Savvy Shopping 'n More Blog July Archive

Don't forget, you can use your blackboard wall to make reminders for the family, like pick up Kelly at 5:30 or Freckles to the vet 7-16 at 4:30. You can simply write your notes or even a grocery list and then just wipe it clean!

Watches Shop

Your name?

Andy Fletcher

Your Location (city, etc)

London

When did you start your website and why?

Launched this month because we have a warehouse literally bulging with designer watches - top names such as Emporio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Lacoste and Maurice Lacroix. They're all the genuine article supplied with full original manufacturer packaging, warranty information and instructions. We're also stocking the J-Springs (a new brand produced by Seiko) collection which boasts some wonderful chronograph, sports and automatic watches. Recently added Sector (well known in Italy, but less famous elsewhere). More brands are coming soon!

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Designed to be quick to use. We've opted for PayPal Pro as our payment processor because it has such great brand recognition for security, and they already have such a large userbase. The business model is simple. We buy the watches in bulk and are able to pass most of the saving onto the customer. Some of our models are discounted by 75% or more against the high street price.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Integrating PayPal Pro! We think it's worth it though. the checkout process is fast and secure.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Processing orders - we do it fast, and we ship fast. Unlike most of the watch sites you'll find on the net we are actually selling our own stock - not dropshipping from some remote distributors' warehouse and hoping they do the job right for us.

What was your biggest mistake?

Not launching the site 15 years ago. Not sure how we can fix that one though!

Who maintains your website and why?

We do. We wanted to have total control over the design, product database, everything. We do this because we don't want customer data on some third party system that we do not control. We opted for PayPal as a payment processor so we don't have a need to store any customer financial data.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Greater reach to customers worldwide. We do free delivery to UK customers, but we can ship anywhere other than some of the fraud hotspots such as some African and Far East locations.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

The bubble has not burst yet and growth is still very much achievable.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is a long term operation for those with the patience and perseverence to undertake it. The days of making a "quick buck" on the net are rapidly (and rightfully so) drawing to a close. Just like the real world, making a success of an online business requires hard work, dedication and steadfast commitment to treat your customers with the respect they deserve.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

The top source of traffic without doubt, but NOT the only one. We are not blinkered into thinking Google will bring customers to us. Unfortnately the search landscape has shifted so far towrds Google that the other engines appear insignificant. I would hope this will eventually change.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

I'll tell you next year ;)

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Not opening it sooner.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

Less SPAM - both websites and e-mail.

Where can I buy a genuine Dolce & Gabbana watch for half the price it is in the shops?

http://www.watchesshop.com

There are other places on the net you can do this of course. They are slightly more expensive, ship slower and may not even have the stock ;)

What is your website address?

Watches Shop

A 2 Zone Electronics & jewelry Sales

Your name?

Brenda Moreno

Your Location (city, etc)

Memphis

When did you start your website and why?

I started my site about two months ago to make money..

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

It is a drop ship business, we will sale every where 24 hrs. a day. We specialize in electronics, jewelry, pet supplies. We sale everything from A 2 Z. There is over 200,000 products available on our site.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Getting our ranking in the top 10 so we can sale.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Writing this note.

What was your biggest mistake?

Not knowing where to start, I am steal working at it and having zero funds. If you can help please let me know. I will never give up.

Who maintains your website and why?

I do, no funds to pay anyone.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My website is my business.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

I hope it grows and get easer to understand.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

It is way to difficult for newbies.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

They have helped in many ways, except they don't explain in away every day people can understand.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Non Yet

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

All so fare.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I would like to see the enter net be more people friendly where it want be so hard for people just getting started.

What is your website address?

[404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. azonesales. com, anchor: A 2 Zone Electronics & jewelry Sales]

Unique Gifts Gift Ideas Silk Flowers Area Rugs Collectibles Jewelry Novelty Gifts

Your name?

Mike

Your Location (city, etc)

Muskegon

When did you start your website and why?

Our company was formed in February of 2003. We started it to give consumers a safe and fun online shopping experience for gift buying.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We offer unique gifts for any ocassion at affordable prices. We also feature home decor, jewelry, fragrances and more.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

The hardest part is structuring a site that is surfer friendly. We want our customers to be able to find exactly what they are looking for without having to spend a lot of time searching for it.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

The easiest part is meeting our customers. We offer several ways to contact us, so we can interact with out customers.

What was your biggest mistake?

The biggest mistake we made was offering too much at once. The site was overwhelming and we found that shoppers were leaving too soon.

Who maintains your website and why?

We have hired several outside professionals to make sure the problems are kept to a minimum.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Our business is our website, so it is the biggest benefit.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

Ecommerce is getting so big that it is hard to comprehend. Safer shopping technology reduces the risk of fraud and Amazing Gifts~N~More offers the highest technology available.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is very difficult because it changes so often. Simply creating a website will get you no where fast. You have to be willing and able to adapt to the algorithms of the search engines, or have a lot of advertising money.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Search engines are still the best source of quality traffic. If you get your site in the big three- Google, Yahoo and MSN all others will follow.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Getting into Google. A lot of smaller search engines simply take results from Google, so getting top ranks helps.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

E-mail advertising. It is a waste of time for everyone.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I think it is growing so fast we need to find a way to get the search engines to be really specific. They still have work to do, but they are trying and it will soon be as safe as walking to the corner store.

