Kidson Talks | The E-commerce Chemist

I did think about writing what was learnt at CA catalyst this year, but as Tamebay do this already – I thought I would put my sponsor head on and detail for potential new sponsors why Createyourtemplate has bothered these past 3 years

1. The food – you are always fed ‘n’ watered well as a sponsor and attendee at Channeladvisor events. This year we had more time for the feeding process (which so happened to be in the room with all the sponsors) so as people eat they like to talk, so potential clients will wander round with their coffee chatting to other attendees and to the sponsors.

2. Other third party providers – Catalyst is always good to catch up with our fellow third party providers and competitors (Grrrrr…arrrrg) to see how they are fairing in business and exchange experiences.

In the Channeladvisor world the third party provider space is not that huge, so we all get to know one another. When you have a network of trusted service providers you can recommend to your existing clients, we all bounce off one another. Even companies who on the face of it are direct competitors, are not normally carbon copies of each other. They can offer and lend services so that the client gets what they need.

3. Other third party providers, that don’t sponsor also attend the event – I negotiated a nice deal and introduction to a newer marketplace (playtrade) that would suit the direction one of my clients is taking. He will be happy with this

4. Potential clients – it’s why us sponsors go really, to get business. The good thing with potential and current ChannelAdvisor clients is that they are pre qualified. When you are speaking to a potential they are interested in moving forward and contracting a company to make this happen.

5. Networking – Talking e-commerce with a few free alcoholic beverages in you is fun. You meet new friends and clients in a more relaxed atmosphere.

6. Ideas – potential clients are brimming with ideas, information and enthusiasm after all the seminars and speakers. They are in the MOOD, and ready to make waves with the help of us sponsors perhaps?

7. CA Staff – I spoke to lots of CA staff, to catch up with personally and to speak about clients. Lots of new introductions too. I had a demo of their new ’salesforce’ offering which a client of mine wants us to integrate in his store and eBay design. I also got a pair of fresh eyes on a clients SearchAdvisor account because it is driving sales and traffic to a store designed by us. We want the store to be excellent in all things and we take conversion very seriously

Well that is what as a sponsor and eBay/E-commerce design company, CA catalyst means to me.

eBay is my worst addiction, something I have to actively prevent myself from using. I average a £200 per month spend on eBay – according to my buying totals. Recently I decided to manage this addiction and restrict myself to a £100 per month spend. I decided instead of buying, I would watch and if after watching for a while I still wanted the item I would buy it.

But my frugal (for me) nature had me thinking about my decisions. Is my behaviour indicative to the general eBay buying public? I got to thinking why I feel I need to be more careful with my spending, we are out of recession right?

WRONG! Buyers are not a statistic or a line on a graph. Not long ago I had a spare £300 to flitter away on eBay each month, but what has changed? I have found my cost of normal living has risen from £895 per month to £1075 per month over the last 12 months. We don’t eat any more than we did, rent has not increased but the cost of living has steadily risen – council tax up £5 a month….electricity/gas risen £40 per month….petrol risen £60 a month (I am driving a bit more) so as it is harder to increase ones earnings to mimic the speed of ‘inflation’ you have to cut out the frivolity. (In fact I decided to put an end to weekend working, and work 9-5 so I could have a work/life balance)

eBay for me is pure frivolity – rarely do I *need* anything I buy – but my buying puts a little push to the spin of the global economy and occasionally I give back by selling. I have my yearly spring clear out looming.

So I have £100 per month to spend on eBay/online on stuff I don’t need, so how am I persuaded to buy?

1. By email – once a month, show me the new items you have if I have brought from you before. I am a creature of habit – I love your stuff, remind me you exist Pander to my obsession, for example an eBay seller I buy from reminded me that April is cherry blossom season in Japan and to be a part of that beauty I could purchase Cherry Blossom tea. I brought some, plus a cherry blossom scent – they were not on my watch list and I had not planned to buy.

2. Give me something free – free shipping or a free gift. Many Japanese sellers do this, a simple hair clip or phone charm – something relevant.

3. Be consistent – I like to think, look and study what I buy. I have a set of saved sellers that I constantly bid on items they have, raising the price and hopefully winning at some point. I know these sellers always to have a good selection of the item I want (be it one off unique items or consistent stock) I am wary of ‘junk stores’ that don’t specialise in an area (or a set of areas) as I want these sellers to know about their products and be knowledgeable – I can’t see/touch the physical item so I like to think the seller has already verified the goods and wouldn’t knowingly sell me rubbish. Hopefully their feedback tells me this.

4. Get to me at the beginning of the month – I am rich then and still have the £100 to spend and its burning a hole in my pocket.

5. Help me find you – eBay tries to hide you from me but use the most glaringly obvious keywords for the item and don’t lie to me. I am an exact shopper, I don’t want it if it is ‘like’ something else. I use Google to help me find real names for things (especially when buying traditional Japanese stuff)

6. Explain to me quickly about the item and don’t make me ask you a question – I rarely buy after a question is answered as I have usually found the answer in another sellers listing. Even if they are not as cheap as you – I am a busy girl and short of time

So that’s how I spend my £100 a month on stuff I don’t need. My eBay addiction and the addiction of others keeps our community thriving, keeps third party providers with clients and small businesses keep our economy going.

Thank you to the people that have email though in recent weeks – sorry I have been slow replying. I always read and reply to email’s personally and still love to hear your thoughts. I will blog about the following support topics as soon as I am able:

1. De-bunking the ChannelAdvisor Premium store set up process – a guide for those with little concentration.
2. Breaking down eBay’s changes for real people.
3. How to be the client in a web project (I like this one, no one ever tells the client what they need to do – and you are so important to the development process)

Thanks!

I am going through a very slow clean out process – separating business and personal socially. You have sets of friends though life, business friends and friends who want to see your cat photos. Some cross over, but that is quite rare as business is cut throat, and a significant amount of trust is needed.

And also acceptance. I have never hidden the fact that socially, I am a bit out of the ordinary. I grab at any chance to don a full kimono or outfits of the gothic persuasion and funnily enough, this tendency does not affect my abilities as a consultant or developer. But some seem to think so

Facebook updates and tweets to the outside world can be misconstrued by sensitive businesses and I can’t always think of every angle to what I say in a random facebook update. It’s probably not about you, unless I call you out by name. But I can’t stop you thinking it, we all have a victim complex from time to time.

So on twitter and facebook Hairfreax is personal and matches my hobbies – you will know what my next outfit is, when I washed my hair and be able to see how my cats are doing or new hairpiece designs. Kidsontalks on twitter (and soon facebook) will be business related musing, and people who are more business friends and connections (who probably don’t really want updates on my cats diet) will be added there.

I apologise to those who have to put up with both, and those who I have removed from my personal facebook page.

I don’t have a lot of time, I work 24/7 and also weekends (today is a bank holiday but I am still at work with a list of to-dos and programming) so this is a slow process.

It is coming up and at last count only 10 seats left – Frooition customers got a last minute £49 off the event to make sure all seats were full.

This year just feels very positive, the business is going well and I have worked with some great clients like http://www.tacklediscounts.co.uk in the last few months. They are experiencing their best ever eBay sales record and we hope the website which is promoted by searchadvisor (a channeladvisor search product) and soon a little marketing creative from CYT will match this.

But as always, with my head deep in XML/SQL files – I need to brush up on my oh so current eBay – a lot has changed this week it seems and I need to play catch up.

I have been doing a mix of projects, from SEO and programming to consultancy and design.

I shall be sitting in all the conferences this catalyst (or as many as I can) so my head will be full of blog-able information soon.

Speak then my e-commerce lovelies.