Name of your website?Marie's Gifts
Your name?
Marie
Your Location (city, etc)
Charles Village, Baltimore
Please give us a short summary of your website?
I have many photos of my custom made gifts and frames. I have related links and a blog.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I began making gifts for family and friends last year. I received so many requests and compliments that I began making them for others. I am disabled and have trouble getting around, so it became easier and smarter to turn to the Internet.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
I have created, edited and trashed about 12 different sites. I am pretty good at designing them, but I have difficulty getting the things to publish properly. The Internet has so many fake sites and incompatibility factors!:) I will keep on trying until I create "The Ultimate Website"!
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Well, my name is Marie, and I make gifts..............so..........
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
The creativity factor of my hand crafted gifts is a definate drawing point. I also am very reasonable in my price range and that is always a good thing. I know there is a market for high-end looking gifts at a fair price. I appreciate the average person who wants something different, elegant, and memorable that they can actually buy for someone and not just look at it in a magazine somewhere.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I donate more of my creations than I sell. Not that I couldn't use the money! But when I have enough to survive, it is my gift to myself to make others happy. By providing them with something to make them smile or fight that loneliness for a while, I receive a larger gift than I give.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I am forever seeing something that would be "perfect" for one of my gift items! I sneak supplies into my grocery cart or dip into the thrift store all the time. I have probably not even broke negative, let alone even! It is good therapy for me and keeps me busy. I also have an endless supply of last minute gifts for those birthdays I forgot!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would set myself up in a Flea Market setting. I could do more advertising locally and set up a proper Website with an official domain, etc. I could offer jobs to some of the people I know who can't work in the average workplace.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes, I am workaholic! Before I became diabled, I worked all the time. With this, the venue has changed, but not my work ethic.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
No unexpected costs. I am very good at projecting and budgeting. The only headache I have experienced was on eBay. They have an inordiant amount of dishonest people riding on their success. I was too trusting in the beginning and got taught a lesson real quick.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Advertising. The local scene is pricey and on the Internet, there are too many choices available. I want maximum exposure with minimum cost until my profits increase.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Word of mouth, business card and flyers. I also email my website everyone who emails me.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
It is much less work than I expected. I thought the whole process was difficult, maybe I'm not doing it right!
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
I have had the site since December 2007, not long. I will continue to keep it either way.
What is your website address?
Marie's Gifts
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