Quick business for bootstrapping. Feedback appreciated.

[Mike.B]

Quick update ...

I changed our order process. I'm having the customers email their item list directly from the IKEA website, then emailing them a quote and requiring 25% up front to place the order. This seems to be peaking more interest in our service.

Also, I added some fading text to the home page to give new visitors an idea of what we do. Not sure if this is good or not; haven't had a lot of feedback on it yet.

Considering offering next day or two day delivery if the interest is there. Talking to an associate of mine about taking on the assembly idea.

 

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[mayana]

I just looked at your website. What if you added a tagline to your logo (like included in the box, directly underneath Expedite Ohio) that says something like "We Bring IKEA to you!".

I like the fading text, but to me it goes just a little too fast and it is hard to read (I don't have a suggestion for a better color, though, it was just hard to see on a couple of the lines)

 

[The-J]

I forget who it was who posted an article on this, but I thought about doing it myself in Ontario. I'd have to have healthy margins for the time to be worth it, however.

Some IKEAs have delivery service, so anything in the range of delivery would be a no-go.

This would only do well for people who live too far from an IKEA to get it delivered, as well. So if you serve, I dunno, the empty part of the Midwest or something, then you could do it pretty well.

 

[PatrickP]

I just looked at your website. What if you added a tagline to your logo (like included in the box, directly underneath Expedite Ohio) that says something like "We Bring IKEA to you!".

I like the fading text, but to me it goes just a little too fast and it is hard to read (I don't have a suggestion for a better color, though, it was just hard to see on a couple of the lines)

I like that!


We bring Ikea to you and then a button to click for them to go directly to ordering.

 

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[TK1]

I don't know if there are some people like me out there, but if I open a page like this for a service like this I want the IKEA catalogue on YOUR page like any ecommerce store, including add to cart and BUY.

I don't care about the pretty van or anything (or the senseless ticker informing me when your next trip is, I want my order ASAP...) I just want to see what products I can buy from you and how much it is including shipping etc.

I don't think the info-page type like this one works, it gives me the feeling of 'god damn, how do I order? what's next?' a general info page like this works if you are a freelance writer or something, but not for ecommerce...

I am a customer, I want the 1000$ IKEA kitchen, but IKEA won't deliver it to me for example. So I live in your area, add my kitchen to cart, pay via PayPal...and done...I want everything now and as easy as it can get, and if I earn the money because I am a rich fastlaner , I am glad to pay you even extra. But please don't make me think or even try to understand what I should do next in order to give you my money

Hope this helps, very good luck with your business

PS: Read the book "Don't make me think" by Steve Krug

 

[Mike.B]

I just looked at your website. What if you added a tagline to your logo (like included in the box, directly underneath Expedite Ohio) that says something like "We Bring IKEA to you!".

I like this! I'm going to add it tomorrow and see how it looks.

I like the fading text, but to me it goes just a little too fast and it is hard to read (I don't have a suggestion for a better color, though, it was just hard to see on a couple of the lines)

I've had people say it's to fast and some say it's to slow. I haven't found a happy medium yet. I'm still trying some different colors and outlines on the text. they all look like crap in IE unfortunately.

 

[Mike.B]

I don't know if there are some people like me out there, but if I open a page like this for a service like this I want the IKEA catalogue on YOUR page like any ecommerce store, including add to cart and BUY.

I don't care about the pretty van or anything (or the senseless ticker informing me when your next trip is, I want my order ASAP...) I just want to see what products I can buy from you and how much it is including shipping etc.

I don't think the info-page type like this one works, it gives me the feeling of 'god damn, how do I order? what's next?' a general info page like this works if you are a freelance writer or something, but not for ecommerce...

I am a customer, I want the 1000$ IKEA kitchen, but IKEA won't deliver it to me for example. So I live in your area, add my kitchen to cart, pay via PayPal...and done...I want everything now and as easy as it can get, and if I earn the money because I am a rich fastlaner , I am glad to pay you even extra. But please don't make me think or even try to understand what I should do next in order to give you my money

Hope this helps, very good luck with your business

PS: Read the book "Don't make me think" by Steve Krug

I'm trying to think of ways to make this whole process easier for the customer, but I haven't quite nailed it yet. There is one company that has their own software that integrates with the IKEA site; I'm trying to decide if it would be cost effective to put that much work into this project. This was just supposed to be a side project.

 

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[PatrickP]

I don't know if there are some people like me out there, but if I open a page like this for a service like this I want the IKEA catalogue on YOUR page like any ecommerce store, including add to cart and BUY.

I don't care about the pretty van or anything (or the senseless ticker informing me when your next trip is, I want my order ASAP...) I just want to see what products I can buy from you and how much it is including shipping etc.

I don't think the info-page type like this one works, it gives me the feeling of 'god damn, how do I order? what's next?' a general info page like this works if you are a freelance writer or something, but not for ecommerce...

I am a customer, I want the 1000$ IKEA kitchen, but IKEA won't deliver it to me for example. So I live in your area, add my kitchen to cart, pay via PayPal...and done...I want everything now and as easy as it can get, and if I earn the money because I am a rich fastlaner , I am glad to pay you even extra. But please don't make me think or even try to understand what I should do next in order to give you my money

Hope this helps, very good luck with your business

PS: Read the book "Don't make me think" by Steve Krug

I LOVE this post.

