It's been a little over six months since I launched my own online shopping site. As things are getting even more complicated (and more expensive) over at Dawanda, not to mention all the technical issues, I am super happy with my decision! The initial cost of building my website was admittedly expensive, but totally worth it. Plus I broke even in the first quarter. I am not saying that it's easy running your own site. In fact, I'm focused on it all the time. Being simultaneously the owner, seller, buyer, accountant, PR person, stock checker, shipping department and now website administrator and techie takes on a whole new meaning! Plus keeping up-to-date with legalities is a must for every online shop owner. So while the maintenance is a lot of work there are so many pro's to owning your own site. For one, invoices are automatically generated, which saves time. Communication with customers is easy via DM and / or the contact form. My site is SSL secure, so all personal information is safe. I have not had any issues whatsoever with my hosting service. What a relief! And I have total control of the design aspect of my site. For years I have been wanting to streamline my "look". Now my website logo is on my flyers, business cards and other promotional material and ties in well with my blog too. Most don't realize though, that many months preceding the launch I already had my strategy and concept in place. Unlike on traditional selling venues I can be much more flexible with what I offer. Part of my concept is to offer originality and exclusivity (at least within German-speaking countries). Using Instagram as a business tool has helped me identify potential customers. I've stuck with my routine of posting one photo daily to keep my followers informed and "entertained". It's all about engaging the customer. These days I average around 20 comments per post, even though relatively speaking I don't have that many followers. However, posts with a higher engagement rate keep showing up at the top of the feed. But I digress. I contemplated my concept for the shop for a very long time. Basically I identified my customer base first, then planned a concept for the next 5 - 7 years, taking economical, social and yes, even political developments into consideration. So, while fabrics are my main business I have added paper goods that fit my concept and have recently added another category, which also reflects my concept and aesthetic. The photo at the top is not random, so three guesses what's new in my shop :) I'm pretty excited about this new line and will be introducing it on my blog shortly. Overall I am very pleased with the progress and expansion of my website. I know there is still room for improvement. I am currently working on implementing more payment methods. This involves third parties, so will take a while longer. In the coming weeks and months I will also need to invest in well-placed ads and generally keep the promotion going. Sometimes it gets a bit much for one person, especially when I'm not feeling particularly well. But despite the long work days and the constant promoting I'm loving all of it. Not many people can say this, but my job truly is my happy place and I am so grateful :)
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