enamoured by it, he wears it as his wedding ring.

The UK has everything in place to be the world leader in contactless payment wearables. We have a wealth of innovative young designers, we’re home to many of the companies that want to issue contactless solutions, we have the celebrities, media and events to launch the products and, underpinning all this, we have a well-established NFC industry, with companies such as Universal Smart Cards, that can supply the technology. In fact, NFC-enabled bracelets, necklaces, key fobs and phone cases are already widely available. As are NFC wristbands, which are very popular for access control and contactless payments at festivals and events.

What will turn geek chic into high street fashion, however, is when contactless wearables begin to appeal to fashion brands. It might not be long before the next Wimbledon champion is seen wearing contactless wristbands that sport an iconic logo. Before you know it, every kid in high school will be using them to pay for their Maccy Ds.

Geek chic will grow as more payment card companies link up with fashion houses and big-name brands to make contactless wearables part of our everyday gear. This collaboration is on the cards: contactless spending grew by 80% in the UK last year and giving customers practical and fashionable ways to pay is only going to increase the number of people who adopt this technology – especially the younger generations who are more tech savvy and fashion conscious.

Wrapping up

The great thing about contactless payment wearables is that they are fun. They make carrying out a financial transaction practical, convenient and, in an odd sort of way, enjoyable. We enjoy wearing the gear and we enjoy the unique way in which we pay for things. As contactless payment becomes the standard way to pay, on-trend wearables will be the method of choice for many.

Surgical Procedures Decline but boob jobs Still Boom

Elliot
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Surgical Procedures Decline but boob jobs Still Boom

Statistics released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reveals that overall surgical procedures are in decline, but boob jobs are booming and still remain the most popular cosmetic procedure.

 According to BAAPS President and consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey, the slight downturn in cosmetic surgery procedures demonstrates a ‘normalisation’ as the British public are now more aware about the serious impact of surgical procedures:

“The 2017 BAAPS audit offers valuable new insights into the extent that Britons online personas may be driving offline behaviours. The slight downwards shift in surgical procedures, overall, hopefully continues to demonstrate that at the very least, patients are realising that cosmetic surgery is not a ‘quick fix’ but a serious commitment.”

While overall surgical procedures are in decline, the number of breast augmentations remain perky with 8,238 carried out in 2017 (up 7%), making it the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure.

Over the last few years a number of high-profile celebs including ex-Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison and Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco have made no secret about going under the knife to enhance their busts.

Alex Little, a spokesperson from Boobjobs.co.uk says “With more celebrities and Reality TV stars continuing to undergo breast augmentations, and making their decision to do so public knowledge, it has helped to contribute to the growth in the demand for the procedure”

 Breast enlargements typically cost between £3,500 and £5,000, and with many clinics offering low interest finance plans, they can be paid for in monthly instalments– much like purchasing a car on finance.

6 ways to avoid M&D failure

Elliot
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6 ways to avoid M&D failure

Why Mergers and Acquisitions Fail

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be extremely exciting for the organisations involved.  If you still don’t know what they exactly are maybe you should check out this Wall Street Prep M&A guide before delivering deeper in this article.  The promise of a more productive future, bigger profits or simply a more dynamic and varied offering to clients are all tempting incentives to enter into a deal. But statistics show that 50 percent of M&As are unsuccessful, so why do so many fail? Here are six mistakes to avoid when considering such a huge step.

  1. Remaining ignorant

The old epithet ‘ignorance is bliss’ sadly doesn’t apply in this situation. In fact, the more you can find out about the other business in advance, the better. Commercially sensitive information can’t be exchanged, but there’s plenty of information that can be found prior to day one – enough to keep your legal team and tax accountants busy for weeks. Don’t waste time waiting for the regulatory authorities to give you clearance – find out what legally permissible facts you can in the interim.

  1. Insufficient resourcing

The team requirements for M&A are often underestimated. Freeing up people to form part of your integration team can take months, depending on their role and whether temps need to be found to cover their work. Many companies begin this process too late and aren’t ready to hit the ground running when the deal is complete.

