Bead Banter HOME	SEARCH POSTS	WHO'S ONLINE	LOG IN
More Talk, Less Hawk TM

Home: Business Issues and Advice: General Questions: Site Development, selling

pugdog Administrator Dec 19, 2004, 6:22 AM Post #1 of 11 (3072 views) Shortcut Private Reply Site Development, selling Can't Post Would you be interested in a regular (weekly, or more often) column on site development for bead sellers, designers, etc? Information on how to set up a website, what to avoid, what is good and bad, what works and what doesn't, how to stand out from the pack, etc? Most newbies, try to use some free host, and free image hosting service. But, for the cost of a domain registration, and a few dollars a month, you can have your own web space, and be advertising free, and present a more classy, professional, image. Would you be interested in HOW to do it, without going through multiple 3rd parties? PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop Pittsburgh, PA 15217

cindiesue Novice Feb 16, 2005, 10:25 AM Post #2 of 11 (2761 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [pugdog] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post I'm interested in learning more. i set up an initial site, it's limited, but need a shopping cart etc. Cynthia

pugdog Administrator Feb 16, 2005, 3:12 PM Post #3 of 11 (2760 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [cindiesue] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post Shopping carts are one of the toughest things to implement, and deciding on one is probably even harder. If you sell a few one-of-a-kind items, the simpler carts are pretty good. You can subscribe to one, and use PayPal or a shared merchant account. There are fees attached to both, and the fine print is really, really important to read! 2checkout is another company, that seems to be gaining ground for selling internationally especially. What would you like to see in the first few articles, and I'll see what I can come up with to jump start this series. PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop Pittsburgh, PA 15217

cindiesue Novice Feb 16, 2005, 3:17 PM Post #4 of 11 (2757 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [pugdog] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post thanks for your reply. I haved several issues, but right now, a shopping cart, next is a sleek way to display my loose beads for beading, and the best way to price my pieces, vs selling loose beads. I'm new at this industry, and have learned quite a bit from the internet, and I found your site, and wow. I find I am not the only person who is seeking some tips to point us in the right direction. Thanks so much Cynthia

pugdog Administrator Feb 16, 2005, 3:37 PM Post #5 of 11 (2756 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [cindiesue] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post No, you are definitely not alone! We have been running a bead shop now for just under 3 years, and it's a continual learning process. We've rearranged the store a dozen times, we agonize over selling the strands or selling loose beads (we do both, but some strands really beg to be cut up). If you come up with a "sleek way" to display a whole lot of beads, we'd love to see it! We've tried all sorts of things, from expensive to make shift. None work for long, as it's always in evolution. Sometimes we have a lot of some beads, other times we have a lot of beads but not a lot of any one. A great system works, but then the beads are sold out, no longer available, and other beads have to take their places, but there is no way to fill up the empty spaces without moving things around! But, if you use modular cups, and things can be moved around, they do get moved around, and then they get lost, mixed up, or worse. The densist packing for a selection of small amounts of each bead, is one of the spinning racks that sit on the counter. They can have from 4 to 10 rows of from 4 to 12 bins in each row on each side. Each small bin holds about a strand+ of 8-10mm beads easily. The larger ones can hold larger beads, or more strands. The availability changes, and they are not cheap. Expensive is more like it! But the clear acrylic does hold up to the beads fairly well, and you can see through it. Transporting it would require some sort of clever covering, though that new press-tight covering might work. *IF* the beads don't stick to it like they do to tape. Do you want to work "on location" or are you trying to set up a crafts area in your home? PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop Pittsburgh, PA 15217

