Building an online retail store..

[subterfuge]

So I was in the shower this morning. Thinking about cars. THinking about how there realy isn't anywhere in this friggin COUNTRY it seems where one can easily purchase kewl stuff fer there auto (without getting screwed).

Then it the thought comes to me. How difficult would it be to start our OWN online parts store?

Hummm.....

[brandon6976]

So I was in the shower this morning. Thinking about cars. THinking about how there realy isn't anywhere in this friggin COUNTRY it seems where one can easily purchase kewl stuff fer there auto (without getting screwed).

Then it the thought comes to me. How difficult would it be to start our OWN online parts store?

Hummm.....

I'm actually in the process of building one right now :wink:

ANy ideas though are obviously welcome

[subterfuge]

Yer da shiznit.. :D

I need crainal lubracant for ideas.. BEER WHERE IS THY MALTY CONTINENCE?!!!

[ieatglue]

Group buys area that could take a deposit from your credit card and have c7 hold it for safe keeping until parts come in.

The only problem is to get any sort of "good deal" on something you have to buy a lot of it, or have stock and store it somewhere, which I'm sure is something you don't want to do.

How about creating a deal with some local stores on "common parts" like intakes and such. Have them give us a 10-15% discount, and host those items as c7 store items. The price that is advertised is actually 5% more than the deal you got with the local store. When someone buys something, c7 gets the 5% added to the coffers, and someone acts as a go-between between the store and c7.

How about something like that? Just a thought off the top of my head. Could be refined.

[Pete00]

Group buys area that could take a deposit from your credit card and have c7 hold it for safe keeping until parts come in.

The only problem is to get any sort of "good deal" on something you have to buy a lot of it, or have stock and store it somewhere, which I'm sure is something you don't want to do.

How about creating a deal with some local stores on "common parts" like intakes and such. Have them give us a 10-15% discount, and host those items as c7 store items. The price that is advertised is actually 5% more than the deal you got with the local store. When someone buys something, c7 gets the 5% added to the coffers, and someone acts as a go-between between the store and c7.

How about something like that? Just a thought off the top of my head. Could be refined.

i like the idea. however, it would be even better if c7 could be the middle man: manufacture - us - buyer.
if not, your idea is stilla agreeable.

[subterfuge]

Space shouldn't be an issue.

You can have your stock located ANYWHERE. (I mean HELL Peterborough is still only one day's delivery time from Tee-dot :wink: ). ANy place where you have enough space for a few LARGE concrete storage containers..

I think you'd have to talk to the manufacturers directly to find out what your minimum buy in would be. We'd also want to carry only GOOD stuff. Carrying garbage might do more for sales initialy, but you get KILLED on returns.. "The things you do by twos and threes, you pay for one, by one.."

APC is kinda hit and miss from what I'm hearing from others.
From what I hear K&N is having distribution problems in Canada, but is seemingly a globaly well supported product.
I like TYC.. :D
I wonder how buyers are digging 'Jestars' takeover, and how the support on Jestar's product line is? :?

Blah.. Almost too much.. :sad:

The other thing we could try and do, is get some 'exclusive' items. Ie custom fabricated stuff. If we had a design for somthing, we could try and get someone to produce them for us..

[B-WRX]

The other thing we could try and do, is get some 'exclusive' items. Ie custom fabricated stuff. If we had a design for somthing, we could try and get someone to produce them for us..

I'm already working on this :wink: and no it's not the push buttons.

[brandon6976]

someone get out the fiberglass make this body kit. I would seriously pay to have it built lol ntdo from celispeed drew it.

http://www.vignando.com/temp/draw.jpg

[Pete00]

The other thing we could try and do, is get some 'exclusive' items. Ie custom fabricated stuff. If we had a design for somthing, we could try and get someone to produce them for us..

I'm already working on this :wink: and no it's not the push buttons.

what is it? 8)

[B-WRX]

Just give me until the end of the month and you can see. I don't want to say anything more in-case it doesn't work out. But I can't see why it won't, it's simple, good looking and very effective. :D

[Syn]

You can tell me Brent ole Buddy :D :D

BTw, in a past life, I was a mad web site deigner. And I've done the online e-tailing before.

[ieatglue]

I'm responding to my own post here, but what does everyone think about the idea of C7 being a middle man or "trusted entity" for gb's? Placing your deposits on c7's estore and c7 holds it until the shipment comes it?

[brandon6976]

I think its fine. I can easily handle that. Most product is pretty small. It would definately be nice if the site could actually pay for itself. I'm not really looking to make any kind of mad cash but if the store could somehow pay for its hosting that would definately be very cool.