For a short time, I've considered starting my own PC repair business, and until now I've changed my mind. Is there any such business that builds computers and sells them (I've seen people sell custom built pc's on Ebay or even to people in their neighborhoods, or etc, even though it wasn't an actual business), such as from scratch, or barebone kits (from TigerDirect.com, or etc)?…I'd rather start a business building instead of repairing. Is that even possible?..or am I just wasting my time with a stupid idea.

It is not a stupid idea BUT you are thinking of getting involved in an extremely cut-throat business.

About 2 years ago, my business partner and I did exactly this - custom made PC's and the only way you will make money is to FORGET about competing on price and offer either an extra level of service or some other reason that someone will happily pay more to buy from you.

It can be profitable but when you can buy a brand new Dell Server for plenty of change from £300 you quickly see that you cannot compete (sensibly) on price unless you are happy spending a couple of hours building a PC in exchange for enough money to have a pint at the pub with.

If you can find an angle - then go for it - might be that you supply 4 on-site calls during the first 6 months of ownership if they live within a 10 miles radius - OR you might offer to design, install and demo it to more senior members who might otherwise be daunted by the idea of buying a PC

Perhaps bundling ? Trade prices on colour laser printers are now NICELY sub £200 so the idea f selling an XP box AND scanner AND colour Laser for perhaps £750 might get you some serious attention.

so no, not wating your time, but you WILL need to work out what your "special feature" is if you wish to compete in what is now a VERY cut-throat market.

When keyboards can be had for £1.25, Mice for 49p and power supplies for £5.49, you start realising that there are a LOT of guys out there making cheap PCs

Do some creative thinking.

Mark

Please ONLY answer if you HAVE an online business. Basically, I just need to know what an average monthly price should be for a website that can support a business and have enough bandwidth without causing slow usage. Also, if you have any suggestions for where I should host my domain that would be great. Lastly, if you have started and online retail business please share some tips which could help my effort.

I run 5 websites (none in retail though). I can say that this is a hard question to answer. Clearly, overstock.com will cost more to run than joesglass.com. I personally use bluehost.com for hosting, so my monthly expense is under $10 for all 5 sites (non-retail though…). I see anywhere from 8k to 20k visitors monthly with no speed issues. You should probably look into some e-commerece software solutions like this:

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ecommerce/

It looks like their starter package is about $40/month, and its scalable in case your business grows unexpectedly.

Where is the best place to find cat toys for a low price that won’t easily break or tear? I have a cat that is almost 15 months old and want her to be entertained well.

You know I have had bad luck with store bought toys. I found my kitties love best is paper wadded up. I have tired whole sheets of printer paper and they loved it, but the best is cutting a sheet in fours and wad them up tight they love love love to bat them around! When they hear the paper crinkle they all get in the hunter mode so cute!! Also, any box taped shut with a hole big enough for them to get it with some smaller holes to stick their paws out of. Cap rings off of milk cartons are fun for them too. Hang them from a small ribbon and let them chase it. Secret is you want things around that when you step on them in the dark wont hurt you~ BEEN THERE~! GOOD LUCK

- good flea spray
- quality coat spray
- pin brush
- exercise pen / doggie crate
- chew toys
- collar selection

Which items will I have to buy at the store?
THANKS
When I get my new dog, how much will it be to get it
spayed
neutered
fixed

? Thanks again

I would buy these products some where else.The vet office is going to charge a lot more, when you can get these things at wal-mart cheap.
If you have a humane society,you should go there to be spayed or nuetered.It's a lot cheaper.Its usually about $50.

I am trying to start a business that I can grow from, but I don't know where to find the products so that I can turn a profit from selling the items. Anyone have ideas? Thanks in advance!

Well just google unique pet products and look at the manufacturers…then look under wholesale or call them and they will tell you the discount also the more you buy the cheaper they will sell them to you….

 

Like people, animals also need to be treated and handled with care. They experience illnesses and some health related problems that we least think could strike them any time. Taking care of pets would mean providing them with adequate medication whenever they need it. That would mean an exorbitant process that pet owners should extend to their pets. And as financially capable or incapable we may be, we are opted to cater them with those expensive treatments just to make sure that they are treated well. We are just so blessed to have embraced the wonders of technology as there are discount pet medications available online nowadays. I presume that would lighten the burden a little bit, wouldn’t it?

These kinds of medications are those that are given to the public at low rates. As these medicines are discounted, that doesn’t mean that they are less effective. They are still potent; the only hindrance is that they are not advisable during emergencies. Why they aren’t? Because discounted medicines could take a few days before they reach your hands. However, through these rebated offers, you can still buy long-term medicines and some other supplements.

