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kmorton
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 20
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Posted: 2003-Aug-14 19:37
I do the webdesign for my company and think I do a decent job of it. I started their webstore back in January from what used to be just a static information website. We're in a small market but are netting around $50,000 per month.
I would like to go out on my own and build my own online store. I just don't know what to sell... Any good ideas would be appreciated as well as a cheap way to sell online.
Thank you in advance... I hope I'm not to vague in my request.
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derekwong28
Joined: Dec 31, 2001
# Posts: 166
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Posted: 2003-Aug-15 11:38
To achieve that sort of sales in a short time, I would think that your company was already a well-established bricks and mortar company.
The following is a quote from Actinic
What are you selling?
The internet is particularly good for selling
- 'Hard goods'
- Products priced in a consistent way
- Products for which there is a fixed price list
- Products with a short sales cycle
- Products that can be chosen by sight or sound
- Repeat purchases
The internet is less effective for selling
- Services for which the prices are individually negotiated
- Products with a long sales cycle
I would also add that the ideal products would be valued between US$20-50, small and lightweight for easy shipping.
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kmorton
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 20
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Posted: 2003-Aug-15 13:09
Yes, we did start as brick and mortar, however, our internet customer base is mainly coming from California and the midwest up to New England. We are located in the South East. My boss is elated at the new national exposure we are getting.
But, back to my problem. I do not have the money that my company I work had to start an online business. Advertising, ecommerce hosting, and a merchant account was not a big problem for them to pay for. I, however, need to do this on a shoe-string budget to begin with. Is using Pay Pal a bad way to go? Do I need to buy a business liscense? I'm really in the dark on this... I guess I'm ignorant when it comes to the accounting.
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thejenn
Joined: Aug 08, 2001
# Posts: 9196
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Posted: 2003-Aug-15 14:43
A lot of people have success testing products on ebay (using their web site as a companion site to their ad on ebay) and then kick up the quality/scope of their Web site once they see what sells.
You might want to consider taking that route to start off with, as Ebay users are pretty comfortable paying with PayPal.
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sirduncan
Joined: Jun 15, 2000
# Posts: 481
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Posted: 2003-Aug-16 16:43
kmorton - I don't want to bore you, but let me share with you my experience of one day deciding to start an online business.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!
Find something you are interested in and knowledgeable about. When you become successful and start getting dozens of emails a day, you will want to enjoy what you are explaining to potential customers. Otherwise it will show through.
My wife and I decided to start an online business. One day she picked 'needles'. I did some homework - found there wasn't a lot of competition and we started. We got a local business license and a sales tax certificate. I built and run the site (because I also offer e-commerce hostware services).
Next we found a supplier. They are fine except we have to stock everything we order. This becomes a bit costly to begin with - not bad after you are established and the better way to go if you have the finances. Otherwise - get a drop shipper. That will help keep your costs down. I wish we would have drop shipped when we started.
Next, we began advertising - you know - paid listing to yahoo and that crazy 'free' listing stuff that sends you all kinds of useless information, but at least we were listed. Then we waited for people to come visit us. BAD IDEA!!!!
Thats when I first found this forum and started reading - this was 2 years ago - and I'm still reading. We have come along way now with lots of promotion - some effective - some not.
To summerize: Do your homework - find something you love - drop ship if product and possible (then change later if you want) - and most importantly "PROMOTE OR DIE!" Good luck to you, I hope I didn't bore you.
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kmorton
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 20
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Posted: 2003-Aug-18 13:09
I appreciate your sobering honesty and I think it best to do SOME HOMEWORK!! : )
My wife and I have been throwing a few ideas around and hopefully will find something that will work for us...
Thanx
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Mahoney
Joined: Sep 01, 2001
# Posts: 44
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Posted: 2003-Aug-19 04:45
What is Drop-Shipping?
[ Message was edited by: Mahoney 08/18/2003 08:46 pm ]
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kmorton
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 20
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Posted: 2003-Aug-19 12:16
Drop-Shipping is when you (the saler) do not have an item in your stock and have your vendor (or manufacturer) ship directly to your customer. It's actually ideal if they don't put the invoice in with the shipping because you don't have to maintain a costly inventory. You can ship directly from their warehouse instead of having one of your own.
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patrickh
Joined: Oct 05, 2001
# Posts: 2187
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Posted: 2003-Sep-09 16:16
I do think the key is dealing with a product you are knowledgable about, nothing is worse than e-mailing a company with a problem and having them reply with the most generic answers that just show they know nothing about the stuff.
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colorspots
Joined: Jul 17, 2000
# Posts: 245
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Posted: 2003-Sep-16 20:15
From my personal business adventures. Sell something unique online. DO NOT sell things readily available from Walmart.
My first business I started selling unique products in the scrapbook industry. My conversion rate was very high because I sold a good, unique, solid product not readily available locally. For the first year everything was drop shipped. Later we shipped out of my house. Also we determind our max size and prices for shipping and choose products that could all be shipped in the same containers. We used the US Post Office"s Priorty Mail. They supplied the containers and it provided easily trackable product. We would email our tracking numbers and receipts. We also included a return address lable with our logo address and web address so people could return the item easily in the same package.
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