2009 The Year to make your mark in E-Commerce

Good bye 2008...and Hello 2009! Today is the day we can all sit back and review the past year and look forward to the bright shiny new year. It is also the time to make "resolutions" ...goals for what you hope to do or not do in the coming year. I too have my list of resolutions and I think you will find them useful to anyone who is trying to make it in the e-commerce world.

1. Streamline my Venue
I want to reduce down the items in my Bonanzle Booth to just music, biker items and Sci-Fi /fantasy items. This is going to take a little time, but by listing more and more vinyl records, patches, and Star Trek/Star Wars things, The item numbers will grow and I can cut the prices on the items that must go! With the vinyl records and biker patches...I have found my niche. Now in order to do this, it brings me to ....

2. Expanding to other venues
Many people say you must sell on more than one venue. Now I have tried this in the past, and success is limited. I think thats becuase I have a bad habit of throwing myself into one site and neglecting the others. So I now am going to really explore what will be best for the Renagade. Not sure how I will handle it, whether I open another booth, or try out someplace new. Any suggestions? I will probably use it for all the things that don't fit into the Renagade's booth niche of Records, and such...which I will be pushing and that leads me to ....

3. Promote More!
Promotion is a very big key in trying to sell online. Will be trying to get the Renagade name out there more....without bugging the heck out of people! Which goes hand and hand with.....

4. Practice the 3 foot rule!
OK...this can be bugging people! The 3 foot rule is ANYONE who comes within 3 feet will KNOW I sell online and my name is Renagade! Word of mouth is the biggest advertisement of all and NO ONE can sell your things like YOU! Now this rule can be applied online too....which leads me to .....

5. Listen to what the Veterans of e-commerce say!
In and earlier posting I wrote about four great shows on the talkShoe network, Brainstorming Bonanzle, The Auctionwally Show, ebayandbeyond and Agents of Revenue. You really need to catch a live show and join in! How does the 3foot rule apply? Well call in! Ask questions and be sure to tell them you sell at _____!! If you are to chicken, they also have a live chat where you can throw you urls out and chat with others about what you sell!
The BEST part is you will LEARN so much from them! Walt, Mitzi, Dave, Scott and John are true pros! And that my friends is Number.....

6. Give Credit Where Credit is Due!
If the item is crafted by someone else...say so! If you are blogging or chatting in a forum and you post an idea that someone else told you about...say so! Give them the credit for it! You not only get a thanks for the mention...you may even gain a friend.....

Well this is long enough... I DO want to give credit to Bill Harding, Mark Dorsey and Bonanzle's Team for such a fine selling platform, to Dede aka Brighest Blessings for keeping me calm on more than one occasion, and to Auctionwally, Mitzi, Cliff aka thingsandotherstuff, Scott, John and Dave for teaching me so much in such a short time!

Love to all and Happy New Year!....Now What are YOUR Resolutions????

Later.........Next year........Renagade

TalkShoe Radio My picks for eCommerce Shows

As the year is winding down, I am thinking forward to the New Year and to what good things will come in 2009. One of the things I vow to do is to listen to my favorites at TalkShoe more! If you haven't discovered TalkShoe yet, you are in for a treat! Great online talk radio with many knowledgable people covering all sorts of topics. And the best part is it is FREE!
Thanks to my joining the great online selling venue of Bonanzle, I have discovered many good shows to catch on TalkShoe covering the world of e-commerce. Here is a list of my favorites...and you can hear them right here on this blog by clicking the buttons to the show on the right hand side of this page. I hope you will check them out, and join in a live show or two!

Brainstorming Bonanzle
On Monday nights at 8pm est Hosted by Auctionwally and Vintagegoodness. A show to help sellers on Bonanzle.com get the most out of their booth, but the tips are great for where ever you sell! Come and check out the reason Bonanzle.com is the fastest growing eBay Alternative on line today! You can also read the archived chatroom chatter at http://auctionwally.com/spout/

eBay & Beyond
On Saturday Mornings at 10am est. Hosted by eBay and Beyond. A show for any one who selling online, no matter what the venue! Come join in this show...you will learn alot, no matter how long you have been selling online!

