Would I still be able to remain an independent company, while being partnered with MySkatingMall.com?
Yes, you would be completely independent. We would simply create a link from MySkatingMall to your site (explained below) and you would only pay commission on the sales that are generated from our traffic. Your site is yours and will remain unchanged.
What are the logistics of how it would work?
If you already have a website, you wouldn’t need to make another storefront on MySkatingMall. Viewers on MySkatingMall will see the description for your store or search for your store and then click through to your website. When you register your business to join MySkatingMall, we’ll send you a piece of code that you put on your site so that the purchases that are made from shoppers sent by MySkatingMall can be tracked. Either at the end of the month or instantly (depending on how we can get it set up), we will debit your Paypal account for the 10% commission on those sales. Half of what we debit will be given to the skating club or team of the purchaser.
What if someone returns an item to me and MySkatingMall has already billed the 10% from my PayPal account?
You will have 30 days from the point of sale to notify us of any returns and provide proof of the return if possible. You will be refunded the 10% minus any applicable PayPal fees that we have incurred. It is our policy to trust your integrity as a long term partner in these matters until it appears to be abused.
Why should I be willing to give up 10% of my revenue to join as a MySkatingMall partner store?
There are several reasons: Most importantly, joining as a MySkatingMall partner store should ultimately increase your bottom line. Without asking any money up front, we will be directing additional traffic to your website. MySkatingMall.com will give your site additional worldwide exposure. You will only be paying the 10% on sales from traffic that we send you. Here’s another way to look at this: you would not have made that particular sale if the customer had not been directed to your site. The 10% simply comes out of you additional profits. Secondly, think of the 10% as a marketing expense to attract customers. It is clearly the best type of marketing expense since you only pay if a sale is made. Where else can you spend your marketing dollars like that? A third reason to join MySkatingmall is that you are building goodwill with those in the skating community. You are setting your business apart through your commitment to raise money for grassroots skating through each sale you make at MySkatingMall. That goodwill can only benefit your business long term. Lastly, due to the fund raising features of MySkatingMall.com, it may become the primary place a large portion of skaters go to to purchase their skating items. If you are not visible on MySkatingmall, you may ultimately lose business. In short, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What will be the different costs to be a MySkatingMall partner store?
If you have an existing website, the only cost to be a MySkatingMall partner store will be the 10% commission you pay on each sale. Businesses who don’t have an existing website and are creating a storefront directly on MySkatingMall.com will be assessed a $10 per month hosting fee. Banner advertising space and front page exposure for listings will also be available. Those fees have not been determined yet. All of the preceding costs will remain unchanged until at least March 2011.
Will my company have to send in a check every month for the 10% commission to MySkatingMall?
No. We will handle all financial transactions through PayPal. No checks will be going back and forth in the mail. If we can get it so that everything happens instantaneously and automatically, we will. We want MySkatingMall to make your life easier, not more difficult.
I am not comfortable turning over any of my profit directly to the club when I get no say in how my money is spent. Why doesn’t the money just go back to individual families?
The way individual skaters will benefit is by receiving 90% of the sales price for their items. It is true that partner stores don’t have any control over how the clubs’ 5% is spent. You can think of the 5% as a marketing expense for your business and not as handing over 5% of your profits. It can be assumed that any of the sales sent your way from MySkatingMall you may not have received otherwise.
Will the items on my current website show up when shoppers are using the MySkatingMall search feature and looking for specific items that I have?
Not automatically, but it will be possible. All partner stores will be able to create an unlimited number of item listing on MySkatingMall that will show up in our search results. These listings will be similar to the ones individuals will create to sell the items they have for sale. This will take some time on your end but it is not required. If you don’t create the individual listings, shoppers can find you by browsing through our list of partner stores and reading the description of your site that you send us.
How will shoppers find my store on MySkatingMall?
There are several ways: First, we will have an area of the front page that will cycle through the logos (with hyperlinks) of our different partner stores. Secondly, we will have a page that lists the partner stores with descriptions written by you. Thirdly, you will be able to create listings of items you have for sale on MySkatingMall that will show up when shoppers use our search function to find specific items. Lastly, banner advertising space will be available for purchase.
How are the shipping and return policies determined for purchases?
Your business will determine all shipping charges and your refund policy.
Who cuts the check to the figure skating club or team?
MySkatingMall.com will handle all the transactions with the skating clubs and teams.
Does my store choose a skating club or team to benefit from every purchase?
No. The entire 5% from the purchase will go to the beneficiary of the buyer. The percentage is only split when a transaction is between to individuals, not between a partner store and an individual.
If you have any additional questions, please leave a comment below!
Registration is now available at http://www.myskatingmall.com/clubs for all skating clubs, synchro teams, and theatre on ice teams who want to raise funds through MySkatingMall.com. Any group from around the world is eligible as long as they can be verified. It does not cost even one cent for groups to register! All groups will need to register before they can receive the 5% funding from the purchases of their members. More details of how this site will work are available at MySkatingMall.com.
to everyone who participated in the discussion regarding the limits of the 5% funding. The question presented was, “Should syncro and theatre on ice teams be able to receive the 5% funding like a skating club?” The final answer is…..drumroll please…….YES!
