Start this new business?- opinions please

[amabeachgirl]

Hi everyone~ I am a former business owner doing some market research on potentially starting a new business online. I have worked in floral design for years and am thinking of starting an online business devoted to silk florals and home accents with a coastal theme. Examples, Nantucket baskets containing silk arrangments, shell and tropical type wreaths, centerpieces, life rings and buoys with florals and shells, use containers decorated with starfish and shells, a bridal category with a silk/shell bouquet and per bow arrangements, etc. I can't find a lot of coastal florals online after much research and I'm wondering if you think this would be a business that would work, demand-wise. Any constructive opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[Danielle Renee']

Hi There,

I think you have a great idea. Just remember when you have an online business your customer base is not just local, it is Global.

I have an online business and would be willing to give you some pointers. I know of a wonderful program that is affordable and easy to use. Just email me through my website and I would be happy to help you.

www.jewelrybydaniellerenee.com

[A Maritime Girl]

I can't give you much help other than to say, my business started out online first, before I opened a Studio and if I had to close my Studio I would be pretty content to just do online. Most of my sales have come from places who can't get locally what I sell (if that made sense). I sell jewellery with beach glass so a lot of my customers are from upper canada (inland, not coastal). So for me, online is where it's at! That being said, I run my website just like a storefront. I'm there every single day. I return emails and custom inquires several times a day. I post on my Blog several times a week so that folks see me there, know i'm present and that my website is active...not just a postcard or gallery. Luckily I have a family member who created my site, her first ever, and I sell with 2checkout.com since we didn't know how to create our own shopping cart. This allowed me to have a website at a very low cost other than the domain register and yearly hosting.

I'm also on the internet all the time finding ways to increase traffic cheaply (networking).

I think more folks with businesses should be on the internet.

Just my little 2cents...not a great deal of help...just an opinion basically. Good luck.

Gail
www.amaritimegirl.ca

[amabeachgirl]

Thanks ladies. Sounds like you are both good businesswomen. I appreciate your input. Anyone else have an opinion?