Apprenticeship as a merchant in e-commerce
IPC-Computer is probably Germany's largest notebook spare parts eTailer with its own notebook service workshop. We have been selling notebook spare parts through our store systems since 2002, making us an online retailer from the very beginning. Almost all major notebook manufacturers work directly with us. This guarantees maximum added value for our customers in terms of price, availability and information.
What does an e-commerce merchant do?
- Online store maintenance and expansion:
- Selecting the right items is one of the most important tasks of the merchant in e-commerce. He has to recognize at IPC-Computer which notebook spare parts are often broken. He knows the most common notebooks from all manufacturers. Decisions have to be made when developing the online store: Which items are placed at the company's own warehouse? How many transport service providers are offered? Through which platforms will the products be offered? It is important to determine a marketable selling price.
- Product data management:
- It deals with the assortment design, procures product data, categorizes goods and services, calculates prices and presents offers on the respective sales platform. This is achieved by using our specially programmed product database. For this purpose, a new product is created with the corresponding characteristics, the created images and texts are uploaded and the calculated price is determined. For additional sales support, product videos are shot and entered.
- Analyze sales figures:
- To log our progress, it is important to analyze sales figures. To achieve positive sales figures, the merchant works with well-known advertising systems. For example, he uses sales figures to define the top-selling products, as well as offers that are not accepted by the customer, and forwards the results. Based on the analyses, he develops measures to optimize processes and services and to increase customer satisfaction.
- Order Processing/Accounting:
- Commercial tasks are also part of the daily work routine. Creating incoming and outgoing invoices, monitoring incoming payments and sending payment reminders are part of the range of tasks. He processes and controls orders from the time the order is placed until the goods arrive at the customer. When returns occur, he processes them using proprietary returns management software, writes credit memos and arranges for restocking.
- Marketing Mix:
- The merchant in e-commerce is the first point of contact when it comes to marketing matters. He writes posts for the blogs blog.ipc-computer.de and www.notebook-doktor.de and shares them on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram. He shoots (repair) videos with high-quality equipment and uploads them to the Notebook-Doktor.de channel. He independently manages the platforms and implements the special marketing strategies here. Who is my product for? Who is the target group? What should the design look like? How do I gain reach?
- Communication:
- Digital shopping channels do not exclude customer contact in training. Just as in brick-and-mortar retail, a merchant in e-commerce has contact with customers through a wide variety of communication channels, such as online, on the phone, via chat or e-mail. E-commerce clerks also look after their customers online, advise them on any questions they may have about the products or the purchasing and payment process, and help them in the best possible way.
What you bring to the table...
- Commercial thinking
- Organizational skills
- Good handling of digital media
- Willingness to communicate
- Diligence and sense of responsibility
Employment after training:
Many paths are open to the trained e-commerce merchant after his training. For example, employment in marketing, data management, sales and customer service is conceivable. The broad knowledge base provides a good foundation for further development in the company according to one's own wishes and abilities.
