| Politicians clamor about how they need to support | | | | given the pressure of time. |
| small businesses. Minorities and Women businesses | | | | Supply and Demand |
| need to get a fair share etc. etc. As the breadwinner | | | | Recently we found an All-in-one package for |
| of the household for the past 15 years, I find myself | | | | drop-shipping that seemed to have a good portion of |
| struggling with which way to go... Back to work? or Put | | | | what we needed. I thought GREAT! This will save a |
| my time into helping my wife sell goods with an | | | | ton of time! We would have our SUPPLIER! I signed us |
| e-commerce business? | | | | up and told her about it... |
| A little Background | | | | Thus began our argument over an email address. |
| I spent 20 years in IT in support of a huge school | | | | (laughs) They gave us a generic email address and |
| district, I had worked my way all the way to IT advisor | | | | had our domain pointed at them. ONE email address |
| to the Chief Facilities Management officer and the | | | | and they would not add another because that was |
| Director of Transportation, but I left after getting | | | | their policy. Now when you get into online merchant |
| aggravated from the seeming folly of overspending | | | | accounts, inventory control, order management and all |
| and mismanagement. The reason I bring this up is that I | | | | that stuff that goes with e-commerce it can get |
| KNOW first hand how government bodies spend | | | | complicated...AND EXPENSIVE. I wanted to get us up |
| money and just how much, it is what sparked the | | | | and running as fast as possible. |
| conversation with my wife about starting her own | | | | Growling in frustration... "Look Honey.. I mean Mrs |
| business and selling goods to them. | | | | President... What possible difference does an email |
| My wife is a A+++ personality, strong independent and | | | | account name make?" |
| without a doubt has strong convictions in her beliefs. | | | | My mind rolls over the thousands of options, the tight |
| She has a clear strong voice and was a DJ for a | | | | budget, and impossible time constraints. I wonder how I |
| number of years. She is also amazing at selling goods | | | | can somehow convey this to her in a way she can |
| or putting together events. We have had many | | | | understand. Finally she goes with it and says "Fine but |
| struggles in our marriage over the years... over control. | | | | if it changes you're buying my new business cards" It's |
| So when we decided she should be president/ceo of | | | | not the cost... it's that I could see the complexity and |
| the business, I could see her eyes light up. I worried a | | | | she could not. This was the simple solution. I was right... |
| little but kept it to myself. I would be the technical guy | | | | I was sure of it. |
| for the business. It seemed logical to put both our | | | | Two days later as I search thru the thousands of |
| talents to work this way. So let's give it a go... | | | | inventory items I realize a few things about the |
| The Startup.. | | | | ALL-in-ONE supplier. |
| Soon we were discussing business names and what | | | | |
| we would sell and how to go about it. Communication | | | | 1. The products are a great value but limited in quantity. |
| is the key... And this is where we continue to run into | | | | 2. They can't handle Tax-Exempt purchases for |
| difficulties. Our limited budget.... to me means... limited | | | | certain products. |
| time. As I work thru the complexities and expenses of | | | | 3. They are less than responsive to our needs. |
| Order management, inventory control, suppliers, and | | | | All in all.. I'm researching alternatives... (unfortunately |
| Search engine optimization, trying to convey these | | | | much more expensive ones...sighs) |
| complex issues to her takes patience on both our | | | | AND.. I will be buying some new business cards for my |
| parts and sometimes that is in short supply especially | | | | wife. |