Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

September 16, 2007

Bloggy Question 63: Taking It to the Streets

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 9:03 pm

A Store and Traffic

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life question. . . .

You’ve gotten this online thing under your belt. You know how to get business online . . . well at least you have a start . . .You’re making a modest income from a product or service that you sell. In the tradtion of things Internet, you’ve decided it’s time to turn the model upside down.

Last night while you were out with friends, a buddy offered you a storefront on the main street near your home. It’s an opportunity to bring your product or service back out into the 3-D world. It certainly has applications there. You already have an online base to support what you might start and your friend, a wealthy guy, has offered rent-free for the first year.

It would mean buying furniture and setting up an office where people can come meet you face to face — some of them folks you have known your whole life. The location is great. The traffic is good. The town could use your service.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Bloggy Question 61: Okay Kids, Login!
Bloggy Question 60: Are You Listening?
Bloggy Question 59: A Whole New Blog Network?
Bloggy Question 58: I Read, Therefore I Am . . .
Bloggy Question 57: Excuse Me, Thought Leader
Bloggy Question 56: Get Your Own Network!





Filed under Bloggy Questions, Successful Blog |




C'mon. Let's talk!

21 Comments to “Bloggy Question 63: Taking It to the Streets”

  1. September 16th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
    James said

    Well, from someone who is looking to get out of a storefront business it would be easy to answer.
    I do not want to be tied to one location anymore. I want to be frrreeeeeee! Well, I will be soon hopefully.

  2. September 17th, 2007 at 4:23 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi James!
    Great answer from someone who’s been there. You’re going in one direction — from storefront to Internet . . . right? I wonder whether going the other way works? :)

  3. September 17th, 2007 at 6:10 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz/James

    We’ve done (doing it) the other way around. It really depends IMHO on the product you sell. We had to work from home and from the internet in the first 2 years of our new business, not the ideal situation when you sell something like natural wooden flooring. Clients want to touch, feel, see and even smell the products (the smell of wax, hmm jammy).
    Since two years we have a little showroom - but no stock, we order per job, great alternative - and now even our online front works better, because clients know that in the event it is necessary (or if they want to) they know they can meet us face to face, while browsing and sometimes even buying online - which didn’t happen when we just had our home office and online ’store-front’.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  4. September 17th, 2007 at 6:12 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Yes, that’s what I’m wondering. Are there folks online who might be missing their own neighborhood?

    Could a reverse strategy of starting online make a 3-D program work even better in some cases? I wonder.

  5. September 17th, 2007 at 6:19 am
    Karin H. said

    It could, if you think of creating a ‘brand’ etc. Online makes it (in most cases, if done properly) easier to get your name ‘out there’. In a better way paper ads might do.

    It does in our case.

    Karin H.

  6. September 17th, 2007 at 6:39 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    That’s sort of my thought. If a good strategy for the world includes being online, then a good online strategy should include the world. :)

  7. September 17th, 2007 at 6:54 am
    Karin H. said

    If a good strategy for the world includes being online, then a good online strategy should include the world

    ;-) Liz, if I were you I would patent this strap-line!

    Karin H.

  8. September 17th, 2007 at 6:56 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    Would it be possible to hire you as my coach? :)

    Don’t think I’m not serious. :)

  9. September 17th, 2007 at 7:05 am
    Karin H. said

    A 3-d workshop is difficult, but online? Who knows?
    (At the moment my friend Lesley and I are preparing our second 3-d workshop to build you on-line brand, but that’s local - we don’t have to cross that big water in between here and there - or vice-versa).

    Seriously, let me ponder about this - never been called on to be a coach - now there’s a whole new world - 3-d or not ;-)

    Karin H.

  10. September 17th, 2007 at 7:07 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hmmmm.
    We’ll talk. :)

  11. September 17th, 2007 at 7:12 am
    Karin H. said

    Looking forward to it already

    Karin H.

  12. September 17th, 2007 at 7:19 am
    ME Strauss said

    Me too! Just have a blog post to write that’s a very special one. :)

  13. September 18th, 2007 at 8:41 am
    Jesse Petersen said

    I agree with Karin in #3. If I am selling print services or editing or anything publishing-related, I would probably benefit from some foot traffic. There are a lot of people unhappy with the cookie-cutter business that a few of the large copier stores put out when it comes to custom work.

    Some things are best held in 3D. Others are just fine on the Internet.

  14. September 18th, 2007 at 10:28 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jesse!
    I’m thinking a lot of Internet businesses would do well to stretch back into 3-D as well. :)

  15. September 19th, 2007 at 9:22 am
    Karin H. said

    Some things are best held in 3D. Others are just fine on the Internet.

    Hi Jesse.
    Apparently one of my ’strengths’ - based on the Gallup Organisaiton tests - is combining the best ideas/tools etc and turning them into whole new ones.
    So I’m in fact all for combining 3-d with online, as we try - and starting to succeed in - with our own business. It’s IMHO down to ‘finding’ the gaps you can fill, be it in 3-d or online, or in our case both where the one enhances the other and vice-versa

    Karin H.

  16. September 19th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
    Sara said

    Liz,

    As always, you’ve got me trapped in my head again. Since I’m making a “modest” income, have I quit my day job yet? I’m not sure I’d be willing to give up my sweet, steady salary and benes if the income is only “modest.”

    Oh, that’s not true and I know it. For free rent and the chance to dedicate myself full time, I would jump on the chance to run a brick and mortar. I’m already decorating…

    Sara

  17. September 19th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Sara!
    Be grateful you’re trapped inside your head and not inside of mine. :)

    Good luck in your new “endeavor.” I hope the online business only helps to make it thrive. :)

  18. September 23rd, 2007 at 8:37 pm
    Bloggy Question 64: You’re In Business Now! - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] articles Bloggy Question 63: Taking It to the Streets Bloggy Question 61: Okay Kids, Login! Bloggy Question 60: Are You Listening? Bloggy Question 59: A [...]

  19. October 10th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
    Bloggy Question 66: If I Gave You a Yellow Rose - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Question 65: You’ve Always Had It EASY! RIGHT?!!! Bloggy Question 64: You’re In Business Now! Bloggy Question 63: Taking It to the Streets Bloggy Question 61: Okay Kids, Login! Bloggy Question 60: Are You Listening? Bloggy Question 59: A [...]

  20. October 26th, 2007 at 1:16 am
    Bloggy Question 67: Doors . . . - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Question 65: You’ve Always Had It EASY! RIGHT?!!! Bloggy Question 64: You’re In Business Now! Bloggy Question 63: Taking It to the Streets Bloggy Question 61: Okay Kids, [...]

  21. November 11th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
    Bloggy Question 68: 2 Palm Trees, You, Me - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You\’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Related articles Bloggy Question 67: Doors . . Bloggy Question 66: If I Gave You a Yellow Rose Bloggy Question 65: You’ve Always Had It EASY! RIGHT?!!! Bloggy Question 64: You’re In Business Now! Bloggy Question 63: Taking It to the Streets [...]

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!