Small businesses are a major driver of growth in e-commerce. While big players see success online, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) contribute 45% of all goods sold and are growing 20% annually. SMBs succeed online due to their passion and creativity, knowledge of niche markets, and ability to provide a personal customer experience and local advice. However, SMBs face challenges of lack of capital, competition, and lack of help. To help SMBs thrive, e-commerce platforms need to provide simple and affordable online store solutions that SMBs can fully control, and support to help SMBs focus on their products and customers.

1. Small is powerful
What’s unique about
e-commerce for SMBs?
Mrdjan Uzelac | ePages

2. About us

3. “Everyone should be able to sell
their products online”
Wilfried Beeck, CEO & Founder ePages

4. 160+ employees
Offices in Hamburg, Jena,
Barcelona, London & New York
140,000 merchants
selling in 15+ languages
Two decades of shop software
for small businesses
Provider of online shops
in the cloud
Partnerships with resellers, e.g.
STRATO, 1&1 and Telekom

5. “I cannot imagine doing anything other than fashion. ePages takes care of all
the technical and legal considerations. I don’t need to think about these.”
Christiane Bär, Mavalou-shop.com

6. Market Development

7. Global e-commerce – will continue to surge
2015 2019
Source: eMarketer 2016
$1.6 trillion $3.5 trillion

8. +12 % in e-commerce sales in Germany
2014 2015
€46.9 bn€41.9 bn
+ 12 %
Source: bevh

9. Assumption:
Growth is based on big players’ success

10. However, SMBs are the driver of growth
• 45 % of all goods are sold by SMB merchants
• 20 % annual growth rate for small merchants over the
past 5 years in Germany

11. SMBs contribute significantly to global e-commerce

12. + 18% in sales for SMBs in Germany
Source: ePages | Sales vs. LY in %

13. “Our ePages shop allows us to compete with the big boys, and has secured our
future. Online sales doubled in 2 years, and are now 25% of total turnover.”
Sarah Jones, Bathroomsatsource.co.uk

14. What’s unique about
SMBs?

15. Their passion and creativity

16. sommerlatschen.de

17. Their knowledge of the market

18. geovino.de

19. Extraordinary products

20. kickerkult.de

21. Local presence & advice

22. 24helmets.de

23. Real humans with a story to tell

24. guterkuchen.de

25. What really drives an SMB
Source: Manta
Other
14%
Monetary benefits 4%
Increased confidence
and self-esteem 7%
Being my own boss
23%
Independence
52%

26. Challenges a SMB faces
Source: Manta
lack of capital competition lack of good help taxes government regulationhealthy costslack of government supportrise in minimum wage
2
66
9
13
16
17
29

27. What SMBs need to
succeed

28. Key elements for SMB success
Omnichannel
Mobile
Marketplaces
Story-telling

29. easy to
use
fully controlled
by merchant
fully managed
SaaS
resources
and support
scalable
secureresource light
low cost expandable

30. Keep it simple
low cost
fully controlled
by merchant
easy to use
gruengold.org 1&1 Shop

31. Let them focus on their passion
fully managed
SaaS
garment-online.de
resource lighteasy to use
ePages

32. shampoofreun.de ePages Theme Store
personalized
Let them be unique

33. Enable them to reach their dreams
resources and
support
fully controlled
by merchant
epages.com/academy epages.com/online-training

34. Grow with them
scalable expandable
shop.golla.com ePages App Store

35. Your online shop
in the cloud
Your idea. Our technology.

37. Mrdjan Uzelac
VP Business Development
m.uzelac@epages.com
+49 40 350188-0
epages.com
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