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Jan 19, 2009 12:30 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hi Everyone.
 
My Name is Scott Foster of Miami Florida.
 
I run a home based website design business that is doing "ok" but would like expand my service providing range beyond South Florida.
 
I have recently networked with other home based small business owners or "Homepreneurs" on this and other sites with pretty good results.
 
The system I developed is simple. Offer my website design services and other related services in your area and or to your clients in exchange for a precentage of the project total. I also have a system of finding website design projects in "your" area by using craiglist.com. When I reply to a post for a website designer with your premission, I include your information as a "point person" or rep. That way local businesses have someone local to contact if needed. In most cases businesses feel more comfortable if they feel they can contact someone local if needed at which point I provide the support via telephone or email. Basically you would act as a remote rep for my services. Most of the projects I land are between $800 to $1500 @ between 10% to 25% referal paid to you depending on the project and how much you need to interact with the client. I try to keep your involvement to a minimum so your basically just acting as a front person but getting a great referal fee. I am also open to any suggestions.
 
I am hoping to get some feedback from the StartUpNation community and look forward to hearing your thoughts, suggestions, concerns etc.  Have a great business year in 2009!
 

My Portfolio:

 
 
Scott Foster - 305.761.6546
 
textmarketingexpert1/19/2009 4:30 PM
CraigL

posts: 9051

Jan 19, 2009 5:22 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hi Scott :-) Welcome to the community. You`ve got some nice sites there.

One idea that I think is about to happen is online malls. We already see template-based online stores, where someone without a lot of knowledge can put up a basic store and all the e-commerce is taken care of. That`s places like eBay or Amazon, Buy-it Sell-it, Etsy, and so forth.

But what we haven`t yet seen is an organized "mall" using similar concepts, but designed for businesses in general. With the emerging "buy local" vision, along with the increasing troubles of imports-exports, I think there`s a massive number of businesses looking for something along these lines.

Here`s a thought I`ve been contemplating recently: Local online newspapers.

What I`m thinking you could do would be to set up a domain that would eventually become your "mall." Let`s say it`s for Miami. If you capture a domain that encompasses the concept, then you could use sub-domains for the local areas.

You set up a newspaper, focusing in on local news with an emphasis on listing whatever businesses you can find through the regular advertising. While doing that, you begin to invent the overall "mall" application.

This would mean a choice of "stores" in terms of storefront, template, setup, look-and-feel, and inventory. It would mean a global checkout counter that could be tied to each individual member store.

When you`re ready, you could then use the newspaper to promote the overall idea. Connect with small businesses and offer them the opportunity to "join" this mall. Use the newspaper to show them how advertising would work, including coupons, stories, and so forth.

What I see missing is the overall concept of turnkey stores that provide more than basic retail. Visitors would have a common entry into the group of stores. They could navigate across many types of stores, seeing common elements. If they buy something, the checkout system would capture items across many different stores.

Each store would be easy to track in the global checkout system, and they`d get their price minus a percentage or fee, just like a regular mall. You would be the management service, handling maintenance and development.

I think anyone who can walk into a small business, leave a card, and offer a sort of "instant mall presence" will be at the leading edge of what`s coming. That`s only my supposition, but the logic certainly works.

It all hangs on a skilled Web developer.
CraigL2009-1-19 17:24:9
scottdkcp

posts: 19

Jan 28, 2009 5:25 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Scott, I live and work in Satellite Beach, Florida which is up the coast from you, actually near Cocoa Beach.  I am running a very small consulting/consignment business at this time, and if you want me to refer people who need web design to your company, I could definitely do that.
 
One thing I could do immediately is add you to my links page, because as Craig said, it looks like you do some quality work there.  If I didn`t have fun tinkering around with the simple programming stuff and had a much larger budget, I`d definitely use your services myself. 
 
Let me know if you`d want to proceed on this, especially because we are in the same state even.  I am hoping to get many local and even some nationwide clients for my own business, so it would be great to be able to offer the services of a good web design company on your behalf.  A very loose referral arrangement would hit the spot!   :)


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

Chosen Point Consulting, Business, & Personal Services
Chosen Point Blog Aiming to provide Practical Solutions
Email me as I am looking for: networking & profitable joint-venture opportunities in Florida & beyond
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