Do batteries need to be recycled? And if so, who and how can make money on it?
One battery is 20m pollution ² soil and 400 liters of groundwater. A ton of batteries is a possible $5,000 compensation from the "Operator of Secondary Material Resources". Who, when and under what conditions can start a battery recycling business?
What's the question?
« Batteries? What is there to collect them, they are small!” - skeptics argue. Entrepreneurs and just people with an active position see this as an opportunity to earn money and improve the environmental situation in the country. The fact that the issue of collecting waste batteries is acute, says Anatoly Kalach, employee of the chemical safety and waste program of the Center for Environmental Solutions:
« Batteries at landfills are a problem in terms of ecology, and hence the country's economy. Last year's resolution of the Council of Ministers (No. 1124 of December 2, 2014) means a lot for its solution. The document requires all stores (regardless of what goods they sell) with an area of more than 100 m- have a container for collecting batteries. There are more than 3,000 such shops in the country.
To date, about 30 tons of batteries have been assembled in Belarus. Those collected in Minsk are stored at the Ecores enterprise, in the regions - at the regional enterprises of Belresurs. In the near future, it is expected that they will be exported abroad for processing.».
The legislation paid attention not only to the collection of batteries, but also to their importation into the country: Presidential Decree 313 has been in force for almost 3 years, introducing the principle of extended responsibility, when manufacturers and importers of certain products compensate for the processing of imported goods in the future.
Is it possible to make money on this?
In theory - yes, in Belarusian practice - not yet. The state in any case earns - actively (by collecting taxes from importers of batteries and electronics) or passively (by saving money on environmental initiatives). Can private traders make money?
Maybe, I think Dmitry Kuchuk, director of the waste sorting station "Zapadnaya". " Collecting and recycling batteries is beneficial for both private companies and the state. We - battery assemblers - can receive compensation of 75 thousand rubles. for 1 kg. A kilogram of batteries is not much, because they are quite heavy. It is cost effective for any company with an extensive collection system.».
But “we can receive” is not the same as “we receive”. Natalya Grintsevich, the director of the "Operator of Secondary Material Resources" - an organization that must pay compensation for the collection of batteries, said that the money has not yet been paid. " We are an organization that coordinates the actions of the participants in the process, but does not collect, neutralize or recycle batteries. We do not yet recycle batteries, which means that we cannot compensate those who collect them.».
What is the interest of a private company?« Most of the projects related to the environment are unprofitable, - Natalya Grintsevich dispelled our thoughts about the possibility of earning "money on batteries". - All over the world, these projects are funded by the state, which takes funds from taxes paid by importers of equipment and batteries. In Belarus, the importer has a choice: pay 100% of the potential cost of disposing of batteries (potential, since only a small fraction of them will be collected properly) or collect 15% of the volume of imported batteries on their own».
A recycler who accepts batteries for recycling can also make money. Alas, not ours. We do not yet have our own production for the processing of batteries. Now the question of what is more profitable is being worked out: to build your own factory or to export batteries abroad, paying for the work of a processor. The decision depends on what volumes of batteries can be assembled in the future - it is irrational to build your production with small volumes.
Batteries and mobile phones collected for recycling at the Finnish company Akkuser:
« I believe that we should not build our own enterprise for the processing of used batteries: the process is complex, and the potential danger to the environment is high, - Anatoly Kalach argues. - Belarus does not generate such volumes of used batteries to build its own enterprise, especially since it will cost a lot of money. For example, in Finland, before the launch of such a plant, they accumulated about 100 thousand tons of batteries - so that the plant would work without stopping».
Some of the processed products are utilized after the extraction of potentially harmful substances, and some are sold to metallurgical enterprises. From a ton of recycled batteries, a large amount of heavy metals are available for recycling. The same amount of needed metals is contained in a whole railroad car of iron ore.
What prevents "making money" on batteries
Dmitry Kuchuk believes that in general the state has created conditions for the collection and recycling of batteries, but some questions remain. For example, a monopoly on the part of the "Operator of secondary resources". " It is important that the interests of private business and government bodies be represented at the same level, so that all participants in the process have the opportunity to influence it. This is much better than the directive decisions of a minister or the head of a monopoly enterprise: they are not always familiar with the situation from the inside.. - says the expert.
