How do I get online and start a successful e-commerce business?

A great place to start would be the free workshop which PayU and MWEB are co-hosting for the benefit of all local entrepreneurs who are looking to establish their own successful e-commerce business.

Those who are interested in taking advantage of the world-wide boom in e-commerce, and who hope to gain a deeper understanding of the online retail environment should email [email protected] in order to secure their place at the workshop which will be held at the the MWEB Auditorium (100 Fairway Close, Parow) on the 29th of August from 09h00-11h00.

According to Mark Chirnside, PayU CEO, the opportunity is ripe for local entrepreneurs to start their own online business, “Only about 1.5 million of the 13.6 million South Africans who are currently online are shopping online. This shows how much opportunity for growth there is in the local market as the South African internet user base expands and matures.”

As industry leaders in the respective fields of Online Payment and Internet Service Providers, both companies have assembled a cast of experts who will offer attendees the practical advice needed to develop and launch a successful online business.

Head of Small Business at MWEB, Paul Hobden will give an overview on some of the most cost effective ways to take your business online; and offer practical advice on effective website design, time saving tips and the importance of backups and security.

Charles Elliman, Head of Sales at PayU, will offer insight into the latest trends and opportunities in e-commerce in South Africa, and will advise on the latest technology available to assist in building a successful e-commerce site. The discussion will also touch on the requirements and resources needed to sell online and will explore different e-commerce business models.

Internet Express Couriers started in 1998 and was the first company to offer a complete courier solution to the South African online community. Geoff Milton, Internet Express Couriers CEO, will unpack this vital final step in the transaction cycle, and will discuss the logistical challenges of e-commerce and how to solve them.

MWEB’s Paul Hobden believes that, given the prevailing economic climate in general, anyone with an entrepreneurial streak should explore the exciting potential that e-commerce can offer, “The next time someone asks ‘I could have been a millionaire, why didn’t I think of that?’ you can gently remind them that an idea remains just an idea until you make it happen…”