Should you consider starting a small business selling Doodle Time Fun products?

    This is a good question.  For many of you who are visiting this web site, this is actually the question you are hoping to answer.  

Almost everyone thinks of starting a small business at some point in their life. That's a good thing; it's something in the fiber of almost all Americans and immigrants who come to this country. It's what has made our country strong and great. We are a people with restless initiative; it's woven into our very being. We're of solid entrepreneurial stock.  However, break...break...break,  before we lean to much on our sense of ancestorial appreciation, our patriotism, or our emotional wants, it's important to shake ourselves back into reality.  The reality is, most business ventures FAIL.    

Let's face it, starting a business is relatively easy, it's sustaining a profitable business that's challenging.  Succeeding at business may involve some luck, but the most important ingredients are research, planning, financing and cost-containment, product appeal, product exposure and a driven commitment to working hard to stand up, grow and sustain a business.

PLEASE re-read the above paragraph.  If you can't put together all the ingredients discussed above, STOP NOW.  Doodle Time Fun is not interested in luring people "in" just to take their cash; just to make a "buck." Seriously, if you're looking for a get-rich-quick scheme, STOP NOW, and consider what you've just read to be some of the best, free, sound advice you've ever gotten; advice that will save you from throwing your money away.

Thinking?

Thinking?

Still here?   Ok, then let's continue.  Let's discuss each of the essential ingredients needed to standing up, run and sustain a successful small business. 

Research and Planning:  Everyone thinks they need to find a product that will SELL.  Wrong!  You need to find a product that people want to buy.  What we've just said may seem like some kind of riddle, but it's an important and essential concept to understand if you're truely going to be successful in starting and sustaining your own small business. The best things to sell are things people WANT to buy, not things they have to be "SOLD" on buying.  Find a product that sells itself and you're well on your way to success.  We believe Doodle Time Fun products do this.  Our products sell because they tap into a basic human need; the need to be creative.  Almost all of us have a basic, driving need to create things.

Financing and Cost-containment:  You usually have to have some money (capital) on hand to start a business.  Everyone knows this.  However, it doesn't necessarily have to be a lot of money, depending on the product costs, ability to turn over inventory (order replenishment just-in-time to keep cash flow moving), and limit exposure to all the "over-head" costs associated with operating a business.  Study the basics: sales (gross profit) minus product cost, minus over-head costs = net profit.  Sit down and do the math that fits your particular business venture. Don't forget the hidden things that may apply (postage, car mileage, paper bags for sales, etc.).

Product Appeal:  Again, a product that sells itself is the key to low stress and steady sales.  A "sells itself" product means people find the product interesting when they first see it.  Combining an interesting product with a reasonable price and you put together the two main ingredients to product appeal. We believe you have both of these ingredients with Doodle Time Fun products.

 Product Exposure:  This one is rather obvious.  If people don't see the product they can't get interested in it.  You have to create "exposure" opportunities. For Doodle Time Fun products these opportunities can be from displaying the product at shopping center carts or kiosks, at flea markets, at community events (county fairs), etc.   Anywhere where people gather in large numbers are great opportunities for product exposure.  Obviously, the combination of high potential customer volume with favorable vendor rental arrangements is the best combination.  Also, product exposure means more than just showing the product on a display board.  One of the great advantages to Doodle Time Fun products is the ability to demonstrate the product.  Nothing will sell the product better than by doing.  Coloring Doodle Time Fun prints in the sales environment, or offering customers the opportunity to color (small sections of prints) for others to see really pulls in the customers.  People LOVE to watch demonstration activities.  So, demonstrate to increase product exposure.

 Driven Committment: Folks, this is the wild card in the deck when it comes to succeeding in business. People who have never run a small business almost always underestimate the drive and committment it takes to sustain a profitable venture. So, let's say it now, if you aren't serious, if you aren't passionate about it, if you aren't willing to make sacrafices, then don't even start. Part of a driven committment is fueled by selling a product(s) you believe in (one that people want to buy) and one that is fun to sell. While we believe Doodle Time Fun products are just this kind of product, you will still have to work at it if you want to build a profitable, sustainable business. Do you have the right level of drive and committment?