You might remember some of the post-crowdfunding marketplaces that we’ve discussed in the past, where creators can sell their products to interested customers after they’ve successfully raised money on a crowdfunding platform.
Indiegogo seems to be taking a step in that direction with their new Shipping Now category, which features perks from campaigns that have opted into the InDemand program.
Now, you can browse projects that are continuing to take orders after having conducted a successful crowdfunding campaign.
How does Shipping Now work?
It’s simple! Indiegogo features popular products that are currently a part of the InDemand program. Most of these products are in the design and technology category at the time of writing.
As a backer or customer, you can click through to the project’s home page and select one of the offered reward tiers. It’s then up to the project owner to deliver your selected perk in a timely manner. Indiegogo states that “most perks listed in Shipping Now ship within 7-14 days of placing the order.”
Why is Indiegogo offering this store of crowdfunded products?
In my last post, I broke down some of the differences between ecommerce and crowdfunding. The key distinction is that crowdfunding is all about the discovery of new products.
I think that Indiegogo is making more of an effort to move into the ecommerce category. Many project owners start an ecommerce store after a hitting their crowdfunding goal and shipping out the initial batch of the product to their backers.
I also think they also want to give creators more of an incentive to go with their platform rather than Kickstarter’s. You will only qualify for the new Shipping Now store if you’ve successfully raised money on Indiegogo and are a part of the InDemand program.
Finally, if mainstream customers buy a product from the Shipping Now store and have a good experience with Indiegogo, they’ll be more likely to recommend the platform to their friends and support projects in the future.
Why should you join?
The main benefit is prolonged exposure to the platform’s community of technology enthusiasts. If you’d like to join, you must meet these criteria.
- Your project must have been successful in terms of hitting its goal and deadline.
- The project must be a part of the InDemand program.
- You should be shipping your perks and have the capacity to handle the demand.
Here is the form you need to fill out to join the program.
Beware of these drawbacks
I have to reiterate that the expectations of an ecommerce customer and crowdfunding backer are very different.
Whereas a crowdfunding backer is sympathetic to changes in the product and delayed shipping dates, a customer is not. Why? Because a backer is supporting innovation and a new creative project. A customer is buying a pre-existing product.
Before joining this program, consider these points:
- You should be able to reliably make and ship new perks on time.
- You should be able to process returns and customer issues.
- You must set expectations carefully or risk tarnishing your brand and dealing with angry customers.
For many of the inventors, entrepreneurs, and creative types that I’ve spoken with, a lot of the learning that is required to make an awesome product for the masses comes after fulfilling their rewards.
Backers actually have the widget in their hands and can provide feedback.
Remember: Don’t rush to scale up too soon. You’ll regret it.
How do you like the store so far?
After taking a second to check out the store, let me know what you think of some of the products in a comment below! I’d also love to hear your experience if you’re a part of the new Shipping Now store.
