Help me build SmartWoman Store!I am happy to announce today that I will be launching a SmartWoman Store. It’s in the design stage but I need YOUR help in designing i!

Yesterday, I met with a business coach who recommended I open up the idea to my wider audience sooner rather than later. So, that’s what I’m doing. Would you help?

The basic idea is that I want an online store that allows me to create and sell products to support female entrepreneurs. I want to maintain the integrity of my blog conversation, so as I have tried in the past (and rejected), I won’t be weaving affiliate products within my blog posts. I want you to know that when I recommend a software tool or book or person, that I do so because I believe in it, not because I get any kind of kickback. To me, that is basically “nickle and dime-ing” you and I don’t want to conduct business that way. It’s much more delicious to me to involve you in the selection of the products, the creation of the products, and the way the whole thing is put together. I envision a unique, custom made approach that lets us all add to the commerce conversation.

Here are some of the ideas floating around already in my head, on the drawing board (and maybe the chopping block?)  – please add to them as you see fit.

Ideas for some potential items for the store:

  • Message and graphic t-shirts (empowerment, beautiful, fun)
  • Other graphic & logo items – mouse pads, coffee mugs, calendars, posters, etc to build solidarity between SmartWomen everywhere (as well as put an encouraged, confident and empowered smile on your face)
  • Digital How-To Products to help you live a passionate life doing meaningful work (entrepreneur training, software apps, coaching, business building and systems)
  • Items from the international marketplace of women entrepreneurs (to provide a wider customer base and market place to sell these goods). This could include jewelry, fabrics, pottery, artword/photography etc.
  • Whatever you want me to stock – insert your desires in the comments below!

Some of the business process techniques include the following:

  • A daily or weekly offering, like Woot or Groupon, for a special, limited time great price
  • Open up the vendor opportunity to any SmartWoman entrepreneur who wishes to participate – a virtual trade show and marketplace of  fabulous women entrepreneurs’ goods
  • Voting on T-shirt designs by the community, a la Threadless, and carry the stock on the winner. This could also include design contests where the community votes up your design and the winning design gets manufactured.
  • Subscription service for the digital goods so you pay one monthly price to have access to the library of training products
  • A portion of the proceeds go to a women’s empowerment charity – microlending organization like Kiva, or education organization like WomenForWomen. This could change monthly.

I don’t want to suck the oxygen out of this conversation by stating all the crazy ideas me and my coach talked about yesterday – I’d rather hear what YOU have to say, so sound off in the comments below. And, thank you in advance for your help. I am excited about this new adventure!

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, CEO

p.s. Follow the newest @SmartWomanStore twitter account to help get me going! (please, pretty please, with sugar on top?)