A new type of online auction site: Tophatter

Buy and sell jewelry online with the new colorful auction website http://tophatter.com/ Categories include jewelry sales, supplies, and more. The site is colorful and well designed giving you the feel of being at an actual auction. Tophatter describes itself as "the world's 
most entertaining live auction site featuring gorgeous items at exclusive prices." 

You can set it so that you receive a text message when your item is up for auction so you can go online and answer any question people have about it. The auctions go fast, maybe about 2 minutes for each. Bidders view information about your product like product name, pictures, description and you can also add a link to your website by writing simple HTML to include <a href> links. Be sure to post about your website so that people can check out what else you have for sale online. You set a price range instead of a set price like "$10-$20" Tophatter makes 10% commission on your sold item. With an instant sale, it's not a bad deal. You don't have to wait days until your piece sells like on other websites. Take a look at Top Hatter for yourself, there is no cost to join. http://tophatter.com

Financing your dream business

A lot of people want to start a business but the main problem is finding the financing to start the business.

- Some ask family and friends to invest in their dream.

- Some start small and use their own money to get started. Which is a great way to start before you jump in to a large investment.

- Some start campaigns like www.kickstarter.com to gain investment money from peers by giving incentives for donating.

-Some use credit cards to aquire everything they need to start up. Some credit cards offer periods of "no interest" for instance 6 months without interest so it gives you time to make up the credit card payment by selling off your investory and paying it back without having to pay the extra interest. Search online for the different credit card options available to you.

- There are online payment solutions for businesses like www.zazma.com that help you pay for your business supplies now and pay later with low interest. Zazma helps buy the items for you through the suppliers you want to buy from, you receive them and you only have to pay back Zazma for the supplies within an amount of time you choose. This is great for buying inventory at wholesale, reselling it, and then paying for the supplies after you sell them without putting money down up front.

Whichever method you use to fund your business, be sure to pay back your loan when it's due, and pay off your credit cards as soon as you can to avoid growing interest fees.

How to Start a Costume Jewelry Business

by Melinda Gaines, Demand MediaFrom this online source: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/start-costume-jewelry-business-10254.html

Costume jewelry, also known as fashion jewelry, runs the gamut from simple silver pieces to large cocktail rings. Selling costume jewelry can be profitable, as it is not only bought and worn by female consumers of all ages, but also purchased by males to give as gifts. The costume jewelry business is flexible, as there are many ways you can start and grow your venture, and it can be operated on a full or part-time basis. 

Step 1

Target a niche, or specialization, for your jewelry business. Doing this will enable you to focus on buying only one type of costume jewelry and distinguish yourself from your competitors. For example, you could specialize in selling vintage costume jewelry or vintage replicas, trendy affordable costume jewelry for teens and young women, artisan and handmade costume jewelry or designer costume jewelry brands.

Step 2

Obtain the permits required in your state and city to operate a retail business. Depending on where you live, this may include a sales tax permit, resale license or assumed name certificate. Your local small business development center or Small Business Administration office can let you know what business documentation you need.

Step 3

Purchase wholesale costume jewelry to sell, if you will not be making your own. Before spending money on any jewelry, ensure you can make at least a 30 percent profit from it, after accounting for labor costs. There are several ways you can source your inventory, depending on your niche. If your specialty is vintage costume jewelry, shop at estate and garage sales, browse online auction sites, sell jewelry on consignment and place print and online classified ads. If you're selling new pieces, you will likely need to open wholesale accounts with manufacturers and distributors of costume jewelry, or buy liquidated -- meaning deeply discounted -- inventory from other retailers.

Step 4

Secure at least one venue from which to sell your costume jewelry. Options include leasing or buying a brick-and-mortar store, renting a mall cart or kiosk, becoming a flea or antique market dealer, throwing home jewelry parties, opening an online store or selling via Internet auction websites. If you plan to make your own costume jewelry, consider all of the aforementioned options, with the exception of antique markets. You could also try selling at your local farmers market, if they accept non-food vendors, or a marketplace for handmade items, such as Etsy.

Step 5

Find a storage area for your inventory of costume jewelry, if you will not be opening a physical retail location. A clean spare closet or airtight storage containers would be suitable, as long as they are placed in a dark, odor-free and pet-free area.

Step 6

Promote your costume jewelry business in a way that suits your chosen retail venues. You could launch a promotional blog, open social networking accounts, place targeted online banner and website ads, send press releases to local, regional and national media outlets and donate or lend pieces to be used in a local fashion show in exchange for publicity. You can also place coupons, brochures and fliers in complementary businesses, such as clothing boutiques, hair and beauty salons and shoe stores.

Visit www.MyAccessoryBusiness.com to purchase a costume jewelry starter kit and start selling jewelry today!

Get them to buy on impulse! Impulse= double your sales!

Did you know that 64.3% of product sales are made by individual/ person-to-person selling?

Buyers are more likely to buy something when they can hold it in their hand and look at it. But even more likely than being able to see a product in person is being able to take that product with them immediately. People are most likely to buy on impulse. A lot of the direct selling companies out there give you samples to show your buyers, but then they have to write in an order from a catalog. Then you have to deal with sorting out the shipment and delivering all the orders long after the sale is made. My Accessory Business give you all of the products immediately, not just samples. There are no catalogs. You simple lay out all the products on a table or display piece and customers can buy them and take them home immediately! Because there is only one of each piece being sold, there is more of a sense of exclusivity and an intense call to action since they will realize that if they don't buy the piece immediately, it will most likely be gone soon. When buyers order from a catalog, they realize that there is a possibility they could order a piece later if they wanted, so there is less of a sense of urgency.

To buy a My Accessory Business Kit, go to www.MyAccessoryBusiness.com


http://www.dsa.org/research/industry-statistics/#LOCATION