5 Examples of Innovative E-commerce Business Plans
Many companies have flourished with the freedom E-commerce gives them. These brands have combined classic business models with something new, making them innovative leaders in the field.
1. LARQ – D2C
LARQ introduced the first self-cleaning water bottle in 2018. UV-C technology is used in this reusable, rechargeable bottle to kill viruses and germs in water, whether it comes from a tap or a natural source.
With $1.7 million raised, the launch of LARQ was the greatest crowdfunded effort for a clean water venture. LARQ now provides 1% of its profits to efforts to provide safe drinking water to people all around the world.
Buyers were drawn to this reusable bottle because of its environmentally beneficial features, as well as the fact that they can save money by not buying single-use water bottles and still have a clean water vessel (without having to scrub it) every time.
LARQ’s revenue has surged 400% year over year as a result of these distinct factors.
2. Beer Cartel – Subscription Service
Some ideas sell themselves.
Beer Cartel is Australia’s oldest beer subscription service, delivering expertly selected craft beers from all around the world to subscribers’ doorsteps every month.
They’ve attracted the curious and the aficionados by offering a one-of-a-kind assortment at a lower price than what can be found in stores. Beer Cartel has also done an excellent job of catering to clients of diverse appetites and budgets by providing a variety of subscription choices.
3. Berlin Packaging – B2B
Berlin Packaging is trusted by Fortune 500 corporations as well as family-owned start-ups to source, develop, and distribute their containers and closures.
As a hybrid supplier, Berlin Packaging applies their experience to every level of the supply chain in order to improve efficiency and minimize costs for their customers.
Despite being nearly 80 years old, Berlin Packaging has maintained its competitive advantage by innovating at every turn.
They established an E-commerce business model that allowed clients to purchase from a broad assortment of containers obtained from over 200 different partner vendors. Customers can easily monitor their credit limits, balances, and past due sums since Berlin Packaging prioritized a solid connection between their site and ERP.
4. Atlanta Light Bulbs – B2B
Atlanta Light Bulbs (ALB) is no stranger to cutting-edge online shopping.
- They built their first E-commerce site in 1999, giving them a tremendous leg up on the competition.
- They’ve focused on adding features to set them apart, such as leveraging apps for their Big-Commerce storefront.
- Their mobile shopping app boosted B2C sales, but commercial clients also appreciated the convenience of mobile ordering.
- ALB also introduced a “Make an Offer” function where customers can propose a price. The system applies backend pricing guidelines to check feasibility and either accepts the offer or provides a counter.
5. Mountain Crest Gardens – Wholesaling
Mountain Crest Gardens was founded in the mid-90s as a family-owned business in Northern California.
When they relaunched their website in 2012, they experienced:
- A 400% increase in orders
- A 10x rise in revenue
Their unique edge? Artistically pleasing succulents.
They leverage user-generated content to organically amplify the plants and drive orders. Mountain Crest Gardens caters to many types of customers by offering:
- Individual succulents
- Wholesale opportunities
- A subscription box
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