100% agreed!

 

[billbrownfarm]

Mike,
I like your idea and site. I have looked at IKEA's site in the past to order but the shipping costs made it impractical. I live 200 miles from the nearest IKEA and go there about twice a year. It may take some time for people to get the word out about your service, but if you can last a year I'm sure the business will come in.

 

[TK1]

I'm trying to think of ways to make this whole process easier for the customer, but I haven't quite nailed it yet. There is one company that has their own software that integrates with the IKEA site; I'm trying to decide if it would be cost effective to put that much work into this project. This was just supposed to be a side project.

#1 - Your customers don't care if it's a side project, charity, fun or whatever. They want their need filled.

#2 - Honestly, it's like 1-2 days of pure diligence work. a.) Pick a simple ecommerce template b.) create product categories and add all like products with photos and infos to those categories. You don't even have to figure out how to call your categories, products, infos and worry about images, because IKEA has done this all for you.

Et voila after some hustle work you are now set above the competition who is too lazy to get to work like you

Don't forget: Fastlane success or success in general can't be planned. What counts is to understand what kind of attitute it takes to chase it and this is basically thinking what your customers wants / the market needs and filling this needs the best you can, and better than anybody else.

You wouldn't be the first person who thought of 100 big 'fastlane' 'multi-million dollar' ideas, but could have success with the dumbest idea...there are many millionaires that failed with crazy nice 'big ideas' and suddenly reached massive success with the last thing they thought that would make them money.

Treat your IKEA business like your fastlane business, because your customers deserve it

 

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[TK1]

I beg to differ. These companies are making it work.

Home
Omaha Modern is THE source for IKEA furniture in Omaha!
Expedite STL
ModernLV - Bring IKEA to Vegas
Blue Box Delivery - Your IKEA Kansas City Delivery Alternative
Solierun offers an Ikea shopping service, an Ikea delivery service, an Ikea furniture assembly service, and now an Ikea shipping service for consumers of Ikea and ready to assemble furniture retailers.

And we've started to get orders! I really think it's all in building a name people can trust.

I like this business model: Solierun offers an Ikea shopping service, an Ikea delivery service, an Ikea furniture assembly service, and now an Ikea shipping service for consumers of Ikea and ready to assemble furniture retailers.

You can send Solierun shopping!

IKEA is well, shall we say very popular and where there is popularity there are crowds. Avoid the hassle of looking for aisles, bin numbers, and standing on long checkout lines. Send us a list of items you want, we’ll go and get them for you. Did you know many items for sale at the IKEA store cannot be purchased online? Then there is the matter of that pesky shipping & handling fee. Why wait to get your items when you can get them the same day they’re purchased. We deliver!

Cost: 10% of total purchase post tax

How sending Solierun shopping works:

Create your list from IKEA’s website by using the Shopping List tool
Select your preferred store location in the drop down box
Enter getit@solierun.com in the send to e-mail address box
In the message text box include:
Your name
Additional services (assembly, installation, disassembly, etc),
Date and time of service
Contact info
We will follow up with a quote & confirmation of scheduled services

How our Ikea delivery service works.

If you’re at IKEA we’re probably there too. Call or text 917.589.5526 or e-mail us at getit@solierun.com. We can deliver your items the same day. We give a two hour window for delivery so you won’t have to wait all day. Hey why even show up when we can do all the work for you.

Cost: Flat rate delivery

How delivery with Solierun works

Contact us at getit@solierun.com with:
Your name
Location of the IKEA store you would like your items delivered from
Drop off location
List of items you want delivered
Any additional services (assembly, disassembly, installation etc)
Preferred date and time of service

We will follow up with a quote & confirmation of scheduled services.

How our furniture assembly service works.

So you’ve purchased your items. They’ve been delivered. Now you need to assemble them. IKEA’s furniture is designed as ready to assemble and so are we. You many not consider assembling furniture as time well spent but we do. Our assembly specialists are fully equipped with the necessary tools to get the job done. Solierun specialists are skilled in the art of flatpack furniture assembly. We'll get your furniture assembled efficiently and professionally every time.

Cost: 30% of item post tax (if we shopped for them)

A $25 call out fee applies when items are not shopped for by Solierun.
How assembly works

Email your list of items to getit@solierun.com
Use IKEA's Shopping List tool or e-mail us directly
Include:
Your name
Additional services (installation, disassembly, etc)
Date of service
Contact info
Address
Walkups if any

 

[Mike.B]

#1 - Your customers don't care if it's a side project, charity, fun or whatever. They want their need filled.

I agree.

#2 - Honestly, it's like 1-2 days of pure diligence work. a.) Pick a simple ecommerce template b.) create product categories and add all like products with photos and infos to those categories. You don't even have to figure out how to call your categories, products, infos and worry about images, because IKEA has done this all for you.

I may be wrong here, but I don't believe I can sell IKEA items without purchasing them first. Also, there are about 12,000 IKEA products available. I think that might be a little more than a 1-2 day project.

