Why and How I became an Internet Merchant in May 2004

After under going a total laryngectomy operation in July 1995, as a permanent cure for cancer of the larynx, I had to learn to speak again at the age of 49, and till to-day continue to speak with the help of a voice prosthesis.

In 2003, things so happened, that I faced the imminent threat of not being able to use a voice prosthesis any more. When this happens I would become a ‘mute’ totally speechless, creating the need for me to find alternative employment wherein I could work without having to talk.

In May 2004 an American company, StoresOnline Inc, of Orem Utah, held a workshop in Melbourne, Australia, promoting 'Internet Marketing', and their web hosting services.

This was what I was looking for. As an Internet Merchant, emails and published WebPages would do all my talking for me. I purchased a package of 6 websites.

To the question 'what do I sell on these websites', I was told to try and sell things that I had a passion for, understood, and used a lot.

My passions are Animals, especially Cats, Children, Photography and Gift giving, not necessarily in that order.

When I started this venture in May 2004, I discovered that Australians were not yet ready to trust the Internet as a Market Place. Building websites to sell consumer products to the Australian market would have been pointless.

The best International Market I could find was the 48 continental states of the USA.

The first site that went live in August 2004 was www.catbedandtoy.com, and gradually the other five followed.

All the products I sell are purchased from manufacturers and distributors in the USA. They send what I buy directly to my customers, cutting out the middle men, thereby making it feasible for me to sell at discount prices.

This is a business venture, and the only means of livelihood for me and my dependants.

The above being the case, I am Honest and Professional, qualities without which, I cannot succeed in this highly competitive business.

All sites apart from the first SIX have been recently added to help promote the six sites and to augment my income.

Noel Benjamin D'Costa

D’Costa and D’Costa (ABN 96 868 054 215)
2/12, Mather Road
Noble Park, Victoria 3174
AUSTRALIA.

Phone 61 03 95473714
Mobile 0415 683 291
E-Mail noelben@iprimus.com.au