A Corporate eStore makes it easy to distribute supplies and merchandise to branch offices, field reps, franchisees, or other affiliate locations

A Corporate eStore is an online shopping application from which branch offices, dealers, franchisees, field reps, employees or other authorized affiliates can browse and order company-specific items. These items may include printing, marketing and promotional materials, samples and displays, business and office supplies, branded apparel or merchandise, or anything else offered by the company for internal use.

Provides Ease of Use and Brand Control

A corporate eStore streamlines operations by providing a single, designated resource for ordering promotional and operational materials. Because it is provided online, the eStore is a convenient, self-service application that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time. Also, the corporate office mandates all items offered through its eStore, so there is better control and company-wide uniformity for its brand.

Not Publicly Accessible

Unlike a retail eStore, a corporate eStore is not accessible to the general public. Access to the corporate eStore is granted only to authorized affiliates or employees and is log-in protected.

Often Part of a Third-Party Fulfillment Program

In many cases, a corporate eStore works in tandem with a third-party fulfillment partner that warehouses, processes and distributes the orders. The fulfillment partner may also develop and provide the eStore, tailoring it to the unique needs, features and offerings of the company.

Products in the eStore are displayed in an easy-to-use format, with descriptions and photos, making the selection and ordering process very intuitive. An order form calculates the total, plus any shipping or other charges. Depending on the arrangement, credit cards may be used as payment, affiliate offices could be billed directly, or an invoice could be sent to the corporate office.

Examples of eStore Applications…

Branch Offices – For companies with multiple offices, a corporate eStore can help distribute important documentation and supplies. The home office can order items to be sent to each affiliate office or the items can be requested by each individual location as they are needed. Training materials, operation manuals, price lists, employee benefit information, stationery, and office supplies are some of the items that can be efficiently dispersed this way.

Dealers / Franchisees – A corporate eStore can streamline the ordering and distribution of frequently-used supplies to a company’s dealer or franchise network. Each dealer or franchisee can conveniently place orders online, without having to contact the home office each time something is needed. Items commonly ordered this way include branded apparel, brochures and sales literature, business printing and stationery, banners and displays, promotional giveaways, and POS supplies.

Sales Reps / Field Reps – If a company has a sales force or service reps scattered around the country, a corporate eStore can simplify the distribution of support materials to them. Using online ordering, company reps can easily request literature, presentation folders, order forms, contracts, product samples, warranty certificates, repair parts, tools, and any other support items as they need them.

Managers / Employees – Sometimes a company chooses to let managers and certain employees order things from an online eStore rather than stocking them in-house. Any frequently-used, work-related item is a good candidate for inclusion in the eStore catalog and payment is usually made through a departmental or corporate account.  Examples of things offered to managers and authorized employees via an eStore include work shirts, hats or other apparel, operational supplies, office and desk accessories, training courses, instruction manuals, and so forth.

If your company has multiple branches, dealers, franchisees, field reps or other affiliates all sourcing the same items, either directly from you or from their own vendors, you should seriously consider an eStore with a corresponding fulfillment program. Give Formax a call at (866) 367-6221 to learn more. If you’re looking for more efficiency with less hassle, we can definitely help.