  1. Poor communication

CEOs and directors often forget that M&A deals have a big impact on staff. There may be worries and rumours circulating of redundancies or management changes, and these are best handled by providing transparent messages on a regular basis. Be clear on why the merger or acquisition is taking place and what it means for your employees, and be available to address any queries or concerns that arise.

  1. Lack of courage

The thing about an M&A deal is that someone has to step up and take responsibility for the difficult decisions. Sometimes, moves have to be made that disappoint people – whether that be the staff or the shareholders – but they need to be made nonetheless. Making such decisions in a timely manner and with clarity and honesty may be painful in the short term, but it gives those who don’t find the direction your business is taking appealing chance to move on.

  1. Weak leadership

In many respects this is related to the need to have courage. A successful deal needs a strong leader in whom the employees and board can place their trust. It needs someone willing to dig that bit further, stand their ground when necessary, and communicate effectively. Appointing someone who isn’t up to the job can result in dramatic failure.

  1. A poor strategy

A poor strategy is just as likely to threaten the success of an M&A deal as is the appointment of the wrong people or inadequate due diligence. Before entering a deal, decide what constitutes success, both within the first year and longer term. Then plan your strategy accordingly and review it regularly to ensure everything is on track.

Why Fine Wine Could Be a Better Investment Than Property

Elliot
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Why Fine Wine Could Be a Better Investment Than Property

The British slang term “safe as houses” was coined for a reason—-property investment has always been seen as the most secure, risk-free way to make money. That’s why Credit Suisse’s recent survey has been so shocking to many in the industry. Observing 118 years of figures from a variety of investments, the survey concluded that, “Equities, not housing, have been the best long-run investment, contrary to  recent claims.”

The best performing among those equities was fine wine, showing a 3.7% appreciation, year on year. For contrast, the quality-adjusted real capital gain on worldwide housing was only 2% per year over the same period.

Whilst wine, like property, is susceptible to boom and bust periods, it still appears to be a more profitable and risk-free investment than real estate. And it is not just fine wine’s value that makes it an outstanding investment; there are several reasons why it could be a better overall investment than housing.

Fine wine is easier to buy and sell

Purchasing and offloading property is often painstakingly drawn out for buyers. In order to purchase property, you need to do research, agree a price with the seller, find a solicitor, apply for a mortgage, and carry out a survey. All of this usually takes weeks of legal proceedings, and it can all be for nothing if the seller changes their mind. The selling process is similarly prolonged. Sellers need to choose an estate agent, find a conveyancer, ensure the property is in the right state to be sold, and negotiate with a buyer.

Investing in and selling wine is relatively simple in comparison. Whilst you will still need to undertake substantial research before you buy, the process is much easier overall. That said, it is still imperative that buyers take due care when investing in wine—you should make sure the wine you buy will age well and increase in value.

Or you could invest in a wine fund as an alternative, where a fund manager takes on the buying responsibility on your behalf. Selling wine is also much simpler than selling property. There is no need to sit through drawn out legal proceedings, and there are numerous companies that will value your wine and sell it on for you. All you need to do is ensure that the wine is in the right condition to sell. The London Wine Cellar’s fine wine valuation guide suggests making sure your wine’s label is readable, that its the capsule doesn’t have holes in it and (ideally) that it is kept inside its original wooden case. While these specifications represent a best case scenario, your wine could still be valuable even if it has minor flaws, so it’s still worth getting it valued professionally.

Fine wine is more straightforward to look after

When you buy a bottle of wine, you can leave it untouched in the proper storage conditions for years and watch it grow in value. With property, it isn’t that easy. Renovating, refurbishing, and even general upkeep can take time, effort, and money—-as can the responsibilities that come with being a landlord should you choose to rent out your property.

