Go, Go Gadgets The winner of our tech makeover contest makes the most of her new gizmos on the road.
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Pursesnickety! has been on the road. Deborah Nail, the winner ofEntrepreneur and Interland's technology makeovercontest, has a trade show itinerary with more stops than acoast-to-coast Greyhound: Atlanta; Chicago; Greensboro, NorthCarolina; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; New Orleans; New York City; andOrlando, Florida. And they're all packed into a span of weeksof continuous travel. In the fashion industry, trade show time isthe big time. Trade shows are where Nail gets many wholesale ordersfor her colorful, funky purses. It's been a good crash coursein using her new IBM ThinkPad R40 laptop and Sprint Treo 600smartphone.
For entrepreneurs on the go, mobile technology lets them keepworking even as they're jetting around. Shortly before thetrade show whirlwind started, Nail came up with a new purse designthat incorporates removable beaded handles that can be worn asnecklaces. She was able to approve photographs for a line sheet ofthe new purses with her laptop and wireless internet access at theairport in Chicago. Though she admits she's not much of atechnology buff, Nail hasn't had a lot of trouble adapting tothe hardware: "The most difficult part has been getting usedto 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 oftenstop her to find out about them. The Treo, with its color screenand internet access, has become a useful tool for promoting herbusiness on the fly. With such an extensive product catalog,it's impossible to take samples of everything to the shows. TheIBM ThinkPad then goes into action. "I was able to pull uppictures and take orders right off my laptop. People can get a goodvisual, and we can also show off our website," says Nail,41.
Wholesale orders are going strong at www.pursesnickety.com. The next step is optimizingsearch engines and starting the marketing campaign for thesite's retail side. They will also start drop shipping forother 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 ourlink," Nail says. Keep an eye out for next month as we catchup with Pursesnickety!'s Interland web training and marketingmoves.
