I want to create my own brand of clothes to sell online. How do I start?
Spend some time creating your game plan first before you even create your online site. Most first time sellers end up quitting after a few months because they don’t see the online sales come in after they build their online site.First of all, find out who you’re going to be up against as in your competitors. This will give you an idea on the amount of work and effort you’ll need to put in to sell your own branded online of clothing.The bulk of it would be on marketing and getting your brand out there via organic search and social media without spending on any ads until you’re making profit.You may only want to hold a certain number of stock for your clothing to test the market as compared to having a lot manufactured and then facing the dilemma that they’re unable to sell. Offer limited quantity first and if response is good, you can notify buyers of incoming stock later for them to purchase.List down all the categories and products that you plan on selling and have good product images with models. Clothing sells best when customers are able to see it being worn in real life by models.Determine who would be your target customers. Wholesalers? End users? Both?Work out your costing in terms of monthly subscription fee for ecommerce service provider. If you’re looking for one that does not charge extra for features that you’ll need, consider InstanteStore.Get a domain name that is short and easy to remember. Bear in mind a lot of shoppers these days prefer to browse, shop and and buy online.Make sure your online purchasing process is easy and straight forward.Pick a good payment gateway and check their transaction fees.Offer free shipping for customers who purchase above a certain amount and pick a sensible courier service.Ask for feedback from family and friends to test out your site before you launch it.Reward customers for giving you positive reviews and feedback.Selling online is a learning journey. Give yourself a year to work on it as there’s plenty to learn and tweak along the way.Hope this helps.
Can I sell products online in the USA while I am in India?
E- Commerce is all about... Growing Fast… or Dying Slow…!!Its great to know that you are starting to sell online in USA. Few important things to you should know:For online eCom selling through Amazon or eBay you do not need a company in USA. Just follow the following steps and you are ready to sellGet your GST registration for exports in India (Cost ~ 3 to 5K)Get your Import Export Code (Cost ~ 3 to 5K)Get Bank AD code registered (Cost ~ 3 to 5K)Choose an International air freight service provider- DHL/ Fedex/UPS. They charge from INR 250 to INR 300 per KG (Volumetric or Actual, whichever is higher). If you sell number, you can get it more cheap.Get good product images for uploading. Your product should feel beautiful and worth it. Buyer’s don’t care about the price until the product is worth it.Get a comprehensive product description for the product you sell covering all aspects.Create a Seller account on Amazon or eBay (Merchant fulfilled or Fulfillment By Amazon) for free, using an International Business Credit Card. US customers prefer Prime shipping, so I suggest FBA shall be a better option.In case you need any further help you can post your comment on our facebook page: KSJ eCom Consultants
How do I fill the NY resale certificate?
Hi. The NYS resale certificate is the right form to submit to your vendors and wholesalers. You are also correct, the seller is the wholesaler and the purchaser is you. You will have to fill out all of the information on the form including the seller information. And when selling online, you will only add sales tax to sales transactions in New York State. If someone in California makes a purchase from your website, you do not charge sales tax. You are only authorized to collect sales tax in New York State.
Are permits or licenses needed to sell on Etsy?
I'm not an expert but can share my experiences. I encourage you to consult with a small business attorney. At the very least, take a look at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s guide for starting an online business:More Than Just a Seller - How to Start a Business on an Online Marketplace. Then take a look at their guide to starting a small business. It explains steps to legalize your business at federal and state levels :Choose & Register Your Business. Also check out Etsy’s guide to starting a business with them: Beginner's Guide to Selling on EtsyWhen I started on Etsy I did not obtain any permits, licenses, etc because it was more like a hobby and I didn't expect to really turn the shop into a profitable business. I simply set up the shop and began selling. This is the case with many sellers. I've since decided to legitimize my business and have also begun selling in-person at craft shows, festivals, etc. I registered my business with my home state (free of charge) as a sole proprietorship (you might decide a different business structure works for you) and now I am expected to pay quarterly taxes. I also registered my business/trade name with my county, since I operate as The Washi Pot and not my own name (costs $50). If you have employees or depending on which business structure you choose, you'll need to apply for EIN for federal tax purposes. Since I'm a sole proprietorship I don't need one and taxes are associated with my ss# rather than a separate id#. In my state I’m not required to obtain a permit or certificate for what I sell and neither would a photographer. Something I haven't done yet, but might do is trademark my business name (costs about $300). I'm still investigating whether it makes sense for me to do this. I’m not too familiar with copyrighting, but I know some photographers do this to protect their work. There have been instances where Etsy seller have had their artwork copied or used without permission.Best of luck to you as you start your new business!
What font does Potterybarn use?
http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/furniture-upholstery/?cm_type=gnav Not their main font but the supporting font? The one used for "Spring Sale" and all the drop down menus. Thanks!
How do I buy wholesale?
Before you start buying wholesale there will be a couple of important things you need to be aware of.First, all of the serious wholesale companies will require a resale certificate from you, this is a document that helps you avoid paying taxes that you do not need to pay. It has different names in the different states, more info about that document you can find here - (What is a resale certificate and how to get one | 888 Lots Blog).Second, always make sure that the company you choose to work with can provide you a detailed manifest of the products. This is a document that has all the information for each product that you have purchased. It is important since you are going to buy in bulk and many times you will have a product or two missing or with a damaged box and if you have an accurate manifest you can cross check your shipment with missing items, products condition and etc. so you can ask for a refund in case you have issues.Third, this is probably the hardest part which is to find a good company to work with. You can search over the internet or some wholesale directories.But I can recommend you to check 888 Lots if you are looking for a reputable company to work with. They are by far the most advanced and intuitive liquidation platform on the market. Their products are brand new and they offer large variety of merchandise suitable for any merchant. They have amazing features and FBA program for Az sellers. You can find more information how you can work with them on their official website - 888Lots.
I am looking for a company by the name of Art Metal from Jamestown, NY?
The largest employing concern (in Jamestown)was the Art Metal Construction Company, with two plants and 1,130 hands; the William Brodhead Mills second, with 809; and the Salisbury Wheel and Manufacturing Company, 335. http://history.rays-place.com/ny/chau-ja... 1887 - Jamestown Electric Light and Power Company, Art Metal, and WCA Hospital established. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown,_... There's a company by that name in Ukraine that produces the type of stuff you are looking for, but they are probably not the company: http://www.kellysearch.com/ua-company-30... There's ArtOne in Jamestown: http://www.artonemfg.com 1920-26: The Art Metal Company of Jamestown, New York, was awarded the world's largest metal library equipment contract to supply the library's furnishings and equipment. Their products employed no wood or other flammable materials, ensuring that the furnishings were fireproof. All of the furniture, from tables and Windsor chairs to lamps and cabinets, was fabricated of metal and other noncombustible materials. It looks like the moved to North Carolina in the 70s: Unfortunately, the progressives were proven to be correct. Jamestown suffered a massive blow when, after a long and protracted strike, Art Metal, the biggest remaining employer in the Jamestown area, closed its Jamestown plant and moved to North Carolina. In the same time frame, new discount stores such as Hills Department Store had moved into Jamestown, and with the loss of jobs and income cut deeply into the Bigelow customer base.