How does your company differ from other sites?

Amazing Gifts~N~More provides a safe shopping experience by utilizing a strict privacy policy, and the highest encryption technology to prevent fraud. We offer a broad range of unique gift ideas such as home decor, silk flowers, designer fragrances, collectibles and thousands more items at affordable prices. Shop for any ocassion too. Birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Fathers and Mothers day, Amazing Gifts~N~More has it all.

What is your website address?

[404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. amazinggiftsnmore. com, anchor: Unique Gifts Gift Ideas Silk Flowers Area Rugs Collectibles Jewelry Novelty Gifts]

Name of your website?

Kratom Master

Your name?

Jerry Harris

Your Location (city, etc)

Fultondale

When did you start your website and why?

I started kratommaster in march of 2007. I was so impressed with the angesic properties of this herb, I decided to start a store.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Kratom Master is a descriptive easy to order wed site. We offer FREE, same day shipping.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

SEO

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Working in shorts and T-Shirt

What was your biggest mistake?

not calculating all the cost and overhead

Who maintains your website and why?

Myself and help from a few friends. COST

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

The website is the business

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

Fantastic

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Tuff

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Helped of course, but not always fair

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

forums, blogs, and of course word of mouth

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

pay for click and paid sponsor

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

A fair search engine

You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:

Which search engine generates the most hits? I think google, can anyone help here?

What is your website address?

Kratom Master

Buy Telescope, telescope reviews

Your name?

John Gibbons

Your Location (city, etc)

London

When did you start your website and why?

I started my telescope website about a month ago.

I had big passion for astronomy. Few years back I was looking at buying a telescope. I purchased loads of magazines on astronomy and telescopes. After I managed to get a fantastic TAS telescope from Russia!

My main aim for starting the buy telescope site was due to - the TAS was not my first telescope. In fact I purchased a cheap telescope, I won't embaris the manufacturer! However, all I can say is that it was no good, only good for looking at the moon.

This made me want to create a site for people so they could find a telescope that will give them joy for many years to come.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Like a kind of said above about my motivations of creating the buytelescope site. It basically is about finding info about telescopes so you can buy your first telescope, and also know how to use telescope, find astronomy info. Basically have the best experience from astronomy.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

I'm used to designing websites, so I would say it wasn't that hard to do. However, I would say the time needed to learn some new platforms like wordpress was a bit of a learning curve, however, nothing like back in the day ~ trying to make websites using notepad!

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

Writing content. I love astronomy, so I find it easy to speak about telescopes and astronomy.

What was your biggest mistake?

Not starting the site years ago!

Who maintains your website and why?

I do. I have the skills. I like it like that.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My site is mainly a information resource for people interested in buying their first telescope and for seasoned telescope users to come and learn and give their input. If the site makes money, it will be great as it will encourage me to spend more time on their.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

The internet is truly a fantastic model. The net has changed a lot since the 90's. I miss hearing modems doing their beautiful handshake sound! At least for the coming future, I feel that we will see more flexibility (i.e. we can customise and move around everthing). Programming will be in the hands of the many. This has come about already. And we can see this with web 2.0 myspace, etc... and the biggest of all PDA's being our access points.

The house will have servers (exactly like large corporations). Basically whatever Bill Gates has in his house, mainstream will have over the next 10-15 years.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

95% of SEO is the foundations. 5% is the tweaking.

WH goes for 0% optimisation, while gray hat goes for 4-100%. BH goes for it all. I think there are a lot of hype with SEO. Keep to the basics and it will surfice for almost all needs. And remember links.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

SE's do a great job.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Various methods.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Designing a site, putting a site up and thinking that will be all I needed to do! How wrong I was, lucky I learned!

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

The progress is good.

Why should people visit your www.buytelescope.co.uk site?

Visit our site, and let us create the best resource for telescopes on the net. I want your input, add a comment. Tell us what you want, and let us provide it to you.

What is your website address?

Buy Telescope, telescope reviews

Xing Trade

Your name?

Xing Trade

Your Location (city, etc)

Yongkang

When did you start your website and why?

in 2005 to deliver a better platform to our overseas customers

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

we buy and export a large variety of consumer goods from across China we have a multi cultural team (Swiss, Chinese and Indian nationals)

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

time

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

customer feedback

What was your biggest mistake?

lack of exposure

Who maintains your website and why?

ourselves

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

based on it

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

further sustained growth

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

needed

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

much more can be done

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

email marketing to customers who request such information online (not SPAM)

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

search engine

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

remove the non serious companies

What is your website address?

Xing Trade

Bradshaw wholesale

Your name?

Jimmy

Your Location (city, etc)

Lancaster,sc

When did you start your website and why?