cindiesue Novice Feb 16, 2005, 3:49 PM Post #6 of 11 (2753 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [pugdog] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post I have an inovative idea that has been approved to be set up and old at a duty free shop in Saipan. the Japanese tourist is our market. We will hvew a Beading Gallery, at least that is what I am calling it. We have been allocated a small space, but we have alot of different beads. 16 different colors in 14mm beads 14 of the same colors of 10mm beads. then we have 14 colors of 11mm Lampwork beads and 7 colors of 13mm Murano Gold beads then 15 selections of 8mm Sterling silver beads, like round, spacers, stardust, etc. 25 colors of the those 8mm glass spacers I found some acrilyc tubing, 1", 1 1/2", 2" and 2 1/2" in diameter, all 1 inch tall. I think that may work if it is placed on a board that has been covered in black velvet. Even the 14mm beads could fit in the 2 1/2" cup that is 1 inch tall and 20 could fit. they could be restocked each day. Well? And I appreciarte your honesty in your evolution. Cyn

pugdog Administrator Feb 16, 2005, 7:47 PM Post #7 of 11 (2748 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [cindiesue] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post That's almost 100 different kinds. You'd want to be able to move some around, and how you would depends on what your customers (or you?) have to do to access the beads. The spacers would be needed by all the different bead sizes. If the larger beads are what attracts people over, you'd want to make sure they were most visible. You might even want to consider something sort of reversed, where the tallest containers are in the front, with the larger beads, and the smaller beads are towards the back. You could then put samples in front of the row, or literature. Without more details of how your operation would work -- do customers select their beads and you assemble it right there? Or are you just working and making things, so only you need to get to the beads? PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop Pittsburgh, PA 15217

cindiesue Novice Feb 16, 2005, 7:54 PM Post #8 of 11 (2745 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [pugdog] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post The way it works: this jewelry is interchangeable. the beads have large holes so they can be strung right then and there. They will have their trays and select thier beads and go to another station to play with their arrangement. No need for plyers and wire. Instant gratification. But they do their own creating. These buyers are tourist, not jewelry designers. But I like the idea of putting the larger beads up front. I could put the smaller containers with the silver spacers on a row in the back, but put lthem up on a little lshelf. that's it.... Okay. Now a big issue is photography. I don't know if digital is the way to go or if I still should do tghe 35mm. I think there is a section on photography, right. Also, this ecommerce thing is really a complicated mess. Pay pal, creidt cards, web hosting that overloads easily. I also need to know how to be on rings, and web browsers. and all that jazz. Thanks again, Nite nite until tomorrow. I will get up and read any thing you may wish to add. Is ther anything I cfan do for you? Cynthia

pugdog Administrator Feb 17, 2005, 6:51 AM Post #9 of 11 (2741 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [cindiesue] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post It sounds like the layout/display idea will work. Once you get a GOOD digital camera (must have close up feature), you won't go back to regular film. Really. I have almost $20,000 in photography equipment and darkroom stuff I have not touched in years. What you lose in detail, you more than make up for in other ways. And cost is MUCH lower --- !! You can take 100 pictures to get ONE you need, and it all costs the same. Web hosting is something you need to consider. If you are not going to get a lot of hits, or do a lot of promotion, then your server won't over load (unless it's being shared by too many people). If your website is going to be detailed, and you want more control, dedicated hosting has come down in price. There are also shared dedicated hosting, that give you guarantees. Our servers are hosted at http://gossamerhost.com and they've been the best we've had, ever. Webrings are sort of old-school. Links pages, niche directories, etc are better. People don't spend the time to go through webrings, when it's easier to "search" for things. PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop Pittsburgh, PA 15217

cindiesue Novice Feb 17, 2005, 7:38 AM Post #10 of 11 (2737 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [pugdog] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post I spent hours last night reading about websites. I am hosting with a company www.1and1.com. I found them in PCWorld. It came with WEbcreator and I did my own website but now the time is here for my shopping cart. I don't know if I need to stay with them and upgrade or go to yahoo, or someone who is established. If you get a service that allows you to go thrugh Pay Pal, does that mean you don't need to get your own merchant number? Is your service allowing you to get a report for ranking? Does your service calculate thier shipping? And what is your monthly fee if you don't mind me asking. My group has three levels, $9.95 for 30 items, $29.95 for 200 items with more features and $49.95 with alot more. I'm just about ready for get this decided. Thanks for the tips on digital. I go outside and take some decent pictures, but need to know if there is a more controlled system I could set up. Best Cynthia

