A New Day...A New Era

Well it has certainly been a long time since I have had the chance to sit down and update this blog. WELL...that wasn't the only problem: I couldn't remember my username and password either. Everytime I tried to access the account, I couldn't get logged in: and I ended up giving up, as I have been too busy to take the time to find my info.

So here we are now: I finally took the initiative to get the required info so that I could update this thing. So much has happened since I last wrote in December ('05), that I am not sure exactly where to start. I guess I should start at the beginning (sort of). When I started this business last August, I thought I would sell mostly items that I would get from other companies and those bargains that I would find by attending auctions, sales and the such. I never thought that things would be much different from the way I saw my business. I had built in, at least in concept at first, the ability for the visitors, subscribers and members to my site to be able to sell their items on my site; and through my site on ebay. I never thought that I would get much business there. I was really counting on the sales of the items I was currently selling. Well...to this date, I have not made even one sale (although I have come close only once) on my site. I have, however, sold a few things now through ebay: and most of these things were for other people (at least the things that have made me the most money).

This is how it all got started. I was called up by one of the missionaries from my church, asking if I could help another member who was having computer problems. I agreed, and went to this member's home. But alas, the problems were beyond the ability I possess. However, I did do one VERY important thing while I was there: I mentioned about my business, and gave him one of my business cards. He had stated that he might be interested in selling a few items that he had, and said that he would call me back at a later date. And so he did. It was a month or so later, but he did indeed call me back. But not so much to get his items listed, but to tell me about a friend of his that might need my service. To this day, I still have not contracted with that individual (it is STILL pending), but besides this individual, he also referred me to 3 other people. And guess what, one of those people did contract with me. And that person referred me to four other people, of which two had contracted with me.

So I have been busy (to say the least) with listing other people's stuff on my site; but mostly on ebay. I had to create agreements to protect the sellers, to protect the buyers, and to protect us here at Black Cat Enterprises. I am still creating new forms, agreements and other materials all the time, as they become needed, or as things become obsolete. This business has been like going back to school. As I have made mistakes, or discovered things in the process of doing business, I have had to modify my agreements to reflect the best way that I wish to do business. This businesss is constantly in flux: changing depending on the needs of my customers: both my sellers and buyers. I am hoping that once I get the agreements down to a managable size (there are currently over 11 pages), I will be able to afford to get them printed up on NCR paper: so I wont need to use carbon paper any more. Currently, I have the following agreements: Master Listing Application (3 pages); Master listing Agreement (4 pages); Master Listing Agreement Addendum "A" (3 pages); Consignment Agreement (1 page); eBay Listing Worksheets & Agreement (5 pages). Additionally, I have my Privacy Policy (3 pages), T.O.S. (5 pages) and BCE-GA Fees, Ad Rates & Rebates Sheets (4 pages) that I give all my customers no matter how they list with me. So as you can see, it is a bit much. I feel that there is much redundancy, and I am going to be exploring ways to whittle this monstrosity down to a managable size.

Oh, I shouldn't one other very important agreement: my referral agreement. With this little form (1 page), I agree to be bound to anyone who refers a person or company to my, who in turn contracts with us to list on Grandma's Attic, eBay or both. I am currently paying a flat $10.00 for each contracted party who lists under our flat fee agreement; and I pay 10% (with the minimum of $10) for those who contract under a consignment agreement. I am planning on having these rates through the end of spring.

The problem that I am having now, is that I am almost too busy. I actually have a small back log. This is due partially because I was sick for two weeks; and then I have been moving to a new location over the past three weeks; and let us not forget that I had one customer alone who listed 24 items (seperate listings). I also have one customer (not contracted with yet) who dropped off two boxes of sheet music for me to look at and see about selling (in lots of perhaps 25 pieces each). I was hoping to get to that this week, but it may need to wait until next week, becasuse we are finishing up our move tomorrow (4/19).

If business keeps growing at the rate it has been, I have thought that I may need to hire a part timer to help me with the work load. Success breeds success, or so they say; but my favorite quote for this case is from Abraham Lincoln: "Things may come to those who wait...but only the things left by those who hustle". I have definately been hustling lately. It has been tough, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Now at least, I can look my wife square in the face, and say that I was right not to try to get an "outside" job.