ForumsInternet/eCommerce

I rode motorcycle in my country, here a few items I found very important: Helmet, horn, rain suit, leather (gloves, jacket, pant and boots) and car horn.

Hi Rex - Thanks so much for your input. The reason we want to start this business is because we ride motorcycles outselves and this will be something we will really enjoy doing. We're tired of working and making money for OTHER people, and it's time to step out on a limb and do what will make us happy.

This is the perfect location for a biker gear store ... LOTS of biker traffic and people who ride always stop and check out the biker stores wherever they go. It's almost like we can't help ourselves Also, right across the street from our store is a large restaurant that attracts bikers and upstairs in our same building a guy is opening a photography studio for bikers. (He'll take the photos that people have taken on their rides and transfer them to prints, videos, whatever they want). Both of these will also attract business to our store.

We've never done anything like this before, but I am certain that we'll be a huge success!

Opening day will be March 1, 2008 ... The name of our store is "Cherohala Biker Gear" in Tellico Plains, TN. It's beautiful there, and even if you don't ride a motorcycle you should check it out sometime! (If you get a chance, check out the Cherohala Skyway on the internet. Our store is right at the beginning of the skyway).

Thanks again!
Cindi

Great ideas - Thanks!

We already have two of the cabin rental companies handing out our "Opening March 1st" flyers to everyone who rents a cabin, and luckily most of them ride bikes, so we're getting the word out there before we open. I never thought of doing something with the restaurant across the street. Great idea!

Also, for our "Grand Opening" the first weekend in April, we're having a live local band (they're playing for tips), the "volunteer fire dept." will be there with their one fire truck (small town ... selling raffle tickets for $1, and the proceeds go to the fire dept. (which makes the local people very happy). The prizes will be hats, t-shirts, some items that are donated by some of the local vendors, and the BIG prize will be a weekend at one of the really nice cabins in the area.

Some of the people who work at the local animal shelter will be cooking burgers & stuff on the grill, for donations to the shelter. (another nice "in" for us)

We're advertising in the local newspaper and radio stations.

Our web-site is being put together now.

Got any other ideas???

Yes we do .. and that's a great idea - thanks!

Hi Max,
I really appreciate your response to clu2's questions.I have a question for you concerning creating a vibrant e-commerce site.Actually i went through a company called STORESONLINE but i was not getting what they promised after 2 months.My wife and i have already paid closed to $1,000 dollars for a worthless software they gave us.We had to call our bank to stop payments into their account because they won't just stop.Am into the entertainment industry.I have this sport business idea that i need to put online but can't do it alone because i need a computer genius that can partner with me.The website should be youtube like.

My question is this do you think i can build this kind of website going through linux ?O r do you know anywhere on the worldwide web where i can locate someone with these qualities?

I will highly appreciate your response,

rgds,

Samson.

Hi Brainbag

We have been in the IT business from Mainframe times. Please dont get involved with ecommerce sites, unless you know what they can deliver. An e-commerce site can go from $100.00 to over $100,000 depending on what you want. I know you have a number of ideas but be specific in what you want. An e-commerce site is very different from a youtube site.

An e-commerce site for a starter should be around $250 if you want a shopping cart. For the amount you paid you could have purchased a content management site with a shopping cart. This allows you to just design the web pages without any programming costs. You dont need a web programmer constantly upgrading your site and paying for it. Start with an e-commerce site till you have the exact direction in which you need your web site to develop into. Then you can get into professional development. Another point to bear in mind for a site similar to youtube, it will cost a considerable amount of money for hosting this type of site. Video streaming uses a lot of bandwidth for internet access. If you have the capital for video streaming and for hosting then only go in the direction of youtube.

Initially go for the e-commerce site and develop a clientele. If your interest is video streaming then please post me and I will try to locate a free CMS for you to try and then proceed in the direction you want. All it would cost is the hosting and the payment processor costs. I hope you have people who are good graphic artists. If not then lets find you some. There are a couple on the small business community.

I could go on for ever discussing e-commerce. Please specify what exactly you want and then proceed. I am willing to help anyone

Another point I forgot, yes it can be done in Linux also as long you target a php shopping cart