Who runs an e-commerce business?

[ddmcmullan]

Hello to everyone.

Let me first introduce myself. I'm 24 from Manchester and started my first e-commerce business about 9 months ago and now run it as my primary job with plans for expansion into other areas. I've always been quite computer savy but had to learn everything from scratch, SEO, link building, inventory management, description writing etc etc etc.... Is there anyone out there in a similar position or who has been successfully running an e-commerce business for a number of years?

I'd be interested to start a dialog with people who are into e-commerce professionally for bouncing ideas off, joint ventures, ideas, anything really. The thing I find with e-commerce is you never know anybody else who runs it as a business so you always end up learning things the hard way.

Message me on here or private message if this would be of interest to anyone.

Thanks.

Dave

 

[mleader1]

Hi Dave,

not into retail eCommerce but I build eCommerce solutions as software packages in Manchester! I'm little bit older than you and started my business in Sep. so if by any chance we can exchange ideas somehow?

Good luck with your business! and mine


Lida

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum. We are a Payment Gateway based in Stockport (just outside Manchester) so have dealings with merchants and shopping carts/ecommerce sites alike!

Happy to answer any questions and share ideas. Feel free to PM me if you want to deal direct.

Thanks,

Simon

 

[gemd89]

Hey, Im nearly 22 (so old) and set my ecommerce business up in september - would be happy to email occassionally - i do email a few other people on the forum regularly who have ecommerce businesses aswell and its great for hints and tips.

Email [email protected]

Gemma

 

[thejoshm]

Hello,

We're slightly different in that our product is printing... however other than the fact we have a factory (to produce customers orders) rather than a warehouse (to hold stock) the ecommerce bit is pretty similar!

I started the business around 4 years ago when I was 17 (now 21!) and now employ 3 people, I'd had a bit of experience previous to this but everything was still a massive learning curve.

I'm sure you're already getting used the massive ups and downs!!

 

[ddmcmullan]

Got a few contacts already, thanks to everyone for their messages!

 

[SillyJokes]

I'm in ecommerce, have been for 11 years.

Early on we made friends with people running other ecommerce stores and we used to meet up. It was very helpful at the time so I think your idea sounds great and will be a huge leg up for you.

I still contact some of the people I met. Some have sold their businesses but others are doing really well.

 

[Mathew.Charles]

Hey!

I'm currently looking into getting a few contacts myself.

I currently run a small business based on vBulletin themes and looking to expand into e-commerce further.

mathew [at] themevb.com

Give me a email sometime if you wish - This goes to anyone else.

Cheers.
Mathew.

 

[Stuart @DeckVoid]

Hi all im just building my first e-commerce site deckvoid so if i can pick up anything from here, contacts, ideas etc, that would be great

 

[channs]

Hi

I Was Wondering How You Are Going To Do The Marketing For Your Site? You May Find The Free Videos (On My Signature Link) Usefull So Check Them Out. PM if you have any questions.

 

[Stuart @DeckVoid]

Wow pyramid sales...

 

[KPautomotive]

Hi, i've had my ecommerce shop for several years now but still love hearing other peoples tips etc.

I would love to have my own b&m shop one day but then again i like having very little overheads from running my business all online!

 

[cloudware]

I run an e-commerce business with a bit of a twist - in that it is designed primarily to support other online-only businesses (and individuals) who have web apps, services or content that they would like to offer subscriptions to - essentially subscriptions billing + management with a web app store for sales and marketing. All a developer needs to do is to take a username/password and call the authentication API to see if that user's subscription valid or not. Plug-ins are also being developed. It's about how easy we can make it to enable others to generate some income streams, with little up front cost.

Marketing itself is the hardest part IMHO as I think you probably allude to with your description, but happy to help if I can. Feel free to PM.

Best of luck

Keith

 

[MikeCappelo]

E-Commerce sites can be a little tricky to set-up, there has been alot of security increase due to online fraud. I would personally advice you to do a lot of planning before you start your online business and defiantly create a business plan and show your bank what you are aiming to achieve.

 

[KateCB]

i'm selling mine.....anyone interested?

 

[Chilcott]

what ecommerce platform do you guys use?

 

[Stuart @DeckVoid]

im using shop intergrator from one of the guys on here, its very good.

 

[Chilcott]

do you guys build your own websites?

 

[Golf Tee Warehouse]

I'm using Actinic V9 Business and did the web design myself.

 

[paris pan]

Hello Devid,
This is Paris ,from China .i have been do e-commerce business for 2 years .i do wholesale fashion jewelry business .we can share ideas.

 

[ddshosting]

Hi! I run an urban fashion label and a web hosting company. What business have you started? Always interested in networking!

 

[the Chocolate]

Hi
I have recently launched our on-line shop.
Again as people have stated the hard bit is getting people to your site,we at the Chocolate have tried to change how people view chocolate,we have based it on,luxury,glamour,style everything we use is the best we can possibly source,from the ingredients to the packaging,service,branding etc.
Good luck in your venture.

 

[saida]

Hi Simon,

I was wondering how are your services different to paypal.?

Thanks,

Saida

 

[freddo]

hey mate, I'm 20 and have been running my site www.misteliquid.co.uk for a while now. I'm In a similar situation to you and it would be great to bounce ideas off someone. Good luck with your site!

 

[Stuart @DeckVoid]

I use Serif Webplus x2 it is awesome, you can just drag and drop your text and graphics and it converts it for you.

strongly recommend it

 

[HTMLHugo]

Hi
Im in manchester and set my company up last january, still working so i can use the money to expand more.

Based in manchester and would love to bounce ideas off people and perhaps offer information where i can.

 

[nnbbwo]

Got a few contacts already, thanks to everyone for their messages!

 

[bozzie123]

i have an e-commerce store also nboswell90 (at) gmail.com get in touch

 

[ddmcmullan]

Thanks for the replies guys made a good few contacts, anyone else?

 

[Paul Norman]

Yes, we are a big online brand, with about 65% of our sales being from our website, the balance being from our showroom in North Tyneside.

Established now for well over two years, we combined growing stock storage needs with a semi-retail environment about 8 months ago, which has proved extremely successful.