Money Monday: Web Business

Craig and Samantha Hirsh are marketing their dream. A year ago they took their idea for a children's clothing company and put it online.

Craig Hirsh: "My wife and I really didn't have any previous experience in starting a business or a children's clothing line, so we thought the best way to get out there was to develop a website."

Bay and Trey Children's Apparel has now been up and running for a year.

Samantha Hirsh: "It's pretty amazing when all of the sudden, you know you get orders from California and Alabama and you're like 'Oh my goodness.'"

Web technology expert Adrian Esquivel says websites are an almost risk-free way to start a small business.

Adrian Esquivel: "Selling online is easy today it doesn't require the financial commitment to open up a traditional storefront."

Samantha bought the materials and began working on designs and with Adrian's guidance, Craig created their webpage free through Big Commerce, a company that helps people set up online stores.

Now they pay a small monthly fee to keep the website running.

Craig Hirsh: "The fees are actually really low. We pay a monthly service fee of $24.95 and the good thing about ours is they don't take a percentage of your sales."

Their kids Bay and Trey model the clothes. Craig does the photography and they do their marketing for free through Facebook and Twitter so overhead is very low.

Samantha Hirsh: "I don't have a storefront. I don't have electricity bills."

To set up your own website, experts say create a simple business plan with products you want to sell. Identify your market and look for a web company that will help you create a site and sell your products.

Adrian Esquivel: "Seeing it flourish and be successful on line can give you the motivation to take it to the next level."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

TECKpert
Adrian Esquivel
786-393-5826
http://www.teckpert.com/

Bay and Trey Children's Apparel
http://www.bayandtrey.com/

BIG Commerce
http://www.bigcommerce.com

Yahoo! Small Business
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting

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