AboutJohn Expertise Are you looking for help on finding a place like a wholesaler? Information on keeping your budget low? Advice or help? Questions on catalog, online store, wholesale? Ask me. I may be able to answer basic and simple questions on, catalog, online shopping and wholesale. I run a few web sites and a business in catalog shopping, online shopping, selling wholesale to other stores and selling on auction sites. Want help, ask someone that runs there own business.
Experience Own on business involved in online shopping, catalog, selling wholesale to other stores and selling on auction sites.
Education/Credentials High School.
Small business owner.
Expert: John Date: 11/1/2007 Subject: Starting an Online Retail Business,need help
Question Hello,
I am starting an online retail store for apparel and this is something completely new for me.
I have the website built already and I have started looking for some wholesalers. I found a website with suppliern information and I might try them.
The problem in my case is that my online store will actually be based in Europe. So I will operate from the US but my store is in Europe.
I have a whole bunch of questions:
1.How do I calculate the final price of the product?
2.which would be the best way to select inventory? I have some categories but I am not sure with what capital I should start since this is a new website?
3.Also what would be the best way to promote the website?
4.The shipping worries me a lot because I am not sure how to have all goods sent to me in the US and then to Europe.
In general other than the industry and the website, I am nowhere and I am really sure this will work, but I don't want to go through a lot of mistakes before it starts to work, so I need an advice.
Thank you very much in advance.
Answer Congrets on starting your business. I buy wholesale and sell wholesale also ( if you want to talk ).
What I do not understand is why would you have the business in Europe and run it from the USA and ship back and forth. You are raising your cost with all that shipping.
Finale price is what you think is a fair price, and what someone is willing to pay. Look around and see what it is selling for. You also have to count in your cost and all that shipping you are doing.
Inventory is up to you. Decide on what you want to carry and sell. What is a hot seller? I offer thousands of products.
Promote, again your choice. How much money to you want to spend? I say, set your keywords and meta tags and work on word of month. Banner ads. Mailing. ( not email, that will kill you ). Just get your name in the search engines and get word out.
Shipping, use UPS, fed ex or DHL. Since you are shipping overseas, talk to ine of those carriers about customs since you are shipping overseas.
Hope I answered your questions, if not write back.
Good luck,
John
