A few websites I frequent have a “chat” feature. There is no communication with a live person. Rather, a question is punched in and information from the FAQ and Help sections spit back at you. Usually, the site “names” the fake representative, such as PayPal’s Sarah.

I had a little fun with Sarah earlier today.

Unlike the PayPal set up, there is software for customer support that offers a more interactive chat feature where a live person can actually come on the line I learned a lot about what actually goes on behind the scenes today. Could it be something that would help with conversion for your clothing or vintage retail site? Read on to decide.

Usually, the interactive feature is designated by a phone icon or a photo of a female or male operator. Once a site visitor clicks, they are automatically greeted. An automated message might welcome the visitor to the site. What happens next is determined by the questions asked. If the question is simple and fairly standard, pre-scripted information might be returned. However, if the question is not typical, a live person could come on the line seamlessly. In fact, a live person may already be there monitoring the conversation, but the automated messages such as “Let me look that up for you…” or even the canned info buys a rep the time they need to talk to two customers at once.

In a dashboard panel, a website owner or customer service officer can see who is visiting their site. They don’t know your name, but they know what terms you searched to arrive at the site, what country or state you are in and what page you are viewing. If you have filled your online cart, but appear to be walking away from the site, a rep can chime in and ask if you have any questions.

If the site owner is you, you might be able to answer a question or two that might help close the sale or at least remove any frustration a potential customer has about not finding their size or with navigation. Is it annoying to a customer or does this sort of software for customer support help your shoppers out? Try it next time you are on a retail site that offers the feature, looking at it now knowing how it works. If I sprung for that on this blog, the fashion tips might be dangerous. It is sort of old fashioned — actually talking to your customers.

This is completely nontraditional for a site that sells antiques or retro or collectible clothing, but could you imagine tapping away at the keyboard and being open and available to go grab that extra measurement for that customer? Sure, you might think they would email you, but some folks want instant gratification or they just are too timid to ask. Or they are having problem with their email server at the moment. Simple questions could be immediately answered without your involvement at all, but you could step in at a moment’s notice.

Some merchants give out their Skype or their cell phone, but they can easily be caught off guard on a family picnic. Would a chat assistant that is “on” when you are “on” give you a better work/life or better shop for vintage clothing and antiques/sell vintage clothing and antiques balance?

Some of the paste jewelry was destroyed by the humidity, but there were still semi-precious stone jewelry that is salvageable.  The only problem is that some of the toggles are missing and the thread is crispy. When I picked one up, a few beads were lost.

Since there are folks in the family who sell antiques or putter around with restoration, we thought it would be a good idea to look into Wholesale Beads & Gemstones. The beads and findings that I found at Beadofcambay.com fit the bill. The jewelry that was salvageable wasn’t rhinestone, but contained some irregularly shaped stones. I didn’t know the proper “lingo” to describe them in an internet search. The site had pictures of each shaped to help me stumble through.

I learned the difference between oval and olive shaped beads. More importantly, I found some hexagon faceted smokey quartz beads that fit the bill.   In truth, I wouldn’t have been able to describe them to ask for them by name so the photos helped. Next time if you are looking, whether you are looking for sterling silver, or semi-precious gem beads, the site is definitely worth a visit.  Discounts range up to 30%, so you can afford the process of trial and error.

My advice would be to document any repairs or replaced beads, just in case there are any questions in the future.  It also reminds you when things were done. My memory can be as crispy as the thread was, so that would be key.  The nice thing is that instead of being socked away in the drawer, family members get to wear it.

I have an idea.  Buy a necklace for your sweetheart, and then buy a number of similar beads at Beads Of Cambay.  Scatter them about the table and say, “See, I made it all by myself for you!”

When do you dispose of a piece of clothing?  And do people only recycle 14% because the rest is unusable or are they just not educated to do so?

It got me to thinking: When is a piece of clothing truly at the end of its life?

