Ask Nick: Building a Brand

Ask Nick · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 9

From Today's "Ask Nick" column:

Hi Nick,
I am an eBay Powerseller with close to 1500 feedbacks. I feel that eBay takes a very big portion from my sales and therefore would like help transferring my sales "out of eBay". Do you perhaps have any suggestions on how to do this? I can be reached toll free at (XXX) XXX-XXX.
Can't wait to hear from you,
Suzi

Tradguy · Joined: 15 Sep 2002 Posts: 519 Location: Florida

Suzi -

What do you consider a "big portion" and why would you consider it to be proportionately higher than...lets say....store space in the most popular mall in your city?

Course the only difference is that Ebay is the most popular mall - in the world. Sellers can open a store...for a whopping $10/month. Then, instead of taking several thousand dollars a month in rent regardless of the mall's performance, they ask for a small token payment to sell an item - and then a small percentage if it sells. A mall who's revenue is directly tied to the revenues of it's stores - what a fair concept.

But you do need to consider the enormous start-up costs. Retailers spend $100,000 (and much more) setting up shop in a popular mall. Suzi, how much did you spend to start up your Ebay biz?

I do think that Ebay sellers should have their own websites - but it's a lot like putting a store up in an out of the way strip-mall. It's gonna be cheap - but very few people will find you. The website isn't a replacement for Ebay - it's a suppliment to Ebay.

If you have a lot of repeat buyers like I do, then one solution is to drive existing buyers to your store. Let them make their first purchase thru Ebay, but be sure to include lots of info about your website with each and every sale. I include a discount card with each sale for items on my website - non-ebay ONLY. Many buyers have found my website, see I sell all the same stuff as on Ebay (plus a few extras), and that I charge less for s/h on the website - plus they take advantage of my web sales.

Think of Ebay as your paid advertisement - still incredibly cheap compared to other advertising - and you make money along the way. If only 1 in 10 customers end up buying from your website instead of Ebay, you are significantly reducing your total overhead.

IMHO...
Rich

cobaltlady · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 147

Suzi you may want to read these boards and feel free to ask questions. There are some very helpful people there.
http://www.myezsale.com/forums/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=fad0c917f03a4131774ce9b178830c4b

cobaltlady · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 147

sorry double post