ecommerce merchants

There are many ways to classify ecommerce websites. You can categorize them according to the products or services that they sell, the parties that they transact with, or even the platforms on which they operate.

In this guide, we’ll look at all three aspects to give you a clear picture of what types of ecommerce sites are out there.

Classifying ecommerce merchants according to what they’re selling

Let’s start with the products and services typically sold online. Below is a list of ecommerce merchants according to what they sell.

Stores that sell physical goods

These are your typical online retailers. They can include apparel stores, homeware businesses, and gift shops, just to name a few. Stores that sell physical goods showcase the items online and enable shoppers to add the things they like in their virtual shopping carts. Once the transaction is complete, the store typically ships the orders to the shopper, though a growing number of retailers are implementing initiatives such as in-store pickup.