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  • India’s Growing e-Commerce Market

    India’s Growing e-Commerce Market

    The Growth of eCommerce

    eCommerce is a growing and highly competitive market. In fact, over 51% of the American population shop online and 40% of internet users worldwide have purchased items online. The eCommerce market is expanding about 23% every year.

     

    eCommerce in India

    Many countries are working to improve and grow their eCommerce market. In fact, it was predicted that India’s eCommerce could grow from $16 billion to $102 billion in five years, hitting that number by 2020. The Prime Minister of India has even proposed a major revamp of the India Post to help expand the reach of eCommerce businesses into more rural areas.

     

    Indian Marketplaces

    As mentioned before, eCommerce is a highly competitive market and that goes for the marketplaces as well. There is a major battle to see who will be the major marketplace for India. Currently, there are three big marketplaces in India: Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal. However, the big battle is between Amazon and Flipkart.

     

    Flipkart

    Flipkart is India’s current number one marketplace and they are trying to keep it that way. Flipkart is rapidly growing their business and is working on business deals to buy eBay India. There is also talks that Snapdeal may merge with Flipkart, which could provide a bigger edge.

     

    Selling in an Indian Marketplace

    Unfortunately, it is not easy to sell on an Indian marketplace. Your business will need to be registered with India, you will need an Indian bank account, a value added tax (VAT) identification number and a permanent account number (PAN). Flipkart also requires that businesses have 10 unique products they want to sell on their marketplace in order to sign-up as a seller.

     

    Beyond Borders

    Luckily, for those wanting to sell in an Indian marketplace, there is an alternative or back door in. eShipGlobal’s Beyond Borders eCommerce solution works around the paperwork by integrating directly with Witch Wand, a branch company of Flipkart. Witch Wand is an eCommerce management tool and integrates directly with Flipkart. This integration allows US eCommerce businesses a way to sell their products on India’s biggest eCommerce marketplace. It will also help them to save money on shipping with discounted shipping rates.

     

    Open Up Possibilities

    With the highly competitive eCommerce market, it is important to stand out and get your products in the faces of many people. Selling your products on international or on other countries marketplaces is one way to help you expand your business.

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • What Does Summer Mean To You?

    What Does Summer Mean To You?

     

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    Summer. This usually is associated with summer break, a time of no school and hardly any responsibilities. However, this “free time” is a great time to do new things or give back. Why waste your summer lazing about a house? It is the perfect time to get out there and be productive! There are many ways you can be productive during the summer, so let us start with our top three ideas.

     

    1. Try out a new hobby that can earn you some extra cash

    There are many great hobbies out there that can let you earn a little extra cash. For instance, making jewelry. One teen managed to $100,000 dollars over the course of three years by selling jewelry on Etsy. Not interested in jewelry? There are loads of other crafts that you can try, like painting or woodwork.

     

    1. Help those who really need it by donating or volunteering

    Volunteering or donating not only helps other people, but it helps you as well. Not only do you feel great when helping out other people, but it looks good on a resume or college application. Don’t have a lot of time to volunteer at a soup kitchen? Try gathering items from neighbors, friends or local thrift shops to donate to causes like Carry The Future. If you plan on creating and selling items online for extra money, you can also include flyers to Give Back Box to encourage your customers to give back as well.

     

    1. Explore and adventure

    How often have you traveled? Whether it be the seas or across the nation, traveling lets you experience and learn new things. Fly, take a road trip, or if you want to be a little different you can hop on a train. No matter where you will go you will broaden your horizons and grow as an individual. Just remember to send souvenirs back home to friends and family!

     

    Want a productive summer?

    So, what one are you going to do? Will you create unique items to sell online, donate to charities, or go on an adventure? Well, whatever you decide to do, whether you do just one or all three, you will have an amazing and productive summer.

