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William ArnoldWilliam Arnold

Member Since: February 2006

"As a company of one, Doba has helped me greatly. My small business has more than doubled."

Arnold Associates Unique World Decor

Where do you currently sell products?

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started with Doba

Back in June of 2001, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was an Executive Chef for a great restaurant. I made a great salary with great benefits and savings in the bank. This news kind of stopped me dead in my tracks. I've had a great career in a profession that I loved. I've cooked for Presidents, Celebrities and people from all over the world. That all stopped. I lost my job and my house as my hospital bills sky rocketed very fast. I ended up moving in with my Mother on her farm. I had to file for bankruptcy. I had to find a way to make money. I had a huge collection of vintage guitars that I have collected over the years. One at a time I sold a guitar. I had about forty. I started selling them on eBay. That went pretty good for a while, until I ran out of guitars.

I saw an infomercial late one night with a company that sells wholesale to the public and even shipped the items to your customers from their warehouse. I started selling on eBay for about a year and knew that I had to have more products to sell. That's when I came across Doba. Doba has been sort of a Godsend for me. I'm planning to expand to larger items and offer more for my customers.

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

My business tries to give a wide range of items and gifts at discount prices. From small home decor accents to electronics such as digital cameras and LCD TVs as well as antiqued style clocks and leather wear.

I would like to think that my customers buy from me because of my wide choices in products that are new name brand quality items that are shipped professionally directly from the wholesale warehouse.

I also have fast and great communications with my customers. I try to send them a tracking number as soon as I receive the shipping information so they can track the product themselves. On eBay, I leave positive feedback for the buyer as soon as possible. I find that buyers like to see their feedback fast.

About 30% of my sales are international. I charge a flat handling fee as I have to have the item(s) shipped to me and I then forward vis USPS Priority International. This is about the cheapest I have found where the item has insurance included.

I seem to be doing something right as I have a good amount of repeat customers. During the holidays, I offer 10% off the total purchase price for referrals for new customer as well as for the buyer who recommends the new buyer.

Why do you like dropshipping products instead of buying in bulk?

I use only two other companies that I sell from besides Doba since Doba has so many products to sell. I like dropshipping because I would rather have a warehouse ship for me than me having to buy then store then ship. It saves me time and money in the long run.

What's good about Doba and other drop-shippers is that you really don't need your own warehouse. When a customer buys, they pay, you get paid and then you order the product to be shipped directly to your customer. It is like owning your own large company.

How has Doba helped in the growth of your business?

As a company of one, Doba has helped me greatly. My small business has more than doubled. I've sold about $9,000 from each of my companies that drop-ship for me. I make 25%-60% profit margin on the products I sell from my drop ship suppliers.

I try to use the knowledge base that Doba offers to help me learn as much as I can about this business. You can't sell it all or do it all. Do what works.

Doba is a very good place for anyone starting out selling on the Internet or even opening a business storefront in your town. Sears and Walmart started somewhere. Not always on top. If you can dream this is the place to start.

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