AboutJim Novo Expertise Questions about using customer data to inmprove online profitability, particularly in retailing. Topics include profiling customers using weblogs, figuring out which ads generate the highest value customers, how to reduce the numnber of 1x buyers, how to generate higher sales from current customers, customer analysis, ROI calculation, reducing discounts while increasing resaponse rates. Do you collect customer data (purchases, page views, surveys) and not really use it for anything? Want to find out how? Just ask.
Experience
Past/Present clients Cellular One, MBNA, SteelTorch Software, Retek Direct, CBS Sportsline, Kobie Marketing, Aerial, Tupperware, Barnes and Noble, Comcast Corporation, Home Shopping Network
Question I am trying to start an on-line women retail clothing store and i would like to know what kind of business license or permit do i need before i build my web site.
Answer I would ask this question in the legal section of AllExperts (I'm not a lawyer) but in general, the issue of business license is a local one, meaning your city or county laws would determine if you need a license. Many cities now have this info, usually called the "Municipal Code", online so it's pretty easy to check, for example, here:
In general, a business needs a license, but it depends on where you live to a great extent and it's a local issue, not an "online" issue. There is no license required for "online".
Zoning is another matter, as many people start these businesses from home. Usually if there is no traffic generated - no cars or customers walking in - then you can run this kind of business from home without a zoning problem. However, if you are successful, neighbors may protest (for example) the UPS truck coming every day as a "traffic" issue, and this can create problems. So best to look into the zoning issue too if you plan to work from home.