     

    Don’t Forget

    While you are busy being productive this summer and perhaps earning a little cash, you may find that you need to ship something somewhere, like a product to a customer or an item to a charity. We want to help you save money when shipping items. eShipNOW is free to sign-up and will give you access to discounted shipping rates from top carriers. After all, if one of your goals this summer is to make/save money, this is just one way we can help you.

     

    Have a GREAT summer!

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Tips For All You Soon-To-Be College Graduates

    Tips For All You Soon-To-Be College Graduates

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    Preparing for Graduation

    Graduation time is quickly approaching and many students are anxiously awaiting their graduation walk or the parties that follow. However, there is still some time to do some very important things before you leave your college behind you. Here are some advice and preparation tips for students that are soon to graduate.

     

    Connect with Professors

    Believe it or not, your professors are professionals in the fields you are about to enter into. They have connections with other professionals in the working world. Therefore, if you have not already, you will want to talk with and connect to your professors. They may even be able to help you get interviews with companies that would not usually look at a newly graduated student. Also, connect with them on LinkedIn. If you do not have a LinkedIn, I suggest you get one. It is the social network for working professionals.

     

    Ask for a Recommendation

    This is important because employers will want to talk to people (not family or friends) for references. They may even want to see a letter of recommendation. If you are planning on attending a graduate school, then you are going to need letters of recommendation for your application. Most ask for about three, but it would not hurt to have more. Don’t hold this off until after graduation. Ask your professors if you can use them as a reference and/or if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation while you are still fresh in their memory, not six months down the road.

     

    Attend a Career Fair

    Most colleges have career/job fairs. This is a great way to start looking for a career, since it may take a while. On average it takes a college graduate three to nine month to get a job. This is also a great way to ‘put-a-face-to-a-name’ for the companies attending. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of your university’s career center. They usually will have counseling, job listings or other resources that could help you land a job.

     

    Start Thinking About What Happens Next

    College graduation is a huge life event. The majority of students are coming out with college debt from student loans and are having to think about finances. Many will return home to live with their parents. If this is you, then you are probably thinking about what all you need to do to move. Luckily, there are options to make that easier and more affordable. For instance, eShipNOW can help you ship your personal belongings back home at discounted shipping rates. If you don’t plan on renting a trailer or driving back home it is a great option that can help.

     

    Relax

    This is another important one and one I am sure most of you will enjoy. Relax! You have just completed years of college education and probably are suffering from senioritis. You are almost done! Midterms are over and the only other thing you need to worry about are finals. Take a break and enjoy the last remaining weeks of college life!

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • You Have Graduated, Now What?

    You Have Graduated, Now What?

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    You have just graduated or are about to. You are closing one part of your life and moving on to another. The first thing you will probably do after graduation is find a job. After all, that is one of the end goals you have when getting a college education. So, what are the next steps?

     

    Resume

    The first thing you are going to need is a resume. If you already have one you will want to make sure it is up-to-date. Resumes are recommended to be about one page. At the top of the page, you will want your name and contact information: email, phone number, address, etc. There is no set format for resumes and you will want to tailor them to match the job you are applying to, but here are some key things you may want to include: a career objective, your skills, the college you graduated from with GPA (if you did really well), any work/internship experience, and any awards/societies/honors/extracurricular activities you may have.  

     

    LinkedIn

    LinkedIn is a social network for working professionals. If you do not have one, you will want to create one. Not having a LinkedIn profile could hinder or hurt your job prospects. When updating or creating a LinkedIn account you will want to connect to all of your classmates and as many of your professors as you can. Do not use the generic connection invite, make it personal; let them know how you know them. See if you can get fellow classmates, or better yet professors, who would be willing to write a recommendation on LinkedIn. Lastly, try to fill out as much information as possible and use a professional profile picture.

     

    Online Portfolio

    Having an online portfolio or personal website not necessary for all career fields, but it can definitely help. It will help you stand out. It increases your online presence and visibility, as well as lets your employees see a bit of your personality. This is also where you can show off your projects, work samples, letters of recommendations, writing samples or anything else. You do not need to know HTML or CSS to have a great online profile. There are several tools such as WordPress, Weebly or Wix that can help you build and manage an online portfolio.

