What would you do?

[redrubies]

Here's the scenerio. You have had an online store for years. You make the products yourself and you love being able to have that creative outlet. Making the product relaxes you and brings you joy. The store does fine. It pays the bills. You have a customer base both online and offline. The store hasn't made you rich, but normal middle class. The only downside is that it is constant work to keep it visible because the niche is flooded. You are also competing with chains that carry the same type products. Anyone who follows my posts knows what niche I am referring to.

You have your own private network of websites and blogs that market your main niche. One of the sites in that network has started to get major visibility. It is not in the same niche as the store. Totally different niche. This site also has ads and affiliate stuff on it but it's not an affiliate site. You realize that this site has the potential to surpass the store income wise. It has the potential if you work on it full time.

What do you do? You can't work on both full time. You can hire someone to run the store but you still have to make the products because they are your designs. On the site in your network, it's your expertise that makes the site what it is. Say it is web design (it's not-just an example) This second site offers something that you do or are good at, so you can't hire someone else to do it. Do you give up what you love for the money? I know that you have to do what you love or you won't last at it. I enjoy doing what the second site offers but I can't say that I love it as much as the store. Would you try to handle both yourself? Would you hire out for some things but not all and keep both? Would you give up the one you love and turn all your work onto the money maker? They are both two full time jobs.

 

[GiorgioB]

I would personally focus full time on the one that brings in the money, then in my spare time work on the store. I'd just try to get the first one autopilot, or outsource as much as possible to free up time to do what I love, but my first priority will always be the cheddar.

 

[tnhomestead]

I quit programming to drive a truck for years because I enjoyed it more -- I would rather have a bit less money, but enjoy what I do more. Now I am back in programming and hosting but its due to getting older and wanting a change.

So go for what makes YOU happy!

 

[evilclown]

While the little store has not make you rich it has pay the bills. The online market is very volatile, what would happen if an update comes and you are affected and your sales are gone? What happen if suddenly technology changes and some one comes out with something better than yours? I will personally look for a way to expand the shop to a level you can hire full time employees and try to run the virtual environment from the shop. Sometimes following the paper trail can leave you with disaster. Money pay the bills, put food on the table, I am working my way to actually open a retail store. There is nothing better than having a local shop and having clients come down and serving them. You wont get that from online.

 

[redrubies]

While the little store has not make you rich it has pay the bills. The online market is very volatile, what would happen if an update comes and you are affected and your sales are gone? What happen if suddenly technology changes and some one comes out with something better than yours? I will personally look for a way to expand the shop to a level you can hire full time employees and try to run the virtual environment from the shop. Sometimes following the paper trail can leave you with disaster. Money pay the bills, put food on the table, I am working my way to actually open a retail store. There is nothing better than having a local shop and having clients come down and serving them. You wont get that from online.

I should have made the first part clearer. It's an online store that I have had for 12 years. I edited my post so as not to cause confusion.

 

[evilclown]

I should have made the first part clearer. It's an online store that I have had for 12 years. I edited my post so as not to cause confusion.

Cool, well my apologies if I miss understood. But in my case I will try to grow where it can be in auto-pilot or with minimal management from my end. You will be in the shop running the other online. I have seen this type of hybrid. Maybe try adding a related product or look for some one interested in producing this product, where you can give it a cut. Maybe look for interns if you are legit business (LLC or Corp) that wants experince on the online market, you give them credit, or maybe a community service.

My point of view is because I'm trying to secure something outside the virtual world that's tangible. Any decision that you make I wish you the best. You can do it! You have demonstrated that with 12 years of running a store.

 

[Duffers5000]

I am aware of the niche you are in but not on the minute specifics of your business, so forgive me if this is a stupid question. Is it not possible to automate the product creation of your online store. I mean do you really need to be making each individual piece, is this what your customers expect. Or could you consider buying in some stock from talented far east designers built to your specification ?

