Name of your website?Sage Meditation
Your name?
Jay Suthers
Your Location (city, etc)
Madison
Please give us a short summary of your website?
We offer Zafu & Zabuton meditation cushions, electronic meditation timers, cotton bodywork mats, and yoga props.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I have been practicing meditation for more than 10 years. I decided to build a website of products, information, and links to other websites that provides support to those who practice meditation, massage, and yoga.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
My first website was called Balanced Life Products where I offered meditation cushions and a variety of meditation products. I began building the website in June 2003 and it went online in July 2003.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
The Balanced Life Products name was too long and didn't "roll off the tongue". I renamed the website Sage Meditation because the word Sage refers to a wise person, a calming green color, and a savory herb. Since the website is mainly about meditation, this had to be a part of the name.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
Sage Meditation has a very personable touch. When customers call during our regular business hours, they typically reach a real person. That person, usually myself, can help customers understand each product and which product is the best choice. There is no high pressure to "close the deal". My mission is to support everyone who comes to Sage Meditation.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I very much want to bring meditation to the mainstream. Our cushion products have nearly 20 years of knowledge behind them. I am working on building a company that can ship orders within 1 to 2 business days and, as it already does, support the customer long after the sale.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
The business is about 5 years old at the time of this writing, which is still quite young. I don't have much money to work with and am greatly in debt at this time. So, I invest a tremendous amount of time and this has lead to steady growth in the success of the business. I sometimes wake up with ideas in the middle of the night and will get to work no matter what time it is.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
At this time I perform all the tasks of the business. With an unlimited development budget, I would hire some people to handle the routine tasks. I would like to create a totally new website that can handle International orders and provide a more user-friendly website.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Frankly, no. I have a company making most of the products for my website and I know they are not equipped to rapid, heavy growth. I would have to find another source to make the products until I could purchase this company (something I am already working on) and get its productivity moving better.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
The biggest headache is when I get more orders than my suppliers can fill. This typically happens around Christmas. Orders can take 2 to 3 weeks to fill sometimes, which is not good. In order to solve this headache, I've used the slower part of the season to build up inventory. Unfortunately, inventory and storage is costly - and at a time when sales are not strong.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Getting funding has been the biggest problem. Banks and the SBA look at the owner's personal finances when considering funding. Since my income comes from the business, I look quite poor at this time. Additionally, there is little faith in ecommerce and banks are not willing to risk funding Internet-based businesses.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I have used Google Adwords and other Pay-Per-Click campaigns extensively to promote the website. The return on investment has been good. In addition I build links regularly and offer products on Amazon.com and ebay.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
The growth has been exponential, which has been a pleasant surprise. With each phase of new growth I have had to expand the business. This expansion is expensive - last year I moved out of my house into a small office space and now pay monthly rent. So, despite increasing revenues, the bottom line has not grown. My expectation of supporting myself financially and providing jobs for others has not been met.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
The website has been running steadily for nearly 5 years now. I have no interest in working for anyone else as long as I live. Even if the business provides just a modest living, I plan to continue working the business for another 20 to 30 years. Big gains in income would help make life more comfortable. If the business cannot grow beyond a limit that will provide for a comfortable life, I may have to consider some additional business venture.
What is your website address?
Sage Meditation
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