---
title: "A diagram of the ideal online store"
author: "Stan Voo"
url: https://www.99rabbits.com/blog/a-diagram-of-the-ideal-online-store
published: 2010-04-25
summary: "Customers on top, then the business model, the staff and the management, and what flows between them. No secrets here, just a mind map I happen to like."
---

# A diagram of the ideal online store

![](https://www.99rabbits.com/blog/a-diagram-of-the-ideal-online-store-1.webp)

*The labels, translated: the business model gives customers convenient delivery and payment and a usable site, gives the staff good pay, and gives management profit; customers bring the business model revenue; the staff give customers quality service; management gives the staff rewards and motivation, problem solving, rules and standards, and gives the business model formalization, optimization and finance.*

Of course, I'm not revealing any secrets of building an online store here, least of all to people who know from experience how business works in general. This diagram is more an exercise in drawing mind maps :)

I'm publishing it simply because I like it.

The only explanations it might need are these.

1. The "Customers" block is at the top for a reason: it's meant to stand for customer-centricity (sorry for the near-swear word).

2. The **tasks of an online store's management** are clearly visible:

- developing a business model (finance) that guarantees customers a convenient site and convenient delivery and payment, and guarantees the staff good pay;
- setting work standards and rules;
- solving the non-standard problems the rules don't cover;
- motivating staff to deliver a high quality of customer service.