posted on October 18, 2009 07:11:10 AM new
Hi. I'm hoping to ramp up sales by starting with Vendio so I can sell in other marketplaces in addition to eBay, plus I have my own new website (and I plan to add many more products from other suppliers)...
so before I begin spending many hours uploading csv inventory files and messing around with pictures, etc., I thought it'd be best if I made sure my product categories in my ebay store were situated in a way that would be compatible with other marketplaces such as amazon and yahoo, etc.
AND IDEAS on where I can go to find the best way to organize my product categories?
posted on October 18, 2009 09:04:51 AM new
You may want to take a look at Amzn marketplace.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 18, 2009 11:47:43 AM new
Yeah, I gotta get into Amazon. Thanks for the encouragement.
I know the economy is down, yet this is all I have for income as I live where jobs are scarce even when the econ is good. So I'm hoping the loose horses and wild bankers will buy enough to keep my head above water til the econ improves...
posted on October 18, 2009 01:04:09 PM new
You didn't ask for advice so you may well be peeved, but as an ecommerce veteran I can tell you you're almost certainly trying to do too much.
Your new website alone will take at least six months to get off the ground and you'll be working 4 to 6 hours a day on that alone.
It is much less important to add new products than it is to add new products with *high margins*. The old antiquers say "You make your money when you buy.". It's never been more true.
Amazon is no panacea. It's child's play for a competitor to piggyback your listings and undercut your prices. Sometimes that competitor is Amazon itself.
posted on October 18, 2009 05:43:00 PM new
She did not tell us what she is selling but it sounds like new stuff ("and I plan to add many more products from other suppliers".
This is the problem-other suppliers,they could all be selling on AMZN or EBay or Yahoo at half of your asking price.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 18, 2009 07:17:19 PM new
soulstouchgifts, with a search, I found a very nice web store named Souls Touch Gifts. Is that your store?
If so, why would you want to spend additional money with a fee based service?
Put your efforts, and money into growing your sales, through Google Adwords, or Yahoo. I have found that you can place your English keywords onto Google search sites around the world. When doing so, searchers in another country, who are bi-lingual will find your site. Extend your reach to other parts of the globe.
Build your own Brand - not the Amazon, eBay, or whatever Brands.
posted on October 18, 2009 09:14:44 PM new
Bill, following your lead I did a little more research.
Looks very much like the OP bought an ecommerce-in-a-box package from these people:
http://www.emerchantclub.com/packages.htm
I hope I'm wrong.
No need to source product; eMerchantClub provides you with everything. Except the realization that there are tens of thousands of online stores identical to yours, right down to the product line in the eCatalogs.
posted on October 19, 2009 12:49:05 AM new
Hope you don't mind long responses...but this is something I'm passionate about right now, and it means a lot to me (like it means new shoes for the baby, literally) so please read on if you think you could hang for the long read and maybe give your 2 cents that might help me.
HWAHWA: I now realize that I think you were telling me to look @ Amzn marketplace to get an idea of their categories, is that right? I thought I read somewhere in Vendio that Amazon does their categories differently, I don't recall exact phrasing: I got the impression I should focus on creating my categories according to yahoo, shopzilla & shopping.com....maybe I'm wrong.
Yes, many other suppliers have sellers on ebay & amzn...I found that out the hard way too. I used one dropshipper when I first started, but dropped them, and will now proceed a little smarter next time around. I hate learning the hard way....I SOOO much would love to learn from others instead!
Yeah, that's my site at soulstouchgifts. I've also got an ebay site with some of that stuff (am trying to learn how to do bulk uploads, argh) and I have another ebay site just for fun, with antiques and vintage stuff...which I've not spent much time on.
Yeah, I got a cookie cutter website, trying to compete with thousands of others who have the exact same products....of course I didn't know that when I first started. And after I realized it, I had already invested so much, so I kept at it because I saw ways my competitors were lacking (so if I do it better, I'll beat the competition?) or ways I could improve my sales. I have a few marketing ideas (could use more) I don't have time to share here, but I believe I can make mine stand out from the rest. So I invested a little more to upgrade my store, and now I just can't quit it because I've got too much into it...unless I find some other way to make lots of moola.
For someone brand new to ecommerce...I couldn't think of any other way to make dough, so I bought the sales pitches. I did research them before I started (on google) and yeah, I saw scam alerts...but everything I ever researched has scam alerts, and I wonder if it's just a few mad folks who couldn't make it work and who had comp savvy to get their review at the top of comp searches...or their competitors...so I often think scam alerts are scams. (Wish I knew a good scam review site that's reputable...anyone?) N_E_way, it was just about $30 to start with a guarantee of your $ back in 30 days. And they got Tom Bosley from happy days as a rep...who couldn't trust him? Yet I know business can be cut-throat, and after looking through smoke and mirrors, I could still see clearly that it is possible to make $ with them.
