expressionengine - expression engine: best way to handle user data, defined member fields or tie to a channel? -

in expression engine:

i have site businesses can sign , sell 1 type of widget. each business needs name, widget , price. there page shows business, widget , price.

what best way handle parameters 'widget' , 'price'?

from can work out there 2 options

1/ sign business user in group no admin privilages. add 2 custom member fields 'widget' , 'price' users. (it may not called 'member' field, i'm going off memory). show these business grab users.

or

2/ sign business user in group no admin privilages. add 1 custom member field called 'id'. create 'business' channel , channel add custom fields 'name', 'widget', 'price', 'user_id'. link instance of business channel user 'id' property. when want show these business grab details channel.

sorry if answered somewhere. i'm not getting luck google, because i'm having trouble phrasing question succinctly enough.

thanks

dave

dave,

if you're dead set on using users organize these businesses, best bet 2 custom fields. they're easier use in templates , don't have worry pulling in channel data item in custom member field 'id'. being said, should check out solspace's user module—it'll give more flexibility member information.

another thought, , depending on whether or not these businesses should able edit widget , price, make channel , skip using users altogether. using freeform, create form businesses add information, email, , add information channel want.

wes