Finding an ecommerce mentor

[Jombo]

Hi,
My wife and I run an online ecommerce business retailing designer men's underwear and we have been working really hard to develop and grow the business over the past 12 months.

We are now wanting to push the growth of the business further and feel that we would really benefit from being able to develop a relationship with someone who;

a)Has been successful in growing their ecommerce business and who we are not in competition with (ideally women's fashion/lingerie online retailer)

b)Has been there and done it

c)Would be willing to give something back by offering a new business some impartial support and mentoring
d)Someone who isn't trying to sell us their services.

So far we have used extensively the services of Business Link and other business support services, website developers, PR consultants and internet marketing consultants, with whom we continue to work with and have a good relationship with.

However, we really feel it would be immensely helpful to hear from someone who has trodden the path to success.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to find such a mentor?

Kind regards

James

 

[coultog]

Hi James,

I run a couple of relatively succesful e-commerce stores as well as running a couple of other businesses.

I'd be happy to chat and offer some advice if you're interested. I'm sure it will be mutually beneficial. I'm going to be available from the 29th onwards, so please feel free to call me on 0113 3505 730.

Gary

 

[minttwist]

If you are looking for a pure alturistic mentor - I would suggest asking around at somehwre like the Institute of Directors - although in reality - I guess you would probably have to be referred in by an intermediary who knows you both fairly well.

My company runs websites for a number of successful entrepreneurs. I would be happy to introduce you to one or two of my clients who could help in return for some genuinely beneficial return (2-way referrals???).

Therefore if you could be a little more precise about what you could offer in return I could approach one or two of them that I think may be able to help you.

Please take this post for what it is - a genuine request for further information that would allow me to successfully introduce you to someone who could help.

 

[gary]

Hi James,

I think it's great that you're actually seeking out a person like this - it's something I would always recommend as it's easy to become quite isolated running your own ecommerce business. In the early days I used to meet up with other owners to discuss aspects of our businesses, which helped a lot.

There are mentors available, but usually they are found through contacts and recommendations. They will either work on a short-term consultancy basis, or longer term non-executive role, in which case you would normally make them a non-executive director and pay them a basic salary (starting at £6000 pa). For that they would attend maybe 1 meeting a month, and offer their advice and experience. I would suggest that is money very well spent with the right person.

Let me know if you need more info.

Gary