As you are all aware I am unemployed. I knew that this was the worst time possible for something like to happen. I knew finding work would be tough, too.
So thinking that something is better than nothing in the way of work, I took the last of my savings and bought into a product that I felt could possibly earn some money at least enough to cover rent and maybe a little more. I ran across said product in CA when I went back to see my dad. When I saw it I thought it was a great idea, even better I had never seen it in this part of the Country. Also the investment versus profit is ridiculous (meant in a great way).
Doing research I found a manufacturer where I can get the product very inexpensively. I know how to use the internet and have always considered myself to be the search king. I am the one people always came to in order to find something after they had tried every which way but loose.
What I found was 1 US manufacturer and 3 other Companies that would fall under the catagory of distributors. None are based in the Northeast, of course with the internet, this doesn't mean anything, however, in regards to wholesale prices including shipping, my connection is bar far the least expensive.
Also this one magazine I get on the world of retail sales, (I have always wanted to have my own business) I felt I was ahead of the game because I already had the product in my hands before this last issue (received 2 weeks ago) arrived and it had 3 articles pertaining to this product. Add 1 point for Jim.
I showed the product to my neighbor, a crotchety old man that seems to have seen it all, (he is an insurance broker and has a retail fruit/vegetable stand ( he is always looking for something to make a buck off of) he actually registered surprise and delight upon examining it. Add 1 point for Jim.
This last Sat. was my first attempt at selling said product, I have heard that if you can garner 1% sales from your targeted audience then you are doing great. Sat. weather wise was horrible, add to that the event was outside. The whole time we were there, maybe 12 people showed up. 4 couples and 4 single people. Out of those 12 we sold to 4 of them. So I made the vendor fee back and paid for the flowers purchased that morning. So should I chalk another point up?
Was Jim stupid in investing the last of his money with Jan 1st coming up and not knowing how I am going to pay rent?
I was actually amped by the results Sat. in fact I felt it was a good sign that we sold to as many as we did for such a poor turnout, in fact the feedback was very good, even the other vendors had not seen my product before.
I applied for a vendor spot at another event coming up Jan. 7th and was accepted, the entry fee is $150, I can sell my plasma to raise the money to cover this. I have never missed paying my rent before so I think I can stall until after the event.
Out of respect for Dave, Eric and CWS I will not say what the product is. My point was not to garner sympathy and drum up business from BOTL members, AT ALL, so please do not think that was my motive.
What I am after is feedback from all of you, given the facts as I presented them, am I crazy, stupid, pipe-dreaming, delusional or....?
See the reason I did this was I knew a job would not present itself quickly, I was going to run out of money sooner than later, so with this in mind, I would rather end up homeless kicking and screaming, than to wait for the inevitable if I just sat and waited for it to happen.
Feedback, good and or bad, suggestions, questions (any except for what is the product). Any or all of the latter are very much appreciated.
So thinking that something is better than nothing in the way of work, I took the last of my savings and bought into a product that I felt could possibly earn some money at least enough to cover rent and maybe a little more. I ran across said product in CA when I went back to see my dad. When I saw it I thought it was a great idea, even better I had never seen it in this part of the Country. Also the investment versus profit is ridiculous (meant in a great way).
Doing research I found a manufacturer where I can get the product very inexpensively. I know how to use the internet and have always considered myself to be the search king. I am the one people always came to in order to find something after they had tried every which way but loose.
What I found was 1 US manufacturer and 3 other Companies that would fall under the catagory of distributors. None are based in the Northeast, of course with the internet, this doesn't mean anything, however, in regards to wholesale prices including shipping, my connection is bar far the least expensive.
Also this one magazine I get on the world of retail sales, (I have always wanted to have my own business) I felt I was ahead of the game because I already had the product in my hands before this last issue (received 2 weeks ago) arrived and it had 3 articles pertaining to this product. Add 1 point for Jim.
I showed the product to my neighbor, a crotchety old man that seems to have seen it all, (he is an insurance broker and has a retail fruit/vegetable stand ( he is always looking for something to make a buck off of) he actually registered surprise and delight upon examining it. Add 1 point for Jim.
This last Sat. was my first attempt at selling said product, I have heard that if you can garner 1% sales from your targeted audience then you are doing great. Sat. weather wise was horrible, add to that the event was outside. The whole time we were there, maybe 12 people showed up. 4 couples and 4 single people. Out of those 12 we sold to 4 of them. So I made the vendor fee back and paid for the flowers purchased that morning. So should I chalk another point up?
Was Jim stupid in investing the last of his money with Jan 1st coming up and not knowing how I am going to pay rent?
I was actually amped by the results Sat. in fact I felt it was a good sign that we sold to as many as we did for such a poor turnout, in fact the feedback was very good, even the other vendors had not seen my product before.
I applied for a vendor spot at another event coming up Jan. 7th and was accepted, the entry fee is $150, I can sell my plasma to raise the money to cover this. I have never missed paying my rent before so I think I can stall until after the event.
Out of respect for Dave, Eric and CWS I will not say what the product is. My point was not to garner sympathy and drum up business from BOTL members, AT ALL, so please do not think that was my motive.
What I am after is feedback from all of you, given the facts as I presented them, am I crazy, stupid, pipe-dreaming, delusional or....?
See the reason I did this was I knew a job would not present itself quickly, I was going to run out of money sooner than later, so with this in mind, I would rather end up homeless kicking and screaming, than to wait for the inevitable if I just sat and waited for it to happen.
Feedback, good and or bad, suggestions, questions (any except for what is the product). Any or all of the latter are very much appreciated.
