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1. 

   Swapnil June 9, 2013, 4:45 am

   Nice concept man but your site is not optimized for small screens its easy just a few changes are needed in your stylesheet.

2. 

   Tejas Vishnu Nimbargi June 9, 2013, 6:33 am

   Some points that I would like to share buddy;
   1) First of all great idea. An idea becomes truly great when you actually execute it. That is what you have actually done. 
   2) Are you following an inventory based model for this and have you started getting customer orders already?
   3) If yes, I have an LG Optimus. I do not see LG tab in your phone. Now what do I do?? I searched. But no LG Optimus in fact no LG. (I assume its just a start you havent included every brand, but as a start up try to include all good brand so that customer wont go back unhappy)
   4) Reasons to shop is the first thing that looks into my face as I enter the website. I feel your featured products deserve this place. (The space just adjacent can be used for these reasons). If you open Apple (India) the first thing that you see is the beautiful IPhone 5. Ultimately it is the product and nothing else.

   See. I loved your Idea and I know you would excel. I think it is my duty to let you know what I felt about your website. I wish you all the very best for your venture!!

   Tejas

3. 

   yuvraj wadhwani June 9, 2013, 8:52 am

   Thanks for the feedback Swapnil, I am aware of that, the load times on mobile are huge atm. I can enable the mobile version, but the mobile version doesn’t look too good. I will definitely consider doing that. Thanks for checking out the website!

4. 

   yuvraj wadhwani June 9, 2013, 9:00 am

   Thanks Tejas for the feedback.

   Currently I am following an inventory based model. The site went live 7 days ago. No orders yet 🙂

   Currently there are no cases for the LG Optimus. The case market is such that all the best cases are made for most popular models. LG being an excellent phone still lacks in mainstream popularity. Even if were to source some cases for the LG Optimus, I would find very basic silicon jackets or low quality snap on cases. Selling those would be to defeat the purpose of the business, that is to get high quality designer cases and accessories. Hopefully cases get available for all brands equally and then I can get you some good cases!

   Thanks for stopping and checking out the website. I appreciate it. 🙂

5. 

   Tejas Vishnu Nimbargi June 9, 2013, 9:05 am

   Yeah you are right. I just used LG optimus as an example.
   But what you have said makes perfect sense. I hope you have a healthy order book soon… 🙂 All the best

6. 

   yuvraj wadhwani June 9, 2013, 9:24 am

   Hi.. I agree its a similar venture, but with quite dissimilar product type 🙂 

   There are a few very small players in this market, but not many taking it seriously as you said. There are also a couple of big players who are well funded as well. BTW, my family operates a couple of retail stores in Indore and we sell Capdase products in our stores and have regular dealings with Maverick Inc. 🙂

   I would love to sit down and chat too, I’ll contact you whenever I am in Mumbai. 🙂

   Thanks for checking out the website. Appreciate it. 🙂

7. 

   yuvraj wadhwani June 9, 2013, 9:25 am

   Thanks for the wishes Tejas, appreciate it. 🙂

8. 

   Sanchita Dutta June 9, 2013, 5:49 pm

   Hi,

   I sell exactly the same items (besides many others) that you sell. Check out seller id indiacod on ebay and http://www.indiacod.com. A few suggestions. Pl dont mind the bluntness, my diplomatic english is not so good

   1.  Have you ever entered a Saree shop where there are just 10 sarees and have picked up one to purchase? if not, think why anyone would ever buy anything from your shop with just 12 covers on display, even if one likes one or some of them. We just want to flip over 100pc before buying one. Same applies online.

   2. Whether you are or not, one has to appear very serious and formal about the business. if the man on the counter is sitting with only a vest on, surely whatever customer is going to come is not going to buy anything. The Site looks casual. Fill the usual details like contact number, ABout us (dont bother most dont want to know, but still put it), fill up blank spaces in the site. An e-shop just like a physical shop should give a fuller, well stocked look. 

   3. If you are sourcing at prices same as us, then we both know our actual costing of products. It is most important to have those first few sales. Very Very critical for the well being of your own morale and determination. Please bring prices down at 5-10% net margin. u can always think of making money later.