The environmental initiative intersects here with the commercial considerations of "private owners" and the state. The founder of the Secondary Resources Operator is the Ministry of Housing and Public Utilities, and it directs most of the funding to state organizations, while active private business is on the 2nd plan. If the initiative for the collection and recycling of batteries is not supported by the Operator, and the payment of compensation is not established, the process will stall. It is necessary to establish a dialogue between the state and private companies».
Maybe we don't collect enough batteries? Enough for its place and time - experts are sure. " It is impossible to say that we collect few batteries. We began to actively use electronics with batteries not so long ago. But the consumption of technology is growing - quantitatively and nomenclature - which means that the volume of collected batteries will grow.”- Anatoly Kalach predicts.
Speaking about the similarities and differences in our approach to recycling “energy waste” in Europe, Dmitry Kuchuk says: “ Belarusian and European legislation in this area adheres to the same principle: who pollutes, he pays. In this we are similar to Europe. We differ from the West in that we have a monopoly enterprise that collects money from importers. There is no monopoly on this activity in different countries of Europe, it is a collective decision. Conditions have been created there that allow any initiative group to start work and put it on a business footing. Recycling of batteries and accumulators in Western Europe is also considered in terms of resource recovery and recycling».
As the practice of other countries shows, in the processing of batteries, household appliances, waste paper, private enterprises turn out to be more mobile and efficient. In the housing and communal services system, this is done for accountability: they are not stimulated by either the financial or the environmental component.
The fight against batteries in Russia
In Russia, the collection of batteries was officially launched in the fall of 2013. Then the readiness to accept and recycle used batteries was expressed by the Chelyabinsk plant "Megapolisresurs". Until that time, in some cities there were only private initiatives: local public organizations held actions where people could bring batteries and other hazardous waste. Everything collected was stored until “better times” or exported abroad. Often - to Finland, where a network of reception points is developed, processing enterprises operate. It was convenient for Moscow and St. Petersburg to work according to this scheme, and in other cities the topic of collecting and recycling batteries was rarely raised.
About how batteries are collected and disposed of in Russia today, the site told the portal Anna Zhevachevskaya, director of Ripe Berry. Ecological programs for business”.
« In Novosibirsk, we stood at the very beginning of the development of the project. And we are proud that we managed to create an effective system that is beneficial for all participants in the process, and in many ways inspire colleagues from different cities of Russia. Our project is called “Step 2: Green Goal”, and its idea is to enable Novosibirsk residents to safely dispose of used household appliances, electronics and batteries.
But where to organize such a collection? Where can I find funding for the organization of the project? Where to send for processing? In this regard, we are very lucky with our partners. A few months before the start of the project, I was approached by the owner of a chain of electronics stores with a request to help organize collection points for used batteries and mercury lamps in his stores. At that time, neither they nor we did not really consider this idea as a business project, we simply did not know how all this could be organized.
Soon we signed a contract with a Finnish battery and electronics recycler - the companyAkkuser, and thanks to this they were able to open official battery collection points. We have found a good partner for electronics recycling as well. People can donate batteries, accumulators, phones, chargers, cameras, etc. to our containers. The whole process of collection, storage, shipping and processing is absolutely transparent. Every person who donates batteries knows where they will go, where and how they will be recycled, and what new products they will receive. Every winter we send at least 1.5 tons of batteries to Chelyabinsk (we never had to send them to Finland, because a factory appeared in Russia). This is one of the largest indicators in Russia, although we do not have many reception points - about 10.
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Do Russian companies earn on the processing of batteries? Anna Zhevachevskaya says no, and adds: “ The most important thing is that all participants have nothing to lose, everyone has their own benefit. Stores receive publicity based on positive ideas of environmental care. We, as an operator that allows the system to function effectively, have a small financial benefit, but this is still a direction of social business.