There are various websites that cater the needs of pet owners that give off detailed information’s about their pet products. They also furnish specs of which goods are available or not. Even good pet health products of good quality can be purchased at low costs online.

In buying discount pet medications, be sure to consider some points. One is the quality of the health product, next is the company that offers the discounted products (whether they are trusted to provide the best overall cost of a particular order), and the third one is whether they supply free deliveries and that appropriate rates of discounts are offered. It is not really profitable to opt for medicines that are offered with very big rebates but would end up eating your money because of high charges on overnight deliveries.

At this time, a lot of online prescriptions are already offered by pharmaceutical companies. The advantage is, they are more cheaply compared to face-to-face consultations with a veterinarian and the total cost of a treatment. Nevertheless, this kind of process also has its drawbacks. Unlike having your pets checked up by a vet in person, the doctors online do give prescriptions without actually seeing the real condition of the animal. All you have to do is to provide them with a very comprehensive description or report of your pet’s condition - which is not really that accurate. There may be a large selection of medication, but the detriment is the possibility of delayed shipping and a chance for you to pay for it.

Ordering via online or via mail would require you to go over the list supplied by the pharmacy. Try to look at their index and make sure that the company has the same medicine as what you requested. Be keen also on looking at the reputation of the company who manufactures or delivers the products. An approval from the government’s health sector must be seen on the medicine too.

So to be sure, better consult a veterinarian or if you have your own, consult your vet about the right medicine to be diagnosed to your pets. Bear in mind that these depreciated medicines are not alternatives for the doctors. Before diagnosing your pets, they must undergo thorough check-ups to be sure on what kind of medicine the vet should prescribe. Like people, some animals have allergies and giving unwanted shots might harm them. So take heed.

As there are lots of pet cures available today which are suited for all the needs of your pets, discount pet medications still out stand among pet owners who want to avail a little abatement. As these types of medicines can help them save money, they are still sure that their pets will be cured just like using those expensive pet remedies. There are companies that sell drugs at wholesale prices, which mean another method of discount. So as a wise consumer and pet owner, all you have to do is to request them to provide the medicines as early as possible to avoid delayed deliveries. And as soon as you receive them, make sure to check if the orders you got are the same as the ones you asked from them. And oh, don’t forget to check on the expiration date as well!

 

 

Paul Kramer
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/discount-pet-medications-the-pros-and-cons-539142.html

The only way to have a successful online business is to have a website that works. If it doesn’t, you could lose customers and business. If it does, your business will flourish. It’s not enough to decide you need a website and put up the latest flashy design. Instead, you need to give a lot of thought to the design of your website to make sure that it meets your business goals.

In most cases, your goals will be about better sales of products and services and you will be able to see if you meet these goals by looking at the bottom line. However, there are also less tangible goals, to do with the reputation of your business and making it the first port of calls for customers who want products or services in your sector.

A lot of this is to do with your reputation with the customer and a customer’s perception of your business will have a lot to do with how well they can use your online business website. That means that you have to make the user experience positive, so that they will know what products or services you have for sale, how these products or services will help them, and how they can get hold of these products or services.

Communicate with your users

So how does this help you design your online business website? The answers are part of the basic principles of web usability laid down by Jacob Neilsen many years ago. Web usability is about designing your site with users in mind. The first principle is clear communication. Visitors tend to stay on a web page for 30 seconds or less unless they find something to keep them there. This means that you need to communicate clearly about who you are and what you offer. Web users need to know that your site is worth visiting and that it’s worth hanging around - and that means you need to make it clear what’s in it for them.

What’s in it for them?

That means that you need to tell your users why they should be on your site, another aspect of good website creation. Maybe you are the best company to offer a particular service. Maybe you have a product range that is always up to date. Maybe you have genuine sales offers that package the things that users really want. Whatever your strength or unique selling point, you need to shout about it, telling users in clear, concise language. Remember, even if they leave your site quickly, you want to give them a clear impression of who you are so that they might come back one day.

Make it easy to get around

The third key aspect of a successful online business website is navigation. Visitors to your site need to be able to find their way around quickly and easily. That means clear menus, clear product names and descriptions and an easily available search box. Some companies have taken an innovative approach to their online business websites by using a blogging tool as their main site. They set a static home page with links to the categories (which in this case function like departments in a store) and then they create a new post for each product. This works because blogs are searchable, quickly indexed and it is easy to highlight related content.

Create good content

Finally, there’s the question of content. As with any other website, the content of your online business website will make the difference between success and failure. Remember, this content is not for you but for the user. That means relevant and clear information, clear product photos and as few bells and whistles as possible. There are still places where people use dialup regularly and they may not be as far away as you think. A site that loads quickly is more likely to retain its visitors than one that is waiting for the latest whizzy script to execute.

