First Steps… In Online Retail – Competitor Analysis
Firstly, this post is not a free pass for sneaky tactics! But nor should you miss this step out from your planning because it feels a bit, well, grubby… If you’re going into buisness then you need to understand your competition. You need to know what their strengths are and you need to be laser [...]
First Steps… In Online Retail – Research Your Idea
In my last post I decide to use the example of starting up an online business connected with children’s parties to illustrate the “First Steps… In Online Retail” series. This post looks in more detail at imho one of the most important business building blocks – market research. My definition of market research probably won’t [...]
First Steps… In Online Retail – Starting Out
In the first of an occasional series, I’ll be sharing some of things I’ve learnt since becoming an online entrepreneur and answering the big question I see asked on forums and online noticeboards… “I want to start an online business “selling stuff” – but I don’t know where to start!” Firstly, you need to decide [...]
From Business Idea To Launch – Part 4 – Testing
Launching this new bizz has been a different kettle of fish to my other businesses. For a start, I’ve had to get to grips with a whole new type of website software to help me deliver the customer experience I wanted. One of the biggest changes though has been on the testing side. When you [...]
Do You Send Free Samples?
I’ve just come off the ‘phone from having a conversation with someone about the organic baby clothes I manufacture. The caller was actually on behalf of members of his family who want to start an online business retailing ethical children’s clothes. I’m assuming that he must be quite new to the business as he first [...]
Office Candy: Cork Board Pins From funkychickendesign
Loving these cool marble push pins from Etsy seller funkychickendesign. Just the thing to brighten up the old cork pin board and inject a bit of retro style onto your message board. Set of 9 marble push pins. Approximately 3/4″ round with a tack attached. Price: $5.00, ships to the Uk from the US for [...]
From Business Idea to Launch – Part 1
Have you got an idea for an online business but don’t know where to start? Then, join me as I write about my new bizz “journey” from start up idea to launch… In an earlier post I talked about getting your big idea. My idea came to me as a result of another business I [...]
Rise of the "Mousewife"
I was reading the Daily Mail a few weeks ago – (I make no excuses, it’s the best daily for “news values” – there are still some PR habits I can’t shake off!) and I came across an article on a new phenomenon “the mousewife.”Apparently “Britain’s mothers are turning into a nation of ‘mousewives’ – [...]
Getting the Big Idea
When I tell people I have my own business, I’m often asked how I thought of doing it, as the asker usually says “I’d love to do it, but I have no idea what I’d do.” I think that there are lots of people who would be great at doing their own thing, because they [...]
Business Research Tips
Don’t even think about launching a new business until you’ve explored your idea first. Here are some tips to help you research your business: Business Link -The local groups seem to have a mixed response from entrepreneurs but its worth getting in touch. Some have market research documents such as BOPS (Business Opportunities Profiles) available [...]
