Print this page | Go back to previous topic
Forum nameBiz Ideas
Topic subjectIdeas for todays market
Topic URLhttps://www.businessownersideacafe.com/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=3746
3746, Ideas for todays market
Posted by helpjustone, Tue Aug-11-09 12:11 AM
I have several ideas I am mulling over at the moment.
My circumstance is that I am married to a newly retired Soldier.
We live in NY but this is not our home. We will at some point move to SC. Staying put right now to ride out whatever is happening to our economy.

Ideas:
1-Conferences/workshops/seminars
Pretty easy for me logistically however not sure if folks have disposable income for such events.

2-Job/Career Fairs
Definitely a need but can I pick up stakes and move it South? Do I want to start over building a client/recruiter base...

3-Local Business/Community News - Local job listings, business community profiles, Best Practices,etc...I live in a very small town. Maybe would need to combine with several local communities?
Again, I would have to roll it up and move at some point.

4-I like another persons idea about a credentialing check on contractors etc...does anyone have information on assessment used to determine this information? Is this simply duplicating the BBB?
3749, no helpful ideas or suggestions?
Posted by helpjustone, Tue May-26-09 11:37 PM
No one out there have any suggestions/ideas for help just one?:-(
3862, Deleted message
Posted by KuzinKali, Thu Aug-06-09 08:56 PM
No message
3751, RE: Ideas for todays market
Posted by DBeavers, Wed May-27-09 09:41 AM
If you really want something that is portable, for your future relocation, consider either something that can be done completely online, or will work both online and off. Build it right, and you can keep many of your New York clients satisfied even after you relocate.

And, do it right, and you can target SC prospects before you move their.

I'd definitely look for an opportunity with no inventory requirement, so relocating the business doesn't also mean product to be moved.

Since you are already looking at working with existing businesses, why not investigate the promotional advertising industry. It meets all the previous criteria and offers the benefit of a great repeat sales factor. Sell an order of ink pens, coffee mugs, or calendars with a business imprint, and expect to write that order again at least once a year.

The inventory ships direct from the supplier to the buyers final destination, so you don't have to deal with delivery either.

This industry is a $20 Billion market in the US, and has been my full-time career since July '07, after 3 years of part-time sales.

Good luck at whatever you choose.
3861, Deleted message
Posted by KuzinKali, Thu Aug-06-09 08:53 PM
No message
3757, RE: Ideas for todays market
Posted by annalaurabrown, Tue Jun-02-09 04:13 AM
If you want to be able to move with your business then it is best to build something that you can do online and offline. Number 1 might work in part for this, if you have a unique niche and can do teleseminars, webinars and conferences. Otherwise I would consider either some kind of affiliate marketing or direct sales business.
3835, RE: Ideas for todays market
Posted by Texas2sum, Wed Jul-15-09 01:54 AM
One of our businesses is directly involved in the construction and contracting industry. We have successfully operated this business and give our clients a great value for the dollars spent. As a "contractor" I want to say that there are certainly "bad contractors" out there and they should be weeded out. On the other hand a good contractor can have a couple of bad customer experiences and through complaints to the BBB appear as if not a good company to do business with. For example our company put on approximately 250 roofs in 2008 with a customer satisfaction of over 98%. Yet because a few people could not be satisfied, or had issues that did not belong under the eye of the BBB our local rating was very poor. Even after responding and satisfying these complaint issues we still had a poor rating with the BBB.

Now I will bet that if purchased a membership and went through the BBB's ceremonies our rating would improve overnight. The real issue is that the BBB is a complaint clearing house with no room for anything positive other than the BBB's endorsement of a business and its relationship with the BBB. A website called perhaps the Best Business Services or something along this line with a forum type environment which operated much like eBay?s feedback system. Customers and clients can post positives and negatives with opportunity for comments and dialogue. Have businesses subscribe and offer it free to consumers. Basically a fair and balanced reporting site!

One other issue is "bad homeowners" and there are as many of them as there are bad contractors, perhaps more in the current economy! A way to verify these homeowners who screw their contractors would be great! Our company has approximately 15 files right now that are either completed projects owing or outright breach of contract issues that are worth $30,000.00+ in revenue collectively.

Just some thoughts and ideas.
Good luck and pursue your dreams with passion!