Find us elsewhere
Join Now Member Login

Hello from Arizona

 
New Topic
Post Reply
Follow Topic
Page of 1
  • Author
  • Message
 
dublin

posts: 5

Jul 16, 2007 4:49 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote

Hello Startup Nation community!  My name is Craig and I am located in Maricopa, AZ (just south of Phoenix).  I recently discovered this website and have been reading as much info. as I can.  I have read many of your replies and I am impressed with your business knowledge and helpfullness.

I am looking for some additional ideas on a small business I am currently involved in.  I sell licensed sports products (hats, t-shirts, mugs, etc...).  I put these products on display stands in retail stores and give a percentage of the sales to the store owner. 

I am looking for alternative ideas on ways to make a profit from these products.  I have a established a business relationship with a company who provides me the product at wholesale price.  I have the access to the product, that is not my issue.  I was thinking about selling on ebay or directly from my website.  Does anybody out there have experience with this kind of business and could possibly offer some insight.

Thanks,

Craig

loxy

posts: 1

Jul 16, 2007 9:06 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote

Hi Dublin- Welcome!  A friend of mine has a business much like you describe.  He had no success at all on Ebay~ he couldn`t compete on price and couldn`t secure the HOT items from his vendor at the right time, like when certain teams were hot.

CraigL

posts: 9051

Jul 16, 2007 9:07 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Hi Craig....from another Craig :-D (Not you though, `cause I`m not in Arizona.)

eBay`s a good place to learn e-commerce, but make sure you keep an eye on your "listing fees," which is the amount it costs you to put up an ad. I`d avoid starting an eBay "store" at the moment, as there are likely better and cheaper ways to do this.

I say "likely" only to be polite.

Do you have any sort of online presence yet, as in your own Web site?
dublin

posts: 5

Jul 17, 2007 11:27 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote

Craig,

I do have a website. nolanknowssports.com.  The website is designed to describe the business to potential retail stores to explain how their business will benefit by having one of my displays in their store. 

Do you have any suggestions on where I might find some good information on selling sports products on-line? 

Thanks,

Craig

CraigL

posts: 9051

Jul 17, 2007 3:51 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Craig....don`t confuse yourself by asking about "how do I sell sports products online."

The better question is selling products online.

This site is full of suggestions about how to sell anything online. The problem is that if you make an artificial distinction between selling anything, versus selling sports products, you`re going to accidentally create worries and concerns that don`t exist.

A product is a product is a product. :-)

I took a look at your web site "http://www.nolanknowssports.com/" and I think you need to do two things:
  1. Make it very clear---more so than now---that you`re a wholesale company.
  2. Have a consultation with a professional copywriter to see if you can snazz up the written content.
I`m suspicious of any site that tells me I can make money for nothing (no investment), so I`d encourage you to contemplate your overall sales strategy.

On the design level, your content seems "compressed." I`d talk with your Web designer about putting in a bit of additional line spacing, to give some additional whitespace to the pages. Then take a look at other posts here about how to drive traffic to a site, how to sell or market better, and so forth. :-)
CraigL2007-7-17 15:56:0
Yuan

posts: 7

Aug 28, 2007 4:16 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Arizona!

Hi everyone, I`m new - I love the show!


-------------------------

Yuan
TradeUrban.com
Free Advertising
Free Online Classifieds
Christina

posts: 906

Aug 28, 2007 11:31 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Hi Craig, and welcome to the forum :-) You are sure to find some help with selling items online in the Sales or perhaps the Building a website that works section. Glad to have you


-------------------------

Page of 1
Post Reply
 
.
Advertisement

Keep the Community Clean!

  • StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
  • Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
  • Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
  • StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.
Read full terms of use
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement