As some of you may know, I've been working at my new job since February of this year. We moved cross country over a year ago and I couldn't find a new job in our new area right away. Being the new girl in town and not having made any new friends yet to keep busy with, I started to become desperate in my negative self talk around 6 months in, especially about my financial situation and feeling bad for not being able to contribute to help my husband pay for basic everyday things. I was lucky to have saved up a nice nest egg while I was working per diem shifts xray in my last job (there was a huge differential) so I was able to support myself with basic needs such as gas for the car, dog food, vet visits, yarn (yes, yarn is a need!) and other things like that while I was unemployed for a year. My husband managed the rent and utilities. We also used a good chunk of my savings on relocation costs and so after a year, my savings was finally dwindling down to a scary low.
Desperation makes you do seriously stupid things, this I can account for. So what did my dumb ass do? I decided to start my own dog boutique business. In August 2012, I applied for a tax ID number, registered my business name, applied for wholesale accounts and set up my own website with Volusion. I used another big chunk of my remaining savings on all of this and much to my dismay, the website that was hosting my shop ended up charging me way more than I anticipated. A fee here, a fee there, a charge for doing this, a charge for NOT doing that, and with NO customers to help me dig out of the hole. And here I was with a ton of dog stuff in my basement and no one to buy it. What the hell did I get myself into?
After 3 months of being charged ridiculously high fees for hosting my shop and having a SSL certificate on my website (a secure shopping cart that accepts credit cards), I decided to hell with fucking Volusion, I'm moving to Goodsie where it was only $15 a month.
So I spent a week moving all my product listings over to this new website, and I still wasn't making any sales. I tried advertising on my own blog as well as with a few very generous other bloggers who I swapped ads with. I had a twitter and facebook page but it wasn't enough. My efforts were pointless. The only way I was going to see some sales was to spend even more money by purchasing advertising on Google or other websites. I thought about having a big name blogger host a giveaway for me but offering up a prize wasn't enough. I had to shell out $100 just for her to host it. At this point, I didn't even want to think about spending one more dime on a stupid store that was quite frankly pissing me the hell off.
After a few more unsuccessful months at Goodsie, I cancelled my account and with my tail between my legs, I started listing products on eBay for close to wholesale prices just to make my money back. What a fucking flop. How pathetically embararssing is that? I feel so dumb having thought I actually had a chance at running my own business. What was I thinking?
I was mad at myself for wasting my savings on this venture (which could have gone towards, oh um, our HOUSE that we just bought but noooooo), I was mad at Volusion for springing these fees on me that cost more than a week's worth of groceries, I was mad at the people who said they would buy something from my shop but didn't, I was mad that none of the places I bought merchandise from would accept returns, but I could only be mad at myself for being so impulsive, stupid, and giving up.
I don't really have any mind blowing advice to offer up other than do not let desperation get the best of you when or if you are ever unemployed. Don't be impulsive when it comes to business ideas. And if you decide to move forward with your business idea, you better set aside $1000 for advertising costs so you won't be shocked in the end. You'd probably have better luck getting a brick and mortar store in town where people will actually see you instead of having an online shop where you are drowning amongst millions of other competitors.
So over the last year I've been slowly selling the remaining boutique items on eBay and giving stuff away to friends with dogs. But other than that, I'm stuck with this stuff and its a constant reminder of my failure and impulsiveness. And I don't want to have to bring the remaining merch with us to our new house, but I can't just throw it away so I guess I'm stuck with it some more. I do have a ton of collars and food bowls if anyone wants any.
I was kind of wondering where that little business went! I have no idea how online-based companies start out, seriously. It's like...your voice is just a drop of water in the ocean, how do you get your voice out there?
ReplyDeleteI don't think you should feel so bad about this, Alycia! Lots of business people fail at their first start up idea. And I think it's important to share stories like this, too, because a little honesty in start up culture is nice! Also, props to you for having an idea, trying it out and finding out it's not easy.
ReplyDeleteDO NOT be so hard on yourself... businesses fail every day and yours was a really great idea, it's all about the circumstances. Really, Henry Ford's first auto business went belly up.
ReplyDeleteSo, send me your ebay link... I've got 5 doggies :)
I agree with everyone else that you shouldn't be so hard on yourself! I think I read somewhere that most brick and mortar businesses don't expect to make a profit till they've been in business for 2 years, and I have a feeling it must be even longer online. As you said, it's extremely competitive and hard to get seen! Most successful business owners have a failure or two in their past. It's bound to happen if you have the courage to try something new. Also, I had totally planned on buying from you when we got a dog...but we still haven't found one yet. We got really close to adopting one, but the adoption fell through...long story short, I got kind of emotional about it so we decided to take a break from looking for a while. It's very competitive here to adopt a dog, especially if you're looking for a smaller dog, almost like buying a house. Anyway, I'm sure you will be able to sell off your remaining inventory and get your money back. I will ask around and see if anyone I know is looking for collars or food bowls and send them your way. :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for trying! I would be way to scared to even attempt a new business so you should feel proud of yourself for being so brave.
