18 yr old starts business with only £35.00 . Your opinion please!?

Question

I have recently started www.thesockbutler.com with just £35. Feedback from potential customers is very important; please can you answer the following questions, after briefly looking at TheSockButler.com site.

1. Do you like the image/ branding of the site? If No, please explain why

2. Do you think that just selling black socks is to limiting?

3. Would you buy from this site? If No, please explain why

4. Where would you expect to see a company like this advertising?

Thank-you for your time.

Answer 1

Good luck with starting your own business.

The question in my mind is whether there's a demand for this sort of service. I certainly wouldn't subscribe, as my socks come from M&S where my wife buys them when she notices I'm running out! But maybe single young men see things differently.

1. The site is a bit basic and says "downmarket" to me.

2. Yes, you should sell a wide variety of colours and patterns. But start off with just the most popular ones and see this as an expansion path.

3. See above.

4. Advertise via Google Ad-words.

Good luck!

Answer 2

1.YES I SUPPOSE

2.YES

3.NO BECAUSE I'M FEMALE, MY PARTNER WOULDN'T EITHER HE BUYS HIS SOCKS FROM ASDA AT HALF THE PRICE.

4.ON THE WEB, BACK OF NEWSPAPER OR MAG.

I can see why you thought this was a good idea, however it's very limiting,expensive overall and a novelty,  in time your customer base will dry up as men are more likely to see flaws in businesses like these and get bored of the idea.

good luck anyway.

PS TRY SCHOOL OUTFITS, CHEAP SHIRTS,TIGHTS ECT

THESE NEED TO BE RELACED FREQUENTLY AS CHILDREN GET MUCKY, GROW OUT ECT.

Answer 3

I think it's a novel idea but do feel you are perhaps limiting yourself by only doing black, the look of the site is simple which I like and your missing an opportunity for making money by not having ads on your site you could be an affiliate for Click bank, Google or Commission junction but overall I think you have done really well.

Answer 4

1. It's ok.

2. Yes.

3.No, because I wouldn't know if I could trust it with my card.

4. Other sites.

Answer 5

1. Yes

2. Yes, selling black socks is quite limiting. Maybe over-time you might want to expand to more colours / sizes / styles. But even if you do, I wouldn't make it too over-crowded. The simpleness and uncomplicated-ness of your site is a plus.

3. Yes, I probably would!

4. Google banners. Facebook? Men's magazines.

Just another thing I'd add is, about your contact details. First I hope it's not your home address down the bottom. If it is, I'd get a PO Box and use that instead.

Secondly, these days I don't trust most companies that don't have a contact phone number. If you could get one and put it on your website, that would be great, but I'm sure you already have that planned out in your head for the future!

Answer 6

1. Yes- Overall i think the image of the site is good, although it is a bit simple with only to main colours.

2.Yes- I think selling black socks is very limiting as they are quite boring. If you had socks of different styles, patterns, and colours then you would attract customers of a broader range. A lot of students and teenagers would be interested in buying quirky, colourful socks rather than plain black.

3. No- I don't wear black socks. I like to wear bright and colourful socks. Also, i wouldn't pay £9.99 for 4 pairs of boring black socks. However,I would pay that for 4 pairs of  bright coloured, or funky patterned trainer socks or ankle socks.

4.Google, or other search engines.

Answer 7

1 - NO - why?  -  Boring -

2. Yes

3 No - too expensive - 4 pairs for £9.99 - no chance - 4 pairs in Asda - £3.99

4. Not on here - go away

Answer 8

1. I like the overall image of the site. Very clean and easy to read, professional looking.

2. Yes! I think if you are able, you should offer a variety of sock colors and maybe even patterns.

3. No, I wouldn't, only for the simple reason that I hate black socks. I LOVE socks, mind you. But I tend to gravitate toward brightly colored ones that have stripes or designs. But that's just personally me.

4. I really have no idea.  

Answer 9

First of all well done on having the courage to start your own business. From a potential customer point of view I would not buy your socks. Reason being you are charging nearly £10 for 4 pairs of socks, that's nearly £2.50 a pair! A little expensive in my view. Your website is a little bland it needs to be made funkier, maybe introduce funkier socks students would love it! Good luck in the future