What’s the most important thing you want to achieve as a business owner? 💭

[isabelle]

Hi Seller Community! ❤️

I'm excited to announce we've expanded the Question of the Week board to Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and United States. We're looking forward to hearing from sellers across the world 🌎 You may notice that when you reply in this thread, there will be a flag indicating what country you're located in! Community members from all countries are welcome to reply to Question of the Week, as it is an entirely international space 😊 

This week's question is....

What’s the most important thing you want to achieve as a business owner?

We can't wait to read your replies ✨

[HC_Charlie]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the International reach for this post @isabelle ! Those little flags look really cool too!

My first thought about what I want to achieve is just to (#1) have a self-sustaining profitable business that is able to pay myself as a proper job and allow a cushion to expand and grow my business. But on second thought that may be too narrow a focus. I think a better achievement would be (#2) to build something greater than myself so my business would bring unique and hard-to-find items to my customers.

I think if I achieve the second (#2) goal hopefully in turn that will also take care of the first achievement to be self-sustaining.

[DarrenSutton]

As a business owner I want to achieve personal and financial independence whilst enjoying a lifestyle I am passionate about. My goals are financial stability whilst not dependent on others and achieving a good work life balance.

[MariusLandman]

Number 1 is a seamless payment system for the customer aka customer experience.

Number 2, a seamless payment management system for us, the seller.

I can see that Square is going through a lot to ensure we as sellers have an adequate but above the line payment system. We have an environment that provides our developers with a bunch of great features. One of the missing features is the currency cannot be set but defaults to your country of operation.

I am based in Australia and my main office is based in Brisbane, we do business worldwide, meaning 90% of my sales come from outside of Australia. All our products are sold as a matter of unity, in United States Dollars USD. However, the customer would receive the data (invoice, email notification of payment) as converted into Australian dollars (because my base is here in Australia) even if they bought from the United States. This creates a lot of confusion because if the product is sold for USD 100 they see via email notification the price is $130 [exchange rates] - (just a $ sign, and NOT an AUD in front of the $). So obviously the customer is annoyed and creates a ticket to ask why they have paid US$130 instead of US$100 and then we spend hours each work educating our hundred of returning customers on what the issue is, even have popups coming up when they buy, warnings they will see a payment in AUD, email notifications going out in addition to the one SQ would send, to explain.

It would be great if SQ can solve this issue for international sellers.

The same would apply for UK, if your base is in UK, and you sell in USA, they would get a Pound or EU symbol/sign, that's no issue (would still want to be able to set your main fiat currency) but the confusion is with the USD and AUD where the $ sign is the same. 

Thanks for reading. It would make the customer experience a lot better. 

[BCS2]

Success with reasonable rewards is the obvious answer of course !

Anything that is seamless with low demand on staff and works efficiently and accurately that aids in the general business financial and general stability is critical.

We (2 of us) operate our Computer Repair business in a regional area and it is a "High Stress, Heavy Information Load" and often fast paced business. We need all the help we can get to take the stress away and the technical overload away !, then we can start to enjoy our life !

Square has definitely helped us with the above, I do the call-out repairs and I love how easy it is to take payment on the spot !, no chasing people for payment.

Our experiences with bank supposed POS has been terrible, we will never use one again !, Square is the best by far.

I personally have recommended Square service to many of our business customers and partners.

[Archies]

To be able to consistently offer an excellent buying experience.

I know the quality of my product is great - i can control that - but having to use a product like Square Online that is still in its infancy that is slow and time-consuming to edit and adapt to my business needs, definitely is a constant concern of mine.

Its a variable out of my control. And I have tried all the other services - its definitely the best for my business needs, but god its slow to build and adapt.

This means my customers can suffer, as part of the experience is completely dependent on a 3rd party and their product.

[TCSlaguna]

Customers having a positive experience in the store wherein we can assist them with their self-growth. 

Aligning the interests of our team with those of the company, so that we grow together. 

[LaraRobinson]

As a small salon owner without staff I want to provide a comfortable, healthy & friendly environment for clients.  Having an environment that clients want to come back to for further treatments.  Having treatments that clients can see results & ultimately they will recommend my business to their friends & so on.  Being able to offer various payment options such as eftpos & afterpay.  All the above combined allows me to achieve a financially viable business in which I currently have.

[rtfulk]

Build our business up so our granddaughter can take it over one day.  

[isabelle]

❤️

[MudFire_Dex]

Thank you @aarontw - we have worked hard to provide a community on many levels. Our overarching goal is inclusivity. Many ceramic spaces exclude based on finances, knowledge, prior experience, etc. We start at the beginning, for everyone. We offer sliding scale membership and work exchanges for those who can't afford membership. My partner and I have built an incubator for 17-20 (fluctuates throughout the year) artists in residents with 3 of them having intensive experiences learning insider business tasks such as accounting, supply ordering, marketing, website building, social media intensives as well as healing modalities surrounding their relationship with money, time management, etc. We use business profits to support their burgeoning careers in the arts with a focus on women and LGBTQIA and BIPOC individuals in particular - those who have been commonly left out of craft degrees/academic level ceramics. Our studio at large is 200 members strong and we are integrally a part of their making process and reasons for joining the studio range from relaxation to pursuing a second income. It was what weighed on us so heavily during the pandemic required closures and decline in business. We knew that if we didn't hold on, this would be lost to so many people. We love that we can be a place people want to come, want to be, and want to make things.

[Simplycowgirl]

Being able to support my lifestyle and have time to do the other things I love in life. 

[janinalear]

I want to give people an experience in my shop. The best customer service and having a unique product range that is locally produced and /or designed.

Right now, I really need it to be financially viable after lockdowns etc. Retail is struggling

[Stacelyn24]

Wow...that’s a great question.  I would say I would like Finacial freedom...I didn’t say rich.  Comfortable to live life to the fullest with pleasantries.  I want to build my business up where it can also allow other’s to live comfortable as well.  To be able to provide for their families.  I want to be able to invest in them as they invest in my business 🙂

[deb57]

To build my customer base. To have my creations sell successfully.

[Mary266]

We are a small business in the Australian bush in central Queensland. We want to promote slow, sustainable fashion accessories such as bags, purses & wallets. Also we only create limited editions, so our customers have an individual, long lasting product. Not something that had been made in the millions & lasts 3 months at best. We design and fully make all of our pieces, totally Australian made and owned. We would like our customer feel that have purchased a totally unique product that will last for many years

Our aim is to make sustainable products with flair and colour.

Mary Faux

[MysticalMetis]

Hello everyone,

I own an Indigenous retail store. The most important thing for myself as a business owner is to support my local artists. I am tired of fake or native inspired items and stolen designs that are flooding the market. Every item in my store is designed by an Indigenous artist whether it is hand-made or manufactured. Each time an item is sold an artist receives compensation for their design. 

[Hailey]

Can you share your business website and socials? Would love to check out your store 🙂 

[MysticalMetis]

Hello Penny,

Sorry it took so long to reply.

https://www.mysticalmetis.ca

https://www.facebook.com/mysticalmetis

https://www.instagram.com/mysticalmetis

htjtps://www.twitter.com/mysticalmetis

[EJMLMT2006]

As a small massage therapy business owner, being the only LMT on deck, I want to maximize clients but still give a good quality massage. Quality work is extremely important to me! I've been a massage therapist for 15 years but just opened my business in November 21. 😊

[Hailey]

Congrats on opening your business! Have you found it to be a better fit for your lifestyle/wellbeing running your own biz so far? 

[mallory4mallory]

To build an online Knit Shop where I can offer my knitted items and where others can sell there's through a membership with my Knit Shop