Comments on: Behind the Scenes of a New Business Launch http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/ Making a Living Online and Lovin' It Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:55:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Product Marketing And A Better Approach To Business Modelling | Global and Mobile http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-750 Product Marketing And A Better Approach To Business Modelling | Global and Mobile Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:12:56 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-750 [...] a good article over at {Self Made Chick} about building a business model around the concept of filling a need and providing value rather [...] […] a good article over at {Self Made Chick} about building a business model around the concept of filling a need and providing value rather […]

]]> By: cokelly http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-414 cokelly Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:21:25 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-414 Thank you Andrea! It's great to have you as a new reader! Thank you Andrea! It’s great to have you as a new reader!

]]> By: cokelly http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-413 cokelly Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:20:26 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-413 EXCELLENT questions Ankesh. I'm spending a lot of money on a top notch mailing list. The recipients will have a household income of $75,000 or more, be women with children (for the women's catalog), and will have made purchase online. The mailing list is scrubbed every single month against the post office's address change database and I will buy the mailing list about 1 week before the catalog goes to print. I want to provide those that feature their products in the catalog with the best odds possible of making a sale. I agree, the niche is critical. We are selective about the products that are featured to ensure that they are a good fit for the target audience. About processing orders: this is one of the most exciting aspects. We do not process the orders - we encourage shoppers to go straight to the merchant's ecommerce site where the merchant can then cross sell and upsell products. This way a small business e-tailer can feature 5 of their best selling items in the catalog to generate interest in the products, but still have the freedom bulk up their total order with product that are not listed in the catalog. Other catalog placement companies ask the merchant to sell x amount of their goods to the catalog company at a 50% discount and then the catalog company makes the real profit. Since our goal is to help small businesses drive traffic to their sites and boost their sales, this was not an acceptable option. We want the retailer to make as much money as possible. :D Thanks for your wonderful questions! Christine EXCELLENT questions Ankesh. I’m spending a lot of money on a top notch mailing list. The recipients will have a household income of $75,000 or more, be women with children (for the women’s catalog), and will have made purchase online. The mailing list is scrubbed every single month against the post office’s address change database and I will buy the mailing list about 1 week before the catalog goes to print. I want to provide those that feature their products in the catalog with the best odds possible of making a sale.

I agree, the niche is critical. We are selective about the products that are featured to ensure that they are a good fit for the target audience.

About processing orders: this is one of the most exciting aspects. We do not process the orders - we encourage shoppers to go straight to the merchant’s ecommerce site where the merchant can then cross sell and upsell products.

This way a small business e-tailer can feature 5 of their best selling items in the catalog to generate interest in the products, but still have the freedom bulk up their total order with product that are not listed in the catalog.

Other catalog placement companies ask the merchant to sell x amount of their goods to the catalog company at a 50% discount and then the catalog company makes the real profit. Since our goal is to help small businesses drive traffic to their sites and boost their sales, this was not an acceptable option. We want the retailer to make as much money as possible. :D

Thanks for your wonderful questions!

Christine

]]> By: Ankesh Kothari http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-412 Ankesh Kothari Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:47:02 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-412 Excellent idea. I know a couple of people who have done something similar on a smaller scale - put together those coupon booklets (instead of entire catalogs). Asking out of curiosity - how are you distributing the catalogs? Renting a mailing list? Do you collect and process orders too? Or do people buy directly from the merchants websites / phone numbers? (Is there an upsell opportunity?) A couple of ideas for you: 1. Give discounts to merchants if they make their client list available to you. 2. Pick a good niche and you can even sell your catalogs. (For eg: I'd read that someone in Frisco sold "Green" catalogs - which included nature friendly products only.) Your niches already look good enough though. Best of luck with this new venture. Excellent idea. I know a couple of people who have done something similar on a smaller scale - put together those coupon booklets (instead of entire catalogs).

Asking out of curiosity - how are you distributing the catalogs? Renting a mailing list?

Do you collect and process orders too? Or do people buy directly from the merchants websites / phone numbers? (Is there an upsell opportunity?)

A couple of ideas for you:

1. Give discounts to merchants if they make their client list available to you.

2. Pick a good niche and you can even sell your catalogs. (For eg: I’d read that someone in Frisco sold “Green” catalogs - which included nature friendly products only.) Your niches already look good enough though.

Best of luck with this new venture.

]]> By: Andrea http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-407 Andrea Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:24:07 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-407 This comment really has nothing to do with the article itself, as I haven't read it yet, but I just wanted to mention that I JUST stumbled upon your site and your web design is gorgeous! I will read your blog for that alone. This comment really has nothing to do with the article itself, as I haven’t read it yet, but I just wanted to mention that I JUST stumbled upon your site and your web design is gorgeous! I will read your blog for that alone.

]]> By: 2007-11-11 Sunday Links Folder : Freelance Folder http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-406 2007-11-11 Sunday Links Folder : Freelance Folder Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:46:35 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-406 [...] we go on with this weeks’ links, my friends Christine O’Kelly from SelfMadeChick just started a new business: Hybrid Media Marketing. Check it [...] […] we go on with this weeks’ links, my friends Christine O’Kelly from SelfMadeChick just started a new business: Hybrid Media Marketing. Check it […]

]]> By: cokelly http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-404 cokelly Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:26:11 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-404 Thanks Collin - I enjoyed your recent series on 'How Well Do You Know the Product, Yourself'" - Congrats to you on setting a goal to grow your blog and achieving it! Thanks Collin - I enjoyed your recent series on ‘How Well Do You Know the Product, Yourself’” - Congrats to you on setting a goal to grow your blog and achieving it!

]]> By: cokelly http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-403 cokelly Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:14:02 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-403 Thanks so much Erin! Glad you liked the behind the scenes look & execution plan. Your blog does an excellent job at this - I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Durtbagz unfold from concept to launch (well - ALMOST launch - as soon as that web development team gets moving!!) Thanks so much Erin! Glad you liked the behind the scenes look & execution plan. Your blog does an excellent job at this - I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Durtbagz unfold from concept to launch (well - ALMOST launch - as soon as that web development team gets moving!!)

]]> By: cokelly http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-402 cokelly Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:08:01 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-402 Tara, I agree - the most exciting part of this is being able to help small businesses solve a serious problem in growing their companies. It is GREAT to have you on board! Christine Tara, I agree - the most exciting part of this is being able to help small businesses solve a serious problem in growing their companies. It is GREAT to have you on board!

Christine

]]> By: Collin http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-396 Collin Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:51:05 +0000 http://selfmadechick.com/2007/11/08/behind-the-scenes-of-a-new-business-launch/#comment-396 Way to go and good luck, wish you well with this venture. Way to go and good luck, wish you well with this venture.

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