4 Reasons FFLs Are Switching to Integrated eCommerce

4 Reasons FFLs Are Switching to Integrated eCommerce

By Kathleen Owen

In 2021 alone, eCommerce sales topped $215B. Experts point to the impact of the pandemic and consumers learning to love the comfort and convenience of shopping online as a major driver in this increase.

Selling your inventory online is no longer just an option - it’s a necessity if you hope to stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

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The Challenges of eCommerce for FFLs

Expanding to eCommerce doesn’t come without its challenges. ECommerce can be complicated and time consuming. Tracking inventory across multiple sales channels, creating and managing listings, pricing and promotion can add headache and increase costs.

We know this is a major barrier to entry to eCommerce, but there is a solution. . . using natively integrated eCommerce.  

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The Benefits of Natively Integrated eCommerce

When eCommerce is natively integrated, your point of sale system is connected directly to your online marketplaces without a third party integration (which can often be unstable or come with limitations).  

Native integration between your point of sale system and online marketplaces is essential if you want online selling to be sustainable and scalable.  

Maximizing online profitability requires selling more without holding a lot of extra overhead. With eCommerce, overhead can look like hiring more employees or bringing in a third party to manage listings, thus decreasing your margins for online sales.

Natively integrated eCommerce is a straightforward solution to make online selling affordable (and profitable!) for business owners.  

Considering dipping your toe into the online retail space? Learn the four major ways natively integrated eComm can revolutionize your business – and make you more money! Are you already offering inventory online? Great! Is it fully integrated with the rest of your point of sale or are you managing your online selling separately?  

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Here are 4 Reasons FFLs are making the switch to a point of sale that integrates natively with their eCommerce selling channels.

1. Saves Time & Improves Employee Experience  

• Listings are created automatically through the native integration, which means no more duplicate or manual entry tasks for employees.

• Listings are complete and include full product descriptions, images, condition rating and pricing – all things that drive consumer trust and purchase behavior.

• Web fulfillment tasks are created immediately and automatically, so that you never need to keep track of orders in spreadsheets or post-it notes.  

Bravo knows how important it is to be able to run your eCommerce efficiently. That’s why our Point of Sale makes it easy to list on multiple eCommerce sites automatically and simultaneously. With the click of a button your listings are online with full product descriptions, images, condition rating and pricing. NO manual entry.

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2. Saves Money & Reduces Overhead

• No need to hire a dedicated employee or third party to manage listings. Natively integrated eComm means listings are managed automatically through your point of sale.

• Reallocate employee time to focus on customers and revenue-generating activities rather than admin work.  

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3.  Increases Sales & Profitability

• All inventory is exposed in real time – as soon as an item enters your inventory it can be added (and shopped for) online!  

• Automated online listings = faster inventory turnover and more sales.

• Increased in-store visits and sales. Customers are browsing and shopping online. When you have new, fresh inventory posted often it gives them even more reason to stop in your store and shop more.  

• ECommerce is open 24/7. Your customers can shop even when your brick-and-mortar store is closed, and integrated eCommerce means your inventory stays up to date too.

Have you seen Bravo’s Built-In Quality Assessment and Estimator tool? The Bravo Point of Sale comes equipped with tools that help you assess and determine the worth of merchandise based on condition. And, the built-in pricing guide gives you real-time data so you can buy, sell and trade items at the best price every time.

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3. Creates a Better Consumer Experience

• Listings are accurate and real time. Integrated eCommerce means you won’t accidentally sell an item twice. If you sell your item in-store, the online listing is automatically removed. If you sell online, your point of sale knows you have a web fulfillment order.  

• Customers can browse inventory online before coming into the store. Your local customers appreciate the opportunity to see your inventory and come in to make a purchase, and integrated eCommerce means they get this now standard retail experience with no extra work on your end.  

• Complete product listing/description provide more details about the product, leading customers to make an informed decision with their purchase. This is particularly important when you’re selling used merchandise.  

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4. Expands Reach & Grows Customer Base

• Reach a nationwide audience easily. Market and sell products via social media, email and other digital mediums, linking buyers back to your online listings.

• Move unique merchandise quickly by reaching beyond your local area to reach niche markets and interest groups.  

• Sell easily on multiple marketplaces. Bravo customers can list firearms on UsedGuns.com and their company branded websites, and accessories on Buya.com and eBay simultaneously, with just the click of a button!

Ready to fully integrate eCommerce with your Point of Sale?

Make it simple with Bravo Store Systems. Schedule a demo to see how Bravo’s Point of Sale for FFLs and native eCommerce integrations can help you work less, save time and make more money.  

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About the Author

Kathleen Owen has spearheaded the development and growth of marketing and sales teams at several B2B SaaS companies spanning different industries throughout her career, including firearms, pawn, wealth management, payments, eCommerce and insurance. In her role as Bravo's VP of Marketing, Kathleen loves helping companies scale, improve operational efficiency and drive bottom-line results through strategic implementation and adoption of new technology platforms.

Kathleen attended the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee where she earned a B.A. in Communication, as well as a Masters Degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies. During her time at UW-Milwaukee, she was a member of the Division I swim team and taught Public Speaking & Argumentation as a teaching assistant.

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