(photo courtesy of Knox Studios & our little model Max Balderson)
Most of you know my story by now. Closing my store at the end of 2013 was devastating to me, since I had built up a business for over 25 years that I dearly loved. I loved my customers, my store, my employees, and everything about the business….all except that one little problem…paying the BILLS! It just became too expensive to keep the doors open any longer, but I just couldn’t bear the idea of ending it all. Somehow I had to stick around. I loved dressing children like children, and had such an awesome customer base that I decided to give it a go on Facebook, to see how selling on there would work. And it did…..work, that is. Until Facebook decided they wanted MONEY (& lots of it!) to show MY posts to MY customers, who specified they WANTED to see my posts. Ugh…it seemed like “Here we go again”….BUT I still was not done! There HAD to be a way to make this work! I knew I had a wonderful niche product, that I just had to get more people to see.
I began looking at Amazon, not as the enemy, but as an ally. I researched, and although my brain is much slower at absorbing new knowledge than it was 30 years ago, (understatement of the year), I have been plugging away day after day, trying to learn the ins & outs of selling on Amazon.
I have been tempted at times to just give up, because it just seemed so DIFFICULT to jump through all the hoops necessary to meet their approval, but I am happy to announce I finally DID IT! My products began selling on Amazon right before Christmas, and it has been a big boost to business! But now I had to figure out a new issue……my growing inventory was taking over my house! (For those of you who are familiar with how I began out of my home in 1985, this has a very deja vu feel to it!)
(1985, my living room on Battlefield Blvd. …yes, I was a little pregnant in this photo!)
So, I went a step further, & learned how I could ship my products in bulk to Amazon & they would take care of storing, shipping, and managing my inventory! This is all for a fee of course, but my hope is that the exposure & increase in sales will make up for the added expense.
(photo courtesy of Knox Studios & our little model Maggie Balderson!)
With much trepidation & excitement, I shipped off my boxes last week, to three different allocation centers across the U.S. Today I pushed the button to “Activate” the FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) account, and I am happy, proud, and have to admit a little scared to announce that Connie’s Kids private label is now being sold directly from Amazon! That means Prime members can get it their orders the next day! I am still holding my breath, because I have not yet had a SALE using this method, so I can only wait & keep my fingers crossed that this is going to be a whole new world of increasing sales for Connie’s Kids!
What does this mean for YOU? It doesn’t HAVE to change the way you shop with me at all. My web site is functioning as always, & Facebook sales are still going to continue on the items I have in stock at my home. The only reason you would shop on Amazon for the Connie’s Kids label is if you were already shopping on Amazon & can use my items to add to your sales, to qualify for free shipping offers from Amazon. I will still offer you the lowest price, so shopping with me directly will still be YOUR best bet. BUT, this will hopefully find many NEW customers who have never heard the name “Connie’s Kids“, and will expand my customer base immensely! (That is the plan, anyway!) 🙂
(photo courtesy of Knox Studios and our little model Dominiq)
Once again, I have to express my unwavering gratitude to you ALL, who have continued to support me for over a year now, since my store has closed! Even if you don’t purchase often, I appreciate you always thinking of me first when you are in need of something, and giving me the chance to help you if I can. I also appreciate those of you who “like” “share”, & “tag” my posts on Facebook, to help spread the word, & keep me from having to pay so often for my posts to be shown. I now have over 7000 fans, yet each post only gets shown to 30-50 people. Just remember to scroll through the “photos” every few days , to see all the sales & posts you may have missed!
So, I hope you will check out my new store front on Amazon, and am asking you to send up a prayer or positive vibes that this will be a success, and that I may continue to have the privilege of dressing your little ones for many more years to come!
Cheers! Connie
Connie, I am So excited and Thrilled for you. You are a prime example of American ingenuity, determination and Excellent customer service for a small American business owner. Congratulations, once again, on this next step! So Proud of you!! Paula Barth, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
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Paula, Thank you for your continued encouragement & support!
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Friend of Kate Rivers…happy to pass this on on my page to increase your presence. Praying for you and wishing you much success with this dream/business. Kathy McCay
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Thank you so much Kathy! I do appreciate your efforts to help me spread the word! You just made my day! Connie
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We should always help each other…plus I have grandchildren! LOL Will check out your stuff this weekend.
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Awesome! I appreciate your support! 😉 Cheers! Connie
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