An e-commerce retailer’s options
Elisa McCoy, Redwood City, Calif.
I own an apparel screenprinting business that has a strong client base, and I am looking to develop an online store. I have tried researching e-commerce companies online and am more confused than when I started. I don’t know which to choose. Any suggestions?
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DiggThe high cost of doing business with Wal-Mart
A small apparel manufacturer struggles to comply with the giant retailer’s requirements.
Carolyn Deason, San Antonio, Texas
I got lucky and showed my shirts to Wal-Mart locally. They love them, and one store has already ordered $2,700 worth of shirts and plans to order more this month. Other stores wish to order as well. I am a home-based business, very small, in business less than a year. Wal-Mart pays their invoices net 30 and requires me to tag the shirts with bar codes. Once I am in their vendor system, I can sell nationally. It’s a great opportunity, but how do I afford the initial expenses to do business with Wal-Mart? It will run close to $6,000 to pay for manufacturing, printing, bar codes and tags.
How to shed a deadbeat partner
Dissolving business partnerships is more like divorce than divestment.
Mandy Hinrichsen, Drexel Hill, Pa.
My business partner and I are equal owners of a hair salon. We have a partnership agreement. I work hard and enjoy my job. My partner, on the other hand, is burnt out. She never shows up to work and when she does, she sits in the office on the phone handling personal business. I want to buy her out, but she refuses. What can I do? Read more…
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