With wine, it’s just a matter of correct storage. Keeping your bottle at the right temperature, and making sure you don’t expose it to too much light should be all it takes to preserve a bottle’s condition and flavour. At its most difficult, this can involve using a climate-controlled cellar. And if that proves too difficult, you can always have your wine stored in a cellar by professionals. Wine cellar types vary from traditional underground cellars to modern temperature-controlled rooms, each designed to preserve and age wines effectively.

Since fine wine is easier to buy, sell, and look after than property, it already seemed like a better choice of investment to many. Now that it has been proven to increase in value at a quicker rate, there’s an even stronger case to be made for fine wine being a much better way to spend, and earn, your money.

Benefits of getting insured

ABC Staff
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Benefits of getting insured

It’s in the nature of life to not know what the future holds for us. This can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing in and of itself. Sometimes the future holds pleasant things for us, and sometimes not so much. So, this is the main reason as to why getting insurance is so important. If we were to put it in lay man’s terms, insurance is like getting a guarantee that you will be paid if something were to befall you. There are a few different kinds of insurances that you need to have in mind.

Health insurance

First of all – the most important thing of all – is your health. And as luck would have it, sometimes we may need to go and see the doctor. Luckily, most of the doctor’s visits are for relatively insignificant things. But sometimes we may need to see the doctor for an important thing.

Now, if you have the monetary means of most people – you know that it can be a big deal to go and see the doctor. You may have to pay a lot of money for various surgeries or medical examinations or medical drugs. Well, this is exactly where health insurance comes into play. No matter who you are or what the current state of your health is, we advise you to get health insurance.

This will cut the cost of many of the most frequent doctor’s examinations and surgeries and medical drugs by a big margin. So, now it would be a cinch for you to get regular medical checkups because they will be relatively cheap. And as we all know – an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, so you will be able to prevent and treat potentially serious illnesses if you go on frequent medical checkups. And this is where health insurance comes into play.

Landlord insurance

If there is one other kind of insurance that’s also important – even though not vitally important – it’s landlord insurance. You may never know what kinds of people you will have to deal with in life. If you’re a landlord, then it’s very important for you to get landlord insurance. Of course, different insurance companies will give you different quotes when it comes to this type of insurance. Your job is to do some research and do a landlord insurance comparison with the purpose of getting the best deal your money can buy.

This will help cover you in the case of the person using your property defaulting. It will cover you in a few other cases as well – and we believe that it’s very important for you to get landlord insurance if you own any kind of property.

In conclusion

There are many different kinds of insurances that you can get. You could decide to live life on the wild side and not care at all about getting insured. But if you wish to keep things safe, then you need to invest some money in getting the insurance that you need.

There Is More To Bitcoin Than Investing

ABC Staff
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There Is More To Bitcoin Than Investing

Many people think that the only thing you can do with Bitcoin is investing, by purchasing some and then selling them on later at a profit. However, Bitcoin is having much more of an effect on our financial world, and there are many different uses for the cryptocurrency and the blockchain technology behind it.

Shopping Online With Bitcoin

As cryptocurrencies become more accepted, so larger online retailers are accepting Bitcoin as a method of payment. At Overstock, you can pay with Bitcoin for laptops, TV’s, bedding, and anything else you can buy from them. Expedia, one of the worlds largest online booking agencies, PizzaForCoins, Reeds Jewelers, and even Microsoft are among the many that will now accept Bitcoin for online payments.

If the site you want to purchase from does not accept Bitcoin, check to see if they accept eGifter gift cards. If they do, like Amazon, for example, you can buy a gift card with Bitcoin from eGifter and then use it to pay the retailer concerned.

Playing Online With Bitcoin

There are now several online casinos that will accept Bitcoin for deposits, and some players prefer these because the blockchain technology allows completely anonymous game play if required. You have to make sure you are playing the right games to remain completely anonymous (and not take the sign up bonus) but then it is up to you if you would prefer to remain unknown. A good example is Playamo, which has more than 1,000 casino games available to play in Bitcoin.