But processors earn, yes. Our only factory that accepts batteries for recycling charges a recycling fee. If for 1.5 years it was 72 rubles per kg, now the price has doubled. Their business is processing and, accordingly, they set the prices for their services themselves. In addition, this enterprise is a monopolist; batteries are brought here from all over the country, as well as from neighboring states. And in terms of profitability, the company has one huge plus - they did not create a battery recycling plant from scratch, they simply adapted one of their existing lines specifically for batteries.
It is gratifying that the principle of extended producer and importer responsibility in Belarus is partly a matter of national pride: it does not exist in Russia. It operates only in a number of companies and covers a minimum range of commercial enterprises. Basically, these are large foreign companies operating according to their charter, ready to implement the principles of "sustainable development".
According to Anna Zhevachevskaya, in Russia, the recycling tax is applied at the enterprises of the paper industry. However, it is not known to what extent the norms of the law are enforced there. most of these enterprises use criminal schemes to pay taxes. So far, commercial companies are finding ways to avoid liability for improper disposal of equipment. control and supervisory authorities prefer to look at such cases “through their fingers”, and unauthorized emissions to landfills of waste to be processed are practically not stopped in any way.
Russian perspective
How different are our realities from Russian ones - in scale and specifics? " If we talk about the processing of batteries itself, then today it is too early to talk about the profitability and success of the participants in the recycling market. The fact is that the bulk of the "green initiatives" of the business are rather short terms for the implementation of projects that require "long money" and interest in the processed product. The leverage for such projects can be 3-5 years without positive profitability, and considerable investments are required, says Anna.
Not every investor is ready to invest money for such a period of time for projects that can pay off, for example, in 50 years. As for commercial companies, they often have nowhere to get money to develop an environmental business related to recycling or recycling. This is usually possible if there are additional financial opportunities for the entrepreneur or enterprise, as a "side" business. As for ecology in general, the state must certainly be an active investor in the field of environmental protection, because without the active participation of the state in environmental protection, projects for the processing of solid waste, enterprises face bureaucracy and a lack of interest in this business.
For Russia, especially given the current difficult economic situation, the topic of ecology is gradually relegated further and further to the background. We have less and less to rely on attracting investments in our sphere and on assistance and participation from the state».
Even airplanes can be properly disposed of!
Dispose of batteries properly!
Chelyabinsk businessman Vladimir Matsyuk was one of the first in Russia to start recycling batteries, which are assembled for him by Media Markt and IKEA. Business is still scanty, but very promising
Chelyabinsk entrepreneur Vladimir Matsyuk (Photo: Ekaterina Kuzmina / RBC)
Waste industry
Growing up in Soviet Kazakhstan, Matsyuk knew from personal experience how to take care of resources. “There were often supply problems,” the entrepreneur recalls in an interview with RBC. - Therefore, from the skins of eaten oranges, my mother made candied fruits, and from the seeds of sea buckthorn, if they were insisted on sunflower oil, a disinfecting oil was obtained. For me, it was the natural course of things.”
In the late 1990s, Matsyuk graduated from the Faculty of Economics of the South Ural State University (Chelyabinsk) and began to combine teaching and work in commercial structures. In 2004, he decided to take his students' summer internships seriously for an organization theory course, proposing that they create a real firm. The students themselves came up with the name of the company - "Megapolisresurs", and then began to decide what it would do. Matsyuk already had experience in solving "environmental" issues for Chelyabinsk firms, so it was decided to focus on an understandable topic (waste paper recycling). But the practice quickly ended, and Matsyuk felt a taste for business. “I decided to let there be waste, but with precious metal, we need to pull out valuable contents from them and lower the hazard class,” he recalls.
