<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 40940" data-quote="Hyrum" data-source="post: 690558"
class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-title">
<a href="/community/goto/post?id=690558"
class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump"
rel="nofollow"
data-xf-click="attribution"
data-content-selector="#post-690558">Hyrum said:</a>
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent ">
I know right now in my area, mushroom hunting is a big thing. This seems analogous to your example, at least as far as I can discern. To me, what you're proposing is an Etsy for wild mushroom lovers, where you don't control any inventory, just connect buyers to sellers. Here are a few things to keep in mind.<br />
<br />
Customer Acquisition - you are going to have to attract both mushroom hunters and mushroom buyers. This equals twice the advertising costs to get started. What is your unique selling proposition? Do mushroom hunters need your website to sell their wares? What is it worth to them? If the average hunter is only selling a few hundred dollars worth of product, then they might not need an online marketplace.<br />
<br />
Building the Platform - I don't think these are overly complicated. Use a web service as suggested above, or you can try your luck on Upwork. Just remember, you get what you pay for, so a $4/hr coder will produce $4/hr work (for the most part).<br />
<br />
You mentioned that you are curious how your potential clientele would view such a service. Have you asked? I'm sure you can find in person mushroom hunting clubs or online forums. Or find out where they are currently selling their product and talk with them there. That's the only way to see for sure if this is an idea worth pursuing.<br />
<br />
Best of luck to ya!
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div>
</div>
</blockquote>Hyrum,<br />
<br />
You hit it right on the head. I'm simply looking to connect buyers and sellers. The mushroom thing is analogous to what I'm doing, the problem is --if you even want to call it a problem-- I know I'm the only game in town for this thing. That's why I'm a little apprehensive to ask. It's just a simple idea, I feel that it wouldn't be hard for most people to do, and therefore steal.<br />
<br />
While I do want to get it set up fast, I do want to build it so that it is a high quality service, and can't be beat by just anyone who thinks it's a good idea. <br />
<br />
I'm reading MJs book, and one of the things he talks about is selling shovels during the gold rush. He mentions a story about a guy trying to self publish a book, when the guy realizes there's a niche need in the market for cover design, he does that instead and becomes successful at it. <br />
<br />
The problem is, the business I've been working on for the last 3 months is one I don't want to give up on, I've just started it and know I am getting closer to my first sale. But in truth, I'm digging for gold with it rather than selling shovels. And this idea I came up with will allow me to "sell shovels."<br />
<br />
But it would mean giving up on the first idea, which is like shiny object syndrome. What happens when the NEXT good idea comes along, am I just going to abort the website idea, and jump on that one instead? <br />
<br />
Again, I would like to sell these things on ETSY or Ebay, but that violates the commandment of Control. So I would need my own simple platform so that I'm in control of it. <br />
<br />
And I would not mind shelling out cash to get a good web designer to build the website, either. But I do want this thing to be my baby, something I understand inside and out.</div>