Also, when it comes to collecting your winnings, you usually have the choice of being paid in Bitcoin or cash.

Paying In Store With Bitcoin

If a café, store, or anywhere else you need to pay displays a sign saying they accept Bitcoin, it’s very easy to make your payment. All you need is an app on your smartphone, which the trader scans; the transaction is instant. There is no waiting for the payment to leave your wallet or for the trader to receive it in their account. Even better for the trader is the fact there is no middleman taking their cut in fees, which is just one of the reasons more high street stores are accepting Bitcoin as payment.

The Ups And Downs Of Bitcoin

The value of all currencies can fluctuate on an hourly basis and Bitcoin is no different, but it can be easily monitored on a bitcoin era automated platform.  Bitcoin hit the headlines at the end of 2017 because its value had risen to more than double what the experts had predicted but then it dropped and leveled out to a more realistic value. At its current market value of almost $9000 dollars (25 April 2018), it represents a good investment for anyone who purchased them some time ago and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future as more businesses use Bitcoin to replace cash. The more useable this digital currency becomes, the more valuable it will be; not just for investors but for all online and physical stores that accept it as payment from their customers.

5 Small Tips That Will Make Your House Look Bigger

ABC Staff
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5 Small Tips That Will Make Your House Look Bigger

Feeling like you’re running out of space? If you wish to make your house look more bigger and less cramped, check out our easy and affordable hacks below to get the most out of your space without moving any walls.

1. Multifunctional furniture

When it comes to choosing the right furniture for limited spaces, many homeowners face the same question – what size and form should they go for? The key to making a small home feel comfortable is investing in furniture that fits the apartment’s dimension and serves multiple purposes – such as storage pouffe or fitted wardrobe. It’s also important that you pick the right surface such as see-through plastic or glass, which help with reflecting light and boosting the sense of space. You can take some help from “painter and decorator london” for refurnishing your home along with decorating it in the best way.

2. Declutter

In small place is crucial to have things organised and free from any clutter – it only takes a pile of paper to overwhelm a smaller space! Unfortunately, if you’re living is a little flat you can’t just throw the unnecessary crumbs into a spare chamber – instead, you might want to think about renting a unit with your local self-storage provider.

3. Let there be a light

To make a small space feel bigger, utilise the right lighting strategy as small rooms with little light may give you a claustrophobic reaction. To open up your room a bit don’t rely on a single source of light in the centre of the room and use multiple lamps instead to create layered lighting design.

4. Statement piece

Owning a small place doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the home décor you want, as going for the fearless statement pieces can also help with boosting the space. For example, choose the boldly shaped and hued sofa instead of multiple chairs which will not only generate a “wow” factor, but will also help to control the clutter.

5. Use mirrors

Mirrors are probably the most important accessories you should pay attention to when decorating a small space. Expanding walls, amplifying light, illuminating dark corners – they can be used to solve any design dilemma. They can also create an illusion of depth and space, so don’t be afraid of placing a large mirror in a tiny space.

Mind, body and the windows to your soul. Where to focus your wellbeing on a budget.

ABC Staff
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Mind, body and the windows to your soul. Where to focus your wellbeing on a budget.

Staying healthy and looking after ourselves is of vital importance. Many of us are caught up in a constant desire to improve our fitness, mental health and general wellbeing. It’s not always easy to remember to take care of ourselves, especially when we’re busy taking care of work and life. Likewise, the meditation classes, doctors appointments and vegetables come with a cost. There are, however, ways to get healthier whilst on a tight budget.

It’s worth considering which parts of the body have the biggest impact on our general overall health. The eyes, stomach and mind are three parts of the body that, if looked after well, will improve your general wellbeing.

Eyes. How you see the world

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. They are the most expressive organ in the human body and play an important role in our ability to learn and communicate. So, maintaining good eye health is pretty important. The first step in preserving your sight is to regularly see an optician. This will determine whether glasses or daily contact lenses are required, and you’ll be able to gauge the potential effect on your budget.

