Yayyy for me! 20 more questions.

[Jilliebean]

I put this post in the Congratulations section because I finally figured out how I can stick my toes into the cottage industry without having to jump right in.:D I don't want to reveal my business idea just yet but I do need some help to design a website and I can't think of anyone better than you all to ask.

FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT ASK YOU TO CHOOSE, PLEASE DON'T SAY "BOTH" - 'cuz I know you'll want to.:p

1. What are your favourite cottage images?

2. What are your favourite cottage words or phrases?

3. Are cottages bright and cheery? or are they pastel and relaxing?

4. Florals or ticking stripes?

5. White or black furniture?

6. Country or waterside?

7. Lake, river, pond or ocean?

8. Favourite flower?

9. Favourite condiment?

10. Favourite herb?

11. Flea market or yardsale?

12. How much shopping did you do online for Christmas this year?

13. What kind of things did/do you buy online? (clothing, food items, beauty products, trinkets, etc.)

Business related questions:

14. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you feature items made locally?

15. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you use wholesalers?

16. If you have both web & brick, which came first?

17. If you quit your day job to run your cottage industry, how long did it take for you to do so once your business was up and running?

18. Have you ever had a business run its course or fail? Why do you think that was?

19. What is your top tip for a new person developing a web business?

20. What do you know now that you wish you knew back then?

Thanks in advance for answering these questions.

[cheapdiva]

1. What are your favourite cottage images? Overstuffed chairs with books, magazines, mug of tea or glass of wine on the table next to them

2. What are your favourite cottage words or phrases? inviting, comfort, sharing

3. Are cottages bright and cheery? or are they pastel and relaxing? why can't we say both:mad: But looking at my home I would have to say bright - though I love the pastels, just couldn't get my husband to live with it (and he's completely color blind!)

4. Florals or ticking stripes? stripes, again it's the husband but I LOVE pattern

5. White or black furniture? white

6. Country or waterside? for me, the water - no question

7. Lake, river, pond or ocean? it's water, that's all that matters to me

8. Favourite flower? daisy

9. Favourite condiment? spicy mustard

10. Favourite herb? dill

11. Flea market or yardsale? yardsale

12. How much shopping did you do online for Christmas this year? a lot - always buy on line

13. What kind of things did/do you buy online? (clothing, food items, beauty products, trinkets, etc.) books, music, magazine subscriptions, antiques - most everything except clothes

Business related questions:

14. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you feature items made locally?

15. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you use wholesalers?

16. If you have both web & brick, which came first?

17. If you quit your day job to run your cottage industry, how long did it take for you to do so once your business was up and running?

18. Have you ever had a business run its course or fail? Why do you think that was?

19. What is your top tip for a new person developing a web business?

20. What do you know now that you wish you knew back then?

I do business consulting and work with start up businesses. The ones that do well have 1) done their homework and know what makes them unique 2) have a marketing plan - this is a BIG one - how will people find you and how will you retain those clients 3) are prepared for the slow times by not spending during the good times. 4) THIS IS THE BIGGIE - are prepared to work like a dog if they have to. Believe it or not, there are plenty of people who think they can make millions and work only when they feel like it.

GOOD LUCK!

[RoseMary]

1. What are your favourite cottage images? stacks of books, fireplace/woodstove, tea pots, mismatched china

2. What are your favourite cottage words or phrases? cozy

3. Are cottages bright and cheery? or are they pastel and relaxing? bright and cheery--maybe pastels in bedroom

4. Florals or ticking stripes? We can't say 'both'? I mix them.

5. White or black furniture? neither--maybe black

6. Country or waterside? country/mountains

7. Lake, river, pond or ocean? Lake

8. Favourite flower? wildflowers

9. Favourite condiment? brown mustard

10. Favourite herb? thyme

11. Flea market or yardsale? thrift stores

12. How much shopping did you do online for Christmas this year? 90%

13. What kind of things did/do you buy online? (clothing, food items, beauty products, trinkets, etc.) music, books, jewelry, glassware

Business related questions:

14. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you feature items made locally?

15. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you use wholesalers?

16. If you have both web & brick, which came first?

17. If you quit your day job to run your cottage industry, how long did it take for you to do so once your business was up and running?

18. Have you ever had a business run its course or fail? Why do you think that was?

19. What is your top tip for a new person developing a web business?

20. What do you know now that you wish you knew back then?

We do not have a business yet. Are hoping to start an on-line business sometime in the next year.