     

    Cover Letter

    The cover letter is important. It states why you are applying to the job, what you can bring that would benefit the company and will show your interest. You should not reuse the same cover letter when applying to multiple jobs. Like your resume, you should adjust and tailor the cover letter to best fit the job you are applying to.

     

    Applying for a Job

    Once you have all of the above it is time to start applying to jobs. Most job applications are online and are as simple as uploading the files and submitting it. However, should you need to send any documents you can always send them via eShipNOW, which will help you save money on shipping. It can also be used to ship personal belongings to a new home if you get a job that requires you to relocate.

     

    The Last Step – The Interview

    Now here is probably the most nerve-wracking – the interview. Look up some top interview questions beforehand and start practicing what you are going to say. It also doesn’t hurt to go to the location of the interview prior to see how long the drive is and to actually locate the building. Know what you are going to wear the day prior and make sure it is professional. Lastly, relax and be honest during the interview. Do not lie just to get the job. This can cause problems down the line for not only you or your employers.

     

    Final Thoughts

    The key to finding that great job is preparation. This is why it is important to start right after or right before graduating. You can take a little breather after graduating if you can, but don’t let summer pass by without working on this. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, your are preparing to fail.”

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Growing Business in the eCommerce Marketplace

    Growing Business in the eCommerce Marketplace

    eCommerce – the expanding frontier

    Over 51% of the American population shop online and 40% of internet users worldwide have purchased items online. With so many people turning to online stores, the eCommerce market is rapidly expanding: about 23% every year. Which is not surprising considering the fact that 54% of millennials have a desire to start or already have started their own business.

     

    Marketplaces

    Several marketplace sites are popping up that make it easier to sell merchandise online, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Magneto, YoKart and Big Cartel. You also have other sites like Etsy which boasts over 25 million shoppers, 35 million products and nearly $2.4 billion in annual gross merchandise sales.

     

    Challenges to eCommerce:

    There are several challenges for eCommerce businesses, competition, and conversion, just to name a few. While competition is a part of every business and requires creative thinking in order to stand out, conversion can be improved by making certain business decisions. The three biggest factors that will affect whether or not someone buys from your online store are prices, shipping cost, and discounts. In other words, online shoppers want to get the biggest bang for their buck.

     

    Making money in eCommerce:

    The biggest cost savings in eCommerce is the lack of a brick and mortar location. That is what allows many eCommerce businesses to sell merchandise at lower costs. The more money eCommerce business saves, the lower they can price their products while still turning a profit. It will also allow them to offer more discounts to incentivize shoppers.

     

    Shipping Costs:

    Shipping is a big cost and the second largest deterring factor for shoppers. 80% of online shoppers will not purchase if the shipping takes too long or the cost of shipping is too high. Luckily, for eCommerce businesses, there are shipping solutions that offer significant discounts on expedited shipping.

     

    eShipGlobal’s eCommerce Product

    Our eCommerce product allows eCommerce businesses to ship their merchandise all over the world at discounted rates. It also gives businesses the ability to rate shop different carriers and compare the different shipping methods: overnight, 2-day, etc. This will help online businesses save money on shipping expedited, which can help them attract more customers.

     

    Start Today!

    It is now easier than ever to start your own online business. There are many tools and services that will help maximize your eCommerce business while saving you time and money. eShipGlobal is happy to be one of the services that help entrepreneurs and businesses to grow and expand. Our services are designed with you in mind.

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Let Your Loved One Know How Much You Care

    Let Your Loved One Know How Much You Care

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    Valentine’s day is a day for letting your loved ones know how much you care. It doesn’t matter how far away, the tokens of affection that are sent carry a great meaning: you are important to me. It is no wonder why this is the second largest card-sending holiday, followed only by Christmas. So how can you let the person you love know how much you love them?

