Internet store to live another day

First of all, wouldn't you know that we got an order on the TIAS site yesterday??!! Massive panic as we searched through multiple storage bins to find the item that was purchased - I knew this would happen! After months of packing and unpacking for show after show, never being able to pack a bin the same way twice, it's become complete chaos to try to find anything that we've listed on the website that is also something that we take to the shows.

Which is our complete internet store inventory.

And now approaches the end of the TIAS store, and an opportunity to start fresh someplace else. We are going to set up shop with eCrater, a free web store builder and a free online marketplace. With this new store will be different merchandise, however. I have seen (and did see, the entire time) the sheer folly of listing the same inventory in the old store that we were taking to the live shows. Keeping track of items sold was never a problem - I keep very detailed records - but that nightmare of actually putting my hands on something that's been carefully wrapped and packed away in a box that's buried 3 deep and 2 back in the spare room - well, that dream was realized and it wasn't pretty! The air was blue with the language coming out of my mouth, oh my!

And we never did set up our shipping rates properly at TIAS, which meant that we hadn't covered our expenses properly. So this time we'll be doing our homework more diligently, and also, having to weigh each item as we put it into the new store. The shipping rates will correspond to the postal service's Priority Mail rates, which is how we prefer to send items out.

My head is spinning at the work ahead of us. I've got the postal scale already, as I'd bought one months ago, then not used it when setting up shop at TIAS. Hopefully, this will dovetail nicely with the end of the live show season here. As we slow down with the shows, we'll be ramping up the new internet store.

Getting Re(t)a(i)l

OK, so that's an awkward title for a post! But I'm actually excited that yesterday I took delivery of a credit card terminal so we can put through those sales that I've been whining about. I'm waiting on a call from the helpful technician from NACCA, who sent us the machine. He'll run me through how to operate the thing, and we'll be off.

It's a step backwards technologically speaking, since we started out being set up for doing the transactions with them for the internet store. But since that's about to close up shop, we had to make alternate arrangements so that we could still have the convenience of offering the convenience of plastic at our shows.

This company has been helpful and supportive throughout the entire chaotic experience with TIAS. They actually speak with me on the phone, and answer their emails within hours, if not minutes, of getting them. Yes, I'm still a mite titchy about the treatment we had at the hands (-off) of TIAS.

So we'll be able to do the manual imprinting at the shows, and run each transaction through the terminal at home (or wherever we are, as long as we have electricity and a phone line) and that will be it. What a relief. And, what an advantage!

....The training for the terminal unit was a breeze. I was able to key in the transaction that I had left over from the West Palm Beach show. So great not to have to worry about the website coordination to do these! This is older generation technology - you need a land line for the phone, and a plug. None of this handheld wireless stuff - but then, this IS an antiques business. Aw! Isn't that cute! (But I loved it!)

Leaving TIAS

We've decided that after a six month trial at TIAS to admit defeat, pick up our marbles and leave. A single sale in January can't justify the monthly fee that we're charged; the company doesn't seem to be seller-oriented in their support (just read about my recent experience with them trying to process credit card transactions as an example); and their cloodgey, clumsy search engine that prevents getting a good result a couple of times a day means that even if someone ever found us on the World Wide Web in the first place, they can't always get the search engine at the site to work properly. Here's an immediate example of how they aren't oriented towards serving their dealers - I sent them a message yesterday afternoon about terminating our service with them, and here it is, the next day, and I have yet to receive an acknowledgment or reply from them. It really says it all. On the Information Highway, TIAS has been a Dead End for Time Travelers!

I'm feeling defeated by this decision, but at the same time, greatly relieved. It was so disheartening to check my emails every day and NOT see any orders. It was discouraging to write press releases twice a week, only to have them swamped amongst the scores of others on the TIAS site within hours. It's really, really hard work to take good product photographs and write the appropriate copy, only to have it sit unread and unseen in your store. I've learned how to take great pictures! And I'll continue to post my best ones here for people to enjoy.

The reality is that our antiques and collectibles business is quite successful - the shows that we've been doing have been getting better and better with each time out, as we refine our product selection and learn our customers' wants and needs. This after only 4 months of doing shows. It makes sense to cut back spending money where it's not being used wisely, and concentrating more on the areas where we are doing well.

