I started my own buisness

[LadyG]

Hai Guys!

I finally got my Thrift and Vintage store off the ground. It launched June 6th. I had a local event on the 5th- that despite the rain- did pretty well.

I am online only- and over the last 3 weeks, I have sold nothing.
Nada.
Zilch.

I was hoping some you might pop over and have a look- if you see a glaring issue- let me know.

It would be important to note: I am having a static IP database website made professionally. It will be up by the 15th of July.
I built the current website only to find out once I went live- that I couldn't sell anything without buying their prem-o package at 20+ bux a month.

So I decided rather than pay that for a rather limited platform- I would pay to have it done right. (like most things, huh?)

So please, take a minute to have a look-see, and tell me what you see.
Positive as well as negative would be appreciated!

www.montou.co

[Leung]

I know you're running a thrift shop but instead of having the items on clothes hangers in the pictures, can you get your hands on a mannequin?

[LadyG]

Not yet. I would need three (S, M, L) and they are NOT cheap. Its on the list.

[Leung]

you could use people you know as models in the mean time.

[LadyG]

Yeah, I thought about that. However, every time I have posted on fb for friends to model, no one has hit me up.
I thought about going through CL too- but in the end it make more financial sense to wait until I can buy mannequins.
I can't do this full time yet- so I really don't have the flexibility to work with random schedules, reschedules and no shows.

[AAPOQ]

It's a good looking site. But you don't have enough inventory.
Coming from a consumer stand point, How do you advertise your store?

[Leung]

Oh i see.

Looking on Ebay, they've got mannequins for less than $100.

http://popular.ebay.com/business-ind...mannequins.htm

http://www.ebay.com/itm/35-24-33-UP-...-/321104056920

That one was only $39 bucks

[LadyG]

Right now Word of mouth, FB and Instagram.

I know their are a few blank galleries still- but that is due to needing to measure/photograph every item- download to computer- upload to Flickr, edit, download back to machine- and then I can upload to the website.
It take a lot of time.
So, in short, Im slow.


edit*** If I'm not selling, I'm not making money to buy mannequins. The last of my investment (from others) money, as well as the sales from my event, went into the new website.

[LadyG]

Do the checkout buttons work? Paypal link? is there something stopping people from being able to purchase?

I have all this ish cookied- so I can't see it in the same way others can.

[Leung]

I bet if you made a FB page for your store then a lot of the members on here would click the "like" button for you.

Do the checkout buttons work? Paypal link? is there something stopping people from being able to purchase?

I didn't go past the shipping costs but they do seem rather steep for 5 tall glasses. Who will be handling the shipping? USPS, UPS, FexEx?

[Tishock]

How about hanging mannequins? You can find these fairly cheap on eBay under $20. I believe there are also inflatable mannequins that are also cheap but they tend not to be as good.

Search for Hanging mannequins and then filter through the following categories Business & Industrial / Retail & Services

The photo backgrounds should be smooth (pull the sheet taught) and you need more lighting. Shadows are no bueno. Simple lights from Home Depot would work like the image below. Theyre about $10+- depending on the size.

[AAPOQ]

Right now Word of mouth, FB and Instagram.

I know their are a few blank galleries still- but that is due to needing to measure/photograph every item- download to computer- upload to Flickr, edit, download back to machine- and then I can upload to the website.
It take a lot of time.
So, in short, Im slow.


edit*** If I'm not selling, I'm not making money to buy mannequins. The last of my investment (from others) money, as well as the sales from my event, went into the new website.

Well keep at it. Its hard and slow to start a business in this world/country. I'll spread/share your store on FB. Goood luck

[LadyG]

Hey, thanks for the Ebay links! They will be useful once I sell a few things.
I will mind the background fabric a little more, and I actually do have some good lighting.
This is a link to the Montou page on FB. I forgot to mention, I am also on Pintrest.

I am doing almost everything myself- as well as being a SAHM to my 3 sons- so I am sure details escape me sometimes!
The only help I have really gotten has been the photog that shot me (because they had to be "non-product images") for the website link pictures. I shot/made/designed/wrote everything else.

[phatdoughnut]

Site doesnt work for me at all, I can't even enter the store. There is also no product.

[Tishock]

Sent you an important PM.