E-Boutique Online magazine has officially
launched! We are so pleased that Jennifer Howe Rogan of E-Boutique Online
(EBO) has taken time to talk with us about this exciting new powerhouse of
information for all children's apparel sellers.
Seller SourceBook: Hi there, Jennifer!
We're excited about the new E-Boutique Online website that you have co-founded
with Susan Powers. Thanks for taking the time to talk with
us!
Jennifer Howe Rogan: Thanks so much
for having us and supporting us on our endeavor. We have always been a big
fan of The Seller Sourcebook.
SSB: E-Boutique Online is open for business! How long did it take
you to gather all the information and organize it to launch the
website?
JHR: E-Boutique Online has been a
labor of love for the both of us. We felt the need to share as much as we
could and needed to create one spot where all apparel sellers could meet up. We
have been assisting other mortar store owners, eBay sellers and home party moms
with everything from answering emails, to assisting with business development
ideas, marketing concepts, wholesaling and so forth. We had written a
book based on questions that we kept getting and, over time, our book then took
us to the second level--creating more questions.
So, we started compiling all the questions and all of our information we
had learned over time and created E-Boutique Online. Technically speaking,
we have been building the navigational site for around 3 months, but really
started zooming in last fall on how we could help
SSB: E-Boutique Online has an
immense amount of detailed business information, and it's obvious you're no
greenhorn! How did you start out? How has eBay helped
you?
JHR: Thanks for the
compliments :-). Well for us, it has been a build-up, which is something
we hope to teach others. That you can set small goals, but still see the
big picture in the end. A lot of research and time has gone into a lot of
the decisions we make. It all started on a very small scale, I would have
considered myself more of a personal shopper. My clients built-up, and I created
a small online store where they could shop. The client list picked up a
little and then I turned to eBay to attract more clients. Selling on eBay
has been fun and learning experience for us, as well. Now, we are able to
incorporate it into the magazine to assist boutique owners or manufacturers with
trading assistants to help liquidate their clothing lines. Our online store is
www.sosweet-boutique.com.
SSB: Who is E-Boutique Online
(EBO) going to appeal to?
JHR: The beautiful thing about EBO is that it
appeals to anyone into children's apparel. We hope to help others take it
up a notch and either open an e-store or their own mortar boutique. Susan,
my partner, and I are currently looking to expand and have applied to trademark
our name. We are hoping that in the long-term, we can create a chain
of boutiques across the nation. So as we build, we are able to mentor
others. Also, we already have a few mortar store owners that have joined
us, actual wholesalers that have joined us, and we all our learning from each
other.
...Which is a big part of business development, networking!
The magazine also caters to those on a smaller budget who want to learn to
work from home doing what we call "The Traveling Boutique"
concept. It pretty much helps a parent stay home while learning to
sell boutique clothing at home parties, school fairs, art shows and the list
goes on. The magazine is full of tips , ideas and over 150 of the direct
manufactures and wholesalers they can contact. We also are working with a
few of them direct and have worked-out special pricing for our members.
SSB: When a new seller uses
E-Boutique Online as a mentor for their business, they're definitely going to
avoid making a lot of mistakes right from the beginning. Obviously,
you learned from some mis-steps you took in your own business! What are a
few of the biggest ones that stick out in your mind that you can help us
avoid?
JHR: I would say make sure you are
legally sound and protected. Not setting up your business the right way
can cost you a lot and it's important that you know the key facts. Also,
marketing and networking are a crucial avenue to focus on from the
start.
SSB: Knowledge is power!
Smart business owners recognize that there's always something to learn.
What does E-Boutique Online offer for the seasoned seller?
JHR: Constant support, networking,
clothing purchase opportunities, and ways to gain from each other.
SSB: E-Boutique Online
will be an powerful resource for online sellers. What will
brick-and-mortar store owners find for their businesses?
JHR: They will find a lot of useful
information. We have created accounting spread sheets, inventory sheets
and our contact list is formatted for the professional. We also keep up
with the dates of apparel shows, hotel info and so forth. Making it a one stop
resource for all apparel sellers. It also allows the mortar stores to post
if they have end of the season merchandise they need to move. So, they
don't have to waste energies on promoting sales and taking below cost; they can
just sell it to another. We will also be attending apparel shows and can
report back the latest trends and prices. Its hard to find the time to
attend shows, and it can be costly. So, we are hoping that we can share
our experiences at the Marts to help others.
SSB: We're so excited about this
new resource and what it will provide for SSB subscribers! Are you
offering an affiliate program to help spread the word?
JHR: Yes, we created a fantastic
20% payout for any referrals. The great thing is, you don't have to be a
subscriber to the e-zine. We are hoping to pull in as many resources from
the industry as possible.
SSB: How can we sign
up?
If you want to be a member you can click
here for subscription options:
There is also a sneak
preview of the magazine. Most of the areas our for the members only,
but it still us fun to pop
in and play around.
I would like to share with you the benefits of joining so, you can see we
have something for everyone!
Member Benefits: This is a great tool for
anyone in the children's apparel industry.
- Discover where to get the best inventory and the lowest prices.
- Learn about clothing manufacturers.
- Learn about minimum orders and current fashion trends in children's apparel.
- Wholesale opportunities with more than 150 vendors:
- BOUTIQUE BRANDS, SMOCKED DRESSES, LABEL
MAKERS, GOWNS, HIGH-END BRANDS,
FINE APPAREL, LAYETTES AND MORE!- Share experiences and ideas with other boutique owners in our exclusive online community bulletin boards.
- Learn how to set up your own business.
- Learn where to get mannequins, tags, tissue, and bags for the best prices!
- Share the opportunity to swap inventory or trades.
- Up-to-date Calendar with important apparel dates and selling information.
- Discover new Marketing ideas and concepts.
- Learn how to build a website that efficiently promotes your business.
- Helpful information on Accounting issues, rental issues, tips and tricks to cut corners and reduce the cost of running your business.
- Learn how to liquidate your inventory at the end of a season on eBay. We are power sellers on eBay and will share our experiences with you to assist you in increasing your revenue without losing money!
- Gain Referrals on other web sites that will assist the growth of your business.
- High Paying Affiliate Program!
- Access to a Boutique Swap Meet where you can trade or sell off excess inventory, forum style!
- Exclusive Discounts for "EBO" (E-Boutique Online) Subscribers
SSB: Thanks for chatting with us, Jennifer, and sharing your exciting new venture with our readers!
Visit E-Boutique Online Today!