topic Re: New Store Questions in Selling

New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:20:45 GMT

Hello and thanks in advance for any guidance you can give.

I've been on ebay for ten years buying and selling off and on, but concentrating my selling activity elsewhere. Now I'm considering the jump to a store, but will my feedback score (1000+) be imported to the new store?

Also, and this is a long shot, but if you subscribe to the 'anchor' package - can you split that package across two (or more) stores? That would be perfect for me as my mum and I co-run two different types of stores, a 'geeky' one and a more serious elegant jewellery one.

I would appreciate any thoughts,
Thanks!
Jen.

Re: New Store Questions

*crikey*mate* — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:35:33 GMT

@murdershetote wrote:
Hello and thanks in advance for any guidance you can give.

I've been on ebay for ten years buying and selling off and on, but concentrating my selling activity elsewhere. Now I'm considering the jump to a store, but will my feedback score (1000+) be imported to the new store? Yes! The credibility that is already established by that number will be invaluable. What a great asset! Hard going starting a store from 0... have to build the buyers trust. But they see FB 1000 and they are comforted by the stability.

Also, and this is a long shot, but if you subscribe to the 'anchor' package - can you split that package across two (or more) stores? No

That would be perfect for me as my mum and I co-run two different types of stores, a 'geeky' one and a more serious elegant jewellery one.

I would appreciate any thoughts,
Thanks!
Jen.

best of luck with your new venture

Re: New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:37:59 GMT

Thank you so much for the quick reply - that clears things up for me nicely. 🙂

Re: New Store Questions

digital*ghost — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:40:40 GMT

Opening a store doesn't affect your feedback score in any way - that is, your ID and score will be attached to the store you open.

It's not possible to spread a store package over more than one store, and each ID can only operate one store, but a store can be separated into custom categories / sub-categories, if an anchor store will provide a lot of advantages in terms of costs etc. All of the listings will appaear together on the store's home page, but unless the items are really unsuited to being shown together, it's probably unlikely to turn anyone off.

Re: New Store Questions

chameleon54 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:41:57 GMT

Your feedback should transfer to your store automaticaly. You would not be able to split an anchor store between two seperate store accounts. Many people run two or more seperate ID,s with different products in each store. This presents better to buyers than having different product lines in the one store. Anchor stores are Ebays most expensive and are designed for very high volume sellers with very extensive product lines. You may be better starting with one of the more basic store levels and upgrading to an anchor store if sales permit at a future date. ( you can upgrade at any time. )

Re: New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:53:06 GMT

You guys are so helpful!

I'm intrigued by the idea of sub categories within the store - any idea how many are allowed (some sites cap at 10)? It may not work for us because our buyers are two very different groups, but it's an attractive idea.

At the moment I'm looking at opening a couple of mid level stores ($50 a month, I forget what they're called, sorry), but our business model is targeted at 1000 + listings a month, so that's why I'm considering the anchor package (which is, I agree, a much scarier proposition, price wise).

If you can swap between packages easily then we may start out smallish and grow from there.

Thanks again for the input 🙂

Re: New Store Questions

chameleon54 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:07:26 GMT

My larger store has around 50 catagories, ( and havnt run out yet ) so a lot more than ten. The store has 1600 - 1800 listings. I did the numbers on converting to an anchor store recently, but still not quite worth it. It takes a lot of $$$ turnover and listings before it pays. Probably best to start with either basic or $50 package.

Re: New Store Questions

digital*ghost — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:16:15 GMT

A store can have up to 300 categories (in total, across all levels), and they can go 3 levels deep. Taking your info as an example, your store could look something like this in the navigation menu (I had a quick peek at your current listings to ensure I didn't take any liberties with "geeky" )

Store Home

Mum's Elegant Jewellery

> Bracelets

>>Silver

>>Gold

> Necklaces

Daughter's Geeky Stuff

> Tote Bags

> Jewellery

>> Dr Who

>>Sherlock

If you really wanted to, your homepage could be changed to one you design yourself and could differentiate the two main categories a little more (kind of a "click here to enter Mum's Store" and "Click here to enter Daughter's Store" type of thing where they're linked to the two different main categories, if you think separating the two would present better, and you could use different templates to give each listing a different kind of overall presentation, while still keeping cohesive/matching overall.

You could even play up the whole Mum / Daughter shop as a store theme unto itself (just wild suggestions at this stage - they may or may not be suitable or appealing 🙂 ).

Re: New Store Questions

chameleon54 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:14:29 GMT

Just checked store sub categories. Ebay allow 300 seperate Categories.

Re: New Store Questions

amber-eyed-girl — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:23:57 GMT

Digi, in what way are Dr. Who and Sherlock geeky, may I ask?

Re: New Store Questions

chameleon54 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:25:29 GMT

My main concern with having your own items and daughters items on the one store would be the tax implications if you where succesfull. Are you running a partnership for tax purposes or do you have seperate tax file numbers.? How would the store paypal account details be divided and seperated for tax ? If using the one paypal account you would create a lot of work trying to figure out who sold what and the same for purchases. If you make a profit ( or intend to in the future ) you should be declaring ebay income for tax purposes. If your store turns over more than $20,000 ebay are required to pass your details on to the tax office. If you sell more than $75,000 you are required to charge GST. All things to think about.