 

[redrubies]

I am aware of the niche you are in but not on the minute specifics of your business, so forgive me if this is a stupid question. Is it not possible to automate the product creation of your online store. I mean do you really need to be making each individual piece, is this what your customers expect. Or could you consider buying in some stock from talented far east designers built to your specification ?

That's a good question. I don't know what the answer is because it is one that I have asked myself many times. Some things in the store are not made with my hands. A local woman who is disabled does the molds. There are some wholesale/retail but it has to meet with my specifications. I think it's another thing that I would like input on. If I automate the product creation, I miss out on the joy it brings me to make the products. On the other hand, I am really starting to get tired of all this work and still being "average." I have worked for myself for 23 years and I'm average. Kids have gone to college, one is there now, there is food on the table, I have heat and water. I am blessed because that is more than many have and I don't want to sound greedy. Is it wrong to say that I want a lot of money because I want to see the world, do a lot of traveling, and enjoy the finer things in life? Because I do.

 

[partymarty4870]

just give up sleeping you lazy shit!

 

[redrubies]

just give up sleeping you lazy shit!

LOL!!! You're lucky I like you. lol

 

[Wilson Grant Fisk]

Tough call but I envy your position.
And no it is not wrong to "to say that I want a lot of money because I want to see the world, do a lot of traveling, and enjoy the finer things in life?" because I think we all feel that way.
As Duffers has said try to bring in some automation to the process or hire somebody in, but I think if you want to be happy you have to do the thing you are most passionate about.

 

[partymarty4870]

LOL!!! You're lucky I like you. lol

I seem to have lost the ability to add smilies - so I hoped you'd take that well.

 

[redrubies]

I seem to have lost the ability to add smilies - so I hoped you'd take that well.

You didn't have to add a smile. I knew you were teasing and kidding around. It really did make me laugh out loud. lol

 

[pnvhq]

What's to say you couldn't pop in and hand-make some of your products from time to time to get that joy? Is it really something you need to be doing as a day job or could you enjoy just doing it when the mood strikes you (and outsourcing/automating it the rest of the time)? I think you have to pick your priority (and only you can make that decision): which is more important, the money (and everything that brings) or the simple joy of your first site (and whatever that brings)?

 

[GiorgioB]

 

[mickyfu]

We are all in it for the money, love or hate, it is the money that pays the bills and it is the money what makes us more happy (in most cases).

 

[redrubies]

Thank you everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. I made a decision. Jewelry is going on the back burner for a while. I will still do it but not putting as much work in it as before. I am going for the money. I am tired of being average and regular, and want a change. I can always go back to the store full time and will probably lose rankings that took years to get. But I don't want to look back with regrets and say "what if."

 

[redrubies]

I just wanted to come back to this thread to thank you guys again because I am having so much fun in my new niche. I feel so refreshed. The rut I was in is gone. So is the feeling of being overwhelmed. I am hiring out for some things too and it feels great. It was so hard to take the leap into a new niche when the previous niche was your life for so many years. I still do some jewelry but not like before. I'll go back to it when I am ready. When I'm ready, I will hire out more for that too though. I just wanted to let you all know that I feel happy and wanted to share it, and that happiness is in part due to the advice in this thread. Thank you.

 

[adeptbob]

My goal with some of my earlier companies has always been to make them my launching board. So that I can one day open up half-way houses and other ventures that are close to my heart.

Never neglect your passions, but sometimes you cannot achieve them without financing.

Meditate on it

 

[Thoughtful]

My 2 cents: I also do 1 thing that I love and 1 that I do not love, the 1 I do not love brings in more money than the 1 I love, but the money allows me to have some others that help with the not love 1 and make even more, which then lets me do more of the 1 I love without not making tons of money. Sometimes once yous tart something for money you can figure a better way to do it or let certain parts go to others and just oversee its design, implementation, outcome and no one is the wiser as they think it is ALL you!