Matsyuk decided to start collecting fixer - a solution that is used to fix images on film or paper. Depending on the type of shooting (black and white, color, x-ray) when fixing up to 70% of the silver contained in photographic paper (from 5 to 40 g per 1 sq. m ), goes into solution, from which silver can be easily extracted. “The main thing was to correctly determine the purchase price of the spent solution, so that it would make sense for laboratories to store it and sell it to us,” recalls Matsyuk . According to the entrepreneur, a liter of fixer is purchased at a price of 40 to 70 rubles: “Up to 4 G silver." At current prices for silver (about 27 rubles per gram) per liter of fixer " Megapolis resource "can earn about 110 rubles. To start this business (mainly for the purchase of equipment) Matsyuk spent $ 20 thousand. In the profit came out after eight months. Profit was 25-30% of revenue. Silver obtained in the form of granules " Megapolis resource » sells to jewelers (clients include Veliky Ustyug plant "Northern black").
Photo: Ekaterina Kuzmina / RBC
In 2008, silver extraction from films was added to the extraction of silver from photographic solutions. “At first they thought that silver could be washed off the films with the help of harsh chemicals, but these are people, manual labor, a high degree of danger, and you want to sleep peacefully,” Matsyuk recalls. - We found a biological solution - special bacteria turn the film into gelatin, from which silver is then extracted. The whole procedure, in terms of danger, is close to cheese production.”
In 2009, Megapolisresurs started recycling microcircuits and electronics (medical and office equipment), which, in addition to silver, contain gold and other rare metals. Requirements for the processing of various equipment were introduced in 2002 by the federal law "On Environmental Protection", and for their violation, companies were threatened with a fine of 100 thousand to 250 thousand rubles. or suspension of activities for up to six months. “The first clients were consulates and foreign companies: they were terribly afraid of our laws, according to which we can’t just throw away computers,” recalls Matsyuk. Now Megapolisresurs actively serves government agencies on this topic - only in the last two years, according to the public procurement website, Matsyuk's company has won more than 40 tenders for the disposal of various equipment for a total of about 2.5 million rubles.
Batteries are also waste.
The idea to recycle batteries was thrown to Matsyuk “from the audience”. In 2013, when the entrepreneur was speaking at a conference, he was asked why he recycles circuit boards but does not recycle batteries. “I replied that we can also use batteries, but no one collects enough of them,” says Matsyuk. After the conference, one of the public organizations of St. Petersburg came out and collected 2 tons of used batteries. For Megapolisresurs, this was the first experience of working with batteries.
How batteries are recycled
For the processing of batteries, Megapolisresurs uses a production line where microcircuits are disposed of. First of all, the batteries are crushed and the iron elements are separated with a special magnetic tape. Manganese and zinc (in the form of salts), as well as graphite, are extracted from the resulting polymetallic mixture in several stages of leaching. In total, four removable cells account for 80% of the weight of the batteries. The production lines of Megapolisresurs allow processing up to 2 tons of batteries per day. Battery recycling takes about four days.
In 2013, the battery collection project decided to launch the Media Markt chain, which chose Megapolisresurs as a recycling partner (the companies had already collaborated on photo solutions). For the trading network, this is a social project (more than half of the batteries sold are recycled in Germany). At the start of the project, it turned out that batteries were not included in the Russian waste classifier, and Media Markt and Megapolisresurs spent almost six months to correct this defect and other organizational measures. “The total weight of batteries sent for recycling in 2014 was about 18 tons,” a representative of Media Markt told RBC. “This is more than double what we planned when the project was launched (7 tons).” IKEA (three points in Moscow, about 6.5 tons collected), the VkusVill chain of stores (56 points in Moscow, 1.4 tons), as well as retail chains in several regions (several dozen points) also give their batteries to Matsyuk. .
Garbage resource
565 million batteries was sold in Russia in 2013
30 tons of batteries redesigned Megapolisresurs in 2014
2 tons of batteries per hour can process "Megapolisresurs"
70 rub. — the cost of recycling 1 kg of batteries
1.5 million rubles the company gained from the recycling of batteries in 2014
100 million rubles — total revenue of Megapolisresurs
Sources: company data, Greenpeace Russia, RBC calculations
For "Megapolisresource" » Battery recycling is a small but promising business. Unlike fixer, films and computers for batteries Matsyuk not only does not pay, but also receives money - from the companies that collect them. “For the recycling of 1 kg of batteries, we pay 70 rubles,” the director of public relations told RBC. Vkusvill Evgeny Shchepin . “At the same time, we ourselves have to deliver the batteries to the warehouse.” Megapolisresource " in Moscow. They do not provide transportation services yet. Manager environmental project Media Markt Alena Yuzefovich in November 2014 told online edition of Recycle that the "initial price tag" Megapolisresource "for the transportation and processing of a kilogram of batteries - about 110 rubles." The company does not make money on partners, but takes from them only the cost of delivery and recycling of batteries: “70 rubles. is the average cost of recycling 1 kg of batteries,” says Matsyuk . According to him, the income from recycling batteries in 2014 amounted to 1.5 million rubles.