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[dedavis]

1. What are your favourite cottage images? **Rooflines, windows, trees, gardens

2. What are your favourite cottage words or phrases? **Unique, funky

3. Are cottages bright and cheery? or are they pastel and relaxing? **More bright or neutral than pastel

4. Florals or ticking stripes? **Solids, textures

5. White or black furniture? **Natural wood or white

6. Country or waterside? **Rural

7. Lake, river, pond or ocean? **River

8. Favourite flower? **All of them

9. Favourite condiment? **Salt

10. Favourite herb? **Basil

11. Flea market or yardsale? **Flea market

12. How much shopping did you do online for Christmas this year? **A lot

13. What kind of things did/do you buy online? (clothing, food items, beauty products, trinkets, etc.) **Books, gift cards

Business related questions:

14. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you feature items made locally? **Yes, my own work--paintings and cards

15. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you use wholesalers? **No

16. If you have both web & brick, which came first? **"Brick"

17. If you quit your day job to run your cottage industry, how long did it take for you to do so once your business was up and running? **Still working on this one, too scared to quit my day job...

18. Have you ever had a business run its course or fail? Why do you think that was? **Mine is currently stagnant. It would do better is I spent more time on it.

19. What is your top tip for a new person developing a web business? **Get help with the technical website development.

20. What do you know now that you wish you knew back then? **The challenge of balancing the mundane business of life with creative work. That I actually do have to know how to use arithmetic.

[gigiG]

1. What are your favourite cottage images? Says welcome home...

2. What are your favourite cottage words or phrases? Cozy...

3. Are cottages bright and cheery? or are they pastel and relaxing? Pastel & relaxing...

4. Florals or ticking stripes? ticking

5. White or black furniture? white

6. Country or waterside? country

7. Lake, river, pond or ocean? river

8. Favourite flower? Iris

9. Favourite condiment? mayo

10. Favourite herb? lavender

11. Flea market or yardsale? yardsale

12. How much shopping did you do online for Christmas this year? 80%

13. What kind of things did/do you buy online? (clothing, food items, beauty products, trinkets, etc.) all of the above

Business related questions:

14. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you feature items made locally? both, yes I make everything under a real willow in my carriage house... www.underthewillowgifts.com (http://www.underthewillowgifts.com)

15. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you use wholesalers? not yet

16. If you have both web & brick, which came first? ummmm....

17. If you quit your day job to run your cottage industry, how long did it take for you to do so once your business was up and running? 6 months

18. Have you ever had a business run its course or fail? Why do you think that was? not there yet...

19. What is your top tip for a new person developing a web business? be yourself...

20. What do you know now that you wish you knew back then? take more web design courses...

[greenoak]

I put this post in the Congratulations section because I finally figured out how I can stick my toes into the cottage industry without having to jump right in.:D I don't want to reveal my business idea just yet but I do need some help to design a website and I can't think of anyone better than you all to ask.

FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT ASK YOU TO CHOOSE, PLEASE DON'T SAY "BOTH" - 'cuz I know you'll want to.:p

1. What are your favourite cottage images? mixed comfy furniiture

2. What are your favourite cottage words or phrases? shabby,

3. Are cottages bright and cheery? or are they pastel and relaxing? mine, mostly pale....but sell both

4. Florals or ticking stripes? neither

5. White or black furniture?white, but not upholstry

6. Country or waterside?water

7. Lake, river, pond or ocean?lake

8. Favourite flower? lily

9. Favourite condiment? mustard

10. Favourite herb? dill

11. Flea market or yardsale? fleamarket

12. How much shopping did you do online for Christmas this year? none

13. What kind of things did/do you buy online? (clothing, food items, beauty products, trinkets, etc.) books

Business related questions:

14. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you feature items made locally? yes, our cottage furniture, barnwood stuff, recycled furniture and archetectural fantasy stuff..

15. If you have a store (web or brick&mortar), do you use wholesalers? definitely

16. If you have both web & brick, which came first? brick

17. If you quit your day job to run your cottage industry, how long did it take for you to do so once your business was up and running? about a year

18. Have you ever had a business run its course or fail? Why do you think that was? yes...discount stores undersold us...we used to sell records and then the discounters came in selling at our cost..many years ago...

19. What is your top tip for a new person developing a web business? try and find out if anyone is making any money doing what youre going to try....is it even likely?

20. What do you know now that you wish you knew back then?
the value of a good idea and good display..i underestimated display for a lot of years....due to selling wholesale where it didnt matter in my situation...better display better retail sales...
..no matter how hard you work or how good your attitude , if it doesnt fit into what the market wants and is priced where its willing to pay it probably wont work..if you have that good idea then your attitude and performance is super important.... i definitely respect the market...


.

ann
www.greenoakantiques.com