Is everyone rich ?

**Harry101** · 30-Jul-21, 04:06 PM

I posted a few days ago in another thread - but I find it strange that no one is looking at other opportunities when presented . Not only during these Covid times, but in general people are are just uninterested to explore what else is out there. A few years back I co-founded a webstore and every query was investigated. Every lead was followed up. But it seems it isn't the norm.

About 3 years back I brought in a consumer electronic product and approached guys to sell. I contacted one particular online store (in existence today) about stocking it - and was ignored. I followed up a week later and received a 'Thanks. We'll check it out. Good luck though' and never heard from them. After a weeks I approached another online retailer who stocked it - and caught the attention of an international retailer who tracked me down. So far, R40m+ worth of business between the online/retailer over the the last few years.

I have another brand that I wanted listed in a few retail stores. I emailed a number of them and not a single one got back to me.

Are people really struggling as much as they say they are ?

**adrianh** · 31-Jul-21, 07:10 PM

Nobody bothers with emails. 99.99% of emails are SPAM so everything is ignored.

Another thing is that companies don't like stuff that is also sent to all their rivals and posted on Facebook etc - Why would they respond to a message that was mail bombed to everybody in the industry.

We now live in a world where its boots on the pavement - if you want to get the attention of a buyer then you have to go and show them in person.

I also think that companies don't like the idea of having to deal with a middle-man (i.e. a person that makes an introduction and then sits back smack bang in the middle and makes demands). Kinda like a two big dogs not being able to eat the bone because a little dog sits in the middle holding on to the bone store locker key for dear life.

I think that companies would say that if the products were as good as you say they are then why are you not getting venture capital and running with it yourself. If you succeed they would be happy to buy you out.

Again, this isn't personal, its just my personal views on the matter.

**Harry101** · 02-Aug-21, 06:31 AM

Fully and 100% disagree with you on every point

https://mg.co.za/business/2021-02-17...ncial-squeeze/
https://businesstech.co.za/news/busi...o-close-study/
https://businesstech.co.za/news/busi...most-affected/

I wonder how many of these followed your advice and wanted to play stubborn?
I wonder how many of these companies didn't explore other opportunities ?

Not personal either, but my own personal views.

**Harry101** · 02-Aug-21, 06:43 AM

https://keap.com/resources/how-to-sa...small-business

70 percent fail because they don’t recognize, or accept, their weaknesses and don’t seek help from others

I've seen it over and over. The owners 'know' best and although they're dealing the public, they don't actually listen to what the public is saying . They refuse to adapt, they refuse to explore and they feel they know best.

My first post is saying :

Don't ignore everyone , advice, help, opportunities - and then then cry when your business eventually fails / declared bankrupt

And btw, this isn't about my product - It's been under a year and I'm doing 1,000si n a month. I'd like to accelerate those sales and get into a Partnership with certain people to assist, but if no one is keen to explore ... then it is what is is. I'll keep looking.

**Blurock** · 02-Aug-21, 05:02 PM

Interesting thread. Deja Vu.
Invested my pension into a quality product to replace imports. Could not get funding because people (Banks & Finance houses) did not believe that we could do what we said we would. Govt over the moon with the product but have not received one cent in spite of BEE. Got into bed with the wrong shareholders but in the end we have a business that is now well established and part of a listed entity (another mistake?).

Changed course and now have even more innovative products without the burden of shareholders, exploiters and crooks. I have a very good relationship with my suppliers which are giving the most amazing service. I am now collaborating with customers and suppliers to supply a variety of products and are signing up new customers on a regular basis. We are never too old to learn.

**adrianh** · 02-Aug-21, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Blurock

Could not get funding because people (Banks & Finance houses) did not believe that we could do what we said we would.

The difficulty for banks and finance houses is that they make decisions based on math (by their very nature) - not faith. Another issue is that they are faced with hundreds of people all the time who have great, and not so great ideas.... so they get to pick n choose. Banks want to make money like everybody else so they are not going to put their money at risk.

The one thing that life has taught me is that you DO NOT want dependencies nor partners - Nobody gets stabbed in the back by their enemy....their friends maybe... but their business partners will look them in the eye while stabbing them in the neck....

**Harry101** · 03-Aug-21, 08:05 AM

@adrianh Of interest, when you walk into Makro and see the products on their shelf - do you know how they got there ?

**adrianh** · 03-Aug-21, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Harry101

@adrianh Of interest, when you walk into Makro and see the products on their shelf - do you know how they got there ?

Look, I am not getting into a P!$$!ng contest with you - My views stand!

**Dave A** · 03-Aug-21, 11:50 AM

I expected this to be an interesting thread. And it has not disappointed.
My comment in general to the thread topic, before I deal with the moderation request, is as follows:

It is hard to pick a quality signal from all the noise.
It is a lot easier to see opportunities after they are gone than to see them coming.
The reason why people say yes is ordinarily more consequential than the reason why they said no.
Probably also worthwhile to suggest doing some reading on the pareto principle.

Reality is the path to success is most often built on lots and lots of failure. I would be wary of becoming obsessive of any particular part of those failures - for most of us it is likely to be harmful to our state of mind.

The good news is fantastic success is often because of being exceptionally good at just one or two things - the balance being pretty average or even sub-par. It gives everyone hope - we just need to find our own one or two things that will make us "rich".

**Harry101** · 03-Aug-21, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by Blurock

.

That website I mentioned earlier ?

People had told me not to go in with friends, but as I knew the friend 35 years I thought I'd go ahead. Web site did well for 2 years but then all collapsed. So, I've decided that should I want to do anything, I rather do it myself than rely on others .