Online Supplement Sales?

[gfactor]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has their own supplement eStore and was wondering what is needed to get started?

Business License, lawyer?, webpage, wholesaler?

I would appreciate any help!

Thanks.

 

[Superior1]

You don't neccesarily need a business license although to open a bank account you will in 90% of the cases. Since that is a fraction of the costs to get things started I'd suggest it.

You could look into a lawyer but hopefully you never need one. It's not neccesity. You may look into product liability insurance especially if you intent on running your own private label. Most brand manufactures will have product liability insurance so you as a distributor shouldn't need it.

Regarding web page. There are freebie software carts out there oscommerce to name one, but it lacks good tech support unless you get it set up with a webmaster that puts you on a contract for setting the cart up and to offer tech support and maintainance for it.

As for other carts out there that has a more substantial costs. There are packages out there by hosting companies where you pay them a certain amount $400-$500 for a year and they set up the cart for you and have built in support for a year etc.. Getting customized site will run you substantially more.

If you intent on carrying brand names a wholesaler like Europa is a feasible start. As many manufacturers will not sell directly to you unless you own a brick and mortar store or intend on ordering truckloads if a web store.

Otherwise if you plan on carrying your own product line there are companies out there that have basically prefabricated supplements and will stick you label on it, but you need to know more about the company if you go that route. I prefer raw material selection myself and they have a company capable of packaging do the packaging or else low enough volume if can be handled in house with some proper equipment.

Getting things started in toilsome and since it's highly competitive compensation isn't like gear. If you have a real niche product obviously that aspect changes some if it's a good product. So if you get started you need to have a long term vision and an intend to dedicate yourself to it for a length of time. It's certainly no give rich quick scheme if you want to run something real and legit.

 

[bigbuc524]

this is my company

http://www.dcaruso.qhealthzone.com, but i also sell over 1 million other products like household cleaners, detergents, paper towels, clothes, and i am partners with nike, barnes and noble, circuit city, etc....i am looking to expand my e-commerce business and could help ya out if you are interested, check out the products and try some and let me know if you'd like more info.

[email protected]

dave

 

[Pekkerwood]

I was a partner in a supplement sales company years ago. One key to internet sales is to remember that, unfortunately its the adverstising copy/endorsements, and purported (often exaggerated) benefits that sell the product.

To gain traction you are going to need your website designed for Search Engine Optimization. This is going to be difficult because you are competing with a lot of companies nationally rather than just your local area and they all are using SEO some using "Blackhat" SEO techniques that may get you banned from google search.

Even with SEO optimization expect it to take a year or so to get a "good" placing in organic search engine results. Learning "adwords" and paid advertising on Google can be a way to get customers. Some of the most successful operators actually lose money on the the first sale to a customer. The cost of advertising and product is more than the net profit of the sale. The key is the "value" of the customer. How much is the average customer worth to you over a year? You have your followup emails and offers ready. Of course this takes cash to support. But I will tell you this. As soon as you get an ad that returns $1 dollar of profit, you can build your business greatly but expanding the number of ads.

Consider hiring professional copyrighters for your products.

Also I had my products made in a lab that produced for many other companies. I paid more because I had small runs (1000 bottles at a time) but almost everything I had cost between $3 and $5 including product and packaging with our own label.

My old partners still have one or two products we designed at most GNC stores.

Pekkerwood

 

[Nexus]

I was a partner in a supplement sales company years ago. One key to internet sales is to remember that, unfortunately its the adverstising copy/endorsements, and purported (often exaggerated) benefits that sell the product.

To gain traction you are going to need your website designed for Search Engine Optimization. This is going to be difficult because you are competing with a lot of companies nationally rather than just your local area and they all are using SEO some using "Blackhat" SEO techniques that may get you banned from google search.

Even with SEO optimization expect it to take a year or so to get a "good" placing in organic search engine results. Learning "adwords" and paid advertising on Google can be a way to get customers. Some of the most successful operators actually lose money on the the first sale to a customer. The cost of advertising and product is more than the net profit of the sale. The key is the "value" of the customer. How much is the average customer worth to you over a year? You have your followup emails and offers ready. Of course this takes cash to support. But I will tell you this. As soon as you get an ad that returns $1 dollar of profit, you can build your business greatly but expanding the number of ads.

Consider hiring professional copyrighters for your products.

Also I had my products made in a lab that produced for many other companies. I paid more because I had small runs (1000 bottles at a time) but almost everything I had cost between $3 and $5 including product and packaging with our own label.

My old partners still have one or two products we designed at most GNC stores.

Pekkerwood

great post!

 

[Physick]

http://www.dcaruso.qhealthzone.com, but i also sell over 1 million other products like household cleaners, detergents, paper towels, clothes, and i am partners with nike, barnes and noble, circuit city, etc....i am looking to expand my e-commerce business and could help ya out if you are interested, check out the products and try some and let me know if you'd like more info.

[email protected]

dave

Dude that's quixtar. Nothing wrong with that but call it like it is.