Merchant Voice Archives

How to Detect Online Fraud

March 22, 2011 • Jamie Salvatori

Every online retailer will, at some point, be faced with fraud. It is as inevitable as taxes, but far more sinister! Your credit card processor is going to give you two pieces of information to help combat fraud: the 3 or 4-digit “security code” and an AVS response. The CSC code shoul...

Business > Merchant Voice

Stop obsessing over your search engine rankings

February 15, 2011 • Jamie Salvatori

As the owner of an e-commerce store, my number one piece of advice to anyone with an online store is to stop obsessing over your search engine rankings. Instead, focus your attention on building your brand. In the real world, we buy stuff from people that we like. The “better” car sale...

Business > Merchant Voice

You’re backing up more than your data, right?

January 12, 2011 • Jamie Salvatori

Every website owner should be backing up their website and database on a daily basis. If you’re not, set that up immediately. However, this is not what I’m referring to when it comes to backups. I’m referring to all of the critical aspects of your business. Here are some questions to as...

Business > Merchant Voice

You Gotta Have Something to Sell

October 31, 2010 • Ken Kikkawa

Happy Halloween! Before the ghosts & goblins and droves of trick-or-treaters descend upon our neighborhood, I've managed to find some quiet time to write. I recently returned from the 2010 iHobby Expo in Chicago, which is the largest trade show in the radio control and model hobby...

Business > Merchant Voice

Back on the Front Line

August 31, 2010 • Ken Kikkawa

As a business owner, there are many times when you have to do it all: hire, fire, answer phones, solve UPS problems, pick & pack orders...you name it! Some of the most challenging parts of my job is not the business aspect of running the company but instead the people aspect of it....

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Highlights from the Internet Retailer Conference

June 24, 2010 • Ken Kikkawa

I recently attended the Internet Retailer Conference in Chicago and it was a terrific show. If you are able to attend only one show per year, I highly recommend going to this one and if you are not able to get to any shows because you are too involved in your business you need to find ...

Business > Merchant Voice

Why Free Shipping Works

February 5, 2010 • Ken Kikkawa

There has been alot written on Practical eCommerce and elsewhere regarding free shipping and whether or not it makes sense for merchants to offer. I'd like to share my experience with it and tell you why it makes sense for eHobbies. For years, we rarely offered free shipping promotions...

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Hello 2010

January 1, 2010 • Ken Kikkawa

The holiday orders have all been delivered and hopefully we have made thousands of children and adults happy with their gifts of toys and hobbies. Whether it was an RC car, train set, model kit, model rocket set or slot car set, hours of fun were spent together with friends and family ...

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UPS vs. FedEx vs. USPS. Which is best?

November 20, 2009 • Ken Kikkawa

The holiday craziness begins a week from today. But long before the anticipated ramp up in sales takes place, experienced merchants have already taken a look at an important component ...

Business > Merchant Voice

Goal Setting with our Teams

October 7, 2009 • Ken Kikkawa

As merchants, entrepreneurs and business drivers we all wear various hats during the course of the day, week or month that sometimes are not part of any job description. One of my principle responsibilities is to set the overall direction and strategy for our company, both long term an...

Business > Merchant Voice

Prioritizing for the Holidays

September 1, 2009 • Ken Kikkawa

I'm a merchant at heart. I love merchandise. It probably goes back to over 20 years ago when I was an assistant buyer for May Company department stores. Part of our responsibility was to work out in the stores during sale periods in November and December. It gave me a chance to get ...