Editing The Pen Addict 310/transcript (section)

== Online Stationery ==


'''Myke Hurley:''' Well, I mean, kind of there's two parts, I think, to what you're asking me. I mean, one, I completely agree on the importance of online. I think that as a sales channel now, I mean, it's clear, but I think it's become even more so that online sales for stationary equipment is the main route of sale for any company that wants to grow now. You know, like we had a good conversation, I think, with Lisa at the Pen Show, right? About this very thing, right? Like Van Ness is a store. It's always been a store and they were very stuck in their ways and it took them a long time to get a credible online presence. But when they did, changed their business, like basically overnight because now people from all over the world could buy products from Van Ness, not just people that live in Arkansas, right? Like they're in Arkansas, right? Right, Little Rock. Little Rock, that's it, yeah. So, you know, that makes a huge, huge difference. And of course, one of the other things is companies like yours, right? That like there's no other way for Nock to exist. They're just, it just, because now, now you supply other retailers and that's a whole business, but you wouldn't have ever gotten there unless you were able to start your own online thing first.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right, and we're definitely going to get to that. Like, I think that's a different category. So we're going to talk about that. Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Okay. But like, I believe that online stuff is, that should be, in my opinion, the core of anyone trying to be in this business right now. But you also said about like, how hard is it? Like, is it too difficult now? Like, would you start something today? This is the exact same problem that exists in any successful, because of growth industry. Like, the more something becomes popular, the harder it is to be successful at it. Like, I see this for podcasting now, right? Like, now that podcasting is this big, hot place where all the eyeballs and money is, it is harder than ever to start a show and be successful, right? Like, it's the same with YouTubers, any type of creative endeavor, really. The more people there are focused on it, the more people there are doing it. And then you have to stand out in different ways and rather than just being somebody who does it. Like, for me, I don't think I could start this business that I have now if I started today. Like, I don't think that, like, after four years, I would be where I am now or where I got to after four years, right? Like, to be able to make it part of my living. You know, the success being where I am now, where I am a professional podcaster, that's what I do. I think that that would be significantly harder for me to do today. But I had a head start because I was doing it when it was mostly just technology and public radio. Like, that was all it was. But public radio were just rebroadcasting the stuff that was on the airwaves. So it wasn't really that appealing. You know, so yeah, that's kind of how I feel. Like, yes, you can do it. And yes, you can be a success at it. And if you are successful, there is more success available to you than there ever has been before, right? Because more people care about it. But it's way harder to get to that point because there are lots of people that want to be just like you.