Agents of Revenue eCommerce Radio
Wednesdays 1:14 pm est Hosted by Agents of Revenue. An eCommerce talk radio for the savvy seller online. If you got a business, want a business or are launching your venture this is the show for you!

The Auctionwally Show
Monday Nights 9pm est Hosted by Auctionwally and Vintagegoodness. Anything and everything you need to know about antiques, vintage items, collectibles. Come and hear what these experts have to say...they truly know their stuff!

I sincerely hope to see you at one or all of these fine shows. I know you will not only enjoy them...but you will definately pick up a tip or two!

Later...........Renagade

Open Letter To the Boys Of Vulcraft of Fort Payne

I would like to tell you today about my "Day Job". I am a Vending attendant. Not a very glamorous position, no, but it helps pay the bills. The name of the company that signs my checks is irrelevant, but the company I run the break room for is not. I run the break room for Vulcraft of Ft. Payne, Alabama. I basically feed, water and break up food fights (LOL) for some of the hardest working, roughest steelworkers around. And these guys are the BEST group of guys going. Every year, for the past 11 years, they have all chipped in to say thanks and help my Christmas be a little brighter. And I have always written a little Christmas letter and posted it on the board. I wish I could do more for each and every one of them, For they truly are a great group. This year, I wish to share the letter with you. Although it is full of little "inside" jokes and memories that only the Vulcraft boys would know, I think it will give you a little insight to just how special they are and how much I value their friendship.....
Thanks Boys....I love you all and Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas To My Boys
Another year has gone by…and it was a year to be remembered as a year of “Change”. Change in Presidents, change in policies, true…but BOY have we had our share of “change” here at Vulcraft!
Change of Faces
We said good bye to many here this year. Paw Paw Peoples left us…but no fear…..Pat is the new Daddy of the group!
We said a tearful good bye to “Red”…who left us for a better place…..this world is not the same without him.
We saw the face of my company change too. And we all know how THAT has changed things here!
And just this week we witnessed Pee Wee change into Willie!
Change of Jobs
Some of Maintenance saw there job description change from Maintenance to Exterminator! Thanks A Million guys!
I saw My job change from cleaning out crumbs to removing rubber snakes from the microwaves! (I BET it was Big Macs!)
Other Noteworthy Changes
I saw my Freezer change from empty to full Thanks to one here that kindly brought me a deer one night!
Another night recently went from, How will I get everything done AND cook supper? To Here’s a pizza…enjoy your evening! Thanks Guys! It was a break I needed!
BUT Some things NEVER change….
And that is the love and admiration I have for Each and everyone of you. Many of you (Carl, Mike, Mac, Gene, Etc, Etc, Etc,) Have so often allowed me to rant, rave and vent when I had to…keeping me sane. (OK maybe not completely sane…) And as you all have done for 11years now, you have gone over and above to help my Christmas be a special one. You all have no idea How much I appreciate it and how proud I am to say…I run the Breakroom at Vulcraft for the BEST group of guys anywhere!
PS….One MORE thing NEVER Changes…..Jimmy Dale is ..well….. STILL Jimmy Dale!

Musician's Friend ...a Role Model For Customer Service!

Musicians Friend..... Anyone who is a musician, a DJ, or just like to have the best in audio equipment has heard of them. They carry everything from the most professional grade amps and speakers down to guitar picks and drumsticks. If it is music related, you can find it here.

Now what I want to tell you about is along with the great product line, Musician's Friend offers THE most top of the line Customer Support Team I have ever dealt with.

We had ordered from them many times, and have contacted them with everything from simple questions to heart stopping problems, and everytime they have reponded quickly, professionally, and,..... living up to the name of Musician's Friend,...... like a friend.

