The Internet offers amazing opportunities to reach new customers, expand your market reach and grow your business cost-effectively. So, has your business considered the move towards eCommerce as the next step in your business plan?

eCommerce facilitates the immediate exchange of goods and services online, with the internet now a viable and established sales channel for businesses of all shapes and sizes. By removing the traditional geographic and time barriers of “bricks-and-mortar” businesses, eCommerce enables the consumer to buy almost anything they want at any time of the day.

According to the July 2006 Sensis e-Business Report, a staggering 53% of small to medium-sized businesses are now receiving payments through the Internet. So with such a competitive retail market, it begs the question: Why should this online market exclude your enterprise?

“We have noticed a substantial segment of new web entrepreneurs are stay-at-home mums and dads or people in their spare time looking for a flexible means to boost their income,” said Larry Bloch, CEO of NetRegistry. “Ironically it seems these “hobby” businesses are so profitable they have become full-time commercial enterprises”.

One such example of this is Simple Savings. Within two months of establishing the business in 2003, the company achieved its first years’ financial projections. Matt and Fiona Lippey’s “hobby” business had quickly turned into a profitable venture. Whist raising their two young children, the Lippey’s recently launched localised versions in New Zealand and the UK, with the US scheduled for an April release.

When asked to discuss the most challenging aspect of their business, Mrs Lippey said, “Remembering family comes first. When operating a business from home, the hardest part is drawing a boundary between the business and your family. I am a professional mother who happens to run a business, which is our sole income”. Her husband, Matt, manages all the programming and accounts, making it a perfect team.