I'm bored - free business advice! Come one, come all!

Originally posted by fnpmitchreturns
Thank You XCommando for your words of wisdom to all ATS members. As a struggling small businessman I have learned much and I am still learning. I work on foreclosed home and today the multiple layers of contractors make it difficult to have an adequate profit margin to make the job even worth while doing it. I have watched a wage suppression and competition during the last 7 years gut my profit margin.

Is it time to start a new adventure? I am an entrepreneur...I really don't care what I am doing as long as I enjoy my work and I can make enough to live on.

I agree with you on the service industry is the way to go.....

If your current business is not keeping you busy, then why not look at setting up a (or a few) alternate businesses? Set your sights on industries which may be relevant to your current one, and use those alternate businesses to feed enquiry through to your main one.

If you are involved in foreclosed homes (which is an alien concept here in Australia, so I don't have a good understanding), maybe you could create some online services offering advice to those about to be foreclosed?

Originally posted by Benchkey
reply to post by ExCommando

 

HI and thanks for reading this.

I'm retired on a very low SS, so don't have much to work with.

That said, I recently created a Rust Remover made from 100% natural materials such as grass, seeds, fruit, etc. I've experimented with it extensively and it works like a charm. In making it I have to boil it quite a bit so it becomes very thick, and so when bottled and used in the future, one has to cut it with 10 parts of water (1:10). This makes it very economical for the end user. Oh it does NOT contain any acid.

I've given out several samples to those who might experiment with it as well and there has not been one negative comment. In fact all are amazed at how well it works.

It is intended for de-rusting Iron, Steel, Cast Iron and Cast Steel. Because it is thinned out, it gets into pores of the rusted metal. HOWEVER it does not hurt the metal at all, even if you leave it in there for weeks. That is a real plus on expensive items such as tools or antiques.

At first the process was slow, but I've tweaked it and now it works in a day or two for most rusted items. Obviously the item must be submerged for that time, you cannot just brush it on and wait.

Because it is made of natural grasses, etc, once you have finished using it, or worn it out, disposal can be down the drain, or use it as a fertilizer. The only thing it seems to kill are slugs. (Yeah!)

I'm in the USA, and so I've made sure that everything associated with it is also made in the USA. Then I put a MADE IN USA Label on it. The name of the product is Beulah's Rust Remover. I know that name Beulah is odd, and that could be changed, but I've spent some money on having the label designed and it looks great.

If you go to Craigslist in Rochester NY and search for "RUST" I'm sure you will find it and photos associated.

From my end, I've made a little over 2,000 gallons of the stuff, so expect I can sell till next summer when, and if the product catches on, I'll again harvest the necessary ingredients. (I live in a farming community and most of what I need is along the sides of the roads.)

At present a purchaser can come to my home and buy it, or send me $$ and I'll mail it to them. A 1/2 gallon of the product costs about $9.00 to ship US Postal Priority mail. I'm told I can purchase a phone at Wall mart which I can somehow arrange to use Credit/Debit cards and send the money to my checking account. Have to check on this next.

OK Again I'm on a very limited budget. How can I get this advertised on such a small budget, and still let people know this product exists?

I appreciate your time, and any input you care to give me on this.

Hi there

Sounds like you have a great product in the works.

Are there any competitors currently on the market? Can you apply for a patent?

The last thing you want to do is go to market and have someone copy your idea for cheaper.

You've got 1 of 2 options - do it yourself, or pitch your idea to an investor with experience in retail. They will be able to scale up your product (they will obviously retain a % of the equity stake), and distribute it very quickly.

If you decide to go on your own, prepare your product for market - make it look amazing, have all your facts and figures. Find the retailers, and go and meet with them - sell them your product, and try and get a trial on their shelves to see how the product performs.

Don't call. Don't write letters. Go in and see the buyers at the retail stores - don't take no for an answer.

My buddy and I are working on starting a Casino Junket Enterprise, did all of our research to get the license, approaching a few casinos in Atlantic City. Now my question is how do you market this to the general public? How do we find the people to use our service?

Originally posted by HomerinNC
My buddy and I are working on starting a Casino Junket Enterprise, did all of our research to get the license, approaching a few casinos in Atlantic City. Now my question is how do you market this to the general public? How do we find the people to use our service?

What is a casino junket enterprise?

Basically, you're an independent rep for the casino, and get people to use your service to go to the casino by offering comped or discounted flights, food and rooms.

reply to post by ExCommando

Are you still open to giving a novice some advice?

I realize you wrote this thread a while ago ... figured it was worth a shot