1998, to help folks like us who were aggrivated that they had to buy in bulk and recieved terrible customer service. We wanted to give them what we could not find.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

NO minimum purchase, joining, membership fees, Inflated shipping charges, NO kidding! Sell in your Antique, Gift, or Online Store, EBay Auction, & at Flea Markets too. Or buy for you and your family. Buy Licensed Disney, NASCAR, Coke, Pepsi, Harley Davidson, Joseph's Studio, Jim Shore, Susan Reader, John Deere, My Little Kitchen Fairies, Precious Moments, Mickey Mouse, Pooh & Friends, Sherratt & Simpson, Northwood Bears, Old Mountain, Chef's Secret, Christian Figurines, Antique reproductions, Vintage Tin Signs, Cast Iron, Barbie, Electronics & more!

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

keeping our prices lower than everyone else, but still maintain quality and high grade customer service

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

helping folks make money

What was your biggest mistake?

not building this business sooner

Who maintains your website and why?

I do, to maintain the high quality I expect for our customers, I gotta put in the time

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

Met a lot of great people and helped a lot of business and regular folks make money, thats fun!

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

With the world getting crazier every day, the internet and internet sales will only continue to grow

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is important in factoring the critical aspects of site growth

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

Helped, although they sometime make it difficult to succeed

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

SEO, correct uses of keywords, discriptions and titles. Plus ads!

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Pay per click. Its not all what its cracked up to be

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

The net needs to continualy become a safer place for the adverage person to trust. This will help speed growth. The more scams, the less growth

What is your website address?

Bradshaw wholesale

Holiday Treasures

Your name?

Brenda Prevost

Your Location (city, etc)

Debary

When did you start your website and why?

I lost my dad on Christmas Day, 2001. I've always loved the holidays and so did he. Instead of Christmas being a sad reminder I decided to make it an all year celebration. That turned into a store for all the holidays which opened in August of 2005.

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

We sell seasonal decorations, lights and costumes for all the major holidays. Things like Christmas tree lights, displays, adult and kids costumes, inflatables ,etc. Many of our products are for both residential or commercial use.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Creating it was fun, with the help of an excellent web developer! Running the site effectively is a bit challenging. The constant updating of new products, checking for any errors or functionally problems and the like is a bit mundane, but very necessary.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

I love the marketing side of things. Finding new ways to promote the site is something I truly enjoy. Also, being able to shop all year for the latest holiday products is great. No matter what time of year it is, its a holiday for me!

What was your biggest mistake?

I made some bad decisions early on trying to promote my site. It cost me a fair amount of money but I've learned alot since then. I also lost a lot of money to the click fraud problem when doing paid search advertising.

Who maintains your website and why?

I do most of the upkeep. If it is something technical, my web developer handles it. I prefer to handle myself because I'm a real "nit picker" when it comes to accuracy. I did hire someone once to help and I'm still spotting mistakes of theirs.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

My store is online only for now. I do hope to have a brick and mortar in the near future.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

New regulations like PCI compliance are imminent. This should weed out alot of dishonesty on the internet and entice more online purchasing. Right now the internet is like the "Wild West" and consumers don't feel safe. The future of the internet will be a much more regulated world than it is now.

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is one of several important features to a site's success. Organic search is still the top traffic source. Consumers are "trained" to look at the left side of their screen first so you need those search engines to rank you well. Also, consumers tend to trust sites that are found organically verses an advertisement.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

They have definately helped. I have more than tripled my business from last year after having optimized my site.

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Other than effective SEO I'd have to say writing and submitting articles. The internet is a great source for information and when my articles get published on newsletters, etc. I see a great increase in visits.

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

Paid search advertising. With a small budget, I can't afford the problem with click fraud. I once went through $100 in 30 minutes with no orders. I think the search engines need to do more to stop this problem but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

Making it a safer place for consumers to shop. Less threat for identify and credit card theft. Also, a place where children can surf without becoming victims of so many terrible crimes.

What is your website address?

Holiday Treasures

Topasio.com the #1 Web Jewelry Store

Your name?

Chaim Seper

Your Location (city, etc)

New York

When did you start your website and why?

8 month ago, we started to retail jewelry

Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc

Provide our customers a large variety of Diamond Jewelry, Gemstone Jewelry, Masonic Rings, Gemstone Globes Wedding Bands at discount prices and we are giving exceptional Customer Service.

What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?

Find the right Shopping cart and Team around to get the project of the ground.

What has been the easist part of operating your website?

nothing comes easy, at least not when you start

What was your biggest mistake?

Don't trust everybody their is gazillions of people designing and doing web jobs, I would say a lot of hem have no clue. Pretty much a no mens land in terms of pricing.

Who maintains your website and why?

Volusion.com is a robust Shopping cart and gives a lot of features and is easy to handle.

Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?

we are starting up just an online business. we will see about that.

What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?

It is the Future

What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Another nobodys land, nobody will give yo guarantees but everybody will take your money. You have to learn and understand SEO.

What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?

no comment

What method has been most successful for promoting your website?

Affiliate program

What method has been least successful for promoting your website?

google adwords

What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?

I wish it would be easier administrations for Websites out their.

You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:

Thank You

What is your website address?

Topasio.com the #1 Web Jewelry Store