Setting up online store to sell die-cast cars, vehicle related t-shirts, etc.- tips?
 

First- Wayne if this is not an okay post please delete.


Second-
I am looking into setting up a website to sell die-cast cars (1:43 & larger) as the main product line and would also like to use it to sell related t-shirts of my own design. My web guys tells me it will run about $400/yr to maintain and maybe $1,000 up front for design work and helping me get bank/credit card accounts set up (site would have a shopping cart).

All told it looks like i will need about $3k or so to get started which is a not insigificant sum to me (i see it as $3k worth of stainless tool chest, Disney vacation for family, etc).

My question for anyone already doing this (or any web retail bsns) is what might i expect in sales volume. I understand how to look at cars in restaurant parking lots, bags coming out of brick & mortar stores, etc. but the whole internet thing is a bit intimidating. Could be 100 sales/day or 1.

I am also getting into wedding photography and will be using the same corp so that cost will be shared ($300 yearly filing fee, etc).

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Erik

When your site is built and ready for business who will know it's there? That's the key.

Many have opted for a service like Yahoo stores because there's a built-in community that can be funnelled from there home page portal to their shopping site. However, this option is quite costly with expensive monthly fees and quite a bit of competition. If you opt for their credit card processing package get ready to bend over big time.

There are many options available to attract customers to a site. None are inexpensive if rolled out to a considerable audience. These include partnering with related businesses, pay-per-click programs, search engine placement, banner advertising, Spam mailing etc.

I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences as well.

Good luck!

Stop. Call me.

Sending PM.

And no it won't cost you any money to speak to me.

Scott

Thanks all. There certainly is a lot of work involved.

Wayne-sorry i didn't pm you first.