2019 A year in review helping businesses to sell their products online
Happy New Year! On behalf of Owl and Monk I would like to thank you for your support in business, it has been fun to partner, collaborate and to share ideas with you throughout 2019.
What is your strategy for 2020?
The holidays are a great time to look back on your past year in business and to reflect on what you would like achieve in the future. Its a great time to start to set out your future growth strategy.
Contact Chana to get started with your Online Retail Strategy.
2020 and beyond
I am really excited about what 2020 will bring, it is an exciting time in retail with innovations changing how we shop and engage with brands and businesses. The evolution of the online shopping experience is influencing how retailers can best sell their products, with many people preferring to search and buy online.
2019 has been a big year in business for Owl and Monk and my own personal development.
Our Clients
We have helped our clients to sell their products online by providing an Online Selling Strategy, Online Store Design, Product Photography, Written Content Optimisation, Branding and Graphic Design Services.
Sharing Knowledge and Experiences with the business community
During 2019 I shared views on the future of retail and eCommerce best practice. It was a great experience curating content for a range of audiences and rewarding to see many people have an 'ah ha' moment, helping them get clarity on ideas and build the confidence to execute their ideas.
I started the year off with my first radio interview/podcast 'Developing An E-Commerce Strategy For Your Business on Small Biz Matters followed by:
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A panel discussion on 'Website Strategy and Best Practice' at Shire Women
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Co-hosting my own Independent panel networking event 'How suppliers & retailers can work together to shape the future of retail!' at The Rocks Brewery as part of the Sydney Retail Festival.
(Salena Knight and Chana Imsirovic at The Rocks Brewery)
An opportunity to travel to Canada
In June I travelled to Toronto to attend Shopify Unite the annual Shopify partner and developer conference as a lucky Unite Fund recipient.
The Unite Fund is a Shopify grant that was awarded to support my work as an independent businesswoman.
It was a great opportunity to meet like minded people in the Shopify community, learn more and collaborate.
Read more here
Shopify Women’s Network
Attending Shopify Unite opened up an international friendship and collaboration between 3 amazing women Amy Nichola, Micah Puklowski and Gilda Villaseñor and myself. Together we have started a LinkedIn Network called the Shopify Women’s Network. This group is designed to empower women to confidently use Shopify to grow their brands online. Join us to learn more about the platform, technology, app integrations, stay up to date with trends, industry events, discuss and share challenges that are typical in building a commerce business and most importantly build a community.
(Shopify Unite Fund recipients, Talia Richardson and Maxine Patenaude from Shopify)
eCommerce Nomad (Regional travel around Australia in 2020)
During the year I travelled between Sydney and Queensland to visit clients and business partners. Connecting in person always helps to build relationships, develop trust, gain insight into their daily operations and business requirements and sets the foundations for effective working relationships and collaborations.
Owl and Monk will be travelling across the country in 2020 to help business owners in regional communities sell their products online in both domestic and international markets.
Services include On-Site Consultancy and eCommerce Strategy, Website Design, Education and Strategy Implementation Services specifically developed for their individual needs.
Recently I visited the town of Goondiwindi to conduct a strategy workshop at Goondiwindi Cotton with cotton farmer Sam Coulton, Marketing and Regional Events Manager Jade Mackay and the operations team. Read more here.
I then visited Brisbane to touch base with designer Lisa Nobes from Kikau who will be launching her first range of children's bed linen early in 2020 and then on to Byron Bay for a website strategy workshop with Stone and Wood and Nathan Bush from 12High.
View Case Study here on how we helped Stone and Wood to build community and sell their beer online. Stone & Wood are an independent brewing company based in Byron Bay. They are known for their community engagement, contribution to local industry & have a strong brand following.
Drought, bushfire and community
2019-2020 has been hard for many individuals and communities, with drought and bushfires impacting health, homes and businesses.
It has been a timely reminder of the importance of being a part of your community, buying from, and supporting local business and social groups and putting communities and people before profit.
It's great to see many people taking the initiative to raise money and support Drought and Bushfire affected regional businesses and communities throughout this time of need.
But don't forget the animals!!!
Make a tax deductible donation here to WIRES - NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue & Education Service Inc to help raise money for the Rescue and Rehabilitation of our native wildlife during the drought and bushfire crisis.
Read article on how 'Trends are impacting the future of retail in Australia'.
eCommerce in Australia is growing rapidly, with online spend reaching 10% of total retail sales in 2018, taking its share to two percentage points higher than the previous year1. Australians spent $27.5 billion buying goods online, an increase of 24.4% year on year (YOY)2 (2019 eCommerce Industry Report - Australia Post)
(Infographic from the 2019 eCommerce Industry Report - Australia Post)
What is your strategy for 2020?
The holidays are a great time to look back on your past year in business and to reflect on what you would like achieve in the future. Its a great time to start to set out your future growth strategy.
Contact Chana to get started with your online retail strategy.
Cheers and Happy New Year!
Chana Imsirovic founded Owl and Monk a boutique agency in Southern Sydney and specialises in helping small to medium sized merchants grow their businesses online by strategically planning, designing and maintaining professional, responsive and easy to use e-commerce stores on Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay and Amazon.
Connect with Chana on LinkedIn here.