The term “C2C” stands for “commerce on demand.” It is a broad term that encompasses many types of online business models, but most commonly includes business models that have one primary purpose: the sale of products using a transaction between a seller and a buyer. These types of business models are similar to other types of commerce, in that the goods being sold can be moved from point A to point B through a chain of many different, usually small units. However, there is a fundamental difference between these types of sites in that the products sold on such sites are bought directly from the seller or manufacturer and therefore do not have to pass through any intermediary. While C2C eCommerce examples may include catalogs and consumer product websites, there is no reason why a C2C website cannot focus on a single category or niche market.
Designed with a specific purpose
As previously mentioned, many C2C websites custom built are designed with a specific purpose in mind. These sites are catered to individuals looking to purchase particular items and are sometimes only slightly less complicated than sites such as eBay, where shoppers are free to browse without purchasing. Some C2C sites are primarily shopping sites. Some offer services that allow users to post reviews on products and sellers. And others provide a place for buyers and sellers to interact.
As it turns out, C2C businesses may be the future of commerce. There are already some well-established examples of C2C eCommerce, such as the online shoe and handbag retailer Zappos. In fact, in many ways, it is a model that is close to the model of a traditional business model that we know. Consumers shop for a particular item, then make the purchase, use a credit card, and pay for it via the method of payment used at checkout. The difference, of course, is that consumers do not have to leave the comfort of their homes, as they do on eBay or other platforms.
Adaptable
One of the advantages of C2C online business models is that the business model itself does not rely on one specific type of transaction. Instead, it is highly adaptable. As an example, there are C2C websites that sell products like books and videos that can be downloaded to provide consumers with information. Another popular C2C website is Zalippo, which allows its users to “zoom in” to specific areas of a video, listen to it, and then click to enlarge.
Run multiple C2C websites through one server
To take full advantage of the power of C2C online business model examples such as these, marketers need to look into creating multiple C2C websites that offer their products and services. This means developing more than one storefront for a single product. Some C2C marketers even run multiple C2C websites through one server so that customers can purchase from all of them. In this way, customers will not only see the same product on different pages of a C2C site, but they can shop more freely as well.
As you can see, C2C online business models have evolved greatly. Although some businesses still make their money solely off of C2C deals, others have made great strides forward into offering a variety of C2C transactions. In addition, there are many other benefits of C2C. Not only can consumers purchase goods at different types of C2C websites, but they can also do so without leaving their homes. With more consumers becoming accustomed to using C2C to buy products and services, businesses that offer C2C sales will benefit from the increased popularity of C2C deals.