Complaint Filed: lolitasweet.livejournal.com

This is taken from a Cozycotter dated 13 Feb 2010 posting against a blogshop owner who is also known to be a moderator too.

“Hi,

Just want to share with you all one blogshop which I had a very terrible experience with.

As I spree-ed with Lolitasweet, she replied me almost immediately within an hour with payment confirmation an etc. But 2 weeks later as I received a defected bag, and emailed her about it, she was still nice offering to get an exchange from the manufacturer.

Read more

SafeBlogShop: Eatingzombie

Here’s what we know some shoppers said: Very efficient and fast! Would love to patronise again!

EZ (EATINGZOMBIE) was created to bring in quirky yet simple apparels to cater mainly youths, aged 15 to 21 years old.

We’re proud to showcase our in-house label : LULU with Shili’s self designed & manufactured pieces.
For any enquires or any collaborations purposes, feel free to contact us at eatingzombie@hotmail.com

Name of BlogShop:: Eatingzombie

Blogshop URL:: http://eatingzombie.livejournal.com/

Interview Specials #3: Electricsheep likes a cupcake!

Introduction to Electricsheep…

Electricsheep started off in 2007, selling pre-love clothings by the owner, Rach. Rach loved taking pictures of her clothes and conversing with her customers. The feeling of closing a deal motivates Rach to continue her business and eventually, learnt sourcing for stocks. It then grew to the scale of a blogshop.


The Challenge along the Way…

“The hardest part is always getting your blogshop to be known. I was always thinking of ways of how i could drive traffic to my blog, or gain publicity.”

Most blogshops faced the same issue of getting traffic. And traffic happen to be the lifeblood for all online businesses.

“And the next difficulty, is capital. Be prepared to put in money, time and hard work, because a blogshop isn’t a brick and mortar store. We do not exactly have opening and closing hours. Though I would say we are still experiencing some difficulties of the above as we’ve yet to reach our goal.”


Giving customers a sense of security…

Given that there are so many scammers making online shopping unattractive, Electricsheep concluded that you have to trust your customers in order for them to trust you.

“Be honest, if a potential customer ask if this certain item would fit her size, don’t lie and say yes when you know it won’t fit her comfortably.”

“We try to bring in clothings of good quality.” In the past, blogshops’ items are known to be made of poor material because of the affordable price tag. However, Electricsheep realised that customers will only feel confident in purchasing when they are confident of their own clothes’ quality themselves.

Not only this, they even put in the extra effort in purchasing a complimentary certificate from post office.

“When we just started out, we purchased a complimentary ‘Certificates of Posting’ from the post office whenever we mailed out a parcel for our customers. So they would know that we really take pride in our work, and we really do send out their packages safely.”


Customer relationship does not end after posting the package…

Electricsheep thinks that a blogshop owner should always be responsible and reply promptly.

“They should always answer enquiries honestly, and measurements should be stated as accurately as possible. In fact, the relationship with the customer does not end once you send that package into the mailbox. Do not have the “anything else that happens after that isn’t the seller’s problem” mentality.”

As a customer, we are sure that you would not want to purchase from a store that does not have after-sales customer care.


Researches…

Electricsheep advises shoppers to visit forums to ask around if anyone has purchased from the intended blogshop.

“There are such threads in CozyCot forum related to online shopping. Also, try and look around for reviews of the blogshop which you wish to purchase from.

When you have decided that you want to purchase the item, always check the details like the measurements and the material, because we are unable to try or feel when shopping online, those 2 factors are very important. Also, sometimes photos can be deceiving.”

More importantly, always ask any enquiries before you proceed to purchase.

Electricsheep would like to say some words to budding blogshop entrepreneurs…

“It may be tough at first because right now the market is pretty saturated and there are so many competitors around, but try not to give up. If business is slow, try to analyze the problems first. Take pride in your blogshop eventhough it may not be a ‘real’ job. Word will get around when people are satisfied with your service!”

