Winged Mermaid
11-07-2012, 10:44 PM
In my own venture into the world of online retail, I began to realize a few things about the market of the merfolk community. Selling online is a pain in the fin. As if everything else wasn't hard enough for online marketers, you have to add on the endless fees. On top of those is the fact that mermaiding and merfolk attire and accessories is still a niche market. In my making of the store and accessory list (for this thread (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2558-The-Official-Merfolk-Accessories-Store-List)) I came to realize how discouraging it can be, and had to sell things, when you add everything together.
The truth is that most stores only have a few items listed at a time, and some only specialize in a few types of items. This can make promoting and getting constant customers in a problem. Often times items and whole stores get "swept under the rug" of the net, simply becuase they don't have more to offer and therefore don't keep the public's attention. This often keeps people from selling things online because they only have one or two things they want to sell, and they deem it far too much trouble. I've even seen very successful mers who make beautiful and popular accessories give up selling becuase of all the hassle. It didn't seem right to me.
Then I got this idea brewing in my head. What if there was a place where all the merfolk could list items together? Put it all in one place. No dozens of different store fronts, no hassle with promotion, and better yet.. NO FEES. All of what merfolk want, by the community for the community. .. A sea of possibilities.
"Well hell, I'm in this deep. Why not go deeper?" So I bought a domain and got to work. Just as I'm starting out selling things myself, I realize I'm leveling the playing field to a certian degree and possibly sabotaging my sales. But at this point it's not about me- it's about the community, and what I can do for you guys.
So I present to you: The Merfolk-Co Op (http://themerfolkco-op.com/)
A online market place BY the community, FOR the community. With NO FEES.
I'm not miracle maker, so this isn't etsy. It's going to take a lot of work, but I hope to make it a well working machine that will make listing and selling items easy.
Here's how it works:
Email us at TheMerfolkCoOp@gmail.com with your information. This includes different information on your product, information on you as a seller, and pictures for your listing. The form to be emailed to us with this information is located at the bottom of this page (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=1).
We will also ask you for some html codes- these are the "Buy Now" button codes generated in your personal or business PayPal account. Yes, you MUST have a PayPal account, and you must provide us with these codes. This is what allows us to list the item on our site so that the transaction goes directly to you. PayPal even has a tutorial on how to make a "Buy Now" button.
If we decide that your item is appropriate to list on the site we will post your item up on the store front and email you back giving you a link to your listing. When a customer decides to buy your item and clicks on the "Buy Now" button, it will go straight to your PayPal payment page. The money will go directly to you, and you will be responsible for communicating with and shipping the item to the customer. It's that easy! Manage your items and financials through PayPal as you wish, but no worries about fees or store fronts! If you want to list items you MUST read this page and the rules (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=1). For more information see our Terms of Use (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=7) and Privacy Policy (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=6).
Keep in mind that this is entirely new. This may work out, it may not. It's in beta testing, if you will ;)
Tell me what you think!
The truth is that most stores only have a few items listed at a time, and some only specialize in a few types of items. This can make promoting and getting constant customers in a problem. Often times items and whole stores get "swept under the rug" of the net, simply becuase they don't have more to offer and therefore don't keep the public's attention. This often keeps people from selling things online because they only have one or two things they want to sell, and they deem it far too much trouble. I've even seen very successful mers who make beautiful and popular accessories give up selling becuase of all the hassle. It didn't seem right to me.
Then I got this idea brewing in my head. What if there was a place where all the merfolk could list items together? Put it all in one place. No dozens of different store fronts, no hassle with promotion, and better yet.. NO FEES. All of what merfolk want, by the community for the community. .. A sea of possibilities.
"Well hell, I'm in this deep. Why not go deeper?" So I bought a domain and got to work. Just as I'm starting out selling things myself, I realize I'm leveling the playing field to a certian degree and possibly sabotaging my sales. But at this point it's not about me- it's about the community, and what I can do for you guys.
So I present to you: The Merfolk-Co Op (http://themerfolkco-op.com/)
A online market place BY the community, FOR the community. With NO FEES.
I'm not miracle maker, so this isn't etsy. It's going to take a lot of work, but I hope to make it a well working machine that will make listing and selling items easy.
Here's how it works:
Email us at TheMerfolkCoOp@gmail.com with your information. This includes different information on your product, information on you as a seller, and pictures for your listing. The form to be emailed to us with this information is located at the bottom of this page (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=1).
We will also ask you for some html codes- these are the "Buy Now" button codes generated in your personal or business PayPal account. Yes, you MUST have a PayPal account, and you must provide us with these codes. This is what allows us to list the item on our site so that the transaction goes directly to you. PayPal even has a tutorial on how to make a "Buy Now" button.
If we decide that your item is appropriate to list on the site we will post your item up on the store front and email you back giving you a link to your listing. When a customer decides to buy your item and clicks on the "Buy Now" button, it will go straight to your PayPal payment page. The money will go directly to you, and you will be responsible for communicating with and shipping the item to the customer. It's that easy! Manage your items and financials through PayPal as you wish, but no worries about fees or store fronts! If you want to list items you MUST read this page and the rules (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=1). For more information see our Terms of Use (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=7) and Privacy Policy (http://themerfolkco-op.com/cms.php?id_cms=6).
Keep in mind that this is entirely new. This may work out, it may not. It's in beta testing, if you will ;)
Tell me what you think!