Go, Go Gadgets
The winner of our tech makeover contest makes the most of her new gizmos on the road.
Pursesnickety! has been on the road. Deborah Nail, the winner of
Entrepreneur and Interland's technology makeover
contest, has a trade show itinerary with more stops than a
coast-to-coast Greyhound: Atlanta; Chicago; Greensboro, North
Carolina; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; New Orleans; New York City; and
Orlando, Florida. And they're all packed into a span of weeks
of continuous travel. In the fashion industry, trade show time is
the big time. Trade shows are where Nail gets many wholesale orders
for her colorful, funky purses. It's been a good crash course
in using her new IBM ThinkPad R40 laptop and Sprint Treo 600
smartphone.
For entrepreneurs on the go, mobile technology lets them keep
working even as they're jetting around. Shortly before the
trade show whirlwind started, Nail came up with a new purse design
that incorporates removable beaded handles that can be worn as
necklaces. She was able to approve photographs for a line sheet of
the new purses with her laptop and wireless internet access at the
airport in Chicago. Though she admits she's not much of a
technology buff, Nail hasn't had a lot of trouble adapting to
the hardware: "The most difficult part has been getting used
to using the little pen [with the Treo]. If that doesn't work,
I have long nails."
Since Nail's purses are hard to miss, curious people often
stop her to find out about them. The Treo, with its color screen
and internet access, has become a useful tool for promoting her
business on the fly. With such an extensive product catalog,
it's impossible to take samples of everything to the shows. The
IBM ThinkPad then goes into action. "I was able to pull up
pictures and take orders right off my laptop. People can get a good
visual, and we can also show off our website," says Nail,
41.
Content Continues Below
Wholesale orders are going strong at www.pursesnickety.com. The next step is optimizing
search engines and starting the marketing campaign for the
site's retail side. They will also start drop shipping for
other internet companies that want to sell the purses.
"Because it's such a professional-looking website now,
other companies feel comfortable sending their customers to our
link," Nail says. Keep an eye out for next month as we catch
up with Pursesnickety!'s Interland web training and marketing
moves.