• When it is dangerous:  A clothing item may have been damaged in a fire.  There could be a chemical spill from an accident or a science class experiment gone awry and it cannot safely be washed, it is eaten away, or is dangerous to handle.  Then yes, please dispose of it properly.
• When it is unwearable.  No, I think many damaged items can go onto another life.  A dress with a ragged skirt, depending on the quality, may be able to live on as a top, or a replacement bodice for another dress.  A damaged tie may live on as a fabric piece in a project. Quilting, anyone?  Am I really pushing it here?
• Mold.  This kind of goes under the dangerous category.  Some people have tried to salvage things that have black mold on it.  It is dangerous.
• Too worn out.  I have seen athletic shoes so “well worn” that they could walk by themselves.  They become threadbare and not usable after so many years.  However, could they be used in a theatrical production where a local theater group needs a character to be disheveled, a college student who doesn’t shower, or homeless?  Do they need a pair of shoes to beat up even more for the character?  Ok, maybe it is a stretch here too.
• Bad Memories.  Some people throw out cufflinks, or a dress that reminds them of an ex or an ex owned or gave them even if they are perfectly new.  Don’t do it!  Donate it!

I think i need some therapy after that.  Maybe I am a packrat, but I seem to really argue about not throwing things away!   Does anyone out there have any suggestions about when it is okay to throw something out, and when, despite naysayers, something can be reused or recycled?  Comment with your opinions!

For those of you who are hoping for a web design for your business, and you just wanted a few pages and to be done with it, there is a real Professional Website Design that is currently offering a $99 package for a basic site. It includes up to five pages and all coding involved as well. If you go to the “work” page on ReflectStudios.com, you will see some examples. They have done work for some models, but scroll past and you will also see more corporate looking websites if that is more your style.

As you can tell, this is no cut rate work!  What is the occasion for the economy price?  For one, to celebrate the grand opening of the newly designed website, and secondly to lend a helping hand.  Times are tough for some businesses and individuals right now, and it is a way for Reflect Studios to give you a leg up.   Their work is best suited to fashion and web development related projects, but don’t hesitate to bounce other ideas off of them.   You will need to use a coupon code.  That is REFLECT09.

I just came across a press release about an architect that was rejected by publishing houses, and then turned around and had more success than he would have had with a large publisher:

Self Publishing Author Earns Over $100,000 in Just Six Months with Outskirts Press
May 12th, 2009. Denver, CO and Irvine, CA – Outskirts Press, the fastest-growing full-service self publishing and book marketing company, today announced that one of its authors has earned over $100,000 in author royalties in six short months.

Gang Chen, the self published author of Planting Design Illustrated and LEED AP Exam Guide, will receive a first-quarter royalty check in the amount of $77,611.88 for books sold between January-March 2009. This follows a previous royalty check of $33,679.56 that Chen recently received from Outskirts Press for books sold between October-December 2008.

“Earning $111,000 in six months is an amazing accomplishment for any author, self-published or otherwise,” Outskirts Press CEO Brent Sampson commented. “Of course, publishing with Outskirts Press certainly helps. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Chen, and also want to thank him for graciously granting us permission to publicize his success.”

Gang Chen, an expert in the field of architecture, with a master’s degree from USC and over 20 years of professional experience, was among the top-five performing Outskirts Press authors in the 4th quarter of 2008 and then went on to double his royalties for the first quarter of 2009. When notified of his earnings, Chen responded, “I’m in the process of publishing my next book in the LEED Exam Guide series through Outskirts Press, along with a book on architecture, so I hope to break this record soon.”

After contacting hundreds of traditional publishers for his first book Planting Design Illustrated, Chen finally landed a deal with one major publisher, only to discover that he was dissatisfied with the substantial revisions they were suggesting. He promptly cancelled the traditional publishing contract and decided to publish the book himself. He compared various publishing options and chose Outskirts Press. “Their services do not end after the book is published,” Chen stated. “They continue to provide excellent marketing advice, as well.”

Outskirts Press understands that marketing is a huge part of an author’s success and, unlike most self-publishing firms, offer promotional advice and marketing services extending for years after publication. States CEO Brent Sampson, “Successful authors have the potential to separate themselves from the pack by publishing with a full-service, custom publishing company that provides support before, during, and after publication.” For a partial view of the marketing services that are available for Outskirts Press authors, visit http://outskirtspress.com/marketing.php .

There has been a book that has rattled around in my head for some time. In fact, pen is to paper and I have most of it finished. This is motivating me to finish it and get it out there. Not sure if anyone will latch on to it, but this story gives me some hope that if I decided to release it, it won’t be a long and grueling process. In fact, what gives me writer’s block the most is the fear of rejection. As long as I edit it well and am willing to pay the fee, I won’t be. Many people wonder why one has to pay a fee. Well, even setting up a book costs money. Plus, if you were to be represented by a large publishing house, you would probably have to spend even more money just to get yourself in line for a meeting with them. Lunches, a new suit, and other materials all add up very quickly.