Before that, in Oct 2008 I started doing garage sales, auctions, estate sales, clearance sales and thrift stores to get product I researched before buying (usually), taking pics and listing and shipping....so much time to just barely make ends meet, all while ignoring my own and my family needs. Now I'm at the computer wayyy too much for mine and my family's own good.
Having quality of life while making $ is the main goal.
FLUFFY: You're right, this will take more time than I thought, even though someone else has made the site for me...I gotta tweek it. And market it. And...
What do you mean "for a competitor to piggyback your listings" (I understand the undercutting part, but does piggyback mean to copy and paste?)
FYI: as for the cookie cutter website--I have accidentally stumbled upon other sites who sell the same products, and I'm sure they do well because they showed up at the top of google or other searches. I've got just a few ideas from these folks on how to market my site.
BILL: I don't want to pay a fee based service, but I wish I knew how else to make $. I don't know how to build a website myself. Some day I will, but it's not happening this year.
I'd love to build my own brand, but my own lovely arts and crafts don't sell for what they're worth and can't pay bills Or do you mean building a niche?
Did you mean by having a Yahoo store? I definitely gotta learn how to submit my store to search engines!!! I will check further into Google Adwords, thanks for the tip.
Thanks everyone. I loooove advice. Thanks, and bless your hearts for helping.
P.S. Your advice will be greatly appreciated, and please know it won't go on deaf or dumb ears. I've got a lot to learn, but am a quick study...once studied COBOL, plant to learn HTML...I say that to encourage you not to hold back in case you think I might not understand something, not to be haughty. I'm as humble as they come. And honored you would share your words of wisdom.
[ edited by soulstouchgifts on Dec 2, 2009 10:28 AM ]
posted on October 19, 2009 01:09:31 AM new
BILL: oh yes, I've been wanting to go int'l...my supplier only ships to us & canada. I do have a few $k's of merch in my basement (and garage and patio...) and do list that I sell int'l on items I have on hand...I'm just wondering if it's too weird to have a website (not an ebay store) where international sales are allowed on only some items.
By the way, I looked at your stores and they are very nice....you've got everything down pat and figured out....I'm very impressed. I imagine you do very well, and I'm happy for you. I've gotta get a coin collecting for kids book someday...we've started a collection for our son.
posted on October 19, 2009 06:26:13 AM new
I went to the site and found Micky Mouse Kitchen timer for $12.95,is that your price or suggested retail price?
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 19, 2009 12:49:51 PM new
Funny, I couldn't find it on my store. I went to my supplier's website to find that's the retail price...should have a slash through it and cost about half that...if it were in my store.
posted on October 19, 2009 01:04:07 PM new
Maybe I hid the dept it was in whilst rearranging and organizing...time to clean up my hidden categories. I'll have the timer added by late tonight.
posted on October 19, 2009 01:14:34 PM new
Did you do any research to see how many sellers on Ebay or off Ebay are already selling your merchandise?
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 19, 2009 01:18:58 PM new
The cheapest Mickey Mouse kitchen timer on AMZN is 4.50 plus 8.25 shipping ,total is 12.75.
The cheapest on Ebay right now is 4.95 plus 6.99 shipping via UPS,total is $11.94.
Give it some time,you can find it in dollar store for 99 cents plus sales tax and you dont have to pay shipping.
Welcome to ecommerce!
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
[ edited by hwahwa on Oct 19, 2009 01:25 PM ]
[ edited by hwahwa on Oct 19, 2009 01:27 PM ]
posted on October 19, 2009 04:00:03 PM new
Thanks for your input.
Yes, I've researched other sellers. It's amazing how many shoppers don't do a lot of comparison shopping. With what little online shopping I've done, I've found it is a chore. I've had many things sell from my ebay store when I know I wasn't the cheapest on ebay even. I was trying to be the cheapest for a long time, but when I end up making only a few bucks after fees, I'm thinking of upping all my prices, then using markdown manager to create sales, where I can still make a few bucks. I've even considered loss leaders to drive traffic.
But now I"m overwhelmed with the concept that this will take many months to get my products uploaded and my web presence marketed...thought I was gonna get it all done in one day.
Time to list and ship the old fashioned way so I can pay next months bills.
posted on October 19, 2009 04:08:18 PM new
You have a beautiful website.
Just curious,are they all drop shipped items? Or do you have most of them in stock?
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 19, 2009 04:08:44 PM new
Taking a random product description from your site:
"Lush lemongrass and bergamot add uplifting aromatherapy fragrance, as life’s wear and tear is gently massaged away. The ideal “pick-me-up” at the close of any day! 4 fl oz."
...and using a close quote search on Google, I come back with over 1700 results.
