As you may have heard, I have been working on a project to bring a Christmas store to MyMerryChristmas for the purposes of supporting Santa's Sleigh. This has long been a dream.
While good progress has been made there have been some outside events that have given me pause.
Before investments are made in products I've decided to ask the community for some feedback after seeing some of the comments in the Countdown about what folks are seeing on QVC for Christmas in July this year.
Many of the comments seem to focus on a seeming lack of Christmas decor items this year. I don't know if that's an intentional strategy of QVC or something influenced by outside forces, such as tariffs.
For me, sourcing ANY Christmas items has been something of a frustration.
We have some ideas for original items we want to offer under our own brands and have been working on them over the past year. They will be the first things we will offer.
Our goal is to offer quality, reasonably priced items that are not the norm that you see out there in stores or on other websites.
We have explored imported items and long ago decided we didn't want to do that.
What good does it to open a store that sells what everyone else sells?
Besides, I have been so disappointed in my personal shopping for Christmas items such as tree toppers and Nativity sets. We can do better.
But we can't make everything.
What we can really use help with is answering these questions:
1. What are you really wanting?
2. Are their American-made producers of any kinds of Christmas goods you feel we should know about?
3. What ideas or suggestions might you have?
We want to sell not only Christmas decor. We have our idea on some Christmas food items, unique printed boxed Christmas cards, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree accessories such as stands, skirts, and lights, Christmas gift items, and other categories. We don't want to limit it if we can find unique offerings.
In my real-world work I'm an e-commerce web developer. After a full career in traditional retail I've been able to work for the past several years selling online. I know we can offer a first class and efficient operation running a Christmas store. For me, it's been a long time dream.
But it is clear to me I have to lean on more than just my own understanding.
There are going to be challenges, such as seasonality of stuff and competition from corporate retailers. I think we can handle all that. But what I need to do, right now, is listen to those out there who might support such an enterprise here at MMC.
Santa's Sleigh has to be at the heart of it. At my age this isn't about filling my pockets. So, please share your heart with me about this project BEFORE we open the doors on it.
Give it to me straight: would you support such an enterprise? What would YOU want it to offer to make it worth your time?
Thanks in advance for your candor.
While good progress has been made there have been some outside events that have given me pause.
Before investments are made in products I've decided to ask the community for some feedback after seeing some of the comments in the Countdown about what folks are seeing on QVC for Christmas in July this year.
Many of the comments seem to focus on a seeming lack of Christmas decor items this year. I don't know if that's an intentional strategy of QVC or something influenced by outside forces, such as tariffs.
For me, sourcing ANY Christmas items has been something of a frustration.
We have some ideas for original items we want to offer under our own brands and have been working on them over the past year. They will be the first things we will offer.
Our goal is to offer quality, reasonably priced items that are not the norm that you see out there in stores or on other websites.
We have explored imported items and long ago decided we didn't want to do that.
What good does it to open a store that sells what everyone else sells?
Besides, I have been so disappointed in my personal shopping for Christmas items such as tree toppers and Nativity sets. We can do better.
But we can't make everything.
What we can really use help with is answering these questions:
1. What are you really wanting?
2. Are their American-made producers of any kinds of Christmas goods you feel we should know about?
3. What ideas or suggestions might you have?
We want to sell not only Christmas decor. We have our idea on some Christmas food items, unique printed boxed Christmas cards, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree accessories such as stands, skirts, and lights, Christmas gift items, and other categories. We don't want to limit it if we can find unique offerings.
In my real-world work I'm an e-commerce web developer. After a full career in traditional retail I've been able to work for the past several years selling online. I know we can offer a first class and efficient operation running a Christmas store. For me, it's been a long time dream.
But it is clear to me I have to lean on more than just my own understanding.
There are going to be challenges, such as seasonality of stuff and competition from corporate retailers. I think we can handle all that. But what I need to do, right now, is listen to those out there who might support such an enterprise here at MMC.
Santa's Sleigh has to be at the heart of it. At my age this isn't about filling my pockets. So, please share your heart with me about this project BEFORE we open the doors on it.
Give it to me straight: would you support such an enterprise? What would YOU want it to offer to make it worth your time?
Thanks in advance for your candor.