**

We thank you Electricsheep for the interview with us. They have really spent the time and effort in helping us with the interview.

And we look forward to the next issue #4.
Disclaimer:

- All images are screenshot from Electricsheep
- Most of the content in this interview are contributed by Electricsheep

SafeBlogShopper is now looking smart!

SafeBlogShopper has taken a step up to maximise the reading pleasure for those who has a smart phone.

Instead of the full webpage that is going to appear like it is on the website, there will be a new simplified layout for some of the smart phones.

The picture on the right shows how it is look like on an iphone.

I think is cool.

Currently this new feature supports blackberry9500, blackberry9530, iphone and ipod.

Do try it out and I believe you will like it! Remember to bookmark us or add us in your home screen.

SafeBlogShop: lustmonday

Here’s what we heard from some shoppers: Fast email replies and very nice of them to entertain this flustered customer who was worried about her possibly lost mail.

lustmonday is here to save every girl from monday blues.

we pledge to deliver great fashion products that fast forward you to the frontline of every latest trend and fad.

on top of having great quality products and versatility, lustmonday believes in providing great customer service to make our visitors love us more. we welcome feedback and suggestions to help improve the quality of our service.

we hope lustmonday come to your mind everytime you realize it’s a monday!
so be part of the monday family today and start lusting for us.

Name of BlogShop:: lustmonday

Blogshop URL:: http://lustmonday.com/

Interview Specials #2: Eatingzombie creates Zombie Collection!

Introduction to Eatingzombie…

Eatingzombie was founded on 30 Dec 2008 by Shili hoping to share her love of fashion styling and clothes to everyone. It started selling most of the owner’s clothes which she once-like. With a dream of opening a small boutique of her own designs, she decided to make use of this opportunity to venture into her own business, creating her own label.

The main creator behind the scene is none other than the model herself.


The challenge of Eatingzombie…

What happen if you are not a risk-taker, but still wish to plunge into opening a blogshop? Eatingzombie tells you how.

“Initially Eatingzombie was just like any ordinary small online store who dare not take in much quantity. Honestly speaking, I am quite kiasu (afraid of losing). I do not have much courage to bring in huge quantity as compared to those popular online stores.

So the stock which I took was really little. Until I was constantly facing lots of comments from buyers urging me to bring in more varieties and quantities!!! I started bringing in more quantity per design eventually establishing my own manufactured and designed pieces.”

“Also, as I am the only person handling Eatingzombie, I had trouble managing the workload from my school and the online store. It was really terrible that I had to stop the activities in the online store for at least 2 months during that period.

Thankfully, when all my major assignments are over, I revamped the Eatingzombie site and I’m glad that my customers continue to be supportive.”

SafeBlogShopper agrees that in this industry, it does not really matters about the scale of your business in the beginning. You can start small, build up your customer base and reputation and your business will grow.

A good customer relationship…

To build the confidence of the shoppers, Eatingzombie had 2 things in mind.

“GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE and GOOD QUALITY OF CLOTHES are a MUST to maintain good relationship with the shoppers. “

If you are wondering what is a good customer service, Eatingzombie had always answered to every single comments on their blogshop post even if is over 50 plus comments.

Her mailing list page even goes up to 983 comments. Even taking half of the comments are replied by her, she would have at least 470 comments!

They also conducted mass meet-up during the Chinese New Year period just to ensure all the ladies get to put on their favorite clothes from Eatingzombie during the festive season.


Link to your personal blog…

Eatingzombie suggested that an online store should have a reliable source of knowing who the owner is.

“Put a link to our own personal blog/website allows our shoppers to know that we’re not afraid of letting people know who we are.

Information like the size, price and materials used in a product are the most important things to look out for when doing online shopping.”

Eatingzombie has her own backstage blog on livejournal and Shili also provided her own personal blog link in the ‘About’ page of Eatingzombie.

