Pivot to grow online sales via
Amazon and your website.

Who would’ve thought something too small to see with the naked eye could bring the global economy to its knees? COVID-19 has taken loved ones from us, upended our way of life, and challenged everyone to adapt to a new normal most of us weren’t prepared for. 

We spoke with three of our clients about this transformative time and wanted to share their thoughts with you.  We thank them and hope their insights are helpful.

7 Minute Read

pivot to more e-commerce sales?
We'll hear from 3 Food Brands

Remember when we all met, shook hands, packed into Moscone Center, breathed on each other in crowded aisles, and hugged at the Fancy Food Show? That was a dozen weeks ago.

According to Reuters, in an announcement ten days ago, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, Amazon will be postponing its annual Prime Day this year – usually set for mid-July – until sometime in August. Amazon is also seeing its share of shifts.

an opportunity if you can pivot

If you’re a gourmet brand, you’ve most likely noticed this pandemic has flipped shopping altogether. So the question is, can you seize this window of possible opportunity and pivot toward more online sales?

Maybe you've done it and are seeing good results. Great! But if you haven't, it'll mean building out and optimizing your Amazon, your website, and perhaps even Walmart Marketplace.

E-commerce is on fire for Some specialty food Brands

Just because people are trapped at home, doesn’t mean they aren’t buying. In fact, we’ve seen an average of 60% spikes in e-commerce of our specialty food clients – from February to March.

Some are seeing over 300%+ increases in Amazon and online sales. So it’s no wonder Amazon’s stock recently surged over 5%. 

Susie Hojel, Founder CHILE CRUNCH:

• “Right now, e-commerce is taking off, because people are not going to the stores...but people are still buying. So if you already have a consumer that likes your product but can’t find it in a store, hopefully they’ll look online."
  
  "I would say e-commerce for me is getting key advertising, social media, placement ads, emails, marketing every contact I have, to our base… We’re reminding people we’re still here and we’re enhancing our presence and telling them this is where you can go to get CHILE CRUNCH.”

Bonnie Burgart, Marketing Manager Sigonas Fruit For Thought

• "Since people are for the most part at home, they’re having to find different ways to get food and snacks that they normally would have gotten at the store or at work. Amazon in particular is a great way to be able to access those goods."
  
  "Currently on Amazon and on our own website, we’ve seen an uptick. We are not yet on Walmart, but we are actively looking into that. At this point, wherever you can be available to consumers, they’ll find you."
  
  "Whatever we can do as a business to make things available and get them to homes as quickly as possible, without contamination -- that is something that especially as a food product, we’ve taken additional precautions to oversee in our facilities. We’re taking extra steps with masks and PPE as we pack the product.”

Ken Kellerhals, CEO PCS Gourmet Foods

• “We’re sensing putting an emphasis on e-commerce is important. We go out and find unique, small companies that want to become unique large companies in the food business and help bring them to market."
  
  "One of the things we are doing is helping with Amazon. We ship all our products there. What we’re finding is that the whole e-commerce avenue for consumers and retailers is growing, because people can simply sit down, get on the computer, order things, and be done. The age of people on the internet has also gotten older now that everyone’s sitting at home and can’t go out."
  
  "We’re having different people look at us than before. This week last year, we shipped 25 orders through the internet for one of our clients. That same week this year, we shipped 315. I think that trend is going to continue, and I think it’s going to continue for a long time, and we’re adjusting to make that happen.”

Is the Curve flattening?

Despite the hardships we're facing, we're seeing in the news the curve might be headed toward flattening. But while we're stuck at home, why not use the time to reflect on how you can boost your e-commerce marketing and sales strategies?

We're seeing major growth on Amazon and Walmart Marketplace. Those who don’t typically shop online have started. And the number of people already shopping online will only increase.

How Can We Help?

Whether you’ve been at this for years or you've just launched, we’re here for you. Please feel free to connect with us. We're happy to review your e-commerce challenges, goals, and plans. Until then,

Happy E-commerce Selling,
Lou

Lou Nicolaides
lou@ludwigmarketingandsales.com
(626) 703-4592