I tossed my email address in to receive more information, and I am reading the downloads now. Have you tried Outskirts Press or any other self-publishing service? If so, let me know what you think!

Now here is a tip that will actually save you some dough, bread, loot, moolah, Georges, or G, whichever term you prefer based on the era whence you came.  Which word fits which era?  Read on to find out!

Some of my readers are in the business of buying and selling vintage clothing and antiques, chiefly online.   When you transact online so much, you seldom require paper checks.  So many customers pay by autodraft, Paypal, Google payments, or just by trade these days that checks often collect dust.  However, when you open a business account, you kind of need to have some.   Having a dozen or so is a good idea, but the books you usually have to buy are expensive and often go unused before you have a change in heart as far as your retail location, or bank goes.

VistaPrint, whom I have sung the praises of before for labels and business cards, also offers checks. Surprisingly, they offer free checks, just like they do their business cards in small quantities. You can receive a quantity of 25 checks for just the cost of shipping. If you are not in a hurry and can go with standard shipping and processing, you can make out like a bandit for $3.99. Because you can create them online, you can proof your own name and address as it will appear on the check. The checks you can receive free come in a limited selection of six styles, but that is a fair trade off. If you like the quality and want to expand on the designs, they are available in a plethora of styles for a reasonable price.

Unlike other VistaPrint products, you cannot create checks with your own images form scratch. There is a good reason for this, as any check printer has to conform to guidelines to insure the check can be considered valid tender. A design that is too dark and obscures the routing numbers would be a no, as I imagine an obscene photo that would shock the socks off of your bank teller. If they did allow anything goes, there would have to be a very large staff making their judgement calls on your work, which would probably take forever.

If you are like me and only use a check once in a blue moon, this steal of a deal might be for you.

Money Slang Answers Key:
Dough is from the 1850s.
Loot was originally from the 1780s, but has resurfaced in the last 20 years.
Moolah originated in the 1940s.
G’s is modern, though in all fairness, it really indicates amounts counted in thousands.
I don’t know if “Georges” is in wide use, but since I don’t have many “Benjamins” lying around, I’ll go for it.

Making just a business card with a website on it would not be poor etiquette.  However, cards with no other information on it but a url can sometimes be construed as impersonal junkmail. More so, I tend to forget the name of the person who gave it to me as often it would just be tossed in a bag rather than handed to me personally.

The last time I toddled over to Vista Print, it was the equivolant to being beaned with an apple on the noggin. What if I just made up a label style, and affixed it to the back of my regular business cards when I met someone I thought would enjoy vintage-ing it up? This way, I am not committing the faux pas of pressing palms with someone, only for them to quickly forget me or what I was talking about.

Of course, the tactile experience of a business card with a label on the back may give it a more slickery feeling.  Thus, the finger would naturally stop over it while fishing around in a wallet and pull it out.  ”A Ha!  I need to read more at VintageGent’s Menswear Daily,” they who rustle through wallets may say.   Or maybe not.

The buySAFE Shopping Advisor is a free took that points out which merchants are bonded up to $25,000, and in addition, you are provided with identity theft insurance.   It may go a long way to reassuring people to come back into the online shopping fold, or converting people who have never bought online before.

What I wonder is what it is going to do to the “little guy.”  Small scale mom and pop merchants may come under the radar of a service like this.  In fact, upon reading the website it does not appear to be for companies that have monthly sales less than the five figure range.   So, for smaller scale antique dealers this may not be something to sign up for.  Not everything needs to be for everyone, but I wonder if it is more of an association versus implying merchants not a part of buySafe are not trustworthy.

On the other hand, if you are a buyer thinking of making a major purchase online, it may go a long way to creating additional confidence.  The jury is still out with me.

A captive brand is similar to the concept of a store brand.  While it is exclusively available at the particular store and perhaps its subsidiaries, it does not carry the imprint of the store, and it is produced by a third party.   Many times, the company will have its own website and marketing as well, at least to appear at arm’s length.  There are times when a captive brand appears amid not just national brands but a store imprint as well.

