At a crossroads! Need references/direction for partner/support help.
Hi.
As I'm slowly making progress with my ecommerce project, I'm getting closer to needing to define/figureout the issues of Security, Accounting, Operational Workflow, etc.
My project is targeting textbooks for the US college community. My goal is to have a site, targeting 400-500 colleges.
I'm walking through the "issues" and realize the project will help, or to actually be part of a larger process.
Does anyone here have resources/contacts (actual people) you can point me to on this?
I've called a few ecommerce dev houses, but this might not be the best approch to find the data/help I'm looing for.
I'm almost looking for an analog to the "workspace" offices that provide a bunchof services for a fee, except the services needed would be internet related.
Not to ruffle any feathers, but 'll probably be posting this every so often as I really need this help, and others might chime in that they need simialr help as well !!
thanks for reading.
No offense but you REALLY need to talk to some end users.
Education market is insane. The end users are not the buyers. Cycle times are slow. Competition is surprisingly fierce.
You are selling textbooks. Cool. What problem are you solving? What unique insights do you have into the market? How are you better than the current solution they are using? What is the current solution?
I would get answers to those types of questions before you worry about 'Security, Accounting, Operational Workflow, etc.'
Hi Josh.
No offence taken. I've talked to users 100s/1000s of users/parents over the years. The market is competitive. And the idea is simple, to sell the books/content for as cheaply as possible.
If this process gains traction, other rev generators will be added.
As to the actual "customer acquisition" issue, a part of the overall process is to create that marketing app to have "users" see what the book process is about and to then give replies. It's "easy" to get a positive reply from a user/parent when you're talking to them in person.
At this stage, I really need to start to figure out the key issues I mentioned.
But to the points you made, they are valid. In fact, for this project to have a chance of success it will be due to customers using the service, paying for the books, and for the system to actually wor, and handle the myriad issues that will be thrown towards it.
thanks
Glad you are talking to users.
So the main value prop is 'sell the books/ content as cheap as possible'.
Have you looked at what the cost of goods are for the books? Like for example how much does a new textbook cost. What are the other competitors selling it for?
Amazon famously says 'your margin, is my opportunity' So if they are selling it for 10% markup, can you sell it for a 5% markup and still make money?
Good questions Josh.
The analysis of the "cost" depends on a number of variables. Key to being able to really answer the question, is really understanding the answers to the issues I posted.
Selling a book to a user for price $X depends on the inputs that generate cost $Y for the book. So, while one can "guess" about some of the input data/costs, it's better to have a good understanding of the input processes which drive the input costs.
-bruce
Definitely. Good luck I hope it works!