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My website finally went live about 10 days ago and the response has been brilliant. I was so worried that people would get impatient waiting for stock but after sending out my mailing list I am so pleased with the replies.

I have had a few teething problems, and do sometimes feel like I am going around in circles. Initially people could go through the site, place all their orders and then, when they got to the shopping bag… it would be empty. Not so good.

As the website is new, I have had a lot of one-to-one dealings with customers in the last few days and, though maybe not the most time efficient way to run a company, I love it: Mr X telling me he is leaving work for the evening to rummage around his wife’s shoe collection to find out her size, or discovering that two people have bought the same extra uppers as a Christmas gift for the same person. I love the direct contact and getting feedback.

I have also received an order from John Lewis which I am thrilled about. Slinks will be in their stores for Spring/ Summer 2010 and I am so excited about selling in a major high street retailer. I am also working on a point of sale/ stand-type option for other retailers — I am very keen to get Slinks into the travel market. Deborah Meaden mentioned in Dragon’s Den that she thought they would sit well there, and I think she is absolutely right. Apparently some of the Duty Free headquarters are in Hawaii so that might have to be my first stop...

Read Jane's first instalment, A slinky start-up, and find out more about Slinks at janerafter.com blog comments powered by Disqus