For example, Towncraft by JCPenney is a store brand. George is a captive brand sold at Wal*Mart and at ASDA, its British counterpart.   You can go to the George website and it talks about the company, but on its store locator, there are only the above mentioned.  The history section mentions:

George has taken the steps to becoming a global brand with ranges now being sold in six different countries – UK, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Japan and the US.

(Coincidentally, Wal*Mart has opened in all of those markets.)

Searching for Towncraft will yield you Towncraft at JCPenney.   As we know, Towncraft has been synonymous with the casual men’s department at Penneys for decades.   Conceivably, if a chain folded or left the area, the captive brand could be shopped around, but I have not really seen it happen.

I know there are many examples of a captive brand not only appearing in a store amid national brands.  For example, Towncraft would appear in the same department as Levi’s Dockers.  However, at the moment, I cannot think of too many captive brands that appear with a national and a store imprint.   The best example of seeing all three together is with beauty products.    For example, Garnier is a national brand, bioInfusion is a captive brand at Walgreen’s, and there is also a more generic Walgreen’s label brand shampoo that may be the same thing.

Why are they called “captive brands?”    Like a store brand, the captive brand requires the shopper to return to the store to purchase it.  The brand cannot be purchased at a competitor’s store.   Then, why not just leave it at the store brand?  The captive brand may seem “value added” to the consumer.  Some people have the impression that a store brand is “generic” or “second rate” to a more “prestigious” national brand.   That notion may sound a bit vapid, but just ask your average parent during “back to school shopping” days trying to get through the mall in one piece without their head exploding from hearing “I wouldn’t be caught dead in that.”

I have been poking around the internet researching a few different services. There is one service called Online Check that offers a 1.59% transaction rate, and requires $25.00 minimum in transactions per month. It is the only one I have found so far that doesn’t have a hefty monthly fee. If you are considering making the same leap, I suggest you fully research all of your options. I am certainly doing so with mine!

My brother will never buy anything online.  He is not a man of advanced age, where you could understand that they weren’t accustomed to it.   Rather, he is under thirty and had computers in his classroom since second grade.    He is not an internet junkie like I am, but still, it surprises me. The reason why is the very FOAF who told him about someone else who had a bad thing happen to them when they bought something online.   He cannot name who this individual actually was, of course, or what transpired, but is adamant that it “must have been bad for it to have been mentioned.”  Of course, there was no recollection if the friend of a friend of a friend of a friend had a problem with a PERSON or an actual security problem.

Believe it or not, the hold is so strong on him, that I can’t even entice him with the idea that there may be a hand painted necktie with a picture of Boba Fett on it somewhere in cyberspace that he will never see in a store.    His reply typically takes on the tone of someone who has just been asked if he would do something morally dispicable and against every cell in his body.

Comodo has long been exploring the idea of a  Trusted Internet, where everyone will be equaly protected by malware and security issues.  Online merchants and users alike would be protected and verified by double authentication between sites and visitors   What’s more, is that they would work towards providing it free for all.    There is freeware everywhere, but their vision is to implement it internet-wide and a make it part of the infrastructure.

While this seems like an answer to a lot of problems, there is one little fact in the company’s press materials that make me scratch my head a little:

Within a Trusted Internet, Comodo empowers users to verify site content, verify site identity, and verify business practices of a site, all while staying safe using a holistic security system that incorporates malware detection, prevention, and removal services

I wonder how businesses practices would be verified.  If it is merely a check to insure that the site is not sending out evil robots to visitors, or giving visitors a virus, then I am all for it. If it is really saying the business practices of the business will be verified, I would want more information on that. I would wonder who would set the standard on what businesses practices should be, but more importantly, how are they assessed.   Rating a site on the way business is conducted is way too subjective when it is something so cut and dry.  I may be reading too much into this, which is entirely possible. Blame my past as a method actor for imagining subtext that isn’t there.

Maybe I will email this post to my brother and it will get him thinking.  Alternately, I will ask my 83 year old great-aunt who is on my joke list to set him straight.   He doesn’t need to turn into an internet junkie, but at least he should know that if he has to get something online, that he will be okay.

What do you think?  Will added internet-wide security entice you to do more business?  Or, do you think that the individual businesses that you deal with are trustworthy, and something like this is to protect people who don’t follow their gut instincts?