Question
Don't know if I asked before or only thought about asking.
Anyway, I'm still looking for a Store Coach.
I'm not unaware or unappreciative of all the help provided here and on the other chat boards I visit daily.
I believe I can get most any Store question answered and specific help required for individual issues.
I also think I would benefit from ongoing objective evaluation from someone paid to provide oversight.
This concept is new to me but I'll outline what I might like.
They would take a look at my Store, make notes against a checklist of the standard components and get some background of what I want to grow towards.
Having established where I am and where I want to go they might suggest the next few steps, provide service if needed and point me towards the 'how to" (eBay Store Board for example)
We would check in occasionally, review progress and consider adjustments.
If they are any good and their advce worthwhile I realize it might be expensive but I have to keep it affordable and within proportion to my Store's financial capacity.
I would think a fixed fee or retainer for the initial evaluation and hourly after that.
If this is new enough that someone wants to offer me reduced fees while we both try to work out the system I'm willing to give that a try. Make me more successful and I'll be your grateful poster boy.
I know there are a hundred things that can be done, all the answers are available, this board will help and I even know some of the questions.
But, sometimes a coach/advisor/consultant/whatever is still a good idea to help you stay on track and keep things in sequence.
Plus, when I pay people for advice I usually either get it done or fire them and it counters my tendency towards procrastination.
Suggestions? About the idea, what should be the process or who might do the job.
Answer
Geez, y'all just want someone to crack the whip, he!! I'll do that....
RR.............maybe we could make a group thing out of this and do it for each other......what ya think? Privately or publicly would be the question
If it was a private member only thing, I would participate.
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Gabs - that's a great idea. Private makes sense.
I have something that needs to be done right now but I'll be back on later.
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Reston,
As a buyer, I buy merchandise from an eBay Store because I want it. Appearance of the store is irrelevant to me - it doesn't make me want a piece of merchandise more or less.
I think the only times I've ever been irritated when browsing a Store is when the Seller doesn't make intelligent use of store categories to separate types of merchandise. I tend to lose interest in browsing a store if it's time-consuming and hard to find what I'm looking for.
I do think your store looks very professional right now. The only suggestion I have is to have a customized banner created with an Irish theme (e.g. shamrock logo) to replace the eBay banner you've chosen. Many eBay Store owners use the exact same banner that you have chosen.
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Tanya...where is Tanya we need her, right now.
Irene is absolutely right, everything should be green and shamrocky and pots of gold
Boy RR, that is a lot of books full of blarney....
How did you do that thing with the website addy bringing up the store site....
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Beware of Fools Gold...though...
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private message me. I think you could really get a much better looking auction/store template for starters.
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I will do something with a banner but first I want to get my colors better and think through the use of the Me Pages and coordinate the plan with the Vintage Ireland heritage website I had built but never launched which has a great banner and custom graphics but the underlining issue is always product, functionality and presentation, so I don't know where to begin and do nothing.
Well, not exactly nothing but I never seem to get it tied together.
There is also a division in Irish marketing between the "shamrock" stores and what some like to think of as quality lines.
Good wool, hand carving, painting, authentic designs, quality craftsmanship and better crystal/china try to separate themselves from made in China pottery with shamrocks, Leps and pots of gold as seen for two weeks a year around St. Patrick's Day.
It's like the difference between real chinese food and frozen oriental dinners from the grocery store.
I've already been turned down by several lines I would like to carry because the are hesitant about the web and don't want to be with a dealer in "shamrock" stuff.
The are also protecting their existing customers and the better shops where they are being sold.
I want to move in that direction because it will give me advantages and protection from mass marketers with stuff from China.
I've let myself get unbalanced and moving in the wrong direction several times already and that's why I think the coach and/or study group will help me.
Not that they will be able to tell me what to do, in the big picture, but they can be there to say " What is your overall plan? Why will that work? How will you get there? How is what you are thinking of doing next going to help?"
They can point out things I may be missing, challenge my choices, suggest alternatives and guide me toward simpler solutions.
Like with a golf pro, you can spend two months trying to figure out what is wrong with your drive and they can watch you for 15 minutes and tell you your right foot is out of position.
If nothing else I'm tired of making mistakes on my own and want some company for the mistakes I'm going to make next.
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Gabs - Re: the URL.
You register the URL, then you park it at the registrar's site and ask them to point it to your eBay Store URL.
The whole thing costs $8.00 a year at GoDaddy. (I'm actually doing it the hard way but that is another story so lets not bother with that right now)
I ask how, listened to the answer and went and did what I was told. Best decision I've made in months and one of the reason I think getting more help is a good idea for me.
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I put the same initial post on AE and the eBay Store Board.
Suggestions are being made and I'm receiving some emails.
Right now I think I should try both a "coach" and a study group.
I'll catch up with the other boards and emails tonight, go on a planned trip to the new Air and Space Museum tomorrow and pick up on things tomorrow night.
Anyone is welcome to email me but I don't think or type fast enough to be comfortable with much IMing.