The internet has been a game-changer for many, including my wife Anne and myself. As individuals with disabilities, we were dependent on government assistance, which not only left us physically challenged but also financially strained. This situation severely limited our chances of securing a steady job in the traditional market. However, the internet opened up a world of opportunities for us, and we were able to turn our situation around by setting up a successful online store. This article will guide you through our journey and provide tips on how to effectively develop an online storefront and start selling more products online quickly.
Anne has always been passionate about collecting thimbles. With the advent of the internet, we saw an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who might be interested in purchasing our collection. With the support of our family, friends, and a few online resources, we were able to develop our own online storefront. This soon became one of the UK's most popular and widely used websites for collectable products. Here's how we did it:
Being disabled meant that this was our one real chance of investing our full energy into a project. We chose something that was based on a hobby, ensuring we stayed 100% motivated at all times.
We knew we had to put together a collection of products that people would purchase. We had to find something that we could see a market for. Virtually anything can be sold online, but it had to be a market we knew or could easily research. We knew the "thimble" market inside out, and we also knew we could quickly learn about plates, bells, mugs, and other collectables.
We didn't settle for free sites or unprofessional web space. We got our own domain, hooked up to a credit card processor, and set up an online shopping cart system to handle all orders. For less than one hundred dollars, our internet presence was ready to go live.
Here's a checklist we used when starting our online store:
Customer service is the key to repeat visitors. Make sure you include full ordering and contact information on your site. Include privacy policies and return/refund procedures too, so that your customers know they're in good hands.
We started with a dream to turn a hobby into a sure-fire seller. We now earn a living, have thousands of loyal customers/friends around the world, and all this has been achieved through our online store. The dream is not only applicable to disabled people, but also to people who are in a dead-end job or need extra money. It can be done part-time as I can only work 1 to 2 hours a day for health reasons. The possibilities are unlimited!
It has taken me over twelve months and three websites to learn from my mistakes. You can now learn from my mistakes for free, all you have to do is ask. So now it's time for you to decide, are you just going to sit and dream, or are you going to take action?
