| The easiest way to create an online storefront is to let somebody else do it for you. Several of the big auction services sites offer prepackaged Web storefronts you can use to sell both auction and non-auction merchandise. The advantage of using a prepackaged storefront is that all the hard work is done for you; you put your storefront together by filling out the appropriate forms. The disadvantage of a prepackaged storefront is that, in many cases, it's not really your storefront; there aren't a lot of customization options, and you have to settle for a somewhat generic look and feel. (Which means that your store is going to look like everybody else's that use the same service ”not necessarily a good thing.) Still, if you want to launch a storefront without a lot of fuss and muss ”and get it up and running in record time ”then a prepackaged storefront service might be for you. We'll look at some of the most popular services next . ndale Stores ndale (www. andale .com) lets you build your own storefront on its service. An ndale Store is similar to an eBay Store, but a bit nicer looking and somewhat more functional. As you can see in Figure 22.1, an ndale Store can be fully customized with your own personal color scheme and graphics. Figure 22.1. A typical ndale Store, from Gold Rush Games.  tip  | When you open an ndale Store, ndale inserts a small Auction Gallery at the bottom of all your eBay item listings. Potential bidders can click through the items in this Gallery to shop at your ndale Store. |
Pricing to open an ndale Store is $5.95 per month, cheaper than the $9.95 fee for an eBay Store. Of course, you also have to pay ndale's listing and checkout fees, which are the same as for normal auction listings. However, this fee covers everything ”like all of these third-party services, ndale provides all the Web hosting and storage space you need for your store. Auctionworks StoreFront Auctionworks (www.auctionworks.com) offers optional Auctionworks StoreFronts as part of its package of auction management tools. Even better, Auctionworks StoreFronts are included in the service's normal monthly fees. You'll also pay Auctionworks's normal 2% fee for each item you sell. You put together an Auctionworks StoreFront using a menu-driven setup program; it's a relatively pain-free process. Auctionworks storefronts, like the one in Figure 22.2, include shopping cart functionality and a link to your auction gallery. Figure 22.2. Boca Jewelry ”a typical Auctionworks StoreFront.  ChannelAdvisor The ChannelAdvisor Merchant service (www.channeladvisor.com) helps you incorporate a full-service storefront into your eBay About Me page. Storefronts, like the one in Figure 22.3, include integrated checkout and payment services. Figure 22.3. Glacier Bay DVD ”a ChannelAdvisor Merchant storefront integrated into an eBay About Me page.  Infopia Infopia (www.infopia.com) is one of those companies that cloak what they do in a suffocating blanket of business-to-business (B2B) buzzwords . (ChannelAdvisor is much the same way.) According to their Web site, the Infopia Marketplace Manager "delivers the technology to automate and accelerate processes that lead to customer acquisition, online marketing, and customer relationship building." In plain English, that translates into Web storefronts that link to your eBay auctions. A full list of features includes auction listing creation, automated communication and feedback, image hosting, email marketing, tracking and reporting, inventory and order management, and a "smart" shopping cart and checkout. Figure 22.4 shows a typical Infopia- powered storefront. Figure 22.4. Cartoon Passion, a typical Infopia storefront.  Vendio Vendio (www.vendio.com) offers Web storefronts as part of its Vendio Store Manager service. Stores, like the one in Figure 22.5, include a free gallery, mailing list management, and fully customizable look and feel. Pricing plans start at $4.95 per month, with a 1% final value fee. Figure 22.5. The Attic and Closet, a Vendio store.  Zoovy Zoovy (www.zoovy.com) is a unique blend of Web storefront and auction management system. In essence, Zoovy Merchant lets you create an online storefront, complete with shopping cart, that links to your eBay auctions. You use the Store Builder application to build your store, and the result is a professional-looking storefront, like the one in Figure 22.6. Figure 22.6. Abby's Place, a Zoovy merchant.  Pricing starts at $25 per month, with a $0.25 per-transaction fee. | 