Looking for some help and advice...

enrdentw · Post by **enrdentw** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:28 pm

Hi Guys,

This may appear to the vast majority of you as one of the more bizarre threads to be posted on the TW.

Without beating arond the bush I will get straight to the point.

I am looking to start up my own business over the next 6 months as the entrepreneurial drive I have is what is pushing me to do so.

The reason for this thread is to try and discover from you lot what you feel might be needed/in demand in the current market place. Or any business ideas that you feel maybe different or fresh?

I look forward to hearing some fresh ideas and some positive input which may spark an idea or two.

This may seem as a 'lazy option' however, it is just a mere idea generation technique I am trying.

Thanks in advance for any positive input.

Dave (21)

enfieldwhite · Post by **enfieldwhite** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:48 pm

enrdentw wrote:Hi Guys,

This may appear to the vast majority of you as one of the more bizarre threads to be posted on the TW.

Without beating arond the bush I will get straight to the point.

I am looking to start up my own business over the next 6 months as the entrepreneurial drive I have is what is pushing me to do so.

The reason for this thread is to try and discover from you lot what you feel might be needed/in demand in the current market place. Or any business ideas that you feel maybe different or fresh?

I look forward to hearing some fresh ideas and some positive input which may spark an idea or two.

This may seem as a 'lazy option' however, it is just a mere idea generation technique I am trying.

Thanks in advance for any positive input.

Dave (21)

A way forward would be to look at what your core skills are, what resources you have etc.

That may help you and us.

enrdentw · Post by **enrdentw** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:59 pm

enfieldwhite wrote:
enrdentw wrote:Hi Guys,

This may appear to the vast majority of you as one of the more bizarre threads to be posted on the TW.

Without beating arond the bush I will get straight to the point.

I am looking to start up my own business over the next 6 months as the entrepreneurial drive I have is what is pushing me to do so.

The reason for this thread is to try and discover from you lot what you feel might be needed/in demand in the current market place. Or any business ideas that you feel maybe different or fresh?

I look forward to hearing some fresh ideas and some positive input which may spark an idea or two.

This may seem as a 'lazy option' however, it is just a mere idea generation technique I am trying.

Thanks in advance for any positive input.

Dave (21)
A way forward would be to look at what your core skills are, what resources you have etc.

That may help you and us.

I have enquired at University through the business department that I am entitled to a £7,500 loan for a business start up.

I would say I was effective an communicator and have a good 'business head' on me.

I will graduate with a 2:1 in Computer Aided Design (CAD) in July but in all honesty I would like to stay away from that industry.

I am always coming up with plenty of product design ideas and have one patent pending on a design (if you would like to know more about that just PM me as I dont really want to post the details of the design on here) but as a business it wont really allow for strong financial income only pocket money.

CAPSLOCK · Post by **CAPSLOCK** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:46 pm

If I has such an idea, why the fcuk would I tell you?

Trelford_Mills · Post by **Trelford_Mills** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:51 pm

CAPSLOCK wrote:If I has such an idea, why the fcuk would I tell you?

He wasn't asking smart arse tossers who weren't prepared to offer useful input.

Bolton town centre lacks a good continental snack bar.There are plenty shite coffee bars in town but i mean a continental one like the ones in Madrid with sides of beef hanging from the roof.

bobo the clown · Post by **bobo the clown** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:02 pm

Trelford_Mills wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:If I has such an idea, why the fcuk would I tell you?
He wasn't asking smart arse tossers who weren't prepared to offer useful input.

As your 11th post I think that's a bit undiplomatic don't you think, Mrs Mills ??

Besides ".... anyone got a great idea because I've an entrepreneurial bent, if I say so myself ... " IS a fckg weird thing to say & ask and though Cap's response wan't a delicate one I'd have to say I agree with it in principle.

Why WOULD someone with a surefire idea spill the beans to someone simply because they've declared themselves to have a genius for making money ... a genius only aided to proof by the fact that he's learnt a new business grant of £7,500 may exist. I assume this is the same university which helped him gain a degree he doesn't wish to use.

May I enquire which uni this is ? ... I have this feeling it's going to be one of the "new" universities.

CrazyHorse · Post by **CrazyHorse** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:29 pm

Trelford_Mills wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:If I has such an idea, why the fcuk would I tell you?
He wasn't asking smart arse tossers who weren't prepared to offer useful input.

Yes he was.

enfieldwhite · Post by **enfieldwhite** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:17 pm

CrazyHorse wrote:
Trelford_Mills wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:If I has such an idea, why the fcuk would I tell you?
He wasn't asking smart arse tossers who weren't prepared to offer useful input.
Yes he was.

In which case I'm out.

KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab · Post by **KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:22 pm

My advice is thus:

1) Don't bust a gut thinking of something too unique, as there'll be plenty people out there too dismissive to help you develop in these times
2) If you do manage to think of a modification on an existing idea, claim intellectual property as quickly as possible - if you have a patent pending, you must make sure it is commercially viable if you are to make any money on it in the forseeable future
3) Whatever you find, be prepared to spend almost every waking moment developing it in order to make it a business
4) Don't give up when it first goes tits-up

I first hated the concept of having to compromise my coaching skills in order to organise and deliver football themed birthday parties. They're done by loads of people, but I've added a couple of personal things in order to make it an independent business. Through word of mouth and a lot of commitment (yet still no serious marketing), I've gone from only doing eight parties a year in 2007, to 26 in 2008. This year I'm confident of clearing 50. Balls my weekends up, but at £150 for two hours work a pop plus a massive mark up on add ons such as goodie bags and medals, I could develop it enough to stuff the sport side of football and just do the parties. I won't, though. Principles. And a lack of confidence in risking what I already have.