Communicate to accumulate

So those are four areas to consider that will help your online business website to be user friendly and popular with your customers. But there’s one more thing you can do. When you have a question about a product or service, you like to be able to ask someone. So do your customers. Make it easy for them to communicate with you and respond quickly to whatever they say. That will build long term customer loyalty and will guarantee the success of your online business.

Summary

To design the perfect online business website:

Communicate clearly with your users about the purpose of your site

Tell them what they will gain from visiting your site

Keep site navigation clear and simple

Provide good, useful content

Communicate with your customers for long term loyalty building.

Gregg Terry
http://www.articlesbase.com/seo-articles/how-to-build-a-successful-online-business-website-125308.html

When it comes to dog training, there are several factors that will affect whether or not your approach is successful. In addition to being comfortable with the environment and the person handling the training, your puppy or dog must become familiar with a schedule. As the trainer, you must consider a number of factors that will help you to provide the proper training that your dog needs to get him/her started on the road to discipline and good behavior.

Convenience. Although some dogs can be professionally trained as rescue or medical respondents, the majority of pet owners simply want their animals to respond to common commands. Therefore, a convenient and easy to understand approach at dog training will be the most effective. Most pets respond to positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding them with a treat, praise and strokes when they have done something right. If a training program is too complicated, it may require the help of a professional trainer. For standard training, a convenient approach is more likely to produce results.

Cost. When you add up the cost of food, supplies and veterinarian expenses, the cost of a pet is anything but cheap. Unless it involves specialized rescue or medical purposes, training your pet shouldn’t be something that costs a fortune. Enrolling your four-legged friend in dog training classes can be pricey, which is why many pet owner opt for training their puppies and dogs at home with a little help from books, videos and/or training programs. These methods often provide valuable insight and allow pet owners to receive the same results as a trainer could furnish, but at a fraction of the cost.

Training methods. When it comes to dog training, the approach that you use will ultimately determine whether or not your attempt is a success or failure. Dog or puppy training should always involve gentle treatment and never include physically or verbally harming your animal. Pets respond to the tone of your voice and positive reinforcement but, during no time, will instilling fear in an animal ever improve your training results. The best and most effective method will include rewards when your pet obeys and ignoring them when they refuse.

Persistence. As with most things in life, results take time. Successful dog training will not occur overnight but, given time, will prove to be a valuable asset to both you and your dog. In order to achieve the best results, you must be willing to spend time working with your pet on a daily basis and continually train your pet even if the task takes more time than you originally thought. In the beginning, responses may be slow or even non-existent. With persistence, you will start to notice a change in your pet that will last a lifetime.

Patience. When it comes to dog training, patience is truly a virtue. Because your puppy or dog doesn’t have the ability to communicate in a verbal way, it will take time to teach him/her how to respond to your voiced commands and tone. When you initially start to train your dog, he/she may not respond at all or may even become anxious if they sense that you have treats in your hand or pocket. The key is to have patience with your pet as he/she tries to learn what you desire of them and how best to achieve it.

Brian Dolezal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/top-5-characteristics-of-successful-dog-training-techniques-95523.html

What is catnip? Is it good for your cat? How often can you give catnip to your cat? How do cats react to catnip? These questions will all be answered in this article.

Catnip is a plant that can be grown in your garden and it is a member of the mint family. Catnip can also grow as a weed in North America where it often grows wild.

The leaves of the catnip plant contain nepetalactone which is an oil. When the leaves are shredded or crumbled the oil is released. Cats are pleased when they smell this oil as the scent stimulates something in their brain.

Most cats love catnip and will chew or lick anything containing it. Many will rub their heads in the leaves and then proceed to roll in it. They sometimes become quite energized and may do things that they usually do not do.

After awhile the effects of the catnip will wear off and a cat often becomes rather sleepy or lethargic. Fresh catnip or objects that contain fresh catnip will bring about the most interesting results.

There are many products that contain catnip. You can find toys that are filled with catnip and there are also pure and artificial sprays. The pure spray is more costly but you do not need to use much of it at one time. There are also catnip bubbles and organic catnip. You may need to try more than one product before you find the one that appeals most to your cat.

You will not need much catnip to get your cat interested. It is a good idea to ration the catnip and not give it to your cat on a daily basis. It won’t be nearly as much fun for your cat if she has the catnip treat too often and her reactions may not be as much fun for either of you.

Want to add a little excitement to your cat’s routine? Try introducing a some catnip from time to time!

Dustin H Cannon
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/catnip-and-your-cat-102306.html