If you do need some, popular contact lenses include both daily and monthly options; the latter is often far cheaper, so you’ll have no issue finding some cheap contact lenses to suit your budget. Our eyes are also good indicators of our overall health. Eye examinations may indicate underlying disease or illness. Light is a huge factor in eye damage, so watch out for the sun and computer screens.

Stomach. How you taste the world

You are what you eat. A balanced diet should be everyone’s health priority. Good food contributes to our overall happiness, prevents many causes of certain diseases, like heart disease, and offers us the vitamins and minerals needed to sustain the human body. An easy way to provide a healthy meal on little money is to consider buying more of one thing and eating fewer little things. Buying bulk whole foods, and avoiding consuming snacks, is an extremely effective way to organise your budget and cut down on unhealthy and unnecessary nibbles.

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Mind. How you think about the world

A YouGov survey in 2017 outlined that one in five employees across the United Kingdom had issues with their mental health across the year. Keeping your mind healthy is as, if not more, important as the heart or lungs. Our jobs may be the biggest contributing factor to bad mental wellbeing. Meditation and exercise are proven antidotes, and there are a few simple self-care tips you can implement that won’t break the bank. Manage work hours, to limit unneeded stress during down time. Turn off your phone at night – this will improve your sleeping pattern and boost your general health. Consider volunteering. Giving to others activates the social parts of our brain, boosts self-esteem and provides the brain with key development processes by learning new skills.

If online blogs, social media and the television are making you confused about how to tackle your wellbeing effectively and cheaply, just remember to first consider how you can alter tiny aspects of your lifestyle that will improve your wellbeing for free. And secondly, look after the parts of your body that have the most impact on your overall health. Walk to work, wear sunglasses and eat fruit and vegetables. You may see the benefits.

5 Reasons Why Independent Shops Should be Online

ABC Staff
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5 Reasons Why Independent Shops Should be Online

For independent bricks and mortar retailers, the idea of starting an online business can seem intimidating. However, considering that 87% of UK consumers have purchased a product online within the last 12 months, failing to expand  into e-commerce could be costing you valuable opportunities to increase brand awareness, expand your pool of customers and ultimately increase sales – the world of online cannot be ignored. With this in mind, here are five reasons why independent shops should be online.

1. Generate Customer Loyalty

If your business has a physical store, it can sometimes be difficult to increase customer loyalty. Considering that a 5% increase in customer retention can enhance  a company’s profitability by 75%, investing time in developing a  customer loyalty programme should be an integral component of any marketing strategy; otherwise you risk losing more customers than you gain, which isn’t a successful business model.

Offering your products online means you can set up reward schemes for loyal customers. These could include points-based rewards, offering delivery discounts, or birthday perks. A successful reward scheme should also track each customer’s interactions, such as what they purchase, when and why. This way you can target your rewards even more accurately.

Aside from encouraging them to spend more, loyalty schemes also make customers feel valued and more connected to a brand. According to a study by Kiteweel, 73% of customers feel loyalty programmes should be a way for brands to reward  a customer’s loyalty. On the other side of the coin, 66% of marketers feel that loyalty programmes are an effective way for  customers to show loyalty to their brand, meaning the programme will benefit both the customer and the business.

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ASOS have created a reward system entitled ‘ASOS A-List’, where customers earn points every time they make a purchase, which can be converted into £5 vouchers once 500 points has been reached. The scheme is segmented into three different levels, which customers pass through as they spend more and earn more points. For example those on Level Two receive 15% off on birthdays, advanced warning of sales and four double points days, whilst Level Three shoppers receive 20% off on birthdays, 24-hour early access to sales and four triple points days. The more an individual customer shops with them online, the more rewards they obtain allowing ASOS to encourage loyalty and increase their profits.

