The other night I was watching American Idol. After a horrible
performance, Simon asked the singer "Why did you pick that song?" The
answer was "I like it". The judges admonished the contestant that liking
a song doesn't mean you should sing it. This stuck in my mind as I
thought about my inventory-buying habits. I focus mainly on glass
because I like it. But is focusing on a single category the right thing
for me to be doing right now?

I'm trying hard to break out of the glass-only habit, but it isn't easy.

Dear Fellow Ruby Lane Shop Keepers,

I am a shop owner on Ruby Lane. My shop is called Jantiques. I am also a graphic designer, in business for over 30 years. I have been perusing other shops on the Lane, and am amazed at all of the unique and fascinating items being offered by shopkeepers here. What amazes me even more, though, is the lack of professionally designed store identities!

Ruby Lane Customer Care & Share

Acknowledge the Customer’s Needs

Some of the major reasons you are on Twitter, in addition to promoting your business, are to socialize and to network. Leave a good impression, and you'll always have followers. Concentrate on being the real “you” - that person others find interesting and want to chat with. Establishing the real “you” will also entice people to your website, your blog or whichever site you show in your public profile. But first, you want to establish yourself through your Twitter Profile.

It's easy to open a Twitter account. Go to http://twitter.com/, click on
the green bar that says “Get Started – Join”, and fill in the information.You have just become a Tweeter!

But even before you start tweeting, you'll want to give some serious thought to making your Twittering easier and better later. Forethought in setting up your account will give you a solid start and will lessen problems down the way.

Start with Your Name

To remain successful during these economic times, one must be able to allow oneself to branch out into unfamiliar territory. If demand for your specialty is waning, introducing items to your shop from other collecting areas may be the spark you need to stimulate sales.

There are many ways to keep items moving in your shop. Even in these trying
financial times, people still buy.

Your Ruby Lane shop will work best if you always check your "shop visitors log". It is a log that shows what items in your shop are being looked at.

The wish list is an important tool too... it also tells you what items appear to be the most popular. If I have some items that are not generating interest, I figure either my price is too high, or, the photos do not show the item well.

As someone who has been both an avid Internet shopper and an Internet seller, I have a bi-lateral perspective to share about my Ruby Lane experience. The easiest way to make a point, is by direct comparison, for which there are ample opportunities to make Ruby Lane shine.

In the Real Estate business, the biggest asset is always "Location,
Location, Location."

In the world of Antiques our biggest asset is "Reputation, Reputation,
Reputation".

After all, at the end of the day, the only thing you have is your reputation. It is the one thing that will help your business to prosper, even during the most difficult times of economic hardship, the shops with a golden reputation based on honesty, loyalty and trust, will survive.

"The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change.