Brazilian micro and small businesses generated R$67 billion in e-commerce in 2024, a record of more than 1200% growth in five years, according to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC) based on the Federal Revenue Service.
For Reginaldo Stocco, CEO of vhsys—a technology company specializing in online business management solutions—this advancement suggests that small retailers are finally migrating to marketplaces. However, the executive believes that many of them still fall into common pitfalls that jeopardize the return of this digital transformation.
"It's encouraging to see this movement, but many still get lost in the very details that will ultimately determine who truly takes off," says Reginaldo. Below, the expert highlights three classic but crucial mistakes that can undermine the success of small entrepreneurs:
1. Not pricing with a holistic view
Many retailers set prices based solely on their competitors, without considering marketplace fees, shipping costs, or margin strategies. What to do : Calculate the final price based on the total cost of the operation. Use comparison tools and don't sacrifice profitability for momentary visibility.
2. Lack of professional description and image
Ads with low-quality photos or generic text won't convince those unfamiliar with your brand. What to do: Invest in clear photos, varied angles, and clear descriptions. Highlight benefits, uses, differentiators, and keywords that help with internal searches within the platform.
3. Manual inventory and order management
Manual updates leave room for errors: out-of-stock products remain on sale, orders are delayed, and reputation is damaged. What to do : Integrate your system (ERP or management platform) with the marketplace to automatically synchronize inventory and order status, avoiding unpleasant surprises for consumers.
