Sunday 23 June 2013

b.Channels - Where Money moves

You can have the best good or service in the world, but as long you have no channels. You are doomed.

When I was younger, I tried to build the best product I can ever dream off. The result of a 10-year hard work did not pay off. I can have the most perfect product, as long as I have no channels, I can hardly even sell, let alone trying to make a living. This was one of those occasions that even a 10-full-year gestation simply don't pay off. Hard work alone is not enough. You need a good thinking.

That's the reason why retail stores are so nasty to their suppliers. They think that without them, the suppliers are doomed. In a way, yes. They are proud people. They put on uniform, open everyday, supply the air-con and pay the landlord. Indeed, they have a very, very hard life. So let them be proud. They owned the channels. Some of the bigger retail chains not only take a huge cut over your product, they even charge you rental for putting your products on their selves. They not only make money from selling your products. Just in case, you products don't sell very well, they still hold you by your balls through their rental of their shelf space to you. What a dumber, these suppliers!

If you look around you, notice that not many retailers survive. In fact, most retailers open and shut within 5 years. So better don't try to be heroic and start a retail store. That's the fastest way to doom. Right now, I noticed quite a large number of empty stores in huge super shopping centres. What that implies is general business is not healthy. It is important to stay real clear from retailing. I have not seen a simple positiveness. Opening eateries is also another dumber, so don't do it. Lots of immigrants came and decided that there were no eateries that catered to ex-countrymen like themselves, they started an ex-home-country eatery thinking that that was god-sent. Sorry. It would be the fastest way to return your original country penniless.

Many super retail chains are always now you see them, now you don't. Sad cases all the time.

So the moment you start your product development, you also start your sourcing of channels. The channels need not be great, but, they must be reliable. Since you are dependent on their grace and mercy. You have to eat a little humble pie. One way is to give more of your margin. No worries about it, one day you will get it back, once your products are in demand.

As mentioned before, if your product is bad, don't worry about it too much. Keep improving and smile always. You will hit holy grail in 10-year flat.

Every single passion business, I have discussed already have existing demand and clientele. So I am not dealing with producing goods with no takers. I need that cashflow.

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