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Ann Howard

Member Since: May 2007

Tell us about yourself and your online business.

I am a 47-year-old stay-at-home mom. My husband and I have been married for 25 years and in those 25 years we have had 13 beautiful children. The kids range in age from 2 to 23. For the past 18 years I have home-schooled the kids and I just love that. I am so happy that I’m able to work in the home as a drop-shipper so I can be with my kids and continue to be with them. I have a store on eBay called Christian Integrity Discount Sales. I have been working on the store for more than three years and I am now in a position to contribute a very nice part-time income for the home. Some might consider it a full-time income.

How did you get started with Doba?

I got my start with Doba when I was looking to make a part-time income out of my home. I had prayed that God would open the door to an opportunity that would allow me to help with the family finances without having to compromise my time with the kids. I needed a job that would be flexible so I could teach the kids during the day. I searched the Internet and found www.Doba.com, and after I checked it out and did some research, I couldn’t find any bad reviews or negative comments about Doba. So, I tried the free trial membership and in no time, I was signed up for a yearly membership. I have never given up, and I can honestly say that Doba has been very good to me. It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of long hours, but there will come a day that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. It hasn’t been easy and success doesn’t come right away, but it has been worth it and now I’m reaping the benefits for staying committed and never giving up.

What were you hoping to accomplish by becoming a Doba member?

I wanted to work in my home so I could continue to raise my children without going outside the home for income. Doba has offered me a chance to see that desire come to pass and I am very thankful for their dedication to all of us dropshippers. Their website is so fun to work with and they continue to be very progressive in staying on the cutting edge of this growing industry. The future is bright and I feel very blessed to be a part of it.

Where do you currently sell products (your own website, eBay, Amazon)?

I have found that I have been most successful selling my products on eBay. Over three years ago, I opened up a store and worked diligently to become a Top-Rated Seller. Since achieving that designation, my sales have increased by a significant amount. It took me about three years to get to that point but I was determined to do everything I could to earn the income that I was hoping for. I found that it was very important to set goals and my first goal was to make enough money to pay for our groceries every month. That was a big goal to go for but in three years time I have surpassed that goal. I recently prayed that God would help me to double that original goal and I sincerely believe it will happen.

What is your website address (URL)?

My store is Christian Integrity Discount Sales.

How much money are you able to make with Doba?

When I first started, I was content with a very small profit margin just so I could move products and make a name for myself. Now, I’m able to command a larger profit margin because of my reputation and standing on eBay. I shoot for a 15- to 17-percent profit margin. I make a nice part-time income and some would consider it a full-time income. I am still growing, so who knows where that figure will end up.

Do you have a particular product niche, and if so, what is it and why did you pick it?

I like to sell products for the home. A web store representative told me once that I should sell products that I know something about, and that proved to be very good advice. Why should I sell automotive products when I know more about kitchen appliances? But I have also found that I can sell just about anything on the Internet.

What have you done to make your business stand out so you can sell more products?

I think you have to make the customer feel safe about his purchase. You need to show some kind of proof that you are reliable — for instance, receiving excellent feedback, offering safe checkout and registering with Better Business Bureau. It helps to have your "Terms of Sale" simply and clearing stated in your ad. What are your shipping processes, what is your return policy, whoyou are and how can you be contacted. This creates security in the buyer’s mind. Also, sell products that have excellent reviews to back up that product. Include the reviews in your ad. I offer free shipping, which is great for the consumer because if he returns his product, he knows he will get all of his or her money back. Fast processing and fast shipping is essential. You need to pay great attention to all the different variables that make for a great sale.

Why did you choose to drop ship products rather than purchasing inventory in bulk?

There’s very little risk in dropshipping. I don’t have to find space to store inventory; I don’t have to ship; I don’t have to accept returns, and I don’t have to risk that my inventory won’t be sold.I’m not a big risk taker so this gives me tremendous peace of mind.

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