I absolutely get what you're saying about making it as easy as possible for the customer. I'm not sure this is the solution though.

 

[TK1]

I absolutely get what you're saying about making it as easy as possible for the customer. I'm not sure this is the solution though.

You could try and let the market decide.

Option A: Letting your customer do all the dirty work by browsing IKEA website, calculating additional costs, mailing you etc.

OR

Option B: You doing all this for your customer and all the customer has to do is browse your site and place the order.

People like the way of least resistence: Rules of Success – The Path of Least Resistance « blog maverick

 

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[Mike.B]

You could try and let the market decide.

Option A: Letting your customer do all the dirty work by browsing IKEA website, calculating additional costs, mailing you etc.

OR

Option B: You doing all this for your customer and all the customer has to do is browse your site and place the order.

People like the way of least resistence: Rules of Success – The Path of Least Resistance « blog maverick

I don't think we're letting the customer do all the dirty work. They go to the IKEA website pick their items and email us the list directly from the IKEA site. Then all they have to do is pay for their order. I don't know how to make it any easier than that right now.

 

[Sasha]

* Instead of having the fading font attempting to sell me and tell me what you do one phrase at a time, I strongly suggest you just present everything you have cycling out in block, non-fading fashion.

Because I want to know what you do and how that benefits me, but... I don't want to wait that long... I don't want to stare at your home page for 45-60 seconds... you get the idea.

* Maybe I'm just impatient, but when I checked out your new page, I read the first slide or two, and then zoned out.

I got the gist of what you do from the tagline under your logo, and if I were still interested in learning more about you, I'd visit your about page.

That said, you would essentially miss out on the opportunity to sell me because I would NOT stay on that page long enough to get through your pitch.

Additionally, some slides took too long and others went by too quickly.

You can make it just right by putting it all out there to be read at one's leisure.

* I can see that you want your site to be the most professional/high end looking one in the lot, but fading text forcing one to pay attention to something you want read is not a good idea... You aren't subbing a theatrical trailer.

* Also, from a design stand point, the text line is up way too high and is clashing with the plant in the background and too close to your logo making the top third of the page seem cramped and the bottom 2/3rds extremely barren. As if you're more interested in showing off the pretty picture than your business.

 

[TK1]

Any updates?

 

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[Milkanic]

I may be wrong here, but I don't believe I can sell IKEA items without purchasing them first. Also, there are about 12,000 IKEA products available. I think that might be a little more than a 1-2 day project.

It would take someone a few hours to write a scraper that pulls down the IKEA catalog.

Check out the python library scrapy. This might raise some flags with IKEA though - not sure on the legality of that.

some examples:
Scrapy | Companies using Scrapy

 

[Mike.B]

Any updates?

Not much to report. Progress has been slow. We're working on targeted advertising, but we haven't thrown a lot of money at it yet. I'm also working diligently to get customer feedback so we can improve our overall process. So far the biggest request has been "FREE shipping".

 

[Mike.B]

It would take someone a few hours to write a scraper that pulls down the IKEA catalog.

Check out the python library scrapy. This might raise some flags with IKEA though - not sure on the legality of that.

some examples:
Scrapy | Companies using Scrapy

I already have an application to do this very thing. I used for some review sites I was working on. I'm just not sure of the legalities. I really don't want to sink my ship before it sails.

 

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[TK1]

I already have an application to do this very thing. I used for some review sites I was working on. I'm just not sure of the legalities. I really don't want to sink my ship before it sails.

How to Keep Scrapers from Ruining Your Content Strategy

How about you handing out flyers with your site offer and standing in front of your local IKEA?

 

[Mike.B]

How about you handing out flyers with your site offer and standing in front of your local IKEA?

The problem with this is that it doesn't really target our target demographic because our local IKEA is 140 miles away. I would say 98 percent of the customers are not from our area. Also, we did try passing out flyers locally and didn't get much response. I think we had 1 or 2 inquiries per 100 flyers we passed out.

 

[JAVB]

I just talked to a friend of mine who owns 8 brothers helping others moving company. In his opinion from being in the moving business for 35 years, his words, NO Fing way anyone is going to pay the delivery fee BEFORE the items are delivered.

I never thought about that hurdle.

I'm analyzing a moving business that is for sale and would love to get your feedback... not on the business itself (because you don't know the details about it) but on the industry and business in general? If you've been in the moving business for 35 years you would have a lot to share.

Also, a couple of specific of the moving business:

1. It's been in the industry for 5 years
2. It has two moving trucks in decent condition
3. It has 4 movers that have been with the company more than 1 year
4. It has a warehouse to store some stuff from the minor storage service
5. It has two fully furnished offices
6. Excellent reviews online
7. Average revenue in the last 2 years is $450,000 / year
8. Average profit (owner benefit) in the last 2 years is $120,000/year
9. Location is booming with lots of construction and growth
10. Selling price: $275,000.00

Considering the numbers are accurate and true after proper due diligence... what do you think?

I was thinking about the startup cost... it's not a lot... but I know nothing about moving business.

Thoughts? Any feedback is much appreciated!

 

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