I just noticed it’s been about 3 months since I’ve last updated the blog. One major reason I don’t update as often is that I’ve stopped playing World of Warcraft a while ago so I didn’t have as many things I felt like posting about. The other reason is that I’ve been busy on something else in my life. It’s called: Otaku Depot.
Otaku Depot is the start of something I’ve dreamed about for many years now: “Owning my own business.” This dream started years ago with the simple idea of how great it would be to not have to commute to work every day and to be able to get up in the morning, get a cup of coffee (most likely still in my underwear – haha), and sit down at the computer to start my work day. Sure, a dream mostly based on being lazy but a dream none the less.
After 9/11 and the downturn in the economy I had lost my job and had very hard time finding something that would even come close to paying what I once was making. I eventually got to the point of selling useless stuff from my closets on Ebay to pay my bills and I found out something strange. I was working 12 – 14 hour days at home and I was loving it. I was working harder doing this than I had at my last job making over 50K a year and I loved being my own boss. I found I really enjoyed many aspects of the business life when I was in charge.
Eventually I started running out of stuff from my closets and found a job at a web hosting company and went back to the regular job life. I learned a great deal and eventually got a job with my current company where I continued to learn more but it wasn’t as satisfying as working for myself. From time to time I would look into the idea of starting my own business but I would get turned away from it by the idea of how hard it would be to get setup, do taxes, get permits, wholesalers, credit card processors…. Plus everybody who would say: “If it was that easy, everybody would do it.”
Well, a few months ago I noticed that I was starting to get a nice little savings together and had enough to get started if I wanted to give it a try. I was 40 years old and at some point said to myself, ‘how long do you want to wish you had your own business without actually doing something about it?’ I don’t want to find myself at 50 or 60 and going to a job I don’t love and wishing I would have done something earlier. I’m not 41 and wish I had started this 10 or 15 years ago.
So, I bought a domain name, registered by DBA (Doing Business As) with the state, and though a long confusing process eventually got my county and city permit to sell items and collect taxes. The hardest part of it all was trying to find the information and then dealing with governmental paperwork. I have the tech part down fine but the legal issues are where I’m usually lost.
This past week I’ve put in my first order for products to be shipped to the warehouse space I’m using to supply products for my store. Customer’s place orders on my website, the orders go to the credit card company (or PayPal) to get charged, and then to the warehouse where they pack and ship out the products and keep the customer updated on the shipping/tracking numbers.
I can’t say my dream is to become incredibly wealthy though I wouldn’t mind that. My real dream is achievable I believe. I want to be able to support myself completely from running my business so I can do it full time, still have enough money to save for retirement and still “have fun”. I mostly want to have Otaku Depot become one of the first places Americans think of to get a figure because of the stores selection, quality, price, and most of all – because of the trust that they have in me and the store.
One of the best customer experiences I’ve had, and continue to have frequently, is with New Egg. Their selection, quality, and customer service is excellent. Their prices are very good as well but because of the other features I don’t bother shopping around any more if I need something for my computer. I go to New Egg and buy it there. I would like to have customers of Otaku Depot do the same when it comes to anime figures.
I don’t plan on turning this blog into an avenue to promote my store, it’s not like I really get readers here anyway, but since this blog is really an online meandering of my thoughts and life I figured I should update it with this info.
In other news…… It looks like I should be getting Dollfie Dream Sakura on Friday if UPS lives up to their delivery date!!!!!!
I can’t wait till she comes in. I’ve already got about 5 different outfits for her as well as a really nice stand from DollfieWorld for her as well. Oh yea, she’s going to be a bit spoiled. haha I also get the feeling she’s going to be getting a sister in the near future.
**James.