Re: New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:26:00 GMT

Ok, wow, can I please get you guys on retainer? You give awesome advice.

I went and had another look at the store packages, because after reading Chameleon's reply I thought I must have made a boneheaded error, and I think I know where my calculations are astray - it's because I predominantly prefer the auction format, and the anchor package is the only economical format (provided they're listed in collectables). I think, given all the variables, it's probably best to start with the smaller packages, pay smaller insertion fees for anything over the cap, and resign myself to fixed price listings.

DigitalGhost- I am so impressed - thank you! Love your ideas 🙂

Re: New Store Questions

digital*ghost — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:33:09 GMT

@amber-eyed-girl wrote:
Digi, in what way are Dr. Who and Sherlock geeky, may I ask?

OP referred to her items as geeky, and the store categories I used were based on the current listings they have up...

Besides, geeky is typically used to describe someone with a (lets just say) keen interest in (or high level of fandom for/knowledge about) something, so phrases like "you're such a geek" in response to someone rattling on about definitions and usage of words, is often considered complimentary, particularly if coupled with something that person happens to like...like me, n' words. 😄

Even "nerd" often has positive connotations these days. 🙂

Re: New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:36:54 GMT

All good questions. One business partnership with all required government tax registrations, two different 'endeavours' shall we say. We help each other but our interests are different. And don't worry, we will be declaring for tax.

I call them 'geeky' because the US tend to label them that way (which is 95%of our business) it's not a derogative term, well not when I use it anyway!

Re: New Store Questions

amber-eyed-girl — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:39:39 GMT

OK, 🙂

Re: New Store Questions

chameleon54 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:51:11 GMT

If running as a partnership the one store would do the job for tax. I still think two seperate stores may work better. You each have your own seperate income and can tailor the store "vibe" to suit the specific customer base. I run two stores which have slightly different target markets as well as a private account for non related items. Two of you selling on one account will hit the GST barrier quicker than seperate accounts. Sorry if this all sounds a bit heavy, but much better to start off in the way that suits your future needs now, rather than try to untangle it all later.

Re: New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:57:42 GMT

No really, I appreciate it. I stumbled accidentally into business (I have a PhD in history) so I still scratch my head sometimes over what the heck I'm doing playing with profit and loss statements. But there you go. I couldn't be having more fun - and I get to chat with great people like you all. 🙂 🙂

Re: New Store Questions

amber-eyed-girl — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:12:10 GMT

What you say regarding two stores being better for various reasons is true...no complications with identity, taxation etc.

Independence is best unless it will be a firm, legalised business partnership for running one store if it is to be a long-term concern.

Only one would then have the starting feedback though.

Re: New Store Questions

digital*ghost — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:33:45 GMT

Just in regards to your handmade jewellery and fixed priced listings, you can work what look like compromises to your preferences to your favour.

I make (and sell) handmade jewellery as well (I run the store with a different ID), though most of it doesn't have a popular theme attached like Dr Who etc, it is a little more niche in terms of style, but auctions don't actually work for me very well. I have tailored my store towards BIN listings, and now, unless I want to keep an item strictly as a one-off piece, try to include some variations so that people can get a more personalised choice (for example, the charm bracelets could have a length variation, and/or a slightly different theme / colour scheme as standard available options to choose before purchase).

That has a couple of advantages - 1, choice, 2, a multi-quantity BIN listing with sales history can be bumped up the ranks in search results (and sales history can also inspire buyer confidence at times), 3, I have found (over time) when you have a constant / consistent presence, you can develop a solid customer base by having some stuff that buyers know they can always find with you, and other stuff that's new and interesting.

I have jewellery at both ends of the spectrum, well kind of, I don't have much of what can be described as fine jewellery (but working on it slowly), but I do have a fairly ecclectic taste in most things, and that's reflected in my store - some of it is low priced fashion stuff with a decided punk/goth etc style, but I also have more traditional jewellery pieces, a few bits and pieces of higher-end stuff, working on including more precious metal and so forth, but the one consistent thing is that it's "mine", if you know what I mean, unique to my store in most cases, and I know I'm not the only one out there that's happy wearing something "pretty" one day, and something a little scary-looking the next, so diverging (or even seemingly opposing) styles isn't necessarily a bad thing in a store, IMO.

BTW, I'm not trying to convince you to go one way over another, I'm know there's a lot more to consider than how it looks to potential customers, just relating from my experience / perspective in case it helps.

EDIT: Oh, and I am a sole trader, so it's less complicated for me in that regard.

Re: New Store Questions

murdershetote — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:53:52 GMT

I like auctions because they drive sales, and I kind of like the unpredictable nature of them. But we've had luck with BIN listings on other sites, so we'll try it that way.

I'd love to combine our items into one store (quite apart from anything else, I could control it from the same ebay app!) , but there are compelling reasons to split them. I think I might put together a pro /con list and decide from there, and mum will definitely have an opinion 😉

Thanks for sharing your experience, that really helps.