Most of this amount was contributed by battery collectors, so far Matsyuk is not very good at selling recycling products. From 1 ton of batteries, you can get 288 kg of manganese, 240 kg of zinc, about 47 kg of graphite. “The content of manganese (28.8%) and zinc (24%) in batteries is higher than in the richest ores (up to 26%),” says Matsyuk. “If we look at batteries as raw materials, and not as waste, we will see a unique deposit in which there is a lot of valuable raw materials.” But this is theoretical. And in practice, it turns out to sell only iron from batteries: it goes to the Mechel plant in Chelyabinsk. It is still difficult with sales of non-ferrous metal salts: “The volumes are small and of little interest to wholesale buyers, and retail sales are too laborious for laboratories.”
According to RBC calculations, if Megapolisresurs sold chemically pure metal, then 1.4 tons of graphite, 8.6 tons of manganese and 7.2 tons of zinc extracted from 30 tons of batteries could bring the company about $ 50 thousand (about 1.9 million rubles at the average exchange rate of the ruble in 2014; based on market prices for metals). But to get manganese and zinc in the form of a metal, additional investments of $1.5 million are needed, says Matsyuk.
The crisis has failed
The main sources of income for Megapolisresurs are still the processing of office equipment and photo waste. In 2014, these areas, according to the entrepreneur, brought the company in the amount of 100 million rubles. (approximately equal). In 2013, according to Kontur.Focus, the company's revenue amounted to 49 million rubles, and net profit - 7.7 million rubles.
Matsyuk expects recycling volumes to increase. “In December 2014, amendments to the law “On production and consumption waste” were adopted, which oblige the manufacturer to pay either a recycling fee for their products, or to undertake obligations for its partial return collection,” says Matsyuk. “But while there are no relevant by-laws, it is not clear how this will all work.”
In the case of batteries, if at least 10% of what is sold is recycled (in 2014, according to Matsyuk, 8 thousand tons were sold), this will allow Megapolisresurs to earn over 100 million rubles annually.
In 2015, Matsyuk plans to earn 220 million rubles. for the disposal of office equipment and about 100 million rubles. - on the extraction of silver from films and solutions. How realistic are these plans? Last year, Megapolisresurs ended with a loss (Matsyuk did not disclose its size) due to a 20% fall in silver prices in the second half of the year (from $20 to $16 per troy ounce). As a result, the companies Megapolisresurs and Fractal (also owned by Matsyuk) did not fulfill the contracts concluded earlier both for the processing of scrap containing precious metals (for example, with the Research Institute of Semiconductor Devices - for 3.8 million rubles), and for the supply of silver (to the plant "Northern Chern" - by 427 thousand rubles, to the company "Yuvelirdragmetal" - by 3.6 million rubles). This, as follows from the file of arbitration cases of the Pravo.ru system, forced the partners of the company to apply to the courts. “We took out loans and purchased equipment based on silver prices of $30-35 per troy ounce, and we were forced to sell the metal at prices almost half that,” Matsyuk notes. In January 2015, he registered a new company, Megapolisresurs, in Kurgan.
Moscow competitors
In Moscow, in addition to Megapolisresurs, several other companies accept batteries for recycling: Ecoprof LLC - 580 rubles each. for 1 kg, Megapolis-Group LLC - 100 rubles each. for 1 kg. Whether these companies have their own battery recycling facilities, their employees could not say by phone.
