Meet Christina of Plenty~O~Gifts

Today, we are talking with Christina of Plenty~ O~ Gifts.  Christina has given us a realistic look into her business.

1.        Can you tell us what business you are in?

Ecommerce – or internet retail site

2.      How long have you been doing your business?

We started Pleny~O~Gifts in September 2008, so we have been in business right around a year

3.           As the owner I do much more than just run the ecommerce website, I would say that just on Plenty~O~Gifts, and it’s blog I work around 40-50 hours a week minimum.

4.     Tell us what an average work day is like for you.

An average work day starts out with me taking my dog for a morning walk. Then checking my email and RSS reader. I must stay up to date with the hottest tips and tricks, not to mention the hottest items.   Then I spend at least 5-7 hours working on adding new products to the store, writing blog posts about Plenty~O~Gifts, marketing through social networking sites, and visiting help forums, to learn and help others learn all the new things in ecommerce.

5.      How long did it take your business to become profitable?

We are still working on being profitable enough to really be a full second income on its own, but with full dedication and a real marketing budget you can get a fully profitable website running within 6 months! That includes getting everything set up, your business plan in place, and getting your name out there for others to talk about!

6.      What is the best piece of advice you could give to someone who wants to get started in the same type of business?

Anyone interested in this business will have to be a planner! It takes serious planning, and a true business plan including marketing, maintenance, and work schedule. You cannot allow yourself to get discouraged and ask everyone for their opinions and advice! Find helpful informative blogs! Nothing beats free education!

7.      Anything additional you’d like to share?

It is easy to be discouraged by not getting instant financial gratification or getting instant success, but if you believe in yourself then you can make it through the rough patches! You need to understand that it does take money to make money, but the money you spend must be carefully planned and tracked so you know if you are just wasting your money.
Our thanks to Christina for sharing with us!