Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle All the Way! Get Your E-Biz Ready for Xmas!

[mandy]

10 Holiday planning tips for ecommerce merchants...

1. Make sure you can handle the increase in traffic...

2. Keep control of your store. You need to be able to add, modify and delete things yourself, at any time, day or night. In peak periods your stock position can change quickly. You need to be able to respond immediately. You don't necessarily want a Web developer setting the priorities for what products are online. Only you really know your business. For instance, you may want to change prices, promote slow-moving stock or substitute products when you get alternative supplies.

3. Cater to last-minute shoppers. Christmas shoppers fall into two camps: those who buy in September and those who buy after Dec. 20. Make clear what is the last day to buy for delivery by Christmas. Ideally, put this on the header or footer of every page in your store. Once the deadline passes, change your message to say that orders can't be fulfilled in time...

full article: http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solutions...hp/3633446

[Anita]

Chat on the SB is that they are getting ready for BIG sales this year.  Apparently, their short term memory is shot.

[cranky_hippie]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=5231.msg24397#msg24397 date=1159033402]
Chat on the SB is that they are getting ready for BIG sales this year.  Apparently, their short term memory is shot.
[/quote]

Many of them are definitely living in a dream world. Should be VERY interesting to see how they all feel about mid-December.  :o

[Anita]

LOTS of people said how their sales sucked or "when is the shopping season going to start," etc.

Do they NOT remember this???  Oh wait, they probably lowered their standards.  BIG sales now means two items or 20 bucks.

While I am rambling... a seller that used to post (frequently) that she made $5000 a month gross on eBay has posted recently how well she is still doing on ebay... $500.00 a month. 

It isn't the dollar amount that is important here, as much as how well she is still doing when the difference is $4500.00.

[bargainbloodhound]

Chat on the SB is that

I thought the chat on the SB was endless excuses.  I read a post today where someone claimed it was slow because it was September  ??? add that to the list of excuses over the past 5 months: tax season, Summer, the economy, parents are busy sending their kids back to school, etc... 

Umm no, it's slow because it's eBay and traffic is way off because buyers are sick of having to jump through hoops to make a purchase, glitches/page not found messages, inflated shipping costs, fraud, counterfeits, etc.

[Anita]

The ones that claim to be having good sales have simply lowered their standards, or are using "eBay Math."

[maryrussel]

1. Make sure you can handle the increase in traffic...

However, this will not be a problem if you are still relying on eBay for all of your sales.