Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi all. I am new to the forums, but I am sure that this is not a new problem....I am stuck at the cross roads with my business. I work full time and run two full time business also. One is an Ebay store and another is a sister site to that store. The problem is time. Not enough actually. My ebay business deals with Anime figures and gaming collectibles. My new site also deals with this but with a wider range of items. I have in the last two weeks neggociated a deal with a business in china to import their Anime items and have become the sole distributor/retailer in the US outside of Ebay dealing with them. As a Sole owner and worker I need help with getting all this done.... any help and or suggestions?

Anime Kid

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Anime Kid

Sounds like you need an employee(s) or a partner.

Are there functions you could outsource?  What`s the breakdown of time to tasks in the two businesses?  Where do your core skills lie, and more importantly, what aspects of the business do you really enjoy doing?  You pose a broad question, which usually solicits a lot more questions, rather than clear answers.  Answering some of those should help point in the direction of a strategy.

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chuck fuller

Hi. Thanks for the responses. First off, as far as the Ebay Business goes, doing listings takes time, and while I really do not like doing them, they need to be done. And the other site, takes even more time due to the fact that everything needs to be hand done for the site. I don`t think I`m ready yet for a full time employee. I have had a friend helping for a bit, but that didn`t last, and I had a partner, who I still work with at my full time job who decided to just get out of the business, and so here I am. Anyway, truth to tell I might have to look for a loan or tighten up my biz plan to get some sort of financing to move things along a bit.


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Anime Kid

I think I`d have to echo Chuck`s thoughts...but one question I would like to add would be, why is not having time enough a factor?  Are there specific deadlines?  i.e., what has to get done and when?

Do you have a project management software program?   It might be helpful to lay out all of your responsibilities and prioritize them a bit?

And when you say "move things along a bit", where are you trying to take your business?

I want to take my business to a point where I can walk away from my full time job ( which I hate ) to working at home. I should probably explain this a little further...

The business that I have an exclusive deal with, sells what are called " Anime Garage Kits ", which are painted figures based on anime charecters. This is actually a " Niche " market, and my target customer is the high end anime figure collecter. Anime in general is still a young market in the US and should really expand over the next three years. The garage kits are something that I want to feature on the new web site store, while still listing  anime items in the Ebay store. If I were not working a full time job, than time would not be as big a factor. And  there is another thing I would like to do concerning the Anime Garage kits....I have noticed that the only magazines that deal with this subject come from either China or Japan....and what I would also like to do is get an american magazine published that deals with this subject....I actually feel that this type of magazine would do very well here in the US.
Well, that pretty much sums up everything in a nutshell I think, I know it`s alot to do but I feel that I am on a winning track right now and I just do not want to lose my momentum.


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Anime Kid

Hi:

As far as the magazine, start small with a newsletter or an online E-Zine which is so much better because there are no printing costs. With both, there are opportunities for advertisements and exposure. And the outsourcing thing is probably a good idea, that is if its affordable. Hope this helps.

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www.EllayWestConcepts.net Ellay West Concepts (Freelance Commercial Writer)

If you pushed significantly more volume through eBay, do you anticipate that could help you get to an income level that you could leave your full-time job?  If so, what are you using the manage your listings and store?

I ask because eBay listing management is a problem that is not wanting for a solution - having been to eBay Live, where half the presenters are software providers who want to be your fast track to efficient listing, I know there are things you can buy or functions you can outsource to become more efficient in this area.  And it sounds like you`re at a high end where it would make sense to try and push much more volume (if the inventory is available).


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chuck fuller

Hi again to all. I definetly think that pushing more volume thru the store would help, but truth to tell inventory is a problem. I generally list items that are pre-orders for figures hitting the market in the future. The ezine was something I was taking a look at, but I first have to get a hold of one of the Japaneese magazines and try to see what is happening there and run with it. I do not have any real specific deadlines, other than I want to leave my factory job in a year and a half. That is my target date and I want to stick to it. As far as the listing, I use a " template " that is for my store, so it is more of a matter of just taking certain elements out and adding others in. The real time consumer is the other webstore. I think that is the real problem and I will have to make a decision about it, it takes the most time due to having to hand do every aspect of it.

I want to thank everyone for their ideas and input. It is greatly appreciated.
Lew Newmark
Anime Kid


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Anime Kid