CASE123 MPS sales and boxing week ebay sales

we are very please that our CASE123 multi-layer protection system holsters and cases are starting to pick up in sales on ebay also.  it is nice to see that customers are interested in holsters that can protect an iphone 4 in a gel skin or back case, maximizing protection and usability.

and with boxing day started yesterday, we have hit all time high sales today!!!  as of now, 116 items were sold in the last 24 hours, which tops our previous high of just over 100 items.  just like last year, ebay sales right after christmas is an all year high, and lasts until the end of Jan.  we hope the trend will hold true.

in particular, alot of customers must have received ipod touch 4 as christmas gifts, as we have sold many ipod touch 4 gel skins or leather cases.  this is somewhat expected, but not it's proven!!!

some of our stock is running low (hot selling items too), and we need to restock them ASAP to keep our momentum.  hopefully we will get them to our hands by next wed.

with taxation year ending, we are getting busy with filing taxes for the various revenue streams that we have.....

More and more MPS sales!!!

Now that we have launched the CASE123 Multi-layer Protection System, both at our retail store and on our online store (at www.case123.com), we are seeing more and more sales, probably consistent, rolling in.

we've  made our first MPS - Elite Executive holster sale at www.case123.com yesterday, and in store, we are selling a couple every day that we are open.  we just need ebay to start picking up now so customers looking for a holster that would fit an iphone 4 with a gel skin or back case can find this product.

Multi-Layer Protection System sales are coming in!!!

By now, our MPS are being listed on both case123.com as well as ebay.  Sales are starting to come in, more so for the MPS Lite, but it's likely due to the fact that MPS Lite was posted before the MPS holsters.

In store, MPS holsters are getting attentions!!!  It is exactly what some customers are looking for, which they cannot get anywhere else (short of buying a blackberry bold 9000 holster, which has a sleep magnet which is not that desirable).

Now, next step is to get the MPS holster, MPS Lite, and Complete MPS known to the world.  advertising would be the key here.  Let's see how some advertising can affect sales.

Ebay Negative Feedbacks

As a seller, ebay search standing is as important as it gets.  and with feedback affecting search standing, negative feedbacks are as undesirable as they sound.  however, there's nothing an ebay seller can do to avoid buyers from providing negative feedbacks.  some are probably outright mad at some situations (most of the time from Canadapost, because we ship the next day).  so in the end, a seller would be monitoring the feedbacks received as if it's the stock ticker, hoping it's always positive, and that the negative ones will expire (out of the search standing calculations).

this is very ridiculous.

so if an obnoxious buyer knows about this, he/she can always screw around his/her seller.  what a system for sellers wanting to run a business.

there comes a day where search standing is so low that we will take our business out of the ebay ecosystem.

Multi-Layer Protection System are Packaged and Displayed!!!

Finally, a long night, where we have packaged up our new multi-layer protection (MPS) holster for iPhone 4, priced, and displayed at our store front.  our online store www.case123.com has also been updated with a front intro screen illustrating the MPS holster (MPS - Racer 1.0, to be exact).

So all those customers that have been waiting for this item can finally get their hands on it.

100 items sold in 89 sales in the last 24 hours on Ebay

At this moment in time, we have sold 100 items in 89 sales over the last 24 hours.  i believe this is the best sales day we have every had up to now, and met our first milestone of 100 items (ideally it should be 100 sales).  let's see if we can break that second level milestone later today.

Our MPS Retail Packaging Boxes are here!!!

Finally got our official retail packaging boxes, nicely made, high quality with printing just like the way we have provided them.

Now, putting the Multi-Layer Protection System holsters in the box, it is a bit loose, so we'll need to look for something to stabilize the holster, ideally sitting vertically centered to create a feel of a floating holster in the box.

The Carbon Fiber pattern back cases for iPhone 4 with CASE123 product stamps are made nicely also.

We're almost ready for the official launch!!

Status of switching primary source for MPS holsters production

After scrambling for a day, our target new primary source for the production of our Multi-layer Protection System holster for iPhone 4 responded that they should be able to deliver.  If the quality is the same as all the many previous products we have ordered from them, this batch and future batches of holsters are going to be amazing!!!

so from our lessons learned, we have quickly came up with a detailed dimensions diagram specification, as well as explanations of all the fine details required of our CASE123 multi-layer protection system holster.  We should hopefully see samples in the next few days (in pictures), and go for the order right away.  The next thing to worry about is when they'll be fabbing out and whether the timeline would fit into the fast-track shipment schedule.

We should still be able to capture the late Christmas gift shoppers, and those who would be shopping for protection for that new iPhone 4 Christmas gifts!!!

When many things go wrong and you hit the bottom, there is always hope.....

Production Fallout - First batch of MPS holsters from CASE123

In production manufacturing environment, fallout refers to parts that do not pass the necessary standards as required by the product specifications.  today, we encountered a large fallout on our branded CASE123 MPS holsters from Manyi.

