Thinking of getting out of e-commerce

sweetcrabhoney18

10 years ago

Maybe run them from the road with a fulfillment service doing the shipping

Thanks

Signature

keep moving forward

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8981679].message }}

RhysEvans

10 years ago

Shipwire - check them out. They have fulfillment centers across the United States and abroad so you can get your product to your customers quickly and efficiently.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8981913].message }}

FeelessLeader

10 years ago

Originally Posted by feedia

I have two passions......one is music and the other is internet/e-commerce/marketing.

I have a few e-commerce websites, some of which have done very well, and some that have a lot of potential with time and effort.

My Dilemma -
I play guitar in a rock band that has now become a National Touring Band with label interest, sponsorships, a New EP coming out, and a few tours a year that take me away for 1-2 months at a time.

I can't be leaving my web businesses for that long, and I am really in love them, especially one that I have had since 2007.....it's my baby.

How are they doing? Well, not bad for part-time, maybe 5 hours a week in work. Sales were better a few years ago when I still accepted paypal, but that went south with an ex-partner who also stole money from me. Now my sales are down 40%, but I still average $2500/month in sales (about $800 profit) between my 2 best websites.
I could still run them from the road, with my laptop, but I stock and ship 95% of my items......so there lies my problem.

Thoughts? Ideas? I would love some advice.

We're on the same page. I was a music business major in college and was professionally managing & booking tours for some decently well known bands around 2007-2009 then I started release albums between 2009 - 2011.

My big take away from music was how much I loved actually marketing bands and releases and it made a smooth transition into the internet marketing world.

I say keep them both. You are in the prime situation right now. You can play music at night, which as you know isn't the highest paying job as a band getting off the ground, and run your companies in the spare 23.5 hours you have per day.

Check out some fulfillment centers, or if you have a family member or trusting friend you could have take over shipping while you are on the road and when you are back from tour just take over the fulfillment.

Does the manufacturer for the existing products you sell offer dropshipping?

Thanks

Signature

Feeless Leader provides the simplest way to accept credit and debit cards for your business.

Merchant Account | High Risk | Turnkey Woocommerce + Authorize.net

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8982185].message }}

Daniel J

10 years ago

I share your passion for both music AND e-commerce! Music for me has simply been a hobby (little home recording studio where I play all my stuff) How great though that music has taken off for you! You definitely don't want to miss this kind of opportunity!

As others have suggested, look into a fulfillment service. This would literally solve your problem. I use FBA, but if you don't sell on Amazon, this won't make as much sense as a service like shipwire.

If you feel your products could do well on Amazon, however, I would consider looking into FBA. The nice thing about items that sell through Amazon is everything is automated. They handle the payment processing, order fulfillment, customer service and returns... you wouldn't have to worry about anything for those orders.

By the way... do you have a link to any of your music? I'm always looking for new stuff to listen to!

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8983741].message }}

feedia

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Daniel J

I share your passion for both music AND e-commerce! Music for me has simply been a hobby (little home recording studio where I play all my stuff) How great though that music has taken off for you! You definitely don't want to miss this kind of opportunity!

As others have suggested, look into a fulfillment service. This would literally solve your problem. I use FBA, but if you don't sell on Amazon, this won't make as much sense as a service like shipwire.

If you feel your products could do well on Amazon, however, I would consider looking into FBA. The nice thing about items that sell through Amazon is everything is automated. They handle the payment processing, order fulfillment, customer service and returns... you wouldn't have to worry about anything for those orders.

By the way... do you have a link to any of your music? I'm always looking for new stuff to listen to!

Thank You for suggestions. Our New EP is being mastered right now and willbe released in about a month. If you don't mind getting through the interview, here is a link where they played two of our songs that will be on the disc. https://soundcloud.com/saint-red-lig...or-94-7-feb-10

Here is also a video of us playing a LIVE acoustic song -

Red Light Saints "Anything, Anymore" Live from...

Thanks

Signature

Thank You,
Lane
http://feedia.us - Community for Sharing Articles - Contests - Deals - Games

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8983839].message }}

DWaters

10 years ago

I will second the suggestion of using Amazon's FBA if your products seems to make sense to you as something that can sell on Amazon. The FBA system has many advantages. Perhaps you do not use them exclusivley but only with a portion of your inventory and still use your ecommerce site - multiple streams of income!
If I understood correctly - you did well when you accepted PayPal on your site but you no longer do that? If that is the case it seems to be logical to use it again. I do no know your exact situation but it may be as easy as setting up another account with them using a different email address. This is OK with PayPal as I have a personal account and a business account with them.

Thanks

Signature

How I really Make Money With Amazon

Want to get rich with top rated FREE Super Affiliate Training?

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8984044].message }}

repricerexpress

10 years ago

FBA for sure, if you're selling on Amazon but if you're selling on your own websites would you not have a friend or younger sibling who would be willing to do the fulfilment for you a fee? That way you could probably continue managing the sites on the road. It's only for a short time hopefully, until you hit the big time!! Best of luck with the tour, EP and everything that will come along with it.

Thanks

Signature

Amazon repricing software that helps you win the Buy Box more often. eBay repricing also available.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8986502].message }}

Michael Nguyen

10 years ago

Sell they business and follow your passion! You have the skills to replicate which is the most important thing.

Thanks

Signature

FREE Cold Calling Course: >>> Looking for Serious & Aspiring Cold Callers to Train for FREE <<<

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8986661].message }}

altonroot

10 years ago

May be you can hire someone who can help you in maintaining stock and shipping. I must say, it is always difficult to choose between two goods. In your case, both are your passion and you love to do both of them. There are many people searching for alternative income source. You should not kill that alternative source for sure.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Compare Energy Prices | Compare Life Insurance

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8986680].message }}

MoRaitman

10 years ago

Originally Posted by altonroot

May be you can hire someone who can help you in maintaining stock and shipping. I must say, it is always difficult to choose between two goods. In your case, both are your passion and you love to do both of them. There are many people searching for alternative income source. You should not kill that alternative source for sure.

This was my initial reaction - similar to altonroot. Always good to have a second source of income. You've invested so much in both, would be a pity to get rid on one. Even if you break even while you are touring paying someone else to cover with shipments. May be time for a partner or secretary to assist. Of course fulfillment centers could ease the burden and you can stop using them should circumstances change.

Thanks

Signature

Overwhelmed with information overload on Internet Marketing??? I hear you!!!
Access this $39 report for FREE. Why? Cuz I'm in a good mood and you deserve it.
A MUST report for the seasoned or newbie. $1477 a week is DOABLE.
No experience needed. Just a will to succeed.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9380230].message }}

Solid Commerce

10 years ago

I'd recommend finding a business partner -- someone whom you trust -- to help you run your business while you're on the road.

Of course, you've had a bad experience in the past, which is going to mean that you'll really want to make sure you trust whomever you wind up working with.

I'm not sure when you plan to go on your tour -- but if you can find someone whom you think can help you run your business, I'd recommend keeping that flow of income. As a musician myself, and as someone who has known a TON of musicians throughout my life -- I wouldn't put all your eggs into that one basket, just due to the sometimes fickle nature of the industry. Tours can wind up being complete disasters. I'm sure you know this, and I know I've heard more than my fair share of horror stories.

I think that if you can set your eCommerce operation up with a good support system that will keep it running smoothly while you're on the road, you'll be INSANELY glad that you've kept that stream of income open. If anything goes wrong with your touring situation or with the band or with the record lable or anything else? You've still got that stream of income and probably some money in the bank if you were able to keep it up and running while you're on tour.