Time to start our own auction brand!?

[bojob]

In that instance, it would still be a problem if they type the description themselves. If they didn't realise it was a glossy, they wouldn't have typed glossy in the description

At least with the drop downs me us it will indicate that there are different options.

The other benefit if if you are going to browse. If you look at COMC they always have the same description so you alway find tw cards in the right spot!

Totally Agree mate I believe it would make it easier

Just had another Idea. If we are able to gather all the prices of cards with are sold on our site (and possibly eBay), we could make our own price guide. I think collectors would appreciate something that reflects actual prices of cards much better than Beckett does! Of course this will be a spin-off of the business after it becomes successful

What do you guys reckon?

Sounds pretty good mate

 

[ooneil]

I think if we are going to go further than cards then we need to have a good marketing strategy to get traffic/buyers onto the site.

 

[lilreddevil]

I think if we are going to go further than cards then we need to have a good marketing strategy to get traffic/buyers onto the site.

What about trying to get Hobby shops to use us and promote us to their customers? I know of a few in Blacktown which sell RCVs and some in Parramatta too.

 

[drob50]

The trick to ANY new business is having 'A Point of Difference'!!!

This is why we should be doing the SWOT analysis first up. It allows you to make a COMPLETE list of all the things that we want to include in this site that is the downfall of other sites. For example... fees. This would become one of our targets - imagine emailing the whole list of eBay sellers that have/are selling cards and say "no sale, no fee" or "one fee covers unlimited sales for a month" or whatever deal we think of.

eBay is at the stage where it doesn't need to go looking for business, it just needs to sit and wait for traffic to come to them. Whereas we will actively seek out customers/sellers etc.

I haven't yet had a chance to read anything that was discussed this morning, but would love to see this SWOT done asap so we can change this 'ideas' session into actual planning!

 

[bojob]

The trick to ANY new business is having 'A Point of Difference'!!!

This is why we should be doing the SWOT analysis first up. It allows you to make a COMPLETE list of all the things that we want to include in this site that is the downfall of other sites. For example... fees. This would become one of our targets - imagine emailing the whole list of eBay sellers that have/are selling cards and say "no sale, no fee" or "one fee covers unlimited sales for a month" or whatever deal we think of.

eBay is at the stage where it doesn't need to go looking for business, it just needs to sit and wait for traffic to come to them. Whereas we will actively seek out customers/sellers etc.

I haven't yet had a chance to read anything that was discussed this morning, but would love to see this SWOT done asap so we can change this 'ideas' session into actual planning!

All for it mate Sound like some good ideas hope your at the next meeting haha

 

[ooneil]

Adam - do you want to do a swot analysis to run through at the next meeting??

Also I been using quicksales today - im getting pissed about how slow the website is during heavy traffic. Lets place this in the "potential issue we need to consider" bucket.

 

[drob50]

No probs! I guess I just need to know a little bit more about how the site is going to work?? I mean, how exactly do we want it to differ from eBay?

Not sure if you guys covered this today?

 

[lilreddevil]

No probs! I guess I just need to know a little bit more about how the site is going to work?? I mean, how exactly do we want it to differ from eBay?

Not sure if you guys covered this today?

What do you mean by differ? As in what 'products' will we do differently, or what will we do better?

 

[ooneil]

We did not cover it all. we are still working on the vision but maybe speak to brett and get some ideas from hin.

 

[drob50]

I mean, in order to do a SWOT, I need to know reasonably accurately what this site will be. By that, I just mean that it is impossibly to list the strengths and weaknesses of a product/service/venture without knowing what it will be.

How about, I don't DO the SWOT, but I coordinate it? We can do it as a group. Usually these are better to be done by a group anyway as different people think differently.

Not sure we should post details here, but maybe if anyone who think they can help posts their interest here, I can on and get the ball rolling.

 

[bojob]

I mean, in order to do a SWOT, I need to know reasonably accurately what this site will be. By that, I just mean that it is impossibly to list the strengths and weaknesses of a product/service/venture without knowing what it will be.

How about, I don't DO the SWOT, but I coordinate it? We can do it as a group. Usually these are better to be done by a group anyway as different people think differently.

Not sure we should post details here, but maybe if anyone who think they can help posts their interest here, I can on and get the ball rolling.

Sounds good mate do you have skype? The few of us that talked this morning all set it up... reckon be better to discuss this stuff there?

 

[karlsta26]

Could be interested in becoming an "investor" when all the details are worked out.

 

[drob50]

My biggest problem is that I find it hard to set aside particular times. I have 3 kids so I might be able to start talking but then have to go for a while. That's why I find it easier on here where it is just 'reply when you can' sort of things.

I would probably just make up a sheet which you guys can complete and I will compile them all and elaborate a bit further.

 

[anakinleo]

I mean, in order to do a SWOT, I need to know reasonably accurately what this site will be. By that, I just mean that it is impossibly to list the strengths and weaknesses of a product/service/venture without knowing what it will be.

How about, I don't DO the SWOT, but I coordinate it? We can do it as a group. Usually these are better to be done by a group anyway as different people think differently.

Not sure we should post details here, but maybe if anyone who think they can help posts their interest here, I can on and get the ball rolling.

That is still open to discussion. We understand if you need to go for a while coz I have got one monster myself. We'll appreciate if you could sit in anyway and be part of the planning.

 

[bojob]

Sounds good mate but rather send PM's then post here on some things?

 

[bojob]

Sounds good mate but rather send PM's then post here on some things?

 

[drob50]

No probs! And agreed!

How about if anyone who is keen to help with the initial SWOT pms me their email address. I will send a document tomorrow to be completed, then I will compile that, send it to Brett for his thought, and then come up with a final version to discuss at a meeting?

 

[anakinleo]

Could be interested in becoming an "investor" when all the details are worked out.

We'll keep you posted very soon. Cheers Alex

 

[Cobretti]

ill start the SWOT for you.

Strength
- Hobby Collectors (i.e. as making a site that tailors for hobby collectors).

that is really the only strength we have atm.

Weakness
- Finances to directly compete with big players (this will eventually turn into strength as profits grown)

Opportunities
- This is where most things we want in here.
ie. Unique experience

Threat
- Competing against other auction sites.



as I said in PM not sure if everyone read. I got a mate who runs a self started in dec 2010 hosting company who I have talked about this idea in the past but never had time or enough people interested. He can provide a dedicated (free of charge) 1gbit server in europe, the benefit of this is if stuff goes wrong we got good customer support as he is admin of the servers and it cuts down monthly server charges to nothing if that is his investment into this. He also has programming skills which would help ease the load of one programmer/developer. he hardly sleeps too so good support for customers.

 

[jonnov0007]

first of all, great idea guys and good luck to you all!! i dont have the time or money to help, but i will definately sign up to an account on the first day!!!

I think if we are going to go further than cards then we need to have a good marketing strategy to get traffic/buyers onto the site.

i know a few online stores using their whole advertising budget on google alone(where you get a first page search entry) might be expensive, but worth looking into
Also, when you get online, hitting the media circuit with emails (current affairs shows, morning news,radio shows, online news eg ninemsn.com etc etc)
im sure if you use the angle "ebay sucks, so were doing something about" someone will love to make big corp. look bad.
be pretty cool if you made it on a current affair or on ninemsn. alot of site hits with that.