Coming to any store, whether it is a fashion boutique selling designer clothes, a grocery store or a kiosk with sweets, we are forced to make a choice. And he will be more conscious if he is guided not only by emotions, but also by technical information. But the sales assistant must provide it. In the case of sausage, this is, for example, the percentage of meat to the rest of the ingredients, with a dress, it is the composition of the fabric. What should a battery dealer know? We will talk about this further.
1. What technology is used to make the battery? The answer should be something like this: all batteries are produced according to one of three main technologies. The cheapest - antimony, more perfect and expensive - calcium, optimal in price and parameters - hybrid.
3. What is the warranty period for the selected battery model? All self-respecting manufacturers of batteries provide a guarantee for their products. It is at least 1 year, in most cases - 2 years, and sometimes up to three years. The seller must be aware of this.
4. What is the difference between different brands of batteries? This is a topical issue for many, especially when it comes to batteries with similar technical parameters and a big difference in cost. Ask the seller about the differences in more detail, perhaps it’s not worth overpaying for the brand?
5. Is the battery size suitable for a specific car? Please note that the seat is designed for a specific battery. In addition, there are nuances with the polarity and location of the terminals.
6. Do I need to charge the battery before installation? All modern batteries are sold, either dry-charged (most often, motorcycle batteries), or filled with electrolyte and completely ready for use.
7. Why are there calcium plates in the battery? To avoid rapid self-discharge, rapid evaporation of distilled water , improve the corrosion resistance of cathodes. In other words, to make maintenance-free, reliable and unpretentious in operation.
8. What does the marking on the battery case mean? These are encrypted characteristics, in particular, capacity, voltage, number of "cans".
9. How to determine the optimal battery capacity for a car? To do this, it is best to use the vehicle operating instructions, since even the same make and model of cars can have different equipment. The seller must have this information in a catalog or computer.
10. What should I do if my car battery suddenly runs out? In no case should you rush to buy a new one, but first try to find the reason for this state of affairs. Perhaps the answer lies in faulty electrical equipment.
Thus, having received answers to these questions, you can not only choose the best battery option, but also, possibly, save a considerable amount due to the absence of the need to make such a purchase. Dare!
Today we will talk about a business that does not require huge investments, but at the same time, is popular among entrepreneurs due to the demand for a product group.
This article will focus on the business of selling batteries, accumulators, extension cords and other components for electronic devices.
Business Format
An outlet of this type is most advantageous to open in shopping centers or kiosks, which are located in places with high traffic. In fact, almost everyone needs batteries for various devices, for example, in a TV remote control, electronic scales or watches. There can be a huge number of examples, the main thing is that the goods are in demand, and the choice of a place of trade is of great importance. An excellent solution would be to rent a shopping island in a popular shopping center, or a kiosk near a public transport stop.
Typically, the sale of batteries and accumulators is not limited solely to this group of goods, and is carried out in combination with other areas, for example, cheap watches, or inexpensive electronics (radios, players, etc.).
The size of the premises should be selected small in order to minimize rental costs, only in this way you can earn good money.
Looking for the idea of a narrowly focused store, maybe you will find an interesting option for trading in auto accessories. Location, premises, equipment, assortment and suppliers, business calculation.
What should be in the range?
In fact, the choice of various small things that can be sold along with batteries is simply huge, let's highlight only a part of the goods that are perfect for such a trade.
Range list:
- batteries: standard (1.5V - 9V), clock, high-voltage (6V - 12V), disc batteries (3V), hearing aid rails (1.4V);
- batteries: standard, lithium, powerbank;
- charging device;
- Power supplies;
- audio equipment: radio receivers, computer, mp3, headphones and headsets.
- lanterns
- household goods: calculators, lamps, extension cords, etc.;
- various accessories.
This is just one of the options for a range of products that can be combined with the sale of batteries and accumulators.
Also, as an additional service, you can start a business for replacing batteries, for example, in watches, and other electronic devices. Often, people themselves do not risk spinning, for example, watches, and bring them to such outlets, where, for a small fee, a store employee changes their battery for a new one. For example, it is this type of service that can advantageously distinguish you from competitors.