That means that you are virtually invisible to all but the stray Higgs Boson that might collide with your site and miraculously make a purchase.
posted on October 19, 2009 04:16:41 PM new
They're all dropshipped. I have tons of merch in my house I'll ship to ebay buyers (drive traffic to ebay store).
posted on October 19, 2009 04:57:54 PM new
Yeah, I know there's a ton with the same stuff
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Then why do you bother to do it?
You should research on drop shipping ,pros and cons and Paypal seller protection and credit card regulation and FTC rules on mail order business.
Also USPS fraud investigation !
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 19, 2009 07:32:55 PM new
I really hope this works out for you, considering the time and money you've already invested. You have a beautiful website. Unfortunately, unless you have a ton of friends committed to buying only from you, this doesn't help much with the underlying market saturation problem. I once succumbed to the pressure of a VP of my company to join Amway, just to get him off my back. I took my $100 starter kit and cut my losses short. My immediate boss also signed up, he took a single product, MCI phone cards, unique at the time, and achieved the ski bum lifestyle, selling them to virtually every home-for-rent in the Oregon ski area. He later bought out the MCI franchise from Amway and established his own Long Distance phone company.
The dream is alive, but what unique spin do you have on it? Try different spins, what products that are not currently sold on-line would fit nicely with your drop-shipper's inventory? Perhaps you could broker a deal for them and get a finder's fee, or secure an exclusive from them for internet sales.
At some point, you have to determine if you are throwing good money after bad. If so, chalk it up to a learning experience and don't buy the sizzle of infomercials (I'm a real target for them, I buy into everything they sell).
posted on October 19, 2009 08:09:33 PM new
what products that are not currently sold on-line would fit nicely with your drop-shipper's inventory?
/////////////////////
I dont think there is any.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 19, 2009 08:15:06 PM new
hwahwa: I feel on defense, but I know you mean well. I could spend an hour typing about why I chose this...and I did so earlier in this thread. Basically, it comes down to that I knew of no other way to get income.
what does usps fraud investigation have to do with anything?
pixiamom: thankx a ton for such awesome feedback. Yeah, I've got lots of ideas for spins...but gotta work on that some more. I've been tempted to share some of those ideas here, but don't wanna give my competitors a heads up, if they read this, which some probably do. Yeah, I've considered cutting losses, but I don't give up that easily...not until I've tried some of my spins And a few other experiments.
posted on October 19, 2009 08:39:12 PM new
I dont mean this as a personal attack,I mean there is no product which is not selling on line.
It seems everything under the sun is now online !
But Pixiamom has some good idea,find out what sells,I dont know where you live but I used to go to the Galleria in Houston and browse their stores and find out what they sell and what sells best for them.
These retail stores will also sell wholesale with a 20% discount,of course it will be nice if you can find the real wholesaler.
Another idea is to visit some antique shops and offer to sell for them,or spread the words among neighbors who have some thing to sell,we could all use some extra cash and some oldies sure have some interesting stuff.
Some folks buy on Ebay and turn around and sell them on Ebay with better pictures!
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 20, 2009 04:53:16 AM new
Great ideas, thanks. I don't do this just for extra cash, by the way...I do it for 'some' cash to pay bills.
Yeah, antiques: I'm into that. Love 'em, don't know much about 'em. But have hit up a few local antique shops already, got one wants me to help, and am selling some antiques for another guy ... but have wasted time looking stuff up for people just to learn their stuff won't sell for what they want. I wonder if I should start another thread to get tips on antiques?
I live 1 hr from nearest real town (my town's post office is 5 min from my house...but it's the tiniest town under 500 pop) in No MN 1 hr from Canada. I know, I know...reminds me of a Sam Kinison joke about starving people in the desert where he screams "MOOVE! IT'S A DESERT! NO FOOD GROWS THERE!" But it's a long story why I got here and why I gotta stay for now.
NE way, I hit the clearance sales at KMart, Walmart and Target and resell...make a few bucks, but barely minimum wage when you consider time it takes to list and ship, but it's better than nothing.
I've heard of folks buying on ebay and reselling...but I imagine it'd take a long time to find the right stuff to buy. I mean, i've run across items listed poorly I knew I could resell, but to find enough stuff to pay bills...?
Well I am just fortunate folks on these discussion boards are so helpful and kind...and I really appreciate folks taking time and energy to give me tips. I look forward to coming here more often.
posted on October 20, 2009 06:21:35 AM new
I hit the clearance sales at KMart, Walmart and Target and resell
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Is there a Bestbuy,Home Depot or Lowe near you?They have a table with clearance items.
A town of 500 in Northen MN,what do folks do for a living?
Farm tools sell on Ebay,also what can you sell from Canada? It seems every occidental in Canada is of Scottish heritage,and Scottish items sell well on Ebay!