2. Consumers are Choosing E-commerce

To stand a chance of staying competitive, you need to be where consumers are more likely to browse and purchase, and consumers are starting to use e-commerce shopping more regularly – in fact, the  average e-commerce spend per customer is estimated to be £1,600 over the course of the year. If you aren’t available online, potential customers will simply forget you and shop with one of your competitors who are.

However, the increase in e-commerce shopping doesn’t mean you should close down your store, but rather use online marketing to promote your e-commerce store and your physical store. Social media, namely Facebook, is undoubtedly one of the most useful marketing tools for online and offline shopping, with 15 million businesses now having a branded Facebook page worldwide.

For businesses with a physical location, reaching active and potential customers near their location to encourage in-store purchases is essential. Facebook Local Awareness allows you to create geo-targeted advertisements for your products or services and to reach users who are near your store. The advertisements can be personalised with a map card which promotes location-relevant information about your business, such as hours of operation, exact location, travel distance and direction links. Calls to action can also be added, including ‘call now’, ‘get directions’, ‘learn more’ or ‘send message’ enabling you to drive offline sales from online advertisements.

In attempt to upsell their Mother’s Day gifts, Tesco used Facebook Local Awareness to promote their products locally, meaning anyone who was nearby would be targeted with the ad on their newsfeed.  The ‘get directions’ calltoaction meant that those who were interested could load a map and locate their nearest Tesco store.

Facebook can also be used to promote online products through paid advertising. New Look have utilised this option by advertising the products featured in their imagery with a price and a clickable link which directs the user to the landing page for that specific product. By selling your products online and promoting them where consumers are most active, you will guarantee a higher return on investment (ROI) from your marketing efforts.

3. Reduce your Overheads Whilst Expanding

For independent retailer’s expansion is often a long-term goal, however it can seem unlikely with all the overheads that are involved with purchasing or renting new premises, such as staff and inventory. The constantly increasing rental prices for commercial property is also making expansion difficult – last April, commercial property rates rose by an astonishing £152 million.

Setting up an e-commerce website is significantly more cost-effective compared to purchasing new premises. Basic initial expenses will typically include a web hosting theme, domain name, building your website and some investment in marketing (emails, social media, etc.). The transition to online selling can be relatively smooth if you continue to sell products that are in high demand and for which you have a good supply.

Although you could spend thousands of pounds on developing a website to try and compete with multi-store businesses, a good website to compete with more realistic competitors can be developed for little expense. However, if your funds are rather l limited you could look into avoiding  business credit cards and applying to Liberis for further support. Website building platforms such as WordPress – the most commonly used, will provide a high-quality theme for your website with almost no coding required.

4. Be More Convenient

Whilst some fast food chains, petrol stations and some grocery stores are able offer a 24-hour service, this is impossible for the majority of businesses without the internet. Think about it, how much more profit could you make in-store if it was actually possible to be open for three times as long? One of biggest advantages of having an e-commerce store is that existing and potential customers are able to read about your offering and place orders whenever they want. You can generate leads, enquiries and sales at any time through a website while your physical store is closed and follow up these prospects and customers the next day.

The internet also allows you to provide answers to questions and solve customer problems, without them having to come into your store. Remember –  customers are likely to have questions before a purchase, such as queries about a product, or solving an issue with an existing purchase – questions that cannot be answered when your store is closed. However, an online presence means you can give them access to the information they are looking for when they need it.

5. Unique Offering

If a business working with a mass-produced product or service and chooses to be part of a marketplace that faces competition from the likes of Amazon and eBay, thousands of brands similar to yours will also be featured online. This could result in your product or service being lost in a sea of competition making it difficult to stand out and showcase your unique selling point.

Expanding your independent shop online means you can 100% focus on showcasing your brand and its niche. For example, if you’re a jewellery retailer selling handmade, bespoke items you can take make this part of your online advertising strategy. 93% of shoppers prefer local businesses who offer online shopping, indicating that buyers want to find something unique that isn’t offered anywhere else and cannot be obtained through larger retailers, but they still want the convenience of online shopping.

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