I must tell you about the last call...no.... last set of calls made to their customer support team. We had ordered a set of peavey PA speakers along with stands and other equipment, and like they always do, they sent the tracking number and link to UPS. We noted the delivery date and when that day came was surprised to find out that UPS delivered them while we where not at home. Very much surprised, since the boxes where not at my house! After contacting UPS, and while waiting for them to call back, we called Musician's Friends customer service. They not only sprung into action immediately to start a tracer, they reassured us that it was insured and if the shipment was lost they would reship the entire order within seven days.
Well to make a VERY long story short, the shipment was found, UPS delivered to the wrong house. The UPS driver was able to get the equipment, but the neighbors who recieved the boxes had opened them, threw out the boxes and thought they had themselves a good set of Peaveys for nothing. Musician's Friend said not to worry, would still stand behind what we bought.
We contacted them three times that night, and each time their Customer support team was professional but more importantly.... they genuinely CARED! They went over and above to let us know they where there for us.
A special Thanks goes out to Walt(?) , John, and Raymond who where working the phones on Dec 10th . They could not have done a better job! They are all top of the line and set a fine example in what customer support is all about.
After that night, we we never buy from any other company BUT Musician's Friend. Their name says it all, and they are truly our friends now.

Stuck for Ideas This Christmas? Try bonanzle.com!!

The Christmas countdown is fast ticking down, and I bet you have a few on your list that you are just fretting over what to get them. Well maybe Bonanzle can help!
Bonanzle claims your can "find everything but the ordinary" and man!, that is so true! Let's take a look at some sellers I can personaaly say are good sellers and see what the out of the ordinary things they have.....

First up is a wonderful Southern Belle who goes by Coocoolady . Coocoolady has just the gift you need for the one on your list who owns and loves their birds. Whether they own a budgie or and African Grey, Coocoolady has unique handmade toys that will delight the birds and the owners too! What better way to say I thought hard about what to get you than giving them something for there fine feathered friend! All of her designs are tested by her own "flock" of 12 different birds!


Do you have someone on your list who is into Dungeons & Dragons? Well stop by and see Frodomicheal . He has a great collection of D&D books and other itmes that will make any fan go nuts! Some really nice Leather bound ones and vintage ones too!

Now if you are trying to buy for a vintage movie buff....you know the ones from the Classic Age of films......that can be difficult, since they tend to already have a bunch! How about getting them something unique featuring there favorite star? Check out Cliff at things-and-other-stuff . Cliff has some beautiful memorabila sure to please the fan of this golden era of film. Many photos, some are signed, along with vintage magazines and other items featuring the likes of John Wayne, Mary Pickford, and Clark Gable. All true collectibles that will have them going "Man!...where did you find this!" ...and I have to tell you Cliff ready knows his field!

Another good booth for Autographed things is Screaming From The Gallery . Whppdhubby has over 1000 items to choose from! Many really rare pieces!

Trying to find somwething for a Wiccan? You have got to see Brightest Blessings . She has some of the most beautiful book of Shadows that she creates herself. Many other Wiccan items too. I am sure to can find that unique gift that will thrill your Wiccan friend there!

For some truly unique hand crafted goods, go see Pieper . From Quilted Wall hangings to Mata Ortiz Pottery...you can not go wrong here! Pieper has a wide varitey, you are sure to find something here!

Have a Jewish friend on your list? Well visit Mitzi's Attic. Mellcomm has some cute Jewish items and a great selection of other things too...including some wonderful clocks!

Now, how about something truly different! ..... Do you have a friend that has an item in their home that they have always wondered...." what it that thing worth?" Well go and talk to Auctionwally . Tell him you would like to give someone a gift of an appraisal from someone who truly knows his stuff! Now THAT is a unique gift! And trust me when I say, Wally is a true pro!

Now this is a very, very short list of Bonanzle booths that have some unique items. You really need to come and check out the entire site...for you and really find "everything but the ordinary" there!
And if you stop by any of these booths...tell them Renagade sent you!

Later..........Renagade