What a cool idea! I never thought of that. I have to get good with taking the pictures first, that has become an adventure in itself - I'm trying to find a simple spot in the studio that will be consistent lighting, and simple. l want snapping the photos to become part of the assembly line - create, string, install ends, take photos, package. Working on making this a convient part of the process. I really really like that idea though, and it would add a touch of class to the site.

I know what you mean about buying hardware online, my friends will still go to the store and spend way more for a wireless router after watching me spend a fraction of the cost on tigerdirect. I've been using these sites for ages. Maybe I assume too much that people "will" buy some jewelry, but heck, if the ones that do will buy it from someone else if I'm not there, right?

Thanks for a groovy idea! I'll add that to my list of research topics.

Opening an online store just for "another outlet" is not always the best idea. You may end up just wasting a lot of time and resources for nothing. The example of selling a house online just wouldn't work. Yes, people goto the website to VIEW the house and gather information but they won't actually make the purchase online.

How can you say that you don't see the relavence in me knowing the product before making suggestions? The product is the most important thing!! Your product has a target market which defines how you will set up your website (if at all) for online shopping.. You can't just say "some will buy and some won't". You have to KNOW who will buy and who won't.

Let's say you sell jewlery that is cheap which would likely be targeted towards young teenage girls... They have a lot of disposable income and would be a good target market. But, if you setup online shopping.. how many of these young teenage girls will have a credit card where they can use paypal or some other online payment?? They usually have CASH. That means they walk into a REAL store and pay using paper, not plastic. In this case, your website should only be informational with a simple payment method like money orders.

Knowing your target customers is one of the most important things. Take another example, if your target is old ladys. They have credit cards and probably have some money. But, they don't use computers!! How are you gonna get them to buy online? In this case, you should not even use a website.

Now look at the computer example.. the target market is computer people. They are usually comfortable doing things online. In addition, a computer is a computer is a computer. I don't have to try it on to see how it looks on me. That's why computer online sales work (like books and cd's).

Jewlery is not computers.. you can't make that connection. Jewlery is part of fashion and people would probably like to see how it looks on them before buying it. UNLESS you go for the cheap cheap and more cheap strategy.

And yes, paypal is easy... for you... but is it easy for the customer? Again, you have to look at your customers. How many would have a paypal account? How many would go through the hassle to open a paypal account?

I'm just pointing out things you need to consider. Going online is not simply throwing up a website. If it isn't done right, it can end up hurting your business. If you are experimenting, I would go with a different name. Register a second company under the original one. If you are serious about going online, I think there needs to be a lot of planning.

Please stop attacking my efforts. Please stop being so negative and discouraging. I am not as STUPID as you are making me look. STOP!!! I'm sorry you have such a negative attitude but DON'T rub it off on me.

I am and will continue to be optomistic about my venture. WITHOUT the likes of you putting me down, talking down to me, and insulting my business. You sound like a 15 year old know-it-all.

Go offend somebody else, if it makes you big man on campus.

An online jewelry shop doesn't always have to have customers buying its products online. The website could also work as an online catalog, if a persons has likened a particular ring or necklace he or she could just call the store to purchase for more inquires or visit the store if he or she wants. this way he/she could as well save time travelling to the store. instead of going there only to find out that there is no jewelry that they would like to buy.

lol, who sounds like a 15 year old? I'm not making you look stupid.. you're doing a good job of that all on your own. If you don't like what I have to say then simply ignore it. I am simply pointing out things you need to consider. This is an online message board and I cannot make assumptions about what you know or don't know.

Being optimistic is good and all but that doesn't mean you neglect other important aspects of online shopping. Anyway, I'm not gonna bother talking about it. You clearly are offended, though I'm not sure why.

If you percieve some constructive critisism and feedback on your approach to an online store as negative/discouraging comments, and even insulting... then fine. No skin off my back. I don't have to prove, nor do i even want to prove, my credentials in a forum such as this. To that end, I will not be replying in this thread anymore.

@boycradle. as I tried to say in my post earlier, informational websites are usually the way to go on big ticket items (like the house example).

Constructive? No.

Insulting and discouraging, yes.

Starting a message with "do you really think people will buy" my crap? They might. I'm willing to risk it.

Nobody wins if we don't encourage eachother. I'm staying on the forums because other people have been encouraging and very nice about giving advice.

Now go do your homework and leave the business stuff to the adults.

There are LOTS of online jewelry shops. Tons of jewelry passes through eBay, I'll bet if you put it all in a truck there really would be literally tons.

Problem is, we don't have our own store. If we did, that would be cool, but we live very near places where tourists visit, so gift shops and places like that are a good option for us. My b/f has been out of business for 2 years for cancer treatments, and he's getting back to work now. I've offered to help with marketing. I know I have big ideas, and I have to be careful with OPM (other people's money). I'm researching and asking questions, and peeking at other jewelry sites. There's so much out there to look at, study, and I'm just asking questions on these forums.

Your suggestion to make it more a catalog, is where I'll start because I'm nervous about shopping carts and OPM, but I also don't want to lose sales by not having an easy option for people who want who want to buy.

so much to learn! Thank you

I personally think it's a good idea to try this, and it's fun for you to make it work too...
and about the houses example: yes, some may just view the houses and never return, but some view them and get interested <especially when it's not very expensive stuff you're slling> and may visit the real store...
I like the fact that you are willing to take a risk for this, it's like an experiment: you may have luck, and it may fail, either way it's a fun project to do (else you wouldn't do it would you?)

I think if you just use a basic html page (maybe some easy php scripts in it...) and for example the agora shopping cart system or another system like that, it could look professional.

one tip:
put alot of pictures on it, and an easy way to view them all, when viewing websites, the most fun thing is to view pictures of what they have (computer example) and then consider buying something; in the real shop, or online using paypal or anything.

good luck with it

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i agree to StonedMetalJewelry for the attacking thing, it's like no9t9 doesn't want him to start with it. lets just give him some advise and try to help him, let him take the risk, he'll find out if it fails, and if it works: good for him!