How to Start an Online Novelty Store
Consumers spend millions of dollars shopping on the Internet each year. Starting an online novelty store helps you earn a slice of that spending pie. According to a 2011 Retrevo Pulse Report survey, shoppers cannot always find what they're looking for in brick-and-mortar retail shops. With competitive prices and a compelling product lineup, your online novelty store has an advantage over retail shops. Online novelty stores carry items that appeal to both children and adults, such as humorous gifts, costumes, decorations and toys. An online store gives customers the ability to shop for novelty items in the comfort of their own home.
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Instructions
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Find a reliable source of novelty items. Browse local stores in your area and purchase items a customer cannot find anywhere else. Look through online supply directories or the phone book to locate a wholesaler. Wholesalers often sell bulk packages of novelty items, trinkets and gag gifts. You usually get a discount for purchasing in bulk from a wholesaler.
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Create a business name and a domain name. Make the name as specific as possible. For example, "smithsnoveltyshop.com" or "miaminovelty.com" are better choices than "noveltygifts.com" or "onlinegifts.com."
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Select a website host. Some hosts are very expensive, but they offer additional features that justify the cost. Other hosts are inexpensive, but they may lack certain features and support. For example, some hosts offer included e-commerce software, photo editing tools and support for multimedia, such as video and music. These features make it easier to manage your online store.
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Hire a designer to develop your website. Browse the phone book or local directory to find a designer in your area. Tell the designer your website's purpose so he can create a site with the features you need, like a photo gallery and shopping cart. Include pictures and detailed descriptions of each novelty product you offer.
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Set up e-commerce software, such as Volusion, Shopify or 3DCart. This software accepts customer's billing information and displays your inventory.
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Create a merchant account with a bank. Some online institutions, such as PayPal and Google Checkout, also let you set up a merchant account.
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Choose an opening date for the novelty store. Start promoting the store's grand opening before you launch the website. Post discount coupon codes in your city's newspaper or in forums on heavily trafficked bargain-hunting websites. Coupons entice potential customers to check out your new store.
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Attract more customers by creating a profile for your novelty store on social networking websites, such as Myspace, Twitter and Facebook. Create a blog about novelty gifts and link it to your store and social networking profiles. Respond to reader's comments to build relationships with them and spark their interest in your store.
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Ship the novelty items when a customer makes a purchase. If you use a drop-shipping company, they deliver the items for you.
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Tips & Warnings
Rotate your novelty items regularly to keep customers interested and coming back to your site to see what is new. Offer seasonal items for holidays, including Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day.
Prepare to deal with customer complaints. Despite your best efforts, not all customers will enjoy their purchase. Determine how you will handle problems and customer relations before you launch your store.
References
Resources
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