New to this.

[cribgoch]

First of all, I'm new on here, only been viewing for a week and found some interesting points.
I have two outdoor shops in Snowdonia, North Wales.
I have started selling on eBay in the last 5 weeks and had a very good response and sold a lot of items ( really chuffed)
I had been playing with the idea of having an internet prescence as I have none at the moment plus maybe an ePos system in the two shops and linking them all together for stock control etc.
Anyone had the same experiences and can advise as to which way to go.
The only problem I have the ePos system is going to cost about 10K. I am thinking of maybe trying to run the web shop and ebay without it. Totally depends.

 

[M178591]

Try Actinic. They have some software which does both web sales and EPOS. I only have experience of the web sales side and would be quite happy to help you with that but can't offer any advice on the EPOS as I've never seen it I'm just aware that it exists.

Mark

 

[cribgoch]

Thanks for that, with actinic do you build your website yourself with their software.

 

[DougDesigns]

hi there Cribgoch,

I am sorry but I only have ideas about online shop but actinic that was mentioned. Here is a link for them to call you and chat about the system.

http://www.actinic.co.uk/about/call-me-back.htm

I hope that this helps?

 

[Deleted member 61074]

yes you do.

actinic have several different versions of their software, depending on the functions you require.

however before jumping in at the deep end and buying the software and epos, it might be an idea to test the water with just the online shop.

it is easy to sell on ebay in the run up to xmas, i'd see how sales progress through jan and feb too.

FTR actinic is not too hot on stock control, you have to connect to the website and regularly download orders to adjust stock. realtime stockcontrol is a weakness that they are trying to address.

 

[M178591]

You do build the site youself. How hard this is depends on what you want to do. I have have run many Actinic sites for years without any real difficulty. What sort of number of products are you likely to have in your online shop?

Mark

 

[MrsPWN]

Welcome

what are your outdoor shops? I am in Snowdonia and have been looking for a reasonably priced LONG and very warm coat for taking the dogs on the beach but I can only find jackets

 

[3cellhosting]

Thanks for that, with actinic do you build your website yourself with their software.

Hi Crib Goch (love the name - been there a few times many years ago)

With Actinic they have basic templates that can then be manipulated. Be warned it is an intensive job and you need a basic understanding of html if you want to get things exactly as you want. I am a reseller for EROL and they have the same problem. Also EROL do not offer EPOS.

Hope this helps

David

 

[cribgoch]

May run to a couple of hundred, I have 85 at the moment on eBay and once the camping season starts there will be more.

As to jumping in with both web shop and ePos system, this is my dilemma. The way I am thinking is to try the internet shop first and then progress to ePos in say a years time.

I know it has been a run up to Christmas and most are doing well, but the outdoor market has rocketed last year and is set to continue this year...so they say..

 

[DougDesigns]

There are alot of people that will be able to help you with that better than me.

The only think I would say, is that ebay gets a lot of traffic to its site. When you build you own site you will also have to drive taffic to it.

I would say why not look at a ebay store?

Sorry if I am talking out of my head just my two cents.

 

[cribgoch]

MrsPWN...... 1 shop in Caernarfon and one in Llanberis. It is very difficult to get long coats at the moment, they are as you say jackets. i do not have any in.... where are u then?

David...,.this is my problem, played around with ekpowershop 30 day trial last weekend....got nowhere fast.... it might be me ( probably is...!!!!)

 

[cribgoch]

Printedribbonstore... I have got an eBay store..and was thinking of putting a flyer in with every sale once I had an web store to try and direct them to it instead of eBay and their fees..!!

 

[3cellhosting]

Hi Crib Goch,

There are other alternatives that work well. If you consider that the products you sell can be quite specialised then you may want to consider using a Content Management System (such as Joomla) where you can write informative articles and include product profiles and information and then include an online store such as Virtuemart. This will help to drive traffic to your site.

This way you are doing two things - creating viable content to attract visitors and adding simple purchasing options.

I have done this with many clients and most are happy with the results and can maintain content themselves. This option also handles stock control for the online element but is not a full EPOS option so cannot account for shop counter sales.

I am happy to provide you with more information if required.

Regards

David

 

[MrsPWN]

I am near Porthmadog

Just off out to look again I am fed up of being cold!!

 

[owas]

Hi, small world isnt it, I live in Caernarfon, and am working on a website for a lady who has a shop in llanberis elfen-clef the site which is nearly finished is elfen-celf.com As the site is nearly finished if your interested in having one done, I can get it up and running quite quick and as I build sites as a hobby it really dose not cost much, you should ask katy moyers at elfen-celf
let me know if your intreasted or want a chat I will passing coming to llanberis next week, and will def go to petes eats )

 

[Pap_sak]

I also have two brick and mortar shops (about 65km apart) and now looking for a web based store. They are sports/fishing shops...but starting to see the fashion side will make a bit more money...Used to run a couple of outdoor shops in london (huge amount of MacPac) but now in sunny SA. Looked at many POS options and settled on http://denverresearch.com/ . Very happy so far and there is a web side to it, but will probably use cube cart/ zen cart or magneto. But as a POS system it's pretty good and easy to set up.

 

[DougDesigns]

I also have two brick and mortar shops (about 65km apart) and now looking for a web based store. They are sports/fishing shops...but starting to see the fashion side will make a bit more money...Used to run a couple of outdoor shops in london (huge amount of MacPac) but now in sunny SA. Looked at many POS options and settled on http://denverresearch.com/ . Very happy so far and there is a web side to it, but will probably use cube cart/ zen cart or magneto. But as a POS system it's pretty good and easy to set up.

I would recommend CubeCart

 

[Pap_sak]

I kinda have as well - pretty easy to use for an ecomerce novice like myself. Will (slightly have) set that up as they main site but planning to set up a shoe website site, a rugby website, fishing ect. so want to get a few more under my belt as well and then decide which is best.

 

[paretowasright]

Printedribbonstore... I have got an eBay store..and was thinking of putting a flyer in with every sale once I had an web store to try and direct them to it instead of eBay and their fees..!!

One of my client is considering that but we are unsure whether it violates ebay rules or not?

 

[imageonline]

One of my client is considering that but we are unsure whether it violates ebay rules or not?

Hi, what ever info you put in with sold items is up to you. You need an 'about me' page where you are allowed to have a link to your website.
You are not allowed to link to or mention your site on any listings. When I had an ebay shop, I put something subtle in the listings like - for more product info see 'about me'. Make the about me a clickable link to the page then customers can see some product info and a link to your site.

If you are looking for a website similar but much better than ekm, check out the one I use, you can imort and export files, and change prices. in bulk. Have a blog and forum and change the colours and layout at the touch of a button.
There is also lots of help getting your site found and help to set it up if needed. www.puresilva.com

Good luck with whatever you decide