Eatingzombie would like to say some words to budding blogshop entrepreneurs…

“NO PAIN NO GAIN.

Blogshop owners MUST have a high tolerance towards some difficult customers. But not to worry, 99% of the customers are really nice and friendly girls. Really did not regret setting up Eatingzombie!!! ^^V”

**

We thank Eatingzombie for giving an opportunity to do an interview with us.

Feel free to drop us any comments if you have anything to say.

We will deliver our next Interview Special #3 soon.


Disclaimer:

- All images are screenshot from Eatingzombie
- Most of the content in this interview are contributed by Eatingzombie

SafeBlogShop: Odorikoya

Here’s what we know some shoppers say: Bought from them twice already! Simply love it. Would purchase more from them in the future. Very positive They verify my payment within half an hour!

Odorikoya is an online store based in Singapore. We aim to offer a wide selection of stylish yet affordable clothing. We take pride in the service we provide and also the quality of the apparels that we offer. Lately, we have ventured into producing our own unique designer pieces, bringing exclusivity to our customers.

Name of BlogShop:: Odorikoya

Blogshop URL:: http://odorikoya.livejournal.com/

SafeBlogShop: Nattiesayso

Here’s what we know some shoppers say: A big thank you to Nattie for the patience, assistance and help. Putting yourself in your customers’ shoes – think and feel just like them.

Nattiesayso is solely owned by Natalie, founder of nattiesayso. I provide flexible service and try to accommodate to my customers’ needs as much as possible.

Mail is normally sent out immediately after payment is received. So far, since the opening of nattiesayso till now, none of the customers had experience lost mails through normal postage.

Name of BlogShop:: nattiesayso

Blogshop URL:: http://nattiesayso.livejournal.com/

Interview Specials #1: lustmonday saves us from Monday Blues! (part 2 of 2)

Many of us who shopped online tend to overlook certain information which could possibly be a scam alert. lustmonday had identified some qualities that a safe blogshop should possess.

Professional layout of a Blogshop works…

“The key qualities of a safe blogshop are the professionalism, reviews/comments by other shoppers, customer base and responsiveness.

Take a look around and you will see the differences, some blogshops are sloppily setup with minimal efforts that does not give you the confidence and comfort when browsing their products. Serious blogshops take pride in their work and will definitely put in the effort to establish a decent and professional looking blogshop that gives their customers the necessary confidence and trust when looking through their website.”

We always find that the layout of a blogshop affects the sale. Neat and decent designs work really well. Which is why livejournal.com is the number one choice for most serious blogshop owner.

Feedbacks and Comments…

“Another quality to assess is the quality and quantity of positive reviews or comments by existing customers. These allow you to gauge the level of service and quality of products the blogshop offers which is often a good predictor of how safe it is to buy their products.”

Research, research and research. That is what SafeBlogShopper has always been encouraging.

lustmonday shows a good example of a feedback page on their site. They have mostly positive comments on it and we believe it will continue to grow. lustmonday also has a facebook fan page with 483 fans! The larger the customer base, the more established the blogshop is. This is also a reflection of how safe it is to purchase their products.

“Most of these blogshops will want to maintain their branding and image which they have painstakingly built up over the years.

The responsiveness of the blogshop in meeting customer queries and purchase orders also builds up the level of confidence and trust to give you greater peace of mind when dealing with them.”

A Simple Guide when Shopping Online…

lustmonday came up with the 3Rs formula to look out for when shopping online.

1. Research the shop
You can often find helpful information about online blogshops from comments, forums, reviews and testimonials. This will allow you to assess the trustworthiness of the shop and whether they give you the confidence to make your first purchase from them

2. Read the Fineprint
Check for expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policies, and other important information. Look for an email address to write to (or a phone number to call) if you have a question, a problem, or if you need help.