Upcoming for Time Travelers: Memorial Day weekend we'll be close to home at the Sun, Sand and Swing event at our very own Treasure Island. Right on the beach! Music! Food! (I wonder if we'll sell anything??!!) We'll just have to see.

The last weekend in May we'll be doing a one day show in Arcadia, Florida - surely the last outdoor one of the season!! This is a regular event that gets great reviews from all the dealers we've spoken with.

Helpful dealers I've found at TIAS and elsewhere

You know, giving credit where credit is due - I'm finding that, overwhelmingly, within the antiques and collectibles community, the dealers are helpful and very giving of their knowledge and good sense.

Most recently, I posted a link to my blog and asked for suggestions for my show checklist. Bearing in mind that the forum has to do with online merchants, I didn't expect a huge response. But of course, I was mistaken.

Please take a moment and check out the following links to the dealers who have helped me so much - they have great stuff too!

Neeley's Antiques, owned by Marty and Karen. They've had a store at TIAS since 1998 and so have had oodles of great advice to give me about my online store there. (I'm working on it, I'm working!) Karen never fails to give me encouragement and support.

Material Pleasures - Dana has a standalone storefront within TIAS (that means her web address is her store name only). She specializes in antique and vintage textiles as well as other wonderful items. A beautiful store. Dana is also steadfast in her encouragement.

Eliot Dennis Jewelry - Excellent technical know-how from this dealer. Beth has helped me out with my store's funky background, which I loved, but as a wallpaper was really distracting to the eye. Just one example of one dealer helping another out.

Tear Drop Memories - check this site out! Greg has been great with suggestions for improvements and refinements to our TIAS store. He's actually the person who planted the suggestion for starting a blog by explaining the benefits of writing one...

Tennessee Antique Shack - Sierra was the first person to respond to my post at the dealer forum as a newbie. (That makes you special!)

Sandy's Fancy Pants - now I have to admit that I'm partial to the store name for rather obvious reasons. Sandy's a moderator on one of the boards on the dealer forum, and has been great at helping me negotiate the technical aspects of the TIAS store - something that I struggle with.

Donna's Korner Kollectibles - someone else who really took the time to go over our store at TIAS when it first opened and offered lots of great advice.


Overwhelmingly, these dealers and others (I'm so sorry if I've left some kind people out!) have gone out of their way to make things better and easier for us. They've helped in raising the bar overall for dealers at the TIAS online mall by helping me make our store look and operate better. How a store looks, how the inventory categories are set up, how you use the internal press release system, and how you charge shipping rates all affect the impression an online customer gets when they find your store through using a search engine to find that perfect "something".

I can only offer my thanks to these generous dealers for shining the light my way.

Today's picture: A Dominion Electric waffle iron, circa 1950's, with original electrical cord, and recipe book. Bakelite handles, and chrome in excellent condition. We found this vintage beauty in a lot at a local auction house. Isn't it handsome?

TIAS - a whole lot of nuthin' going on

Well, since our online store's debut at TIAS, just over a month ago, we've had a few inquiries for items that we don't carry; a request for valuation on an item that a person thought was over 100 years old but wasn't manufactured until 1957; many friendly "hello's" from far and wide... and not a single sale. I've made use of the internal press release system to promote the store within the TIAS website, doing so twice weekly as we're allowed; but to no avail.

I've considered putting one or two items up for auction at eBay - yet another arena in which I have zero experience - but the most recent postings on the dealer forums are certainly discouraging, from a seller's point of view. More and more, it would seem, eBay is becoming a buyer's delight, and not in the least a seller's. The cost per transaction has been restructured, and from some of the calculations I've seen it's a bad deal unless you're what they call a "SuperSeller", doing a really high volume of transactions - not a small business person like myself. So I'm not at all certain that it's the right venue for me to be trying, especially such a novice as myself.

So instead, I turned on the feature at the TIAS store that allows a prospective buyer the option of making me an offer on a item. I'm hoping that this at least will be the start of potential conversations with customers that's not otherwise happening right now. It will give people the option of bidding on an item without having to go through eBay - they'll be able to deal directly with me, and I'll evaluate whether or not to accept an offer or not. I put out a press release that Time Travelers is Now Making Deals!! on the main TIAS page.

We'll see if this change has any impact. It sure would be nice to sell something from the store (she said wistfully).....