Setting up shop online or on ebay...

**Purple Lady** · 05-11-2011, 01:10pm

Hi We have had our childrenwsear/school uniform shop nearly 2 years but its just been too quiet lately and as the lease finishes in April we have decided to call it a day. We have loads of stock to sell off though and i feel like making a start now, rather be left with it all in April. Can anyone advise whether having an ebay shop is worth it or would it be better setting up an online shop? If latter, to ensure buyers can use their credit cards safely, how much does the software cost to make the website safe?

Many thanks for any help!

PS I personally have a really good ebay score, so could i sell the stock under my ID or is this not allowed?

**nickimacrae** · 05-11-2011, 01:32pm

Well if you set up your own site then you are going to have to put quite a lot of effort and/or money into getting people to find it so they can buy stuff - so it would really depend on how much stuff you have to shift as to if that's worth it, you know? Money as in say google adwords or effort in terms of building up the search engine rankings for something you'll only need for a few months or a year. So I'd say maybe Ebay is the easy option.

If you set up your own site you can just use paypal for payments / payment buttons, people can still use even if they dont have an account and pay via card, it's as safe as most things really, there are some drawbacks over a online card terminals but it's much cheaper. Do you have a card terminal in the shop?

**Purple Lady** · 05-11-2011, 01:51pm

thanks nicki for advice,yes we do have a card terminal in shop. i think ebay may be best option though as theres stacks to sell at the mo x

**nickimacrae** · 05-11-2011, 02:03pm

Oh well if you have the card terminal and do set up an online store there will be ways and means of using this - but I agree with you, I think Ebay is going to be easier and more sucessful. You could always set up a Facebook / Twitter, etc and use that to promote the Ebay too, or something?

**Purple Lady** · 05-11-2011, 02:10pm

yeh thats a good idea about facebook. ta x

**Damsella** · 05-11-2011, 03:01pm

I'm really surprised you're not selling online already - you have the stock just sitting there, after all!

Definitely try Ebay, and I'm fairly sure you can set up a shop website easily.

**scatterbrain** · 05-11-2011, 03:07pm

I would set us a school clothes ebay store rather than using your own ebay account purely because it's easier. Whatever you do, you'll need to encourage people to go to the site (posting on netmums/forums/facebook etc) and you should get some 'passing trade' through ebay too. Also, put signs up in your shop to make sure people who usually shop there know that they can continue to buy stock online.

I think an aweful lot of people with shops also have online or ebay stores now.

S

**Chell** · 05-11-2011, 07:56pm

Why not just change your eBay ID to your business name. I think you can easily change it. People prefer a seller with good feedback.

**Chell** · 05-11-2011, 07:57pm

Could you try local school Chistmas fairs to sell stock? Round here they charge about £10 a stall.

**Purple Lady** · 12-11-2011, 01:03pm

hi thanks for the extra advice everyone.

Chell, I didn't know you could change your ebay username!Also yes I said to DH, we can do nearly new stalls etc from April. We cant do them at the mo cos i am in the shop saturdays and DH has the kids.

I will post a link to what we sell when its all set up online

thanks everyone x