3. Record your transaction
Make sure to print or save electronically any records related to your online transactions. This will help you keep track of shipping dates, shipping and handling fees, and other details of your transactions that can help you to resolve any potential ambiguities or communication issues that crop up in future.

lustmonday would like to say some words to the budding blogshops entrepreneurs…

“Never give up!”

“Things will definitely not be easy and business can be very bad at the initial stage but have faith in yourself and never fail to deliver great items and pictures. Have a clear concert and be smart in your marketing strategies. Keep your price reasonable, know your competitors and always believe that a good customer service will go a long way.”

**

As such, we have ended our Interview Specials #1 with lustmonday. We would really like to take this opportunity to thank lustmonday for the cooperation and the great effort in composing this interview.

Feel free to drop us any comments if you have anything to say.

The next Interview Special #2 is on the way. =)


Disclaimer:

- All images are screenshot from lustmonday.

- Most of the content in this interview are contributed by lustmonday.

Interview Specials #1: lustmonday saves us from Monday Blues! (part 1 of 2)

Our very first issue of Interview Specials features a 7-month blogshop yet had over 25 collections of clothes and almost 500 fans in the facebook now.

“We pledge to deliver great fashion products that fast forward you to the frontline of every latest trend and fad.” ~lustmonday.

In the beginning….

lustmonday started with 2 ladies who are addicted to online shopping. They are the regular shopaholics with a bigger-than-regular passion for fashion. It was founded because they lust to create an online shopping portal that stands out from the rest.

“When we first started, we knew it clearly that we wanted to be different and spent quite a lot of time brainstorming on our name and the theme.”

“After rounds of discussions, we finally decided on the name of lustmonday, hoping that lustmonday will be an easy name to remember, to be associated with each monday, driving away all monday blues.”

And so they did it. Each new collection is launch on a Monday. And they have been launching their collections almost every Monday!!


Their Biggest Challenge….

While all blogshops begin with some hardships, lustmonday had theirs too.

“The biggest challenge we had was to create awareness and uniqueness.”

“To be honest, there are thousands of blogshops around. Barriers of entries to the blogshop industry are low and almost everyone can do it. So our challenge was to differentiate lustmonday from the rest and to build up a large customer base in the initial start-up.”

“We also encountered numerous obstacles in establishing partnerships with reliable suppliers and sourcing for suitable models. But we are very happy with our current photographer, Lawrence and model Sofia. They are really professional and help in building up our products. We have also enjoyed a good relationship with some suppliers who have been very supportive and helpful.”


Building the Confidence of Shoppers….

A good working relationship definitely plays a big part in maintaining a success business model. Like what lustmonday said, blogshop industry is easy to enter which is why some blogshops scammed. So how did lustmonday overcome the trust factor?

“To build confidence in shoppers, we believe in sincerity and efficiency.”

“We take pride in our products and we do not mind spending more money, time and effort to acquire great products and pictures for our customers. We believe shoppers will be able to tell, appreciate the hard work and effort we put in lustmonday. Over the time we gain their trust and confidence in our products. Prompt delivery and communication are very important too. We mail out our packed items fast, reply fast and try our best to answer to all queries, no matter how tough they are. “

That is very true. lustmonday believes that putting themselves in the shoes of their customers and going the extra mile for them will eventually reap the fruit of success.

“We remember once, we mailed out an item 3 times to a buyer. First she gave us a wrong address. Second time, she did not collect the item in time and the item was returned. When she finally received it, she was very happy and now, she is a regular customer of lustmonday.”

“There were a few times when we surprised our buyers with cards and pretty packaging when we learned that they were purchasing the items for their friends or girlfriends. We enjoy doing little things for our customers and their satisfaction drives us to further excel in this area.”

(to be continued…)

In the final part of the interview tomorrow, lustmonday will share about what qualities they think a safe blogshop has. They will also share tips and advices to budding blogshop entrepreneurs and online shoppers on how to shop safely online.

Stay Tune~


Disclaimer:

- All images are taken from lustmonday.

- Most of the content in this interview are contributed by lustmonday.

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