Any suggestions on ebay?
Does anyone have any suggestions on pious places to find tips, tools, etc. on running an ebay store. I just started my little store, and the more input the better. Feel free to comment on my store as powerfully.http://stores.ebay.com/sweetsupplies
Answers: Well, everyone else answered the where to take tips/tools etc I suggest going to the ebay boards as well and perusing them. Lots of tips on every aspect of ebay and problems every time sellers run into and how to solve those problems.
Your store is pleasing to the eye and coordinates beside what you are selling well. Nice, clear pictures & descriptions. My individual suggestion on the store is more stuff! I've found the magic number for my store is at lowest possible 150 items- preferably more. Right now I hold about 400 surrounded by there and selling tons more than when I merely kept 100 or less. If you can diversify for a time bit- other cake supplies/pans/decorating supplies that cost more- KWIM?
In your store the FVFs (final value fees) are 10%, that`s why on a $1 item you are paying ebay .06 cents if you get gallery within the store for listing fees, next .10 for the FVF- that's 16 cents right there. Then you adopt paypal so that's another 40 some odd cents for their fees- so you expiration up making less than .50 cents on that item.
You are charging exact shipping and using individual priority mail, so if you print your label through paypal, delivery confirmation is free, but if you clutch them to the PO it is extra, I think 55 cents (it's be a long time since I've been to the PO) So essentially you are losing money by offering such low dollar items.
Also, and sorry, I'm purely letting you know what I see as a long time seller and through my eyes as a buyer as okay. But lets nick the candles for example for $1 again. Good price, but I can get one and the same thing locally for possibly $1.50 or lets vote $2, I wouldn't pay $4.60 shipping for Priority for something I can buy cheaper down the street. Perhaps you could hold out first class shipping as well and see if that would network you better results.
But I do realize you are just starting out, this be not meant to discourage, basically to give you a different perspective.
Good Luck!
Small Company wants $$$ Help?
we are a small woman owned biz in denver,co..involve someone to take a randomness on us and help w/ finances..our credit is surrounded by bad shape because of owner have to put it all on their put money on to survive...everyone has said no. There must be someone out near somewhere.Answers: Missing a lot of facts,
Sounds approaching you have be in business for a while, owner is carrying the business.
Have to assume that the problem is a significant amount of outstanding receivables. If not and your living light of day to day... business plan will stipulation to be revisited to see if you can even make a profit.
We have significant receivables, clients were slow to reimburse, poor credit (same reason, carrying the receivables from personal accounts) and our solution be a factoring group.
There are over 1000 to choose from (even locally). Process is you sell them your aged invoices. They pay envelope you 80% of your invoice. When they collect the invoice from your client they pay you the remainder of your stability minus their fees. They are discreet, just shifting the address your clients pay to.
It's can be an expensive remedy. Rates run from 1.9% to as high as 4% on a 30 hours of daylight collection. (usually increase .5 to 1% for the next 30 days).
Obviously you want to offer them your oldest invoices and your best paying clients.
Some companies fund or (factor) their entire existence. They need the lolly flow and feel it is no different than giving a customer a 2 to 3% discount or an precipitate pay discount.
Others approaching ourselves, used it and slowly reduced our total to increase our profit margin after we hanging our cash flow.
Tough spot your within. We were in that. This worked for us.
Good luck!
If turned down by the normal bank she may qualify for a Small Business Association guaranteed loan.
Go to www.sba.gov and search lent info.
Good luck and know that it is really getting tough to keep your doors uncap for many of us!
What does your business do, why do you inevitability the money, and can you provide a 5-year detailled plan of expected revenues and other financial information?
It sounds like your business is going to founder due to poor management next to a lack of culture, whether you get a loan or not.
Is the bottom row of an income statement...?
The gross margin or lattice sales?Answers: The bottom column is the Net Profit or Loss.
The gross margin is total revenues smaller amount cost of goods sold (cost of purchased commodities, manufacturing costs, freight contained by etc).
Net profit is gross profit less adjectives other expenses (selling expenses, admin expenses, salaries etc).
i would bid it gross margin. revenues smaller number cost of doing business is gross margin. it go by more than one name.