| I was a late bloomer to the Internet. I am ashamed | | | | the Xbox, MP3 players, IBM Thinkpads,etc. are all |
| to say that I didn't even sit down at a computer | | | | slashed to as far down as we can possibly sell them |
| (except for data input) until I was about forty two | | | | and stay in business. Using theproper targeted |
| years old. | | | | keyword campaign on any good pay per click search |
| After health forced me to stop working, I made up | | | | engine and perhaps listingsome items on several of |
| for lost time. My computer and the Internet opened | | | | the comparative shopping networks like Shopzilla, or |
| updoors to me that I would have never seen before. | | | | Shopping.com, givesyou yet more exposure and links |
| One of the most positive aspects of the Internet | | | | back to your store. |
| has been learning about e-commerce and how | | | | We have taken it a step further too. Since we |
| important it is to do one's homework. | | | | manufacture our own line of gourmet coffee |
| I cannot tell you what sells well on the Internet, | | | | giftbaskets (Ruth London's Exquisite Coffees) which |
| because it really depends on both the product and | | | | hit the ground running last year and I must say |
| the person selling it. Though Xboxes and laptops are | | | | didsurprisingly well given that it is a novelty type item |
| "hot items" in my store, I just read an article from a | | | | (it includes one of my oversize cartoon coffeemugs |
| Wal-mart executive who claims that mattresses are | | | | and set of four cartoon coasters as well as 5 whole |
| a "hot" online seller for them. He went further to | | | | bean blends) in an upscale attractive box |
| explain that people like convenience, and don't want | | | | ($50 value) that we give away free with any $500 |
| to buy a mattress at the physical store and bring it | | | | purchase. |
| home. On the other hand, home entertainment | | | | $500 may sound like a lot but it buys a lot in our |
| systems and large plasma tv's or clothing, are the | | | | store. Most shoppers are relatively if notthoroughly |
| type of products he says that people want to see | | | | savvy. For instance, they often sit down and figure |
| and feel and touch. | | | | how much money they spend a yearat one of the |
| Makes sense. | | | | major gourmet coffee chains. Some of our |
| With so many people offering products online, what | | | | customers tell us they used to be a |
| is a "Cyber-Willie Lohman" to do? | | | | "Starbucks junkie" spending several thousand dollars a |
| After a number of phone conferences with my | | | | year just to get going in the morning. |
| partner on the west coast (and some false starts) | | | | Then they discovered they could buy their own |
| we found "the scoop". | | | | gourmet coffee makers, grinders, etc forunder $400, |
| Here 'tis. | | | | buy some more gifts or jewelry on the same |
| If you decide to sell a product online make certain | | | | purchase and presto, they've gotten notonly a |
| you know with whom you are dealing. Don't | | | | bargain for $500 but a free gourmet coffee gift |
| findyourself in a position of dealing with a middleman | | | | basket. |
| or even worse becoming one. | | | | To top that off, they have slashed their coffee |
| There are several paid membership sites to sign up | | | | budget by 75% and are drinking whole bean coffee |
| for drop-shipping and wholesale that | | | | (which if you've not tasted the difference and you |
| Ebayrecommends. I kind of figure by now, Ebay | | | | are a coffee lover you should) right off the farm,and |
| knows what works and what does not. | | | | enjoying MUCH tastier coffee at a fraction of the |
| They recommend joining which is a great service. It | | | | price. |
| automatically gives you accessto wholesale shippers | | | | So though such sales may sound a bit "gimmicky", |
| who will ship as few as one product at a time for | | | | they also have "pure economics" behind themin that |
| you. You can open an | | | | it is easy for most shoppers to see that they are |
| Ebay store or an Ebay Proshop store and "push to | | | | getting better value at less cost in the longrun, just |
| marketplace" the items you want to sell. It's kind | | | | by spending a little more at one time. |
| offun and interesting. | | | | So it's another day at the "cybershop". I hope your |
| We joined Worldwidebrands (Onesource) as well. It is | | | | sales are happening, and you are learningwhat I |
| useful in finding products thatmight not be available at | | | | learned from the school of cyber-knocks. There IS |
| Doba. Both are easy on the pocketbook, and the | | | | no easy money; not in real life, not on the |
| Internet offers greatleverage in opening a retail | | | | Internet. |
| store; if you are on a shoestring, but can spend your | | | | One has to build a name in any case and provide a |
| sweat-equity inblogging, article marketing, etc. | | | | service or product that people want at theright price, |
| The best part to me is that you have the option of | | | | and give excellent customer service. The better |
| keeping the price low, using a Wal-mart model of | | | | handle you have on that the better. |
| rapid turnover and more sales (or sell high and rely on | | | | That means stay away from middlemen and for |
| a few sales). We have opted to sell mediumrange | | | | goodness sake don't find yourself becoming one. |
| and cut our hottest-sellers prices very low. Items like | | | | |