EKM launches free ecommerce academy

23 Jun 2020

Preston-based ecommerce specialist EKM has launched a free-to-attend virtual academy designed to help businesses adopt and get the most out of selling online.

The EKM Academy is a centralised resource of up-to-date information tailored to UK sellers. The first course, The Basics of Starting an Online Shop, is free to access and covers all aspects of starting an online business from the ground up, including registering your business, sourcing products, building a brand and setting up on social media.

More courses will be added in the upcoming months, with topics ranging from SEO to email marketing and more.

The new programme is an extension of the in-person lectures and seminars which EKM held in the purpose-built auditorium within its headquarters.

Antony Chesworth, CEO and founder of EKM, said: "We all know the internet is a massive wealth of information, but it can be hard to wade through site after site, sometimes finding conflicting information from one page to another. And a lot of the blogs and articles surrounding how to start an online business are centred around an American audience.

"We wanted to create a hub for reliable information that is relevant to those looking to enter the UK ecommerce market."

EKM's software helps individuals and businesses launch and run their own online shops. It is used by more than 80,000 customers, generating more than half a billion pounds in sales per year.

Antony added: "My hope is that EKM Academy will be a resource for anyone who is looking to make the jump and start their own online shop. We hope this will make it more attainable for people in the UK, and indeed all over the world, to access relevant information and to start doing something they love."

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