AboutSteve Valiquette Expertise Service providers and customers alike can benefit from my experience in establishing Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Call Center Support Procedures, Issues Management, Special Event Procedures, Disaster/Recovery Planning, Catastrophic Event Management, and day-to-day Server Farm issues. I also have significant experience in project management, project lifecycle planning and product development. I can contribute to many "how-tos" like: how to build a website, how to develop project management procedures, How to get the most from your hosting provider and much more.
Experience
Past/Present clients Transitions Optical, IBM, Intel, Computer Sciences Corp, Imperial Chemical Industries, Victoria Secrets, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bank of America, SEARS, State Street Bank, Peterson's CollegeQuest, Mobil Oil Corporation, Sprint PCS, MCI/Worldcom, UPS.
I wonder if you have any advice for selling a 'drop-ship' item on the Internet. I know the Internet 'pretty well' and am looking for an item I can sell on my own web site. I'd like to connect with a good supplier/manufacturer and sell his product so he can then take care of shipping, customer service etc. I can then concentrate on selling the product. Do you have any ideas how I can go about determining what a good product might be? Instead of throwing a dart or just picking something, I thought there might be a more 'scientific' way to approach finding a product with a good demand and a decent markup. Most popular search terms people type in, bulletin boards of successful sellers, discussions on eBay or ?
Thank you - any and all advice _greatly_ appreciated.
David Hunter
dhunter@sky44.com
Answer David,
To be honest, your question is so subjective and broad that it would difficult for me to answer. Also, my expertise is not really in finding new startups.
BUT...I'll tell you something that WILL suprise you...where you should start - from your gut! What do you love to do? What products do you and/or your friends like? Start there. If you are really interested in something in particular, you'll know what to expect and be somewhat of an expert on it.
Then, with a narrow focus, you can begin to look for suppliers that fit your business model.
If it were me, I'd find something of interest, say for example "antique guns" (I'm not interested in these, though). I would then find a dealer whose very respectable. I would call them up and talk to them about my plan and ask for their suggestions. They may work with you, they may point you in the right direction. Either way, its an excellent starting point.
What scares me the most and I would definitely steer away from this are the websites and ads that promote "opportunites". No good can come of that. You'll be so much better of creating your own opportunity. And along the way, you may find an excellent supplier how was not yet setup to do this, but was thinking about it.
And from your perspective, you're now into something that the mainstream isn't clamoring to do as well.
Well, this is my opinion, at least. But I would put gut instincts up against $$$$ of research any day.