   Need further ideas? check out my site http://www.indiacod.com. we built it up after stealing or copying good ideas from just about every major e-com site. you are free to do same from us.

   regds 

   Sancihta “hometrepreneur” Dutta

   Ebay accounts: indiacod, gizmobhai, http://www.indiacod.com

9. 

   Tejas Vishnu Nimbargi June 9, 2013, 6:23 pm

   Hi Sanchita,
   This is exactly what I told Yuvraj about his site.

   Lot of space unused where he could fill up his reasons to be shop. and the main slot has to be occupied by his feature product. 

   P.S- btw loved the design of indiacod.com 🙂

10. 

    yuvraj wadhwani June 9, 2013, 6:36 pm

    Thanks for checking put the website Sanchita. I have been part of the forum a while now and have definitely checked out Indiacod.com

    The catalog is something we are constantly working on. you’ll see regular updates on that front. 🙂

    I haven’t received the feedback about the site that ways, but almost nobody who gave me feedback sells online 🙂 . The look of the site is something I would definitely test out.

    I definitely agree about your comments on the pricing front. Most online sellers sell cases for ridiculously low prices. I have also experienced the same thing in offline stores who I compete with (I manage an offline store in Indore). But you would agree that if you price too steep, then you are left with little to work with. If you want to have good photographs on the website (which take money and effort) and provide a wide range of cases with quick deliveries, free shipping, the costs quickly add up. If you work with 10% net margins and you have 12-13% dead inventory (which is common with designer cases), the you make a loss. Even with 15% margins, you are left with very little to work with after all the costs are factored in. Most big brands in any category work with 150% or more gross margins and provide end of season sales to clear inventories. I think its essential for the long run and growth. Thus the pricing. Instead of dropping prices I would prefer giving away discount coupons in the beginning to drive sales.

    Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it 🙂

11. 

    Sanchita Dutta June 10, 2013, 2:16 am

    Check the following link

    https://www.indiacod.com/index.php?route=product/search&filter_name=LG%20Optimus

    As i said before, if i buyer leaves not finding what he is looking for, it is very unlikely that he will come back any time soon. Conversely, if you can provide him what he wants and if that happens to be a hard to get item, he will be sold on you and will become your free vocal ambassador! u wont have to bother about CACs etc. 

    It is imperative to realise what people think is a need and not we as sellers think. we may think that we should sell only top end covers. that way u r limiting your audience. see what happened to 99labels. they have finally decided to open the flood gates after being “invitation only” for so long. Over internet, there is no exclusivity, its mostly about critical mass and value proposition 

12. 

    Mahesh Khambadkone June 14, 2013, 9:37 am

    There are so many shops and sites selling stock mobile covers.

    Any thoughts on allowing users to customize their covers – like how you can customize your t-shirts on zazzle.com / etc ?

    That would be an interesting proposition.  Even cases where I can change the emblem / images periodically.

13. 

    Sanchita Dutta June 14, 2013, 10:00 am

    a few sites in the same field which comes to my mind

    http://www.stuffcool.com (mostly capdase)
    http://www.dailyobjects.com (one of the largest collection)

    http://www.ebay.in (marketplace so undoubtedly the largest collection)

    http://www.shopclues.com (selling scratchguards Rainbow brand mainly which is a big brand in the category)

    http://www.flipkart.com (was surprised to see them selling scratchguards )

    http://www.bhavtav.com (decent collection)

    http://www.indiacod.com (thats our site)

    you may add any big one which i may have missed

14. 

    Sanchita Dutta June 14, 2013, 10:12 am

    let me share what we do.
    we believe, whats the point of selling if no one buys. So we need to bring prices down till such time it becomes attractive.

    lets take a live example of Rainbow scratchguards. on shopclues n flipkart they sell for 125 (plus 20-25) shipping ie 150 av price. we sell the same item for 79/- including shipping. my av shipping n packing costs is say 35 (30+5 inl taxes). i do get a operational margin of about 8-10% excluding labour costs (Y? because my bro-in-law is Owner-CMD-President Sales sourcing, customer care- accountant- packer-cleaner-courier boy all in one. cos what is the net profit at end of day will come to company whose majority owner is him. a bit distorted concept but helps presume low costs. u can safely deduce the CP of item.

