How to Build an Online Skateboard Shop
If you are a skateboarding enthusiast, you probably spend a lot of your waking hours eating and breathing skateboarding. Few people have the talent to make a career out of being on top of a deck. However, this doesn't mean that you can't make your passion for skateboarding your profession. If you would like to spend your day at work learning about and buying skateboards and skateboard accessories, an online skateboard shop might be for you.
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Instructions
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Get inventory. If you're going to start an online skateboard company, you are going to need to buy skateboards at wholesale prices. Fortunately, there are oodles of websites that specialize in wholesaling skateboards. Many of them will also drop ship, meaning that they send skateboards to your customers at your request. This saves you the expense of a warehouse or storage facility.
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Set up an eBay store. EBay is a great place to sell your skateboards and related merchandise. There is a customer base of millions that look at eBay every day to see what hot new skateboarding merchandise is available. Set up a store at eBay to start your client base.
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Set up a payment account. To accept payments online, you will need a method for receiving payment. Scores of sites exist to fill just this need. Look around at the merits and detriments of various payment websites and see which one fits your business needs.
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Set up a website. Getting a website set up is a great way to reach people who don't use eBay. It also allows you to get around the cost of paying eBay listing and final value fees. Your website doesn't have to be anything fancy. A simple page listing your skateboards, accessories, and their specs with a photograph will do. Make sure to include links for payment.
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Promote your store. The best way to promote your store is to keep a daily blog about skateboarding. This gives people a reason to check in daily. Write about your personal experiences skateboarding, new merchandise you have received, or what's going on in the world of skateboarding. Then link your blog to social networking and bookmarking sites. This is a great way to get publicity for next to nothing. Don't forget to flyer the local skate parks.
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Create custom decks. Custom decks are a great way to promote your online skateboard shop, as well as express your personal sense of style. Websites such as BoardPusher.com allow you to add a design to a skateboard by uploading an image file. They also sell decks in a variety of shapes and styles.
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Tips & Warnings
Investigate local business laws and make sure that you have all relevant licenses.
Remember, even if you sell online you must charge sales tax to all sales made to people residing in the state where you have a physical presence.
