Nothing Stays The Same
I was kind of accused of some BS today in our group. I had to try and (set things straight) as they say.
As you may or may not know, our group has is now a private group. A group member contacted me and told me selling stuff out of my Facebook Shop, and promoting my website, is suspicious now that it is a private group. He thought the group was about helping veterans.
First of all let me say this. The more money I make, the more hands on things I can do like give rides. Buy food for a hungry veteran. help buy a car battery for a stranded veteran.
That being said, as you know, for years I have dreamed about having a website. Mainly because I can write about anything I want without worrying about Facebook putting me in jail. And yes, there is a shop page within the website. And finally, I have a Facebook Shop open.
That being said, guess how many sales I have had since opening the shops. 0! That is right, not one sale! Except to myself. and I have the receipts to prove it!
What about selling on the Marketplace? I have not had a truck in over a year. When I had a truck, I could drive around, find items, and sell them on the marketplace. That being said, even when I was selling heavy in the marketplace, I always ended up using my own money to do what I did.
I still help veterans that reach out. And the way I help them is actually more beneficial to them that giving rides, food, etc. I help them with my knowledge. I tell them about the VA Domiciliary, which most people do not know about. And I believe it is one of the best 100% inclusive rehab facilities in the world. They will put a veteran up and handle their mental and physical issues, their homelessness issues, and help them find a job, or go back to school. I also can explain to a veteran the VA claims process, and how to prepare for that journey. I talk with young men and woman that are considering joining the service. Most of the advice I give is from me doing things the wrong way, and now knowing how I should do things.
So now, with making no sales in the 2 or 3 months I have had the website, and the one month I have had the Facebook Shop. I am SPENDING $100 a month on the website and certain features it has. I am paying Printify, which does all of the T-Shirts and everything else in the Shops, $39 a month. and heck, if we are going to treat it as a legit business, I pay $100 a month for my cell phone, which I must have. And I pay $100 a month for internet, which I must have. Actually, I think internet is $50.
So, to have Veteran Support USA running, as it is right now, with no sales in the Shops, and little to no sales in the Marketplace, I am putting out $300 a month! Imagine how much it cost when I was doing more hands-on help for the veterans! We were talking over $1000 a month I was spending! I never made that on a consistent basis.
So why do I do it? Because I love veterans, and I am proud to be one now.
I stand corrected. I have had $139 worth of sales. To myself.
Something else to think about. My profit on every item I sell is set at around $10. Think how many sales that is just to reach my reoccurring bills of $300 to run Veteran Support USA as I do. I believe it is 30 sales a month. So, I am already $900 in the hole, or 90 sales in the hole. For me to break even, I would need 120 sales in the month of January 2024.
I just remembered in the last 3 months; I have spent over $200 in advertising trying to grow the group. It is probably closer to $300 but let's say $200. I do not feel like looking it up.
For now, on, I am going to be fully transparent, on every dime I make in the Facebook Shop, the shop on the website, and in the Marketplace. I am also going to disclose my expenses, which are around $300 a month on a reoccurring basis (website cost, phone, internet, Printify, Shippo Shipping) plus whatever I spend helping veterans.
The first day of every month I will report.
And do not forget my time. Time I am not reimbursing myself for, but non the less I spend a lot of my personal time doing what I do. My time is not worthless. (Sitting on the couch and doing nothing, which I am perfectly fine doing, is worthless).
Something else to think about. My profit on every item I sell is set at around $10. Think how many sales that is just to reach my reoccurring bills of $300 to run Veteran Support USA as I do. I believe it is 30 sales a month. So, I am already $900 in the hole, or 90 sales in the hole. For me to break even, I would need 120 sales in the month of January 2024.
I just remembered in the last 3 months; I have spent over $200 in advertising trying to grow the group. It is probably closer to $300 but let's say $200. I do not feel like looking it up.