    What i m trying to say is that those first few sucessful sales are critical. i would not invest in photography. we bought a kodak camera at half price after the company went bust and use it in home to click photos. (chk out photos quality in listings). bottomline, see where u can cut that one rupee in expenses and pass it down to buyers and see the fun. the issues u shared are really genuine esp the inventory holding cost. but the problem get further compounded due to lower sales. hence all out efforts to get something onboard!!

15. 

    yuvraj wadhwani June 14, 2013, 10:20 am

    That’s something I am considering. A good combination of designs adn coverage for multiple devices should work well. Btw, any feedback on the existing products on the site? Did you find it generic or a little different? Would love to hear your comments.

    Thank.

    Yuvraj

    Dressmyphone

16. 

    yuvraj wadhwani June 14, 2013, 10:39 am

    Dailyobjects has one of the biggest range of products in my opinion. It’s funded by Mahesh Murthy if I remember correctly. Next comes stuffcool. Nearly all marketplaces have abundance of mobile cases and accessories. Even Snapdeal, Tradus have a descent collection. Also Targus, Cooler Master, Case Mate also sell in India through their websites. Some more website that sell these products are gizmeup, gadgets.in etc. Indiacod also has a growing collection 🙂

    Thanks.

    Yuvraj

    Dressmyphone.in

17. 

    yuvraj wadhwani June 14, 2013, 10:59 am

    I agree with what you say here. Sales are extremely important especially the first few ones. One difference here is that Dressmyphone has free shipping and no minimum order for COD. Shipping costs remain essentially the same with COD adding another 50 Rs (which is charged from the customer). Another burden is tax. In MP the sales tax is 15% on the selling price! That eats away a lot of margins. So for a COD order I have to pay 15% of selling price + around 100 Rs delivery cost at a minimum. Factoring in returns of 5% (assuming) you can see that I’ll be making a profit of 15-20% before operational expenditure. That’s not too much in my opinion. So I can drop prices 10% but I don’t think that will boost sales too much. If I drop them 15%, every return will be a burden. Below that I can’t afford to drop prices without making zero profit.

    Just for laughs, check out mobstyle.in. If you think my prices are high, you will definitely enjoy theirs.

18. 

    yuvraj wadhwani August 17, 2013, 12:46 pm

    

    Many thanks to the encouraging words to the person who wrote this review, it made my day 🙂

    I replied instantly to the email the review came from, but it bounced.

    If you are following this thread, then once again, thank you very much, your words mean a lot.

    Have a great day.

19. 

    Amol Ghemud August 17, 2013, 2:58 pm

    intersting idea..

    accessories is somethig ppl wat to be unique which u got it right..for that ppl would like to have the best xpernce they could ..whihc i think is lacking in site…

    i coludnt see the banner and keep getting read line on top saying..2. Free sheeping on all order, no minimum linits..

    work on UI

    Amol

    TrekTo.in

20. 

    yuvraj wadhwani August 17, 2013, 3:17 pm

    Hey Amol,

    Thanks for you feedback! The banner isn’t the best I agree and I’m working on it. The overall UI can be much better too and more feedback will help understand what can be made better.

    What do you think of the products themselves? and the prices? Do you think they are appropriate?

    Also check out the Dressmyphone store on Snapdeal

    http://www.snapdeal.com/brand/dressmyphone

    Cheers!

21. 

    Prateek Knight September 8, 2013, 2:14 pm

    Hello Yuvraj
    Congratulations on your venture. I hope you remember, you contributed to MarketScientist.in ‘s article base.

    All the best,
    Prateek

22. 

    yuvraj wadhwani September 8, 2013, 3:16 pm

    Thanks Prateek, I do remember 🙂

    Wish you all the best too.

    And if I write something on Investing, i’ll definitely contribute again to MarketScientist.in.

     

23. 

    Prateek Knight September 8, 2013, 4:07 pm

    Thanks Yuvraj.
    do checkout the site, we have done some changes 🙂

    All the best to all of us
    Prateek

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