Single ecommerce site with all products; or 3-4 niche sites?

ecommerce, all inclusive vs. niche?

[JMann2380]

Hello all, I've been running an ecommerce website for around 10 years. I have recently brought on some new product lines and am trying to decide if I want to create a new website with all 4 lines offered OR create 4 different niche sites catering to each brand?

The first option will be easier to manage, however the second option will be easier to target customers specifically looking for this brand.

My customers will either be looking for one brand or the other; cross selling or cross promotional is not advantageous. This is also a single purchase; repeat customers are less than 5% in this industry.

I look forward to your insight!

-Josh

[jwolthuis]

I would do both: create a site(s) featuring all 4 lines, and also create individual sites for each brand. All feeding off the same database (for inventory control) but with variations in pricing layout, and promotions.

[JMann2380]

jwolthuis, I was thinking that a well.

[particleman]

yes, ditto on doing both. I'm facing the same issue. You need a multi tenant shopping cart or multi domain feature in your system and this should be possible.

[sbrettoncm]

Doing both together is really a good option. It gives your existing customers the option to get something new or atleast will make them aware of their presence in your ecommerce site.
Separate sites will help in acquiring new customers.
So go for it and all the best.

[votrechien]

If site development and programming is your 'thing' by all means go ahead with multiple sites. But if your thing is product development and content, multisites is multiproblems, multiupdates, multitime, and multipains!

[Maryb21]

multiple sites may create multiple problems, but I firmly believe that the result will be worth it. Promotion will be much easier and stores' conversion - much higher.
Having one store for all of the products from your several stores is a good next step.

[particleman]

Speaking from experience multiple stores does in fact multiply a lot of issues. If you "copy and paste" your site and start another one it will be much worse that using a true multi tenant system. However, diversity is good business insurance.

[AffiliateDreamer]

What software is out there that supports multi-tenant sites?
So does a single change in a product meta data propogate to all the sites then? (and also allow things to differ optionally?)