There are a lot of options for running an online store – Big Commerce is an all-in-one ecommerce solution that I’ve worked on for several clients’ online stores since 2012 (see Big Commerce’s pricing plans here). Here’s my Big Commerce review – with 6 pros and 6 cons of using Big Commerce for your online store.* Editor’s Note – This review was originally published in 2014. It was re-written in May 2015 and last updated December 2015. But first, a bit of an overview. There’s a lot of considerations that go into an choosing an online store platform. There’s also a ton of options, and your choice of platform can have just as big of an impact on your online business as choosing a physical location for your physical business. It can greatly expand or hurt your business long-term and in the short term it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches. That said, just like choosing a physical location, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only a such thing as the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances. On the wide spectrum of ecommerce solutions, Big Commerce lives on the end that is all-inclusive and provides everything you need to get started and grow your online store. It’s in contrast to solutions where you buy, install, and manage all the “pieces” of your store separately. Using Big Commerce is sort of like leasing and customizing a storefront in a development instead building your own store. You’re still in control of design, merchandising, and everything business-wise – but you leave the store construction, plumbing, security, and infrastructure to the property owner. Again, there are pros and cons to this, but know that Big Commerce competes directly with Shopify (see their site here and my Shopify review here) and Volusion (see their site here and my Volusion review here) as all-inclusive options. Those options as a.
A few years ago, a woman checked into the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas and realized as she was unpacking that she’d forgotten her favorite pair of shoes. Remembering she’d purchased them from Zappos, she went to the website to order another pair. After searching for the shoes to no avail, she called Zappos to see if they could ship her the prized shoes. Unfortunately, Zappos no longer stocked those shoes, but luckily for this woman the company is located in Las Vegas. ( In fact, Zappos had recently moved their entire company to Las Vegas from San Francisco to cement their customer service operations.) With any other company, this would be the end of the story and this customer would have to go without her shoes. But Zappos isn’t any other company. Instead, here’s what happened: Zappos employees went out and found the shoes at a nearby mall and then delivered them to the woman at her hotel for free. This is just one of hundreds of impressive examples of Zappos providing their signature WOW experience for their customers. In fact, this entire article could consist of examples of Zappos going way beyond the call of duty for their customers. But here’s something that might surprise you Despite all of the PR and accolades about these WOW experiences, providing a few customers with a positive experience when the opportunity presents itself is not the path to kick-ass customer service. Sure, it’s what made Zappos famous. But even they would agree that delivering consistent, excellent customer service for all their customers is what make them the company they are today. For Zappos, customer service isn’t about being opportunistic, but ensuring every customer has a great experience, every single time. It’s a high bar, but those are the table stakes now in ecommerce customer service. Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, says it himself: “ Customer service shouldn’t just be a.
Technology changes, but human nature is perpetual—and there are few things in life and in business that we love more than seeing one person taking care of another. We’ve covered a few of our favorites in the past, but there are thousands of fine folks who love taking care of customers as readers of this blog, and we’re in a great position to put the spotlight on a few more feel-good stories that deserve some extra attention. So you know where that leads us—read on and enjoy 10 more stories of businesses and their star service reps who went the extra mile for their customers. 1. Under Wendy’s Umbrella This is a bit of a “drive-through” (pun regretfully intended) tale that I wish I had more information on. Posted on Reddit without any additional details or a follow-up, the submitter was at least able to capture a really heartwarming moment: amidst a pretty harsh rainstorm, a Wendy’s employee went outside, removed the umbrella from one of the tables, and walked an elderly man to his car. 2. The Pom- Pom Pearl Fan Club Who would’ve thought that you’d be seeing two tales of exceptional service from fast food companies? While a boisterous personality isn’t for everyone, it’s hard to resist “ Pom- Pom” Pearl Weaver’s charm and enthusiasm. The 89-year-old Arby’s employee drew fans from all around, and even the local press gave some well-deserved attention to a woman who was truly passionate about making people’s day: Whenever anyone—young and old alike—steps up to the counter, Weaver waves a blue-and-white pompom and chirps Hi everybody, welcome to Arby's! She's fantastic, said the store's general manager Christian Stakes said. I don't want to diminish what she does, but she's the mascot. If she's off for a week, people ask about her. 3. A Netflix Live Chat Treasure Taking the customer service tone to the front lines, this next example from a Netflix employee is best if you.
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