Stationery products are evergreen. They find a place in every kind of office and home. So, there is always a large market demand for stationery items. Apart from this, it is one of the most in-demand products online.
Are you looking to launch your own line of stationery products? Starting a business online might seem overwhelming. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you learn more about how to sell stationery online.
Contents
- 1 Is selling stationery online profitable?
- 2 How to sell stationery online
- 3 Step 1 – Choose your stationery product range
- 4 Step 2 – Source your stationery
- 5 Step 3 – Decide where to sell stationery online
- 6 Start your own stationery store online
- 7 Step 4 – Set up shipping
- 8 Step 5 – Calculate cost of business
- 9 Create your own stationery store online
Is selling stationery online profitable?
Apart from being highly in-demand, there is space for creativity and uniqueness. Your new stationery brand has a good chance of standing out from the bigger players. People love unique, quirky stationery and you can always try new aesthetics.
Another advantage of selling stationery products online is that it’s less bulky and easier to ship. So, selling stationery online is a good business idea.
In this blog, we have compiled a step-by-step process on how to sell stationery online.
How to sell stationery online
- Choose what kind of stationery to sell
- Source your stationery products
- Decide where to sell stationery
- Set up shipping
- Calculate costs
Step 1 – Choose your stationery product range
Stationery is a wide term that includes different office and school supplies. You have a large number of options to choose from. Here is a list of general items to consider when selling stationery online:
- Writing tools (pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.)
- Notebooks, notepads, journals, and sticky notes
- Files and report covers
- Planning and scheduling tools (calendars, planners, etc.)
- Folders, dividers, and labels
- Glue, tape, rubber bands, paper clips, etc.
- Scissors and paper cutters
- Staplers and staples
- Paper (loose-leaf, copy paper, printer paper, etc.)
- Printer ink cartridges
- Office organisers
You can choose to sell all of these items or just a select few. Don’t choose something very niche because you might find it hard to find customers consistently.
If you are planning to sell notebooks and planners, try uniquely designed cover pages. Make your stationery stand out. People love to own aesthetic stationery. Make your products irresistible to the eyes of stationery lovers.
Another idea is to bring a general theme to all your products. For example, base the stationery items on a popular series, movie, book, or personality.
Step 2 – Source your stationery
This step is a very important one because it determines your budget, time to spend, and dependency. Consider these points before deciding the source:
- Investing capital
- Warehouse availability and location
- Product uniqueness
- Degree of your involvement
- Your chosen niche
Wholesale supply:
In this business model, you will be collecting stationery products in bulk and then selling them. You can decide on an assortment of stationery. The risk is one step higher than the dropshipping method but you will be less dependent on the supplier. Make sure you find a reliable supplier who caters to your needs in time.
Create your own range of stationery:
This is the perfect business model to stand out from the crowd. If you have a passion for making things, design and create your own stationery brand.
Just In Case is a designer stationery brand selling beautiful planners, notepads and pens. They sell unique and aesthetic products that are loved by many!
Want to create a beautiful online store to sell stationery? You can get started for free and start building the store of your dreams!
The risk involved and cost in this business model is higher. These are some points you need to consider:
- Raw materials and availability
- Designing products
- Printing costs
- Inventory management
Here’s a resource on selling handmade products online.
Step 3 – Decide where to sell stationery online
Now that you have chosen your business model, it’s time to decide where you will sell your stationery products. How will your customers find you? Where will you display the products?
You have three main options:
- Social media
- Online marketplaces
- Your own website
Selling stationery on social media
Stationery is a very aesthetic and visual product. With the right strategy, you can leverage social media to not only sell your products but also build your own personal brand.
Related Read: How to setup social media for your small business
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Let’s discuss collecting payments. You could ask customers to transfer via GPay, PhonePay etc in the beginning. You might face difficulty keeping track of all payments when the number of orders starts increasing. We have a solution for you— Instamojo’s payment links. You will be able to collect payments online anywhere, anytime.
Selling stationery on online marketplaces
Platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra are called online marketplaces. Millions of online shoppers use these platforms every day, giving your stationery products a wider exposure. But the competition will be extra hard and it is almost impossible to stand out. So, there is a high chance of being overshadowed by big players.
There is one way to be a unique brand and get more customers online for your stationery business. Start your own online stationery store online.
Start your own stationery store online
To sell stationery online with your own website, you need to select an eCommerce platform. There are many platforms out there that offer hassle-free methods to set up an online store.
A good eCommerce website will cater to all your business needs, from product catalogue and marketing to payments and shipping. You should select the platform best for your business.
Instamojo provides an easy way to start your own online store to sell stationery. You just need to sign up with an email address and start exploring the features. The online store builder also has affordable premium plans for all kinds of businesses.
Happy Cubes journey to becoming a stationery brand
What started out as a small passion project has now become a brand that sells its own line of stationery and craft supplies.
Jayashree, the founder of Happy Cubes, started selling stationery products on her own online store with the help of Instamojo. Read more about her inspiring journey.
Want to start your own stationery store online? Sign up for free on Instamojo and get started!
Advantages of selling on your own eCommerce store:
- Building your own brand that customers love
- Lesser chances of getting overshadowed
- Leverage the power of SEO to make your business reach more customers
- Have more control over your business—from marketing to packaging and shipping
Watch this short video to find out more about setting up your own eCommerce store.
Step 4 – Set up shipping
A major challenge for any online business is shipping and delivery. You need to make sure that your business is partnered with a reliable shipping service. If you create an eCommerce website on Instamojo, you will get access to different shipping partners. Everything can be managed and tracked from a single dashboard.
Related read: 5 Affordable shipping services in India
Step 5 – Calculate cost of business
Now that you know how and where to sell stationary, the only thing left is to decide on a budget! You will need to allocate money for:
- Own eCommerce website
- Creating a stock of stationery
- Packaging and shipping
- Advertising and marketing
- Taxes
- Office and/or warehouse rent
You now know the pathway to follow to start your very own online business!
Create your own stationery store online
The key to build a successful eCommerce business is to plan everything right from the beginning. Once you choose a product, you’re halfway there. Then, it’s all a matter of setting up the business and selling.
It’s now time to take the step to start making an online store for your stationery business. Instamojo provides the easiest way to build a full-fledged eCommerce website with all the features you need. Sign up for free to get started!
