Hello everyone! I have trademarked my name & have a niche market that I ma selling to. I don't have funds right now for my product but took my photoshoot & opened a facebook page. Oh my gosh order requset are pouring in like crazy!!!How exciting but no product whta should I do??? I don't even have a co website I was told that would cost a few hundered for e commerce...help please?!
What types of products do you need manufactured? What sort of order quantity are you getting? One option would be to take pre-orders - that is, payment now for a promised product delivery date a couple of weeks in the future - to allow you to have the funds available to get the product made and shipped. It's ok to not have the product immediately - you just need to tell the "public" that they are currently being manufactured and that you are taking pre-orders now for a delivery date of ________. There's nothing wrong with that, and it'll give you some cash flow to get the business rolling.
Really I can do that? Do make a couple & just post them on an Ebay store? Do you think it will look bare w/ only a couple items? Thanks for your help I really appreciate it!
Thanks so much I had no idea I could do that! I don't have $ for a website how do I do it from facebook should I just upload them as photos? I probablly need to make a few to show the product right? Your rad thanks!
Well the best way would be to have your own website obviously, but if people are already trying to order them just set up a paypal account so people can pay you and keep track of who wants what. Do what is closest to cash first, then worry about the other stuff. If people want to buy NOW, sell to them - do the website next. Just my humble opinion
If you have demand for your product already, most definitely start taking pre-orders. We did this for a couple of months while building the capital to get our website online. Be clear about the expected delivery date and make sure you're able to deliver on time.
Well the best way would be to have your own website obviously, but if people are already trying to order them just set up a paypal account so people can pay you and keep track of who wants what. Do what is closest to cash first, then worry about the other stuff. If people want to buy NOW, sell to them - do the website next. Just my humble opinion
I think that is great advice. We have found over the years that as long as customers know when they can expect to receive the product they are by and large fairly patient if you meet your time commitments. And if they need something tomorrow and you tell them you can't deliver and make no commitment. What have you lost.
If you sell something on Paypal and can't ship within a timely manner, your customers are going to get very upset and will file disputes with Paypal and you're going to be spending alot of time responding to refund requests. "Timely manner" is not going to be the same either from one customer to another. Ask yourself this question, "How long would I be willing to wait on something that I've paid for?" If you have too many claims through Paypal, they'll close your account.
Every situation is different, but if your product is that good, I would strongly suggest having product available for shipment before going in too deep. Customers aren't going to be happy if they pay for something and don't get it when "they think they should". Unhappy customers talk with potential customers.
My opinion also is that it opens the garage door for competitors to get in on the act. If you create the demand for something and can't supply, you've created a vaccum that someone else will step up and fill.
Trust me, I speak from experience with a situation like this. It takes all the fun out of having a successful idea when you have to spend time giving reasons as to why you're not delivering verses devoting that time to increasing sales.
By the way, you didn't give us your Facebook info so we could see your idea...
Sounds interesting. Can we see the link to your facebook page?
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Originally Posted by castlerock
Hello everyone! I have trademarked my name & have a niche market that I ma selling to. I don't have funds right now for my product but took my photoshoot & opened a facebook page. Oh my gosh order requset are pouring in like crazy!!!How exciting but no product whta should I do??? I don't even have a co website I was told that would cost a few hundered for e commerce...help please?!
Also try fundable.com. This forum tried it out for the use of the new shirt! I thought it was a sweet idea, but some people don't get everything. You can also have people e-mail you and do an invoice via paypal. On this invoice use the words "delivery date" to ensure your protection. As an entreprenuer there are many ways to accomplish different feats. The decision is up to you to accomplish them.
Thanks so much I had no idea I could do that! I don't have $ for a website how do I do it from facebook should I just upload them as photos? I probablly need to make a few to show the product right? Your rad thanks!
You can create a website fairly cheaply via Yahoo Sitebuilder. They have a ton of different templates already pre-loaded for you. The tutorials are very basic so as to help the most novice of web designers (like myself) create a website that functions well. And the cost was fairly cheap. Between having the domanin name and the website, I think I am paying under $200 a year. Can't think of the amount off the top of my head. But it's over a hundred for certain, but certainly under 100.
I don't have funds right now for my product but took my photoshoot & opened a facebook page
You took a photoshoot of what exactly?
Does that mean that you actually have had some product printed that you were able to use for a photoshoot?
You have a few options:
1) collect pre-orders as has been mentioned above.
2) You could use a print on demand fulfillment service to print your design. Places like Zazzle, Spreadshirt, CafePress, PrintFection are all places that allow you to upload a design and have it printed "on demand". They collect payment for orders and ship directly to customers. You get a commission (that you set) per product sold without having to pay any upfront fees or worry about inventory
Websites aren't very expensive at all. You don't need anything too fancy to start out with, but you do need *something* that is *yours* to point people to for the longterm (not facebook).
You can get web hosting for about $100 a year and use a free blogging system like WordPress to setup a simple website that will allow you to take orders and post more pictures of your product.
BigCartel as mentioned above is another good option for getting a webstore up quickly and inexpensively (free).
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Can we see the link to your facebook page?
Since we don't allow members to post links to their own sites in the forum posts, if you want to share a link to your site, you can put it in your forum profile and/or forum signature
tons or request no $ for product 
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