     

    The typical thing most people send is a card. However, if you really want them to know you care, send them a little something extra. Chocolates are a great Valentine’s day go-to gift. Stores all over will be carrying chocolates in beautifully wrapped heart-shaped packages. However, nothing says “I love you” more than homemade chocolates. There are several great recipes you can find on the internet and many are not that complicated.  

     

    Flowers are another great gift idea. Roses are the staple flower for the holiday, but there are many great flowers that have the meaning of love. Carnations, for example, depending on the color, can mean “my heart aches for you” and “wish I could be with you.” Orchids and tulips also can represent love.

     

    If you want to go even bigger, gifts are another great choice to send. Personal gifts, gifts you chose, can show the receiver how much you know them. A well-chosen gift can bring smile and tears to their eyes. Handmade gifts can allow you to add touches of your personality and or the receiver’s personality. Personal or handmade gifts can also symbolize or represent of a memory you share. This personal touch will only make the gift that much more special and meaningful.

     

    Unfortunately, for many of us we have loved ones that are fairly far away; perhaps it is a mom out-of-state, a child off at college, or a husband currently somewhere else. Just because they are far away does not mean we can not send them our love. There are many ways to ship items and/or letters to them.

     

    If you are wanting to send them a small package, eShipNOW is a personal shipping tool that can help you save money on your shipment. You can compare carrier rates and ship at discounted prices. The best part is that the tool is completely free, no downloading required. The only thing you pay for is the shipping.

     

    Imagine the smile on their face when they receive the Valentine’s day gift you sent containing the tokens of affection you thought would express your love. Nothing can beat that loving feeling.

     

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Time is critical when applying for optional practical training

    Time is critical when applying for optional practical training

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    Studying in the US is a wonderful thing. The country boasts some of the top universities in the world, which has attracted many students. In 2016, over one million international students were studying in the US, which is 40% higher than it was a decade prior.

     

    These students come from all over the world, with the highest concentration of them coming from India and China. These students are entering various majors, ranging from STEM majors to business majors. For the next four or so years, the United States of America will be their new home.

     

    After graduating, however, international students only have 60 days before they must return back to their home country. The only way they can stay is if they obtain a skilled worker visa from a sponsor or they can apply to Optional Practical Training (OPT), a 12-month working period granted to F-1 students who have been studying in the US for nine or more months.

     

    OPT provides great experiences and sometimes it can be a gateway to obtaining an H1B working visa and eventually a green card, though the chances are slim. Students can complete OPT either before graduation or after, but they only have a total of 12 authorized months that they can complete. Students can apply for OPT up to 90 days prior to graduating for a post-graduation OPT.

     

    Those in STEM fields have are in an approved OPT program based on their designated STEM degree can apply for a STEM extension. This will provide an additional 17 month OPT period. It is recommended that you apply for the STEM extension 90 days before your OPT program ends.

     

    So, how do you apply for OPT? There are several steps in applying to OPT and a lot of paperwork to fill out. First, you need to fill out an OPT application and submit it to your university’s International Student Services office. Your school will provide you with a new I-20 and materials/checklist of what you will need to send to the USCIS. You have 30 days from the date the OPT-endorsed I-20 was issued to send your application, or else you will be denied.

     

    There are only two USCIS locations that accept OPT applications: Phoenix and Dallas. The state you reside in will determine which location you will send your paperwork to. It can take the USCIS several months to process the OPT application, so it is recommended that you start the process early.

     

    A great way to save time is to expedite the shipping. UEMS, a free university/student shipping solution, can help you save time and money when submitting your OPT application. The USCIS addresses are already loaded into the system, just select the one you need to send your OPT to. By using the UEMS solution, you can compare carrier shipping costs and ship at discounted rates.

     

    There is only a 150-day time frame in which you have to complete the OPT process if you are graduating, so there is no time to waste.

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue