I've never really tabulated my earnings since when I started out in 2007. I only started to keep track when the numbers started to grow in mid 2008.
My 2009 profits was about $4654. Earnings rose 46.3% to hit about $6810 in 2010!
I have many points to improve in terms of entrepreneurial skills but it's good to see my efforts pay off, and in the online biz arena, there's only 3 ways of measuring success... consumer ratings, hit rate or earnings. Since Yahoo Auctions closed, I could no longer quantify my consumer ratings, so profits would be the greatest indicator of whether I was doing things right. Hit rate on my website was a longshot secondary indicator.
As I celebrate 3 years of blogshop success, I thought it's cute to look back at some of my shrewd online biz moves, which are entirely self-taught.
1. Building a blogspot blogshop
- Some may argue that Livejournal is better, or Wordpress. But I got exposed to Blogspot earlier, so it's like getting to know Hotmail first. Whichever worked, just stick to it lor. I wouldn't have gone into Blogspot had Yahoo Auctions died suddenly, but having a Blogspot shop does help me consolidate and measure consumer loyalty, which I obtain free stats from Bravenet. With Blogspot, I don't have to live in fear that a 3rd party auctions site will fail me, and that I'd lose any of my data. Of course I've not thought of what happens if Blogspot fails me. Think I'll cry lor. I have my work experience at RP to thank for some web/html exposure which made learning Blogspot a lot easier.
2. Discounts
Singaporeans are kiam peng for discounts. That's a given fact. Sweeten any deal with savings and you have a good chance of grabbing the customer's heart. My discount package isn't awesome but it sure beats blogshops who offer nothing. I have two periods for regular discounts. There's GSS period (mid May - June, 6 weeks) and anniversary discounts (Nov, 4 weeks). It's mildly successful, though sales of pre-loved items are slow. Oh I miss the Yahoo Auction days where I'd sell a pre-loved item at least once every 2 weeks...
3. Freebies for shoppers
One of my aims of selling stuff online is clear my wardrobe of new and old stuff I no longer want. It's true that one man's trash is another's treasure. Selling/buying stuff can be considered a form of recycling too, which is certainly a good deed. :) But as mentioned, sales of pre-loved items are far in between, so I've sweetened my deals further by giving away these items as freebies for all pre-order customers. To me, it's win-win, helping me to clear my wardrobe and win goodwill from my customers, encouraging them to always return to Janice for their plus-sized wardrobe needs. :)
4. Recognising Trends
When you run a biz regularly, you start recognising trends that happen on a yearly basis and it helps you focus efforts on maximising returns. The are far more enquiries in late Dec/early Jan because of CNY. The Chinese hold onto the belief that you must wear new clothes for the festival. And so instead of 1 spree, I hold 2 in this month. I also realise that most customers come online during the night from 10pm to 1am, they also like to shop during weekends and the numbers peak from Thurs onwards till Sun. So updates should be live around these times to capture more attention.
5. Creating a Mailing List
It costs 70% to businesses to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. So it's important to keep close links with the hand who feeds you. When I first moved my promotions from Yahoo Auctions to Blogspot, I needed a way to tell my clients about it, and so I started to compile all their email addresses to facilitate mass mailings. Creating and maintaining a mailing list is almost cost-free. By updating them with emails on latest offerings, you are reaching out to the correct target group who is interested in your products or services. Don't wait for them to approach you. Approach them. :)
My aim for 2011 is $10,000 net profit. Will I succeed? We'll see!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
You're the One
主唱 李安琪
作曲/填詞 褚鎮東
You're the one and only now I see
I should've known before but it's never too late for me
Remember all those momennts from long ago
And now that you are back
I'm never gonna let you go
Let me say let me pray once more
I'm never gonna weep
I love you very deep
Say again tell me now tell me how once more
How could you be that way how could you live a day away
But i say honestly you're the one.
You gonna stay with me
You gotta stay and see
Every little thing that counts for you and me
You gotta say
I gotta say
Without you I don't know how to live.
You're the one and only now I see
I should've known before but it's never too late to be
Without you I have nowhere else to run
Now I realize we're like the moon and sun
Now I realize that all along You're the one.
###
很有feel的歌，符合这部电影两位主角“不直不歪”，洒脱，玩世不恭，却不愿放弃真爱的态度。故事是一大败笔，什么都想说，但什么都说不成。究竟什么是主题？双性恋者究竟是哪种人?
可以探讨的更多：不婚妈妈和单亲妈妈相比，更面对哪些歧视？单亲爸爸面对不愿给他名分的母亲又有什么权利？
最后我只领悟到：
双性恋比什么人都复杂。
男人在这个年代可以沦为捐精者。
这部影片周慧敏最美。
导演真的很爱香港，才可以把它拍得这么有诗意。
可惜了一个不错的premise。 周慧敏复出作，只能说，雷声大，雨点小啊！
太多太多
似要告訴我看這個世界有你多美好
帶(daai) 領(ling) 我逛(gwaang) 個(goh) 痛快人海中竟(ging) 找到了甚 麼瑰(gwai) 寶(bo)
卻要刺(chi) 痛我(ngoh) 說到愛這愛永遠都太早
情(ching) 感(gam) 的(dik) 空(hung) 地(dei) 誰(sui) 人(yan) 前(chin) 來(loi) 打(da) 掃(so)
男女間太多太多(恩(yan) 怨(yuen) 你知道嗎
忘記他需(sui) 要(yiu) 時(si) 間(gaan) 一(yat) 轉(juen) 眼(ngaan) 怎(jam) 搬(boon) 進(jun) 另(ling) 一(yat) 個(goh) 家(ga)
{他
情(ching) 愛(oi) 間(gaan) 太(taai) 多(doh) 太(taai) 多(doh) 掙(jaang) 扎(jaat) 你(nei) 寬(foon) 恕 (suen)嗎(ma)
給(kap) 自(ji) 己(gei) 作(jok) 一(yat) 點(dim) 打(da) 算(suen) 才(choi) 能(nang) 維(wai) 護(woo) 自(ji) 尊(juen) 無(mo) 他
我試過接(jip) 吻也(ya) 試過接(jip) 戰(jin) 再(joi) 接(jip) 不(bat) 要(yiu) 緊(gan)
卻怕(pa) 染(yim) 上(seung) 了(liu) 心(sam) 癮 (yam) 從(chung) 今(gam) 開(hoi) 始(chi) 只想到(do) 獲(wok) 得(dak) 快感
世(sai) 界(gaai) 太壯(jong) 闊(foot) 眼(ngaan) 界(gaai) 太(taai) 狹(haap) 窄(jaak) 狹(haap) 窄(jaak) 所以 等
遙(yiu) 望他胸(hung) 襟(kam) 為何仍然吸(kap) 引(yan)
我為
###
穿越语言的隔阂，仍然动听，就是好歌。推荐！
Monday, November 22, 2010
I have been neglecting this blog...TILL NOW!
It just dawned on me that this blog is 5 years old! I started it 5 years ago when I was at my first quarter life crisis, jobless, depressed (mad crying type), and I needed an outlet to let out all my grievances which I was too ashamed of repeating in person (because that meant I would just cry again).
Fast forward 5 years later... while I wouldn't say I am most successful, I have evolved my personality and achievements in many ways, so much that if I were to meet ME at age 24, I would be mildy disgusted.
Here are 5 things which I have changed most in the 5 years.
1. CONFIDENCE
It's a cliche but 自信是最好的化妆品。Confidence does come with age and life experiences. With every birthday I get this sense of self elevation, an uplifting spirit and I remind myself that I'm now a year older and will therefore be a year wiser. As I get older, I have less patience for other people's crap about what they THINK of me. I decide what I want to think about myself. If I want to feel happy, that's what I'll be. So long as I'm doing my job, being a good person, doing myself justice, it'll do.
2. WRITING
When I was young I didn't think writing was a talent. I just felt it was a necessity in life. I got my share of praises and sometimes accolades for blogging, scriptwriting, songwriting, became a published writer on Mypaper, but it didn't do much to my confidence cos it always felt accidental. It was only when I entered the working world that I realised the numbers of degree holders who couldn't write well, including ACADEMICS! It made me a tee bit proud and annoyed that people would pass me stuff to edit whenever they had chunkloads of written crap they couldn't make sense of. In the past year I've lost my steam for writing regularly. Guess I'm less disciplined. $50 per chinese article isn't good money at all really. Mypaper should review their rates for writers. Come on, it's original work!
3. HAIR
I chopped off my long locks in Jan this year. I can't believe I had long hair for 10 FULL years. I kept it cos I had a stupid friend who claimed I look nicer with long hair. But it was a hassle. It takes painfully long to dry, and I admit that I have really FLAT hair. It's fine, soft, shiny, yes.... but along with all these traits come FLATNESS cos the hair is too limp. And so, the longer it is, the heavier it is, and the flatter it becomes. Flat hair does make one look bald, cos it clings so faithfully to your scalp. Thank god I have a nicely shaped head, or I'm screwed. I do like my short hair, and whilst many have asked if I'll keep it long again, I think I'll stick to it for a year or so cos I really appreciate the less obvious flatness and its ability to dry SO MUCH FASTER.
4. BLOGSHOP
I'm really proud of my blogshop, Beauty Personified, which is a well-kept secret from my closest friends. I spend a lot of time on it, so much so that I admit that I'm a bona fide 宅女. I love updating the blog, sourcing the most suitable clothing to market on it, and interacting with my plus-sized clients via email (I have to say that 90% of fat girls are really polite, awesome and appreciative people). The blogshop was accidental. I saw something nice online in XL and thought it was cheap and I should buy it. But cos there was a min. no. to order from the supplier, I posted ads on the now-defunct Yahoo Auctions, selling some of the items which I found on the supplier's site, and suddenly I was getting replies. Gradually I had more and more clients, about 80% are regulars. It was a blow when Yahoo Auctions closed as I not only was successful in selling my pre-order stuff but also managed to sell so many pieces of my 2nd Hand clothes. At the encouragement of my clients, I started the blogshop and have never looked back. I'm still learning how to spot trends to maximise my revenue, but for now I earned respectable pocket money from the blogshop based on the amt of time I put into it. And not ignoring the fact that it truely is a hobby too. My all time high was earning over $1.2k in Sep this year. All these without any paid advertising. SWWEEETTTT!
5. STUDENTS
I never expected that I would end up in education. I can't say I love my job (it's a job afterall), but I do enjoy it -- far more that I was in marketing. I like the learning aspect... now that I work more with people, I'm really honing my EQ skills and patience and GRACE (most used word by my boss KEN). Many of my closest friends in recent years are or were in fact my students. Mixing with them make me feel young (Facebook helps). I get a lot of satisfaction seeing how they have evolved and matured from the first day I knew them. I don't expect them to say thanks cos when I was their age, I didn't! But hey I'm paid to help them so it's a bonus if they appreciate me back.
So there it is... my first blog in 2 months. And my most heartfelt entry in AGES.
Happy 5th birthday blog! I hope to visit you more often to complain, bitch, and to record my life's greatest moments... :)))
Fast forward 5 years later... while I wouldn't say I am most successful, I have evolved my personality and achievements in many ways, so much that if I were to meet ME at age 24, I would be mildy disgusted.
Here are 5 things which I have changed most in the 5 years.
1. CONFIDENCE
It's a cliche but 自信是最好的化妆品。Confidence does come with age and life experiences. With every birthday I get this sense of self elevation, an uplifting spirit and I remind myself that I'm now a year older and will therefore be a year wiser. As I get older, I have less patience for other people's crap about what they THINK of me. I decide what I want to think about myself. If I want to feel happy, that's what I'll be. So long as I'm doing my job, being a good person, doing myself justice, it'll do.
2. WRITING
When I was young I didn't think writing was a talent. I just felt it was a necessity in life. I got my share of praises and sometimes accolades for blogging, scriptwriting, songwriting, became a published writer on Mypaper, but it didn't do much to my confidence cos it always felt accidental. It was only when I entered the working world that I realised the numbers of degree holders who couldn't write well, including ACADEMICS! It made me a tee bit proud and annoyed that people would pass me stuff to edit whenever they had chunkloads of written crap they couldn't make sense of. In the past year I've lost my steam for writing regularly. Guess I'm less disciplined. $50 per chinese article isn't good money at all really. Mypaper should review their rates for writers. Come on, it's original work!
3. HAIR
I chopped off my long locks in Jan this year. I can't believe I had long hair for 10 FULL years. I kept it cos I had a stupid friend who claimed I look nicer with long hair. But it was a hassle. It takes painfully long to dry, and I admit that I have really FLAT hair. It's fine, soft, shiny, yes.... but along with all these traits come FLATNESS cos the hair is too limp. And so, the longer it is, the heavier it is, and the flatter it becomes. Flat hair does make one look bald, cos it clings so faithfully to your scalp. Thank god I have a nicely shaped head, or I'm screwed. I do like my short hair, and whilst many have asked if I'll keep it long again, I think I'll stick to it for a year or so cos I really appreciate the less obvious flatness and its ability to dry SO MUCH FASTER.
4. BLOGSHOP
I'm really proud of my blogshop, Beauty Personified, which is a well-kept secret from my closest friends. I spend a lot of time on it, so much so that I admit that I'm a bona fide 宅女. I love updating the blog, sourcing the most suitable clothing to market on it, and interacting with my plus-sized clients via email (I have to say that 90% of fat girls are really polite, awesome and appreciative people). The blogshop was accidental. I saw something nice online in XL and thought it was cheap and I should buy it. But cos there was a min. no. to order from the supplier, I posted ads on the now-defunct Yahoo Auctions, selling some of the items which I found on the supplier's site, and suddenly I was getting replies. Gradually I had more and more clients, about 80% are regulars. It was a blow when Yahoo Auctions closed as I not only was successful in selling my pre-order stuff but also managed to sell so many pieces of my 2nd Hand clothes. At the encouragement of my clients, I started the blogshop and have never looked back. I'm still learning how to spot trends to maximise my revenue, but for now I earned respectable pocket money from the blogshop based on the amt of time I put into it. And not ignoring the fact that it truely is a hobby too. My all time high was earning over $1.2k in Sep this year. All these without any paid advertising. SWWEEETTTT!
5. STUDENTS
I never expected that I would end up in education. I can't say I love my job (it's a job afterall), but I do enjoy it -- far more that I was in marketing. I like the learning aspect... now that I work more with people, I'm really honing my EQ skills and patience and GRACE (most used word by my boss KEN). Many of my closest friends in recent years are or were in fact my students. Mixing with them make me feel young (Facebook helps). I get a lot of satisfaction seeing how they have evolved and matured from the first day I knew them. I don't expect them to say thanks cos when I was their age, I didn't! But hey I'm paid to help them so it's a bonus if they appreciate me back.
So there it is... my first blog in 2 months. And my most heartfelt entry in AGES.
Happy 5th birthday blog! I hope to visit you more often to complain, bitch, and to record my life's greatest moments... :)))
Saturday, September 25, 2010
完美孤独
作词：林夕
再没有谁的脸色 需要照顾
也没有谁的难题 需要应付
一个人睡着 或睡不着
喜欢看书 就看到日出
再没有人有机会 让我受苦
也没有人有能力 让我认输
何必再等谁 一起诉苦
各自忙碌 有什么好处
盲目如何变反目
爱的程序我早已烂熟
可是说 伴侣是身外之物
我又不甘 不服
我希望觉悟 又害怕麻木
单身的好日子 有没有虚渡
再完美的孤独算不算美中不足
一切心血再不会 白白付出
所有时间怎么过 由我作主
爱过的爱人 一个个数
谁给过我 这一种满足
爱情有一本账簿
从盈到亏我早已烂熟
可是说 伴侣是身外之物
我又不甘 不服
我希望觉悟 又害怕麻木
单身的好日子 有没有虚渡
再完美的孤独算不算美中不足
孤身 身处何处有净土
独立 立在哪里无寒露
###
把歌曲最重要的副歌以哼唱方式呈现的极少。除了十多年前的王菲的《浮躁》吧！
孤独可以可怕，也可以浪漫。但绝对不至于完美。
孤独与拥挤两个极端需要平衡。一个人的时候我喜欢尽情享受孤独，人多的时候我也渐渐喜欢吸取他人谈话中的新知识。
好歌，支持！
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