What do you need to trade batteries?
Firstly, it is to rent a good retail outlet and buy showcases with lighting and other commercial equipment.
Secondly, register as an entrepreneur and pay taxes.
Thirdly, to purchase goods, a possible assortment option is given above.
Fifth, constantly expand the range.
Advertising
If we talk about a battery-powered business, then the best advertising options would be:
- bright signboard
- good location
- creation and promotion of your own online store, with the connection of contextual advertising.
Also, after opening, you can try handing out leaflets near your location, for example, with some kind of promotion from your store. And also, post ads in the local bulletin board.
How much money do you need to start?
In fact, the amount will depend on the range and cost of rent, but we will give approximate figures that you can adjust for yourself.
- Room rental - $100 - $150
- Taxes - $150
- Salary to the seller - $200
- Initial purchase of goods - $3000 - $4000
- Purchase of equipment - $700 - $900
- Advertising — $150 (+ advertising on the Internet).
How much can you earn?
As we wrote above, how much your battery sales business will bring will depend on your location and the choice of goods provided in the assortment.
The average markup on conventional batteries is 90% or more.
On batteries - from 70%.
We have indicated these figures so that you can estimate the approximate level of earnings.
Conclusions. A store of batteries, accumulators and other accessories can be a great solution for a first business. It does not require a large start-up capital, and the product itself is in high demand among the population.
Is there anything to add to this content? Looking forward to your comments below.
Selling batteries via the Internet - a new format for an old business
Why the Internet?
- Firstly, this is the widest, unreached audience of consumers who think in fundamentally new categories. These are people who are not accustomed to wasting their time on long-term searches for goods in traditional stores, they strive for reasonable savings and maximum shopping comfort. The Internet for them is the main source of information and the most convenient way to purchase goods. This audience is constantly growing, increasing every year by hundreds of percent. Therefore, you should not be afraid of high competition in the electronic segment of the market. There is still enough space here for everyone and there will be no shortage of customers for at least 5-10 years, even taking into account the fact that the number of online stores is also constantly increasing.
- Secondly, the organization of sales of batteries via the Internet requires a significantly smaller start-up capital. Unlike opening a regular store, creating a website on the Web is relatively inexpensive. Moreover, it is possible to master financial resources as they become available, the development of the project. The scale of investment may vary. It all depends on the "appetites" and financial capabilities of a novice entrepreneur. It costs 3-4 thousand rubles to make a simple website for placing a price list and company contacts, to create a full-fledged online store with descriptions and a catalog - 3-4 thousand, but already dollars.
- Thirdly, there is no need to spend serious money on advertising. Website promotion on the Web is relatively cheap and available to almost everyone. Moreover, you can choose the parameters of the budget for an advertising campaign on the Internet yourself. It is enough to promote the site for 1-2 keywords, for example, “car batteries” or “car batteries” in order to feel the first return on business. Further, the number of promoted words can be increased in direct proportion to the number of new ones and the money coming into the account. The system is very democratic, it is designed for companies and entrepreneurs of any level.
- Fourth, to get started, it is not necessary to buy car batteries in large wholesale lots. Many dealers and suppliers offer work schemes that are loyal to such customers. At the initial level, such a format of cooperation may involve the purchase of small volumes of goods at a small discount, which is quite enough for the development of an Internet project. In the future, with the growth of sales, you can always count on maximum discounts and interesting bonuses. There are also various options for paying for batteries, including upon sale. At first, you can work from the supplier's warehouse. This will additionally save a significant amount of money, which will not have to be "frozen" in the product.
- Fifthly, trading via the Internet is the maximum of freedom. Many Internet companies do not even have an office, not to mention a warehouse or a permanent staff. You can do without it at first. All you need to work is a phone and a computer connected to the Internet.
Of course, every new business project needs a thorough calculation, drawing up a business plan, searching for suppliers and a sales market. But the general principle of doing business on the Web deserves close attention. To abandon this direction today means to give competitors time to maneuver. Perhaps tomorrow it will take an order of magnitude more money and effort to open an on-line store selling batteries.