ProStores Helps EgyptianCottonBedSheets.com Build its own Brand
If you're a beginner you can get a ProStores store up easily. And if you're a more advanced seller, you can start with what they have and build on it.
George Daisey, Owner of EgyptianCottonBedsheets.com
ProStores Helps EgyptianCottonBedSheets.com Build its own Brand
Back in 2003, George Daisey of Evansville, IL wanted to start an online business. He was tinkering on eBay, looking for the perfect product to sell, when his wife wanted to purchase luxury sheets for their home. They were so expensive that George bought some at volume, kept a few sets, and sold the rest. At his low prices, they sold fast on eBay. A couple years later, George found a partner, Jim Baldini, and opened the ProStores Web store EgyptianCottonBedsheets.com.
He chose ProStores because "they were the #1 Web store host recommended by PC Magazine," George recalls. "And they made it easy to do everything – interface with PayPal, accept credit cards, add new products." Since George was a PowerSeller, he took advantage of a 30% discount on his ProStores subscription. The move paid off. With its 10,000 visitors a month, the Web store now accounts for over 95% of his business. Last year he made $300,000 in sales. This year, sales are already up 10%.
Design 101 and beyond
George appreciates not only ProStores' easy setup, but also its scalability. "What's nice about it is if you're a beginner you can get a store up easily. And if you're a more advanced seller, you can start with what they have and build on it. You can use their templates or create your own store using HTML."
After doing the initial design, George called in ProStores certified designer PixelMill earlier this year to enhance the site's layout and logo. "My store looks much more professional now. I couldn't be happier."
He also likes ProStores' reliability. While other Web-hosting vendors often crash during high traffic hours, George says ProStores has "done a great job keeping its servers up."
Timesaving solutions
George takes advantage of ProStores' myriad of e-commerce solutions to help manage his business. He monitors his ProStores reports to analyze which brands sell most in which markets. ProStores' smooth integration with QuickBooks allows him to merge all the data with his bookkeeping.
ProStores has also been vital to George's online advertising strategy. He uses ProStores' search engine optimization tools and constantly refines his pay-per-click advertising on Google and Yahoo. "I'm always submitting my Website to links and directories," he says. "If you just sit around, you won't grow."
If he ever has a question, he likes finding quick answers on the ProStores Learning Center and Discussion Board. "It's easy to do a Google search for any information I need. It then points me back to the relevant ProStores discussion board, which is incredibly helpful."
Freedom to build a business
With all the solutions ProStores offers, George now has more time to invest in his growing business.
He works with a textile mill to create his own brand with luxurious bedding collections, like Emerald, Rivera, and Promenade. Because people can find his brand only at his Web store, customers keep coming back. “You build your store so that people come for your brand, not just for your product,” says George. “Build your own marketing so that you own it.”
He is also nurturing his biggest area of growth--drop shipping. He supplies bedding for a mattress company that offers customers a free set of sheets with every purchase. "If you find a good partner, you can promote with them. We fill a need they have. It's been very good for us."
George hopes that soon he can make his first move off-line—selling his sheets in mattress stores. But he is grateful that his initial success began online with ProStores. "Sometimes it's hard on eBay to find something that not everyone else is selling. It's nice having a Website where you're not competing with everybody. I'm very pleased with ProStores."
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