Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello Everyone,

Just joined the community. So excited to be here!

Have a small indian (see Asian) jewelry business I started after a visit to the homeland 2 years ago.   After much thought, a lot of research and a few mistakes I bought and sold my first assignment.  I haven`t looked back since.

Love doing it - the shows, selling, hearing positive comments on my display and products (and constructive criticism too)and mostly meeting people in the process. The jewelry is made in India and I have a fabulous vendor who I am working with that I found there. The designs are often one of a kind and unique.

Am wanting to take it further - start an  ecommerce website, so doing lots and lots of research at the mo.  Soooo much info. out there - its hard to absorb it all - logo, design, payment types, web hosting, which co., shipping choices, writing the blurb, taking pictures, uploading, designing. 

Does anyone have any advice? Pitfalls? Anything????

Open to suggestions...

Bananabean14

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Namaste
Neelam Joshi

EnJDesign.com
Hand crafted Silver Jewelry from India
Elegant Fun   Unique

Bananabean14,

There are so many suggestions to offer that its hard to find a place to start.

I would like to say, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

Payment processors are a big key in e-commerce.  I would personally stay away from PayPal as I have heard and experienced many horror stories through them.  That being said, Google Checkout is another free payment processor.

Now, you should look into open source apps for your website that way you don’t have any expensive up front costs on setting up a store.  Try Zen Cart or OS Commerce. These are free and you can use Google Checkout through them.  So that is two things for free that is needed for a site.

Next thing would be to register a domain name and find a great hosting company. 

I personally work for an ISP and Web Hosting company yet I use Godaddy.com for my hosting and domain registrations.  They are very affordable, customer service is great and you can’t beat having the hosting and domain registrar all in one sitting.  This should run you around $9.00 USD annually for a domain and the cheapest hosting plan with Godaddy I believe is like $6.00 USD monthly.  They also backup your site; this is a great added bonus.

There is a lot more...This is all my fingers could stand to type for right now. 

Hope this gets you off to a good start.

 

Gerald

 

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Come check me out at www.bytenram.com. Your one stop shop for all your technology needs!

www.flipitbig.com - Your resource to efficient Real Estate Investing

Thanks so much.   Appreciate your comments.

Will be looking into your ref`s.  Thanks for the tip on Paypal.  I had heard rumors...

I thought you had to go w/just one co. for everything.  Hosting, web design, logo, domain registrations, etc.....as Yahoo business site offers.  What about logo design?  And stock pics. for my site (not jewelry, but background)?  Where does one go looking for logos? 

For pictures of my jewelry...what`s the best way to do that?  I have taken scans of pendants and necklaces,  which come out great, but earrings are a bit trickier since they have the posts and the image blurrs a little. 

Banabean14

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

Namaste
Neelam Joshi

EnJDesign.com
Hand crafted Silver Jewelry from India
Elegant Fun   Unique

Bananabean,

I hate to steer you down the wrong path by offering you tips on taking photographs. 

On the side note, you do not have to use one company for all.  This can be a collaborative effort. 

I don’t suggest Yahoo Services as their prices are rather steep.

As for stock photos, I get mine here http://www.sxc.hu.

 

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Come check me out at www.bytenram.com. Your one stop shop for all your technology needs!

www.flipitbig.com - Your resource to efficient Real Estate Investing

Thanks again, Gerald,

Yahoo is steep, but their business ecommerce services offer everything in one parcel.  Trying to find a co.to execute my name/logo....now that`s expensive  (which I`ve designed).  Additionally once all the ground work is done and the site established - its getting people to the site.  Isn`t that the most difficult part? 

Anyway, thanks for your input. 

Its a bit like going back to elem. school!  Its a whole new learning process - for me anyway.  Perhaps others are more conversant in computerspeake.

But...I`m learning something new...and on my own...so no complaints there!

 

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Namaste
Neelam Joshi

EnJDesign.com
Hand crafted Silver Jewelry from India
Elegant Fun   Unique

Hi Bananabean,

May I make a suggestion when you are taking the pics of the earrings.  Try the "macro" setting on your digital camera. Make sure you have a tripod to keep the camera steady and also have a good lighting.  This should alleviate the blurriness.

Pro-photographers will probably contest this because I`m not a pro just an avid amateur.  Anyway, this is if you want to save a few bucks if you don`t want to hire a product photographer.  I know what it`s like to be on the budget when you are just starting out.

Good luck on the photos....let me know if the trick worked for you.

Lizette


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http://www.face2facevideocard.com
"videos can say it like it is"
09-21-2007

www.senatinproperties.com
real estate investments

Hello Lizette

Appreciate your comments.  I have a tripod - I`ll try that.

How would you save the pics? Is there a certain size that they should be saved with so that they are easily uploadable? I`ve been using JPEG to date.

Neelam

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

Namaste
Neelam Joshi

EnJDesign.com
Hand crafted Silver Jewelry from India
Elegant Fun   Unique

Jpeg or Tiff should be fine. Use at least 3 MP settings.

Good Luck!

Lizette


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

http://www.face2facevideocard.com
"videos can say it like it is"
09-21-2007

www.senatinproperties.com
real estate investments

Ta! very much

Neelam

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

Namaste
Neelam Joshi

EnJDesign.com
Hand crafted Silver Jewelry from India
Elegant Fun   Unique

Hi, I would like to share with you some tools and resources that will help you kick off your marketing through the web. It includes free clipart and web templates and lots of other web ebooks and softwares as well. Check out the resources at business-marketing-tips.com

Andrew