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 20, 2009 07:07:53 AM new
I feel for you soulstouch. I am in Minnesota too (Twin Cities). I don't think you should spend any more time (or money) developing and promoting products from eMerchant club. If you look at their sellers on eBay, you can see that most don't have much feedback and those that do have a lot of other listings from other sources.
Are you able to load your own stuff on that website or is it restricted to their products? Can you change titles, descriptions or pictures and add your own code? If not, then you will NEVER be picked up by the search engines as all of it is duplicate (x's 40,000) content. Can you add a visitor counter to see how much traffic you are getting and where it is coming from (I'll bet a lot of it the past couple of days is Vendio!) I know you've sunk money into the venture but no use spinning your wheels and wasting your time as well. Your time could be used more productively to find new sources or setting up your OWN store/website.
I bet you'd do better (as in profit) selling kids' hand-me-downs than you will with an emerchant web site. Sure, you probably won't do much better than minimum wage but if you are looking to supplement your household income while staying home with the kids, it's a good gig. Which side of the state are you in? NW, NE, Center? What cities are nearby? Garage Sale season is pretty much over, but you may want to consider coming down to the TC's Thursday AMs next May.
Do you collect anything? It's usually best to sell what you know or are passionate about.
I don't know anything about sourcing new product but I bet if you research hard enough and contact enough people you can find a real product source. As in life, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find the prince of your dreams. Make sure you are able to tell the shysters from the real sources. Usually a "Pay to play" scheme means that THEY will make the money, not YOU.
Good luck to you. Looks like this winter is going to be one of those cold, hunker down and hibernate ones - ideal for internet selling.
posted on October 20, 2009 11:28:50 AM new
EXCELLENT tips hwahwa!!! I forgot about home depot, don't go there much. I've checked their clearance table a few times and wasn't impressed, but I should check more often. I'll keep my eyes open for farm equip too; that might be a viable option. I never go to Canada (not yet) and if I did, wouldn't know where to find Scotts in Canada, and if I did, wouldn't know how to get them to sell me their stuff real cheap. Any ideas?
neglus: great tips as well. What's "duplicate (x's 40,000) content"?
I've had good luck with feedack. Just got powerseller status, but no top rated seller or discounts yet (hmph
Your site is awesome. I'm happy to see you seem to do well. Must've took forever to get so many items listed!
Yes, I can add products, and change photos and descriptions, and plan to do that. I can change meta tags and title tags, but not sure about changing html code. Wouldn't know how if I could; gotta learn about that too. Just to mess with what I got it taking forever (editing, adding, rearranging categories, etc.). I might just find another drop shipper (I found some that don't require pay to play.) I would LOVE to have my own website! Wish I knew how.
People do lots of garage sales around here...but they're so broke up here, they have them over and over...hard to find good ones. Some folks have one every weekend...never put it away, like a little business. It would take me about 5 hours to drive to TC, if I went fast non-stop.
I live in Central No. MN..."in the sticks". I'm north of the Laurentian Divide, where all rivers run north. cool, eh? Folks around here do lots of lumber stuff. Lots of horses, a few but not many cows. Not much grows up here to harvest bigtime. It's a whole different hardiness zone than so.mn. Lots of folks trap animals still, and wreath making and collecting boughs is big this time of year. Lots of fishing and hunting, which is a tourism industry, too. Lotsa four-wheelers and snowmobiles...oh, and trucks like you wouldn't believe. They spear fish in the rivers at a certain time of year, called suckering ?, then smoke em covered in brown sugar & maple syrup they collected themselves. Delicioso! Real rough necks, tough women. Lotsa nice folks up here...just rough round the edges. Lotsa alcoholism, as with any poor area shack happy for 8 mos/yr. My fiance's ex's ma, who just passed, used to travel to nearest town (one hour's drive by car) via horse and carriage growing up...cars existed, but paved roads didn't exist up here. Gives ya an idea of history that makes a culture; it's all about survival up here.
I've been here 3 yrs. My fiance works at the only big business, an int'l co. that takes advantage of the fact folks need work up here and work for very little. He'd triple his wage in the cities. I've been trying to get in there, but I'm not related to anyone there. We hope to move in a few yrs. Other than that, there's jobs at the hospital (I could never lift anyone, so I can't work there.)
Yup, might get cold. I heard a farmer's almanac type prediction (heresay) that wet cold summers mean less snow or less cold in winter (something like that). We'll see. And does old farmers' wisdom account for global warming changes. Are the ice shelves still there? Good thing is we can see mountain tops without snow for the first time in, like...ever. Well, at least there weren't a ton of hurricanes this year. We had snow that stayed for a couple days...supposed to snow again in a day or so. Brrr.
Favorite sayings up here: "Drive safe." "Stay warm."
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