Business opportunities in SL

Hi after a while in SL I am interested in the idea of running a store or something similar not for profit really just for the experience.

The thing I really don't get is quite how this works, can you only sell things you have created? It's just because I don't think I have the time to go about learning how to create fancy stuff nor do I have the time to create novel and interesting items. In fact I don't even think I can see the point in this is there another way, much like RL are there SL wholesalers who you can buy things from to resell? Also do people ever sell small business? I've seen people selling whole islands with Casinos, Clubs, etc. on them but does anyone every sell anything a bit smaller to get started with?

Thanks

The true beauty of SL for a business owner is that you can create the biz you desire, not go by models and paths already tread. If you are not creative, why not go around to different businesses you admire and get some advice. I know a friend of mine owns a pregancy and birth clinic, but she contracts with creators of pregancy clothes and baby and kid items in SL to set up displays and vendors in her place of business. Perhaps this is right for you. Perhaps you have RL skills that have yet to be tapped in SL, or perhaps you can just ask around and get your bearings in SL business, before starting something YOU want to do. SL is the ultimate expression of that saying "Do what you love, the money (or Lindens) will follow."

If you're out to have fun with the store experience, you can set up a nicely designed store with stall space for vendors. You would take on the responsibility of maintaining the property, providing security, paying tier on the land and advertising.

In turn, the people with items to sell would set up their vendors and wares in the space you provide and pay you rent. Depending on just how altruistic you are, the rent can be modest.

To be successful, and to attract good content creators, you should pick some kind of theme to organize the kind of content that will be sold there. For instance, I can think of one outdoor mall -- composed of open-air stalls -- that displays only items for male avatars. It's a one-stop shop for everything from clothes to animations, but the unifying theme is that it's all for the under-served guys in SL. Many top-of-line designers have at least a small presence there, with links to the main store.

Another theme might be geared towards Japanese items, or toys, or anything that's green. Or only products by relative newcomers. Whatever it may be, the theme provides an identity that will make your advertising more effective and your vendors more confident that they will reach their audience.

Thanks for the feedback it has given me a few ideas about what I might like to do already.

Out of interest if I was to set up an area for other stores/business to sell in how would I go about promoting that space?

Do a search in the forums and I'm sure you'll find a lot of pertinent threads. Just recently, in fact, we've discussed this very issue, but can't remember the title it's under.

Briefly, you'll want a combination of classified ads and promotional campaigns. The SL classifieds are a good place to start. You can also advertise in any number of inworld publications (although I don't know what the rates would be).

The campaigns can be anything from a few freebies and a Lucky Chair to more elaborate holiday promotions. The MIA mall has a very successful approach. Each holiday season they hide a stocking or Easter Egg or what have you in every store on the island. Usually there are about 40 of them placed either in plain view or in some sneakier locations, and each one has a freebie inside.

I have a strong collector streak, unfortunately, so last Christmas I ended up tracking down every last stocking -- I just couldn't help myself. I threw away the freebies inside, but kept the stockings because each one was different and they looked great hanging from my fireplace mantel. In the process of the search, I saw the complete inventory of every single store in the mall, and now when I need something, that is one of the first places I go because I know they have the item.

Very, very clever idea. Lot of work, mind you, but for Easter I was practically bowled over by all the people zipping around in search of golden eggs. It was like watching a locust invasion.