BeadShark Novice May 4, 2005, 11:23 PM Post #11 of 11 (2606 views) Shortcut Private Reply Re: [pugdog] Site Development, selling [In reply to] Can't Post Quote: If you come up with a "sleek way" to display a whole lot of beads, we'd love to see it! LOL, we have A LOT of seed beads, and were very angry that we could not find a way to display them (all ours are loose) that we could see the proper color of them. We tried to find very-clear ziploc-type containers, but everything you can find is kind of a milky-white color. We had tried everything!!! The only grocery store we have here is Safeway, and we usually get something from the deli while we are there. They give us our food in these CLEAR CONTAINERS WITH LIDS!!!! We asked, and they actually gave us a bunch of them in 3 different sizes, w/lids for free!!! We used them all up, and got more the next time we went to town. We gave them $10 this time, for we felt they had to buy their supplies from somewhere too. These containers have worked-out great!!! You can actually see all the "true" colors of the beads, they are stackable if need be, or you can set them out on a table and be able to view them from the top. We have them on what I call "the bead wall". It is a shelved wall that they are all on according to color. I can see any color I need, and grab it without having to move any other container! What we usually do (for we buy in bulk, and sometimes the dye lots are different) is when I cut them to put them in the container, I also cut off the sticker on the package that has the dye lot number and the sku number so when I get low, I can just call in those numbers. If the dye lots are different, and the beads are obviously a different shade than what I have, I will start them in a new container, and use the old ones until they are gone. NEVER MIX DYE LOTS!!!! *Red and pinks are my worst colors for that. As for the site developing thing, we use Yahoo as our host, and they have been great. I think right now that if you sign-up with them, you get a free domain name. We just re-did the website for http://www.beadsbeadingbeaded.com and she already had a domain name, so we just transfered it over from register.com to yahoo. it was very easy. We do not use Yahoo site builder, but from what I've heard, a lot of people say it is very user-friendly. Happy Beading! BeadShark Visit our website at http://www.uniquebeadedjewelry.com/

Announcements     Announcements     Feedback To Our Shop     In the News     Highlighted Products, Gemstone Pictures     Member of The Month     BeadCon - Pittsburgh     Bug Reports     Policies     Abuse By Pittsburgh Police Bead Causes - BeadCauses.org     General Bead Cause Discussions     Beads of Courage General Discussions     General Discussion     Classes & Instruction     Humor     Beadwork Archives     Beading Issues - Surveys, Questions and Calls for     Show & Tell & Critique     Working with Kids     Bead Exchange & Bead Swap     Off The Beadin' Path Business Issues and Advice     General Questions     Advertising and Promotions     Problem Solving     Reflections after a year in retail Help Me!     Searching For...     How do I....?     Trying something new....     Using Beading Programs 3d Beading     Beaded Beads     Embellishments     Ornaments, Stars, Hearts Etc.     Figures (People and Animals)     Beadie Critters Chainmail     Starting Out     Advanced Ring Weaving and Cloth Making     Linked Ring Jewelry Flames & Fumes     Flames & Fumes - The Message Board Forum Maintennence     Meet Ups & Get Togethers         Bead Exchange (Trade & Swap)         Bead Meet Ups         Bead Brunches         Saturday Night Insanity     Pittsburgh Area Bead Shops         General Comments         PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop         Crystal Bead Bazaar         The Bead Mine         Pittsburgh Knit & Bead         History Bead Trading Company     Monthly Bead Clubs         Weekend Workshops         Monthly Bead Bag         Seed Bead Club     Black Friday Bling!!         Bling Board -- (Announcements)         Discussions and All the Other Stuff     Clubs & Classes         Pennsylvania Club Boards             Pittsburgh Polymer Clay                 Pittsburgh Polymer Clay

Search this forum this category all forums for All words Any words Whole Phrase (options)

Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.4