Please visit my store :o)

[uktycoon]

The additions for today are abstract figurines / statues

[uktycoon]

Todays offering is toys - the type that are currently very popular with the kids ...

Now is the time to start your Christmas shopping - spread the cost, buy a bit this month, a bit next month and you'll be mostly done by Christmas




And don't forget those birthdays in between

[uktycoon]

I've been working like a mad person again

Today I've added sports watches - they are really attractive and not badly priced either ;-)

[uktycoon]

I hope everyone had a great weekend. This hot weather is marvellous

My newest offerings are bug & insect themed items:

http://uk.three.ebid.net/perl/main.c...le=smallthings

and cat themed items:

http://uk.three.ebid.net/perl/main.c...le=smallthings

[uktycoon]

I've now added a wider selection of watches

[uktycoon]

For all the cat lovers out there I have added a load of cat themed items

[uktycoon]

[uktycoon]

In keeping with the wonderfully hot weather, I have added more swimming pools and swimming related items to my shop

[uktycoon]

Needs a bump - been too busy replying to threads to list anything this weekend - will knuckle down again tomorrow, but there is already loads there for you to browse through

[sassydesignz]

Hiya! You have really done a nice job on your shop and I am sure it will take off in time.

I hope I don't sound patronising, as I genuinely want to help.

I have found in the past that if you're not doing it already, you can use some inexpensive means of building more exposure for your shop. One way would be to do a press release to your local paper. If you are a genuine business, local papers are always looking for news of local companies, especially if there is a human element to it.

The power of the printed word is strong and having spent over 35 years in the industry, I have found that even a few lines in a local rag can gain tremendous exposure.

Another way to gain exposure is similar to the press release, but contact the editor directly and ask if he would like to do a piece on Internet shops and marketing.

Another way is to offer a special promotion of some sort to a buyer who introduces a (buying) friend to your new shop or listings. It could be a discount, loyalty points or a small yet inexpensive gift. You could also have a competition - the one who introduces the most buyers to your shop gets a prize.

Alert your suppliers that you have expanded your shop, for example, and ask if they will make an announcement on their site and put a link to you as a supplier.

Get your friends to put an advertising banner on their site in return for something.

Hang a poster on your local shop bulletin boards advertising your site.

The thing is, you don't have to be a big business to try PR. The British public are so supportive when it comes to giving the "little guy" a boost. I started a brick and mortar shop back in 1990. It was so small and I didn't have a lot of stock to begin with, but I invested a lot of time in getting local press for it. On my opening day, I sold half the stock and within 6 months I had to move to larger premises and again a year after that. It was definately the press that got it going. Although I don't have the shop anymore, I have used the same marketing strategies for my online store.

I would encourage you to try the press release thing. A small business taking off would make a nice story - perhaps you are doing it so you can stay home with the children or you've been made redundant and decided to try e-commerce. There are many ways of making an interesting story no matter what your size. Be proud of what you are trying to do and let everyone know about it. You may be surprised at the amount of support you will get.