Re: Started an import based on your book!

RE: [spiers] Re: Started an import based on your book!

Did I miss the boat, I am unaware of the BOOK. Was it in one of your
e-mails?

Cedric Ross SSM
Ofc 213-975-0363
Fax 213-482-3745





-----Original Message-----
From: wileyccc@aol.com [mailto:wileyccc@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 5:48 PM
To: ysingie@cablespeed.com
Subject: [spiers] Re: Started an import based on your book!



In a message dated 2/4/03 2:54:23 PM, ysingie@cablespeed.com writes:

<<
Your book said that there's a quiz I can take and join a group of
importers like myself on your web-site. I couldn't find the link.

***Your note below tells me you'd pass any quiz...so I put you on
automatically...***

I designed a line of contemporary high quality porcelain tabletop that
will be manufactured in Vietnam. I went to several manufacturer's reps
to get feedbacks and see if there would be demand for the product and if
they would want to carry the line. The respond has been pretty
positive.

***Good...but going to retailers first would have been even better...***

1) You have advised using manufacturer's rep.

***Best way to organize, but what is typical in furn biz?***

Why not distributors who
take title of product?

***becasue you ought have control and profits...***

Now, I have to take warehousing (which I'll do
from my house in Seattle), packing material and the time spent sending
all the small orders to these retailers.

***No, you could have public warehouse do this...***

Also, being tabletop, the
packing material for delivery (my cost I assume) and the freight cost
for the retailers will be high (being heavier items) and cut into my and
their profits,

***Customer pays freight from warehouse to store... ***

Also, I was told that warehousing in Seattle will NOT
be attractive to reps. outside of the Northwest region,

***right, so get a public warehouse in Sparks, NV***

as the shipping
cost will be high to ship to let's say New York or Miami, and further
cut into the retailers' profits.

***Public warehouse also get 50% + discounts from truckers and UPS, which
saves your custoemrs money... but don't worry about your customers'
profits..just worry about yours. REtailers can take care of themselves.***

How do I solve these problems? What
about direct marketing to people who do house parties sales or some kind
of an affiliate program or network marketing? Please help!!

***All a waste of time...market too small and too much time..***

3) How do I expand beyond the Northwest reps.? I asked for referrals
from the reps here in Seattle

***yes...***

but I feel like it is too much to ask for,
and the reps. hesitantly say that they will work on that and let me
know.

***exactly, until they know if it sells... which they have no idea yet...
nobody knows... which retilers in the seattle area do you think will sell
your items? this is the start, always, customers first, then reps, then more

customers...***

I haven't heard from anyone so far.

***I am not surprised...***

How have others expanded and
grow? I am not ready to do a trade show yet.

*** customers first, then reps, then more customers... the reps will
automatically put you in their booths in their trade shows, so you will
NEVER
do your own trade show.***

2) You have also advised against taking inventory. According to
several reps., these independent and specialty retailers want their
products asap.

***Yes, and the reps want their commissions asap... ***

These retailers are not like the big departmental stores
where they will order stuff for following season. 2 months is about the
longest they will wait. If I don't already have the product warehoused
it would be difficult for them to sell my product. I feel like being in
a catch 22 situation. Again, how do I go around this?

***your value is "new" and your product is new in 2 months or six months.
Everyone will try to get you to take risk...smile, and explain... your value

is "new" and your product is new in 2 months or six months. They sell
nothing, they get orders... one reason you MUST do "customers first, then
reps, then more customers" is you have to get the right reps, the reps
retailers love... that is in the book... the reps retailers love can get
custoemr to wait 6 months... I've made people wait a year...***

Your book has been great and allowed me to take this big step. I hope
you will be kind enough to help me further here. I am trying so hard to
start and the logistics are making me quite nervous.

***Mon plaisir, just take no risks...don't buy anything until you have the
orders to cover them..they will come...tazke your time and get the first
deal
right...***

Also, feel free to post these to others who can help me or perhaps who
are in the same situation as me and can use the answers. Let me know
where I can find your message board.

*** d'accord!***

John

Bookmark this post --- Email this post