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Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

bemmu.posterous.com

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Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#91

Post by ehthere »

radagaisus wrote: post #15
dotBen wrote: post #10

Candy, coffee, cigars, women's shoes/accessories... There seems like a ton of subscription businesses around and I almost feel there might be room to create a white/gray-label platform that can handle the website, subscription management, payment and shipping labels to potential operators of these kinds of services. Wondering how big the addressable market is. UPDATE: http://member.ly already does this according the…

god, we programmers love to abstract things.

'Just one more layer of abstraction and I can rule the world!'

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#92

Post by mdiep »

fadys wrote: post #88
dotBen wrote: post #10

Candy, coffee, cigars, women's shoes/accessories... There seems like a ton of subscription businesses around and I almost feel there might be room to create a white/gray-label platform that can handle the website, subscription management, payment and shipping labels to potential operators of these kinds of services. Wondering how big the addressable market is. UPDATE: http://member.ly already does this according the…

I launched http://teapeat.com a little over a month ago. I like to call it TAAS: Tea as a Service. I've had a decent amount of signups since then, but it has leveled off. I hope to share what I've learned so far very soon.

As a tea neophyte, I strongly suggest that you add a link to recommended equipment for brewing loose-leaf tea. I have considered trying to get into tea several times, but could never figure out exactly what I should buy if I want to brew loose leaf tea. (I'm sure I could find something, but I only like buying things off of recommendations.)

This could do 2 things for you:

1) You could earn some money off of an affiliate program.

2) People like myself who are new to tea are unlikely to subscribe to your service without some help. Tell me what I need to enjoy tea (include brewing directions if they don't come with your tea), and I'm much more likely to subscribe.

I would specifically recommend that you recommend a single product with a direct link—not a type of product or brand.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#93

Post by temphn »

literalusername wrote: post #66
bemmu wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know how to navigate the regulations to get a bulk amount of edible product into the US. Any ideas?

"Are you a small business with questions about your FDA-regulated product? Or, do you wonder if your product needs to be approved by the FDA? Contact us!" http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/SmallBusinessAssistance/Small...

This is like contacting the IRS for assistance with your tax bill.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#94

Post by dangrossman »

temphn wrote: post #93
literalusername wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Are you a small business with questions about your FDA-regulated product? Or, do you wonder if your product needs to be approved by the FDA? Contact us!" http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/SmallBusinessAssistance/Small...

This is like contacting the IRS for assistance with your tax bill.

Is that supposed to be a bad thing? The IRS provides amazing tax advice -- on the phone, for free -- ask any question and they'll give a detailed answer, point you to the exact parts of the tax code that answer your question, and send you a copy of the documentation if you want.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#95

Post by tstegart »

dangrossman wrote: post #94
temphn wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is like contacting the IRS for assistance with your tax bill.

Is that supposed to be a bad thing? The IRS provides amazing tax advice -- on the phone, for free -- ask any question and they'll give a detailed answer, point you to the exact parts of the tax code that answer your question, and send you a copy of the documentation if you want.

However, if you relay on the IRS' advice and they turn out to be wrong, you still get hit with a tax bill. "Trust us, but don't trust us." Gotta love government.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#96

Post by fadys »

mdiep wrote: post #92
fadys wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I launched http://teapeat.com a little over a month ago. I like to call it TAAS: Tea as a Service. I've had a decent amount of signups since then, but it has leveled off. I hope to share what I've learned so far very soon.

As a tea neophyte, I strongly suggest that you add a link to recommended equipment for brewing loose-leaf tea. I have considered trying to get into tea several times, but could never figure out exactly what I should buy if I want to brew loose leaf tea. (I'm sure I could find something, but I only like buying things off of recommendations.) This could do 2 things for you: 1) You could earn some money off of an affili…

Thanks. I will definitely do that. I actually thought about selling tea "equipment" through the site but for it to be economical I would have to buy a decent quantity. Using an affiliate program may indeed be the better option at this point.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#97

Post by a-priori »

fadys wrote: post #96
mdiep wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a tea neophyte, I strongly suggest that you add a link to recommended equipment for brewing loose-leaf tea. I have considered trying to get into tea several times, but could never figure out exactly what I should buy if I want to brew loose leaf tea. (I'm sure I could find something, but I only like buying things off of recommendations.) This could do 2 things for you: 1) You could earn some money off of an affili…

Thanks. I will definitely do that. I actually thought about selling tea "equipment" through the site but for it to be economical I would have to buy a decent quantity. Using an affiliate program may indeed be the better option at this point.

Maybe have a deal where if they pre-pay some number of months, you'll include that equipment with their first order?

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#98

Post by redslazer »

Have you considering putting a phamplet in each envelope that people can give to friends who can try it at half price for the first month or so? That way you could get access to new potential customers.

You could also make it more enticing for people to give the phamplet to someone by rewarding people who have friends sign up.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#99

Post by rorrr »

fadys wrote: post #88
dotBen wrote: post #10

Candy, coffee, cigars, women's shoes/accessories... There seems like a ton of subscription businesses around and I almost feel there might be room to create a white/gray-label platform that can handle the website, subscription management, payment and shipping labels to potential operators of these kinds of services. Wondering how big the addressable market is. UPDATE: http://member.ly already does this according the…

I launched http://teapeat.com a little over a month ago. I like to call it TAAS: Tea as a Service. I've had a decent amount of signups since then, but it has leveled off. I hope to share what I've learned so far very soon.

Your pricing is insane. At $24/month I can buy a lot of good teas online, much more than "2.5 to 3.5 ounces" you offer.

Re: Shipping $36000 worth of Japanese candy

#100

Post by ars »

tstegart wrote: post #95
dangrossman wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that supposed to be a bad thing? The IRS provides amazing tax advice -- on the phone, for free -- ask any question and they'll give a detailed answer, point you to the exact parts of the tax code that answer your question, and send you a copy of the documentation if you want.

However, if you relay on the IRS' advice and they turn out to be wrong, you still get hit with a tax bill. "Trust us, but don't trust us." Gotta love government.

That's not completely true: http://taxrelief.lifetips.com/faq/129997/0/what-if-i-rely-on...

You have to pay the tax, yes, but no penalty, so you have nothing to loose by asking.

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