Thread: Selling classes/goods online?

Hmmm, I'm thinking of adding a shop to my website to sell products and possibly classes online. Does anyone have experience with this? I currently on-sell scarves, etc at class, by bringing them to class with me. Problem is, students can't see them beforehand, I won't allow holds (because I want to take them to all classes), and it's a pain to drag along he whole range to class. I'm wondering if pre-selling via web is a good idea?

Also, I'm wondering if I should start offering class payment online. I think it'd be good to offer another, easy payment method to people (I don't have a shop-front). But how would I process the back-end and ensure classes don't sell out? I have a few locations where I reach my class size limit at the start of each term.

No idea how it works technically - I'm sure there are multiple options.

Any experiences or ideas, oh great Bhuzzers? I'd really like to know any potential pitfalls or processes I'd need to set up.

I take class payments online, via Paypal. (you can see how it works at www.lotus-arts.net/classes.html). I use a free service, called 'mal's e-commerce' for my shopping cart because it lets me do a multi-class discount automatically in the cart.

I just keep track of how many are registered for each class, along with pre-registrations I get through the mail or in class. I encourage my students to register for the next session early, because I can never guarantee that spots will be available on the night of the first class. When I come to class that first night, I have a roster.

Previewing the hip scarves online sounds like a pain, due to having to photograph each one, etc. Then you have to constantly update the site & mark each one 'sold' or take it down. I used to offer mine in a web store, but it was too much trouble.

I didn't sell them all the time when I was a 'nomadic' teacher.
about once each 6-week session, I'd tell my classes I'd be bringing them next week & how much they'd cost. Then I'd throw the box in my trunk & carry it to all my classes for the week.

Holding scarves I HATE. Sometimes I'd agree to hold one for a week, and I'd throw it in my dance bag and bring it back to just one more class, but if the buyer didn't come forward with payment, fuggedaboutit. They can't remember to haul their checkbook to class, but I'm supposed to remember to keep hauling this heavy scarf back & forth for them -- and turn away other who want to buy it?

I accept online payments, though I found, as Lauren says, it's a pain when you are only selling 1 of each item. You want multiples of the same thing for this to be worth your effort. There are no handy stock control options either, so paypal for example will sell as many places as there is demand for in your classes, so you have to keep an eye on bookings, and disable them if it looks like it's overselling.

Oh, yes. If a class gets full (or is canceled due to lack of preregistration) I mark it so on my website & disable the 'add to cart' link.

Thank you everyone - this is really useful information. I'm happy for more!

Lauren - I sell hip scarves exactly as you described. Such a pain to carry them around, but the few dollars I make on each one add up to a reasonable amount, so I keep doing it. Hmm, sounds like an online shop for merchandise might be just as tricky, although perhaps won't pull so many muscles!

LOL! Jewel, maybe don't 'carry' so many! Or let the students come to your car & buy them out of your trunk.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

LOL! Jewel, maybe don't 'carry' so many! Or let the students come to your car & buy them out of your trunk.

hehehe... psst, wanna deal on a hip scarf??