As you mentioned, you are new in this Internet business, you may have a little difficulty finding suppliers in the beginning. Being online is totally different than having a "Real" store. Manufacturers normally does not entertain inquiries which come from individuals whom they can not trace. And when they do, they require volume orders and prepayment - a thing that I would advice you should not do at this point.

We've talked with a few online entrepreneurs dealing with the same items that you are interested in. Given the spectacular crash of the dot-coms, suppliers and wholesalers are now quite unreceptive to entrepreneurs who plan to sell online. You have to convince them the reasons why they would want to sell to you. I suggest that you read our stories on Michelle Arpas of GeniusBabies.com at http://www.powerhomebiz.com/OnlineSuccess/geniusbabies.htm  and Tamara Carlisle at http://www.powerhomebiz.com/OnlineSuccess/bigkidsvideo.htm . These ladies both had a hard time in the beginning, particularly in looking for suppliers willing to take a risks on their new ventures.

I suggest that you have to do the first things first. As in any kind of business, you have to have a business name, a licence or business permit. Since you are looking at educational materials and toys, you can think of a business name that would be very synonymous to education or toys or whatever name you feel could attract online customers. Then create your web site. If you are computer literate at this point, it wouldn't be hard for you. If not, try to ask someone who could help you with the least expense. Hiring a web site designer is expensive and most often ineffective. If you cannot find a friend, try practicing by building your own website through those engines who offer free web pages for business or small home business. These sites like, www.tripod.com , www.geocities.com  have ready made templates where you can build the site that you want to establish. You can also buy a web building software like the Microsoft FrontPage or Dreamweber and practice. We use FrontPage because it is easy to manipulate. You can create a page with your FrontPage software and upload it to your free website host (tripod) or any other and see how it looks on the web.

Once your site is running, you can apply to join the affiliate program of Amazon.com. Amazon can provide you all the educational materials and toys and many other items which you can copy and paste at your site and they pay you commissions on all the items you are able to sell at your web site. At least, at this point, you don't have to carry inventory because Amazon.com takes care of deliveries.

There are many things you have to consider when operating a website or a business online. You have to think of ways to make people go to your site. Unlike having a store where people go because they see your sign, in the Internet you have to have a way to make people find you. The use of the search engines is an effective way but it is not easy to get your name at the top of the list. People making a search in the search engines will only look at the first ten or twenty names on the list and they're gone. So, that is another point where you will worry about.

Then, you have to think of your web hosting company. The company who will bring your web site to the web. Your web site will depend greatly on their efficiency, therefore you have to look for the right web hosting company. Making this decision is not easy either.

You may also check out trade shows in this industry and attend as many as you can. This will enable you to know the latest trends, meet personally with suppliers (it is harder to ignore you if you talk to them one-on-one), and perhaps help you identify the products that you intend to carry.

It is a long way. It may become expensive too. However, if you are determined to give it a shot, do the first things first. Then email me again and we will go from there.

Good luck

About the PowerHomeBiz.com Guide: 

Nach Maravilla is the Publisher of Power Homebiz Guides. He has over thirty years experience in sales and marketing of various products, which covered as he jokingly describes, "from toothpicks to airplanes"  He also had extensive experience in International trading and he always excelled in special promotional ideas for  retail outlets. 

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, not of PowerHomeBiz.com. Users should not treat the Guide's response as legal, accounting, or professional advice as all answers are intended to be general in nature. Such advice can only be properly given by qualified professionals who are fully aware of a user's specific geographical areas or circumstances, such as an attorney or accountant.