ReplyDeleteMy niece and I started an online business a while back and after 2 years had to give it up. It was a noble cause. Sales never measured up to expenditures and once it affected the family's well-being it was over. BUT I am glad we tried and we learned a lot along the way.
ReplyDeleteRe your excess merch, approach some of those online dog suppliers like Mr. Chewy or Poochiebells to perhaps purchase your overstock. Then it won't be clogging your new home, spoiling your otherwise cheery mood, nor reminding you of the financial loss.
Love Noodles
You are not alone girlie, no need to be so hard on yourself. I tried to make Pulp Sushi an online boutique selling items from a few sellers, that didn't work out so well and was only around for a couple of months when I realized it wasn't going to work out. Some times we jump at making decisions that don't work out but we learn from them and move on.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to join the chorus of "don't be so hard on yourself"! It's so awesome that you had the guts to even try - so few people have that gumption and it's really awesome you did it. I definitely admire(d) you for doing it. Remember that life is composed of failures and successes -- without the failures the successes wouldn't feel so damn awesome. I think if I'd had the guts to do this and it didn't work out, I'd be doing the same thing (focus on the failure rather than the experience) but I promise, it's really not as awful as it feels to you! <3
ReplyDeletethat must have been really hard going through something like that, i can totally understand the emotions. and it doesnt help that most rescues make you jump through hoops in order to adopt one of their dogs. i understand why they do it, but that is what drove us to buy our pug in 07 from a breeder... because we didn't have a house with a fenced in yard and all that. but anyways, thanks for your comment :)
ReplyDeletethanks courtney :)
ReplyDeleteyea that is what was the hardest...getting word out there. its so expensive and exhausting!
ReplyDeletethanks for the tip! i will definitely look into those suppliers :)
ReplyDeletethanks tricia :)
ReplyDeletethanks carrie. i'm gonna email you some pics of merch i have left because i don't have anything currently listed on ebay :)
ReplyDeletethanks caitlin :) i totally agree about the failures making the successes that much more awesome. maybe one day that will happen. for now, i don't even wanna look at another dog toy lol
ReplyDeletethat's true, i totally learned a lot about running a business, especially what not to do haha ;)
ReplyDeleteAt least you tried. There have been so many times that I've wanted to start a business but I'm too afraid to fail. At least you tried. At least you put yourself out there and proved that you weren't afraid of whatever came your way. I think that's a huge accomplishment in and of itself.
ReplyDeleteActually, I just did a mass relisting ;) http://www.ebay.com/sch/alycious00/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
ReplyDeletethanks alicia :)
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh...don't beat yourself up! I always have these "big" ideas that never seem to pan out. I'm sorry that you lost your savings...my mom had a little gift shop in town that she wanted to work so bad, but it turns out that working for yourself is not all it's cracked up to be, funding or no. I wish I had a doggie that I could buy for. But I have two silly cats that run the place. Good luck at your new job...maybe you could do a fundraiser with your leftovers for a shelter and give a percentage of sales to them? Just to get rid of them? I don't know...just a thought.
ReplyDeleteAt least you gave it a go, which is more than most people.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering where your shop went...sorry it didn't work out! But don't be so hard on yourself! I think it's admirable that you tried! I gave up my Etsy shop a while back because I wasn't really gaining anything from it other than giving away stuff for free on giveaways to get the word out...it really sucked as well...but oh, what the heck! haha Hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Etsy? It has a lot of built-in traffic; your items would probably sell very well on there!
ReplyDeleteEtsy is only for handmade/vintage items...
ReplyDeleteI shared the link of your ebay items on my facebook!Hope it helps <3
I can't sell dog stuff on etsy if it's not handmade.
ReplyDeletethanks Chrissy :)
ReplyDeleteYea, i was thinking of contacting the dogs daycare to see if they'd like some stuff.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has owned a business for 13+ years now, I know all too well about those ridiculous website hosting fees and other costs. My clothing line isn't nearly as big as it used to be but still... Most people have no idea how much it costs to run a website that accepts credit cards. I agree that you're being too hard on yourself though! Your shop was super cute and if Bubby was still alive I'd have definitely shopped with you. I just think it's a really difficult time to start a small business. The economy still isn't great and there are so many big box chain stores to compete with. The fact that you were smart and resourceful enough to put it all together and create it from scratch like you did is a testament to the fact that you do have what it takes!
ReplyDelete