E-commerce in Albania: do you need an online store?

What is e-commerce?

E-commerce is online trade, and it has changed the market over the last 20 years worldwide. In Albania it is still new for many businesses, because until recently most companies were not deeply involved in selling online. E-commerce grew with technology. A new way for people to buy appeared as an idea in the 1960s, but everything changed more with the World Wide Web in 1991. Companies such as Amazon and eBay then developed this new way of selling in 1994 and 1995. The Albanian market was behind these developments, at least until recent years, because the culture of how people buy online is now starting to change.

Why do I need e-commerce? Do I absolutely need an online store?

It depends on the type of business, but the idea is that every business selling a physical product should, in the best way it can, let people see all the information about that product. One of the best, fastest, and most efficient ways — without constantly involving staff to give information — is e-commerce. Platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WordPress with WooCommerce make this possible. An online store is one of the best ways to present a product, explain it, show the details, the uses, the price, and sell it online. That gives people confidence in the information and a way to buy. Not every business absolutely needs e-commerce. Usually established businesses with real marketing, selling distinctive products and brands, dominate this space and need an online store. But does every business need a website? At the end of the day, that depends on how your business works and how you want to reach customers.

Do people buy online today?

If an online store has all the information it can, and the product fits the customer, then yes, people buy online. Looking at the platforms we have built, we see that online sales from all kinds of businesses generate revenue and can pass €8,000 in the first months of the year. Of course that needs proper marketing and a clear strategy. Because younger generations are more oriented toward technology, their purchases are generally online too — especially for clothing, tech, tools, home appliances, and many other products.

How much does e-commerce cost in Albania?

First you choose the platform. We always suggest Shopify. It can be a little more expensive than other platforms, but it is one of the best options for a proper online store. Why? It has a good interface that we shape, a fast checkout, an admin system for the business, and it is one of the most used platforms in the world. An e-commerce project in Albania starts at about €600 and goes up from there. The price depends on the design, the number of products, the platform, and the features the business needs.

In the end, an online store is not simply a website where products are placed. It is a direct sales channel that can give your business a way to present products, take orders, and reach customers at any time.