The hand-made sample was perfect, both in the quality and dimensions.  that's why we requested a sample, to see how the workmanship and fitting would be like.  but when we received our production starting order of a few hundreds of the MPS holsters, they were nowhere near acceptable; incorrect dimensions, bad workmanship, glue stains on holster surface and clips, crooked stitching, slanted holster base.....  there's much more to list.  from binning (manual QA to separate the good from the bad), the yield is looking like about 20% for barely passes.  we'll have to find ways to salvage these holsters.....  we sold one MPS-racer to a customer at regular price, he's going to have a one of a kind there.

so to recover quickly, we are in the process of contacting another manufacturing partner of ours to be our primary source.  we have quickly drawn up a list of things to watch for in manufacturing, dimensions, and revised the design itself a bit.  we're prepared to pay a bit extra to them just to get these out in time for Christmas shopping.  Hopefully with the negotiation, we'll be able to get them to our hands in 2 weeks time.

This was somewhat expected, just not to this extent.  to the journey of success, there are always roadblock that provide us with valuable lessons.  This was one of them.

The Multi-layer Protection System Holster from CASE123 are in house

Finally, we got the shipment today, with the 3 different styles of CASE123 Multi-layer Protection System holsters for iPhone 4G.

1. MPS - Elite Executive (Genuine Leather)
2. MPS - Racer (Carbon Fiber pattern twilled PU Leather)
3. MPS - essential (Smooth PU leather)

It's going to be a long night getting their launch pictures ready and have them posted.

Stay tuned...

Our first CASE123 Multi-layer Protection System Sold!!!

Actually, it was our hand-made sample that got sold today - we don't have the official product on hand yet, and an in-store customer saw our multi-layer protection system (MPS) holster sample, and wanted it really bad (yes, our staff has to call me and have me talk to this customer).  And since he was so much in love with our MPS, we let the customer purchase it.  This customer definitely got a one of a kind, as the logo on the official product is not sized like the one on this sample.  It was a CASE123 MPS - essential holster that was sold today.

Well, this is promising.  a few inquiries over the phone, in the store, and one hand-made sample even sold today.  We just have to wait patiently for the real deal to come in for the Christmas shoppers.

Until then....

Getting ready to sell for Christmas shoppers!!

Black friday is coming, and we are getting ready to launch a liquidation sale for christmas shoppers.  Looking for local advertising to promote that.

Our CASE123 product delivery looks like it'll be delayed in terms of delivery from UPS, hopefully get them in house this week.  At least all the packaging are done and will be en route later today.

Passed 10k feedback point

Finally passed the 10,000 feedback point this week on Ebay, and upgraded to the next level of power seller.  definitely a milestone achieved.

the first 5k feedbacks took 1 year and 10 months.  the other 5k feedbacks took 8 months.

Gotta keep the acceleration rate going.

read the white iphone 4 story...

Read into a bit more details about how Fei Lam sold white iPhone 4 conversion kits and made a fortune.  i must say, even though different people would comment on how easy it was, and how he has the contacts, etc.....  i do admire this 17 year old for his guts and instincts.  we need this type of instincts and take the appropriate type of risks also, in order to grow at an accelerated rate.

Prepare for liquidation sales

Need to prepare for a larger in-store liquidation/holiday seasons warehouse sales.  Maybe have 2 of these advertised liquidation sales in Dec to see how they go.

Sales picked up again today

Finally, a decent day of sales.  Can't really figure out what happened for the last few days before this, but i'm not complaining.  afterall, who knows what ebay is doing in the background.

Just need to get back to Top Rated Seller status again on ebay.com to get those US customers back.

Visa and Debit machine is working

Finally got the debit/credit card machine in house and working.  There's going to be alot less cash deposit and counting.

slow Ebay Sales continues.....

The slow ebay sales is killing out business........  sales dropped by 50% week to week.  Need to do something about  it....

Extremely slow ebay sales

don't know what's going on, but our ebay sales have dropped alot this week....  :(

Today is real carbon fiber back case day

can't believe it...  many people were looking for and bought real carbon fiber back cases for iPhone 3Gs today.  both in the store and on ebay....  nice...

Return customer inquiring our Multi-layer Protection System iPhone 4 Case

So a return customer inquired about our multi-layer protection system case for iPhone 4 in the store today (and another asked over ebay).  we definitely need to specialize/capitalize on these complete protection packages!!!!  for both iPhone 4 and Blackberry's.

Ebay listing search optimization

Found this great article on ebay listing search optimization, and alot of technical details and suggestions.  Probably the best article i've read on this topic, up to now....

http://feeds.feedburner.com/BzSale

Power Outage.... to One Outlet

What a mess.....  power outage to one power outlet where we connect all the computers, router, modem, tube amplifier, radiating heater, printer.....  well, no wonder it got overloaded.

thank god for a long power extension cable to take power somewhere else to keep us up and running and be able to ship to our customers.....  until this other outlet goes also.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Our first blog

Gotta start blogging to keep track of things to do around running a business.

Anxiously waiting for our first product to launch....  a few iPhone 4 leather holsters that can fit iPhone 4 housed in back cases or TPU gel skins.  Hopefully the packaging is not going to delay the launch....