How should I go about this?

[Sock]

I am setting up a little business. I have wanted to keep to close to my chest previously but I figured it is probably easier to tell people and get advice.

The business is a sock subscription website, where the customer subscribes and we send them a pair of socks each month, much like Sock Fancy (google it as I can't post links).

It's a simple business, but I want to try and make it work. I figured the best way to get the confidence to start the business is to buy a domain and get started. Stop thinking about it and start doing something.

So I have my twitter account with a few (un-targeted, I admit) followers. I also have a Facebook page with no likes so far. I have presented the business as if it's in it's 'launching phase', whereby the customer can sign up and be notified when we launch (No sign ups so far). For the sake of the brand, I don't want to post the URL or name as I don't want this to be associated with it.

Really, I may not launch. This is simply a 'test the market' thing to see if there is an interest. I currently have a simple launch page which basically gives a problem (always loosing socks) and that we are the solution. It doesn't say much about the business. It then has an email subscribe box.

I was wondering if I should scrap this launch page (it's hardly had any views) and just buy hosting and put my website online, with a 'pre-order' now section. I want to keep expenditure to a minimum though, so minimise my losses if I decide not to launch (I've spent £8.50 so far!!).

I didn't realise marketing it would be so tricky! Anyone have any ideas how I can market this, and what I should do with the launch page?

Thanks!

 

[ryedale]

As someone who never seems to have enough socks (where do they all go!), I'll give you 3 months of months free hosting if you want to try and get it off the ground and see how it goes

PM me if interested

 

[Pressure Hosting]

Hmm you could try google adwords, however I am not sure what keywords you would use! Probably just 'socks' without mentioning the subscription nature of the business. Try press releases to newspapers, this is an unusual business model, so news people may report it. The Facebook page is good. You could spend some advertising money on Facebook to get more followers and link them to your site!

Hope this helps!
Ross

 

[UseYourWeb]

Ryedales offer is worth serious consideration and I would urge you to really think about it. Not easy to find free good hosting these days and 3 months should be more than enough time to decide wether it's worth doing or not, hope it does well though, kind of like the idea to be honest, also if you can incorporate a "find my lost sock" function then your onto a winner

 

[benb]

Seen this done a couple of times, you will need a usp or decent marketing to make it work

 

[japancool]

My problem is not so much losing socks as losing one sock. I have endless numbers of mismatched socks.

For what you're doing, social media would *seem* to be a good way of marketing this, but it would have to be quite clever, I think. It strikes me as the kind of thing that could get a wide audience if you do it right. Facebook advertising can also be quite cheap, but you would need to target it at the right audience.

What interesting things can you say about socks?

 

[Sock]

What interesting things can you say about socks?

[sales-mode]With my service you get a new pair each month so you can simply throw the odd ones away. [/sales-mode]

And it's actually very difficult to think of stuff to say about socks. It seems easy but when you sit at a keyboard it's difficult to think of what to say!

 

[japancool]

[sales-mode]With my service you get a new pair each month so you can simply throw the odd ones away. [/sales-mode]

And it's actually very difficult to think of stuff to say about socks. It seems easy but when you sit at a keyboard it's difficult to think of what to say!

I know, but it feels like a waste of socks...

What kind of socks are you selling? Would the customer have a choice of which socks he gets each month? Would you also cater for ladies' legwear?

The one thing I would say is that, if I were a member of your club for two years, I would end up with 24 pairs of socks, and I think that's a little excessive. I do go through a fair number of socks but not that many.

 

[Sock]

I know, but it feels like a waste of socks...

What kind of socks are you selling? Would the customer have a choice of which socks he gets each month? Would you also cater for ladies' legwear?

The one thing I would say is that, if I were a member of your club for two years, I would end up with 24 pairs of socks, and I think that's a little excessive. I do go through a fair number of socks but not that many.

It will mainly be patterned/ coloured socks to start with, however once I get some traction I will add options. There is no option as to what sock the customer gets (to start with, it's much simpler just to have one sock each month) however I think that's part of the fun. If I allowed the customer to chose then I have the logistics of trying to get the correct sock to the correct customer, and then having to chase up the customer when they haven't picked a sock for that month. Again, maybe in the future but not right now. And there will be two subs, one for men and one for women (and one for both!)

24 socks may be excessive for you but may not be for others. I think that depends on the person. You could always cancel the subscription then start it again when you need some more. Nothing like having a good selection though!

 

[mike2071]

Hi Sock, , I would be interested in talking to you about your new venture. I am involved in web development and help several local businesses where I live. It sounds like an interesting idea. Please pm if you would like to chat and I will send my number.

 

[garyk]

I used to lose socks so decided to buy all black pairs!

I have to be honest I just don't 'get it'. As a consumable surely a sock is something that lasts a year or 2 so why would you need a new pair every month?

But to be more helpful (and not just negative!) I do subscribe to an online wine vendor, naked wines and there are perhaps a couple of things you might want to consider:

1. First their USP is they connect independant wine makers with punters, could you work with small sock makers and every wins
2. As a 'wine angel' you pay £20 a month, you don't get sent wine you just have a balance on your account you can spend when you want
3. They have the option to pause your subscription for 3 months rather than lose you as a customer

Mind you of late I have discovered pringle socks, they are so much more comfortable so I guess there is a market for pricier but good quality socks.

Gary

 

[Emma Fryer]

Have you looked at companies for example like 'Glossy Box' this might give you some ideas.

 

[Sock]

I used to lose socks so decided to buy all black pairs!

I have to be honest I just don't 'get it'. As a consumable surely a sock is something that lasts a year or 2 so why would you need a new pair every month?

But to be more helpful (and not just negative!) I do subscribe to an online wine vendor, naked wines and there are perhaps a couple of things you might want to consider:

1. First their USP is they connect independant wine makers with punters, could you work with small sock makers and every wins
2. As a 'wine angel' you pay £20 a month, you don't get sent wine you just have a balance on your account you can spend when you want
3. They have the option to pause your subscription for 3 months rather than lose you as a customer

Mind you of late I have discovered pringle socks, they are so much more comfortable so I guess there is a market for pricier but good quality socks.

Gary

That's interesting about buying socks from little sock makers, but I think the costs will be higher so this may be something to look into once it's up and running. Pausing the subscription looks like a must.

 

[brummie5]

'sock off'?? get your 'socks off'

quite like the idea - a bit like the 'dollar shave club' in the US which is fab!