On May 10, 2011, at 5:37 AM, Robert wrote:

Hi John,

I'm glad you agree that it mightn't be possible to manufacture anything, and you might have to set your sights lower in order to get started. I think it's important to emphasize to bear this in mind in relation to what products to research and pursue.

***I still think let passion (experiencing a problem) as the genesis, with joy as confirmation, is to be the guide as what to pursue.  Look at where Apple started and is today... what we start with is often a compromise...***

Something in your new book interests me:

'As a buyer for an import company many years ago, my job was to find intriguing items overseas and ask the supplier what the minimum order was..   [later] modify the product so that it would sell even more'

***right, with the first company that went out of business... my insistence on competing on design has to do with watching one company fail and another thrive no matter what the economy...***

I saw your video on plan B, although I don't think you're pursuing this one? As there are steel knives already in the USA, although they are very niche, your plan would be to market it more effectively to a wider audience? A lot of importers seem to have started with a new product but there are also many like (as you mention) Hadad the Henna dealer.

***Right... plan B CAN be done, but it is unlikely and denies us all the good of an individuals contribution.  That contribution may be new packaging, presentation, teaching how to use knives, but then one is back to competing on design...***

Another interesting thing from the book was that you mentioned your job as a buyer was to source items abroad and then sell them in trade shows around the US. I didn't think there was any selling involved in this- are we still required to be present at trade shows, or have you changed strategy with using sales reps?

***Trade shows and reps are still in the game, especially in specialty...  there are no circumstances in which I would sell to govt, costco, walmart, etc...***

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