But yeah, have an idea in what you want to do before you go into business. After all, if everybody ploughed shitloads of money into something they have no real expertise in, or faith in, the whole country would end up in financial meltdow......ah.

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:37 pm

enrdentw wrote: I am looking to start up my own business over the next 6 months as the entrepreneurial drive I have is what is pushing me to do so.

Go on Dragon's Den and tell them in support of your masterplan that you've just qualified in something that you don't want to do, however, and here's the gem, you've just asked a football forum as to how you should best go about earning untold riches. Blimey, they'll be throwing the money at you so hard that they'll be bruising you.

InsaneApache · Post by **InsaneApache** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:59 pm

Good God.

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:56 pm

Whatever you decide to do, do it well. The world is full of guys with transit vans classing themselves as builders, roofers, electricians, landscape gardners, window and doorspecialists etc etc. Most of them have as much training in their chosen, "professions" as I have in nuclear physics. Quick job, extortionate price and laugh all the way to the next one. All it does is put good trades and tradesmen in a very bad light. If you want to be a cowboy, Texas is still the place I believe.

Like I said, whatever you do, take a pride in it and do it well. It's the only way to go. Just advice well meant.

Worthy4England · Post by **Worthy4England** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:30 pm

Bruce Rioja wrote:
enrdentw wrote: I am looking to start up my own business over the next 6 months as the entrepreneurial drive I have is what is pushing me to do so.
Go on Dragon's Den and tell them in support of your masterplan that you've just qualified in something that you don't want to do, however, and here's the gem, you've just asked a football forum as to how you should best go about earning untold riches. Blimey, they'll be throwing the money at you so hard that they'll be bruising you.

That there should narrow it down a little.

1) Buy a pair of football boots, top end of the market and possibly in fluorescent yellow or orange, you'll probably look a complete c*nt in them at first, so don't be tempted to wear them down the disco on a Friday night - Equip yourself with the tools of the trade.

2) Train very hard - Hobo can help you here, he has a wonderful regime involving Winter Hill and packs of rocks - Need to understand your skill set and improve on any weak areas that are required in the market place

3) Get yourself a publicist - Image is everything, your market brand is important - try Max Clifford, if he can make people feel sorry for a washed up reality TV "star" then he must be good

4) Get yourself an agent - Although lower than low, they're probably a day to day necessity in the modern game. Max could probably steer you here. For this bit, you don't actually have to be any good, just to get your name touted in the right places.

5) Find yourself some bint that used to be in a really shit pop group - A must for any (self respecting?) premiership footballer - I'd probably recommend Patsy Kensit for a start, low end of the market and everyone has had a dabble, so shouldn't be much competition. She will need to re-release "Stay with me" to coincide with your meteoric rise to stardom.

6) Put "a few quid" on the National Lottery roll-over - risk mitigation, in case you get injured - Just be prepared for a shock though, as a shared win might only equate to 50% of your annual projected salary

7) Gain untold riches from being a Premiership player - license to print money

On the flip side, I suspect if I had the "golden bullet" for something that was going to make me rich, like Caps, I probably wouldn't be running through the ins and outs on a football forum either.

officer_dibble · Post by **officer_dibble** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:57 pm

grow breasts, sleep with male celebrities and sell your story

job done

Lord Kangana · Post by **Lord Kangana** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:25 pm

My elderly relative in Nigeria has just died, leaving £6m in gold bonds. Unfortunately the police are watching me, therefore I need someone to act as recipient for me, so if you pm me with your bank details, passport number, name address d.o.b. etc, and send me across a couple of grand to sort the transfer, I'll gladly give you 10% of the proceeds to start your new business.

Hoboh · Post by **Hoboh** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:41 pm

TANGODANCER wrote:Whatever you decide to do, do it well. The world is full of guys with transit vans classing themselves as builders, roofers, electricians, landscape gardners, window and doorspecialists etc etc. Most of them have as much training in their chosen, "professions" as I have in nuclear physics. Quick job, extortionate price and laugh all the way to the next one. All it does is put good trades and tradesmen in a very bad light. If you want to be a cowboy, Texas is still the place I believe.

Like I said, whatever you do, take a pride in it and do it well. It's the only way to go. Just advice well meant.

Hey Einstein build us a bomb then, so I can do what the yanks do and write someones name on it before dispatch

mofgimmers · Post by **mofgimmers** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:58 pm

I've heard the big money is in Cialis. Invest now. NOW!

mummywhycantieatcrayons · Post by **mummywhycantieatcrayons** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:28 am

A few months back, when we still had quaint things like an interest rate base rate, I was invited to a corporate golf day by a company called VPar in order to trial their product and give them some feedback.

http://www.vpar-golf.com/

The product is basically, is a system of real-time scoring for corporate golf days to make things more interesting. The corporate golf market is huge and lots of big companies have spent a lot of cash on their corporate days in recent years, and this is the kind of thing they could find a few grand spare in their budgets for.

It's actually a very good product for what it is, but they couldn't be around at a worse time. The first thing to suffer in a climate like this is anything in the 'luxury extra' bracket... With the belt-tightening that's going on, it's just about conceivable that some of these golf days will survive, but surely the first thing to go is the expensive and gimmicky hand-held computer scoring systems!

I feel sorry them, because as a group they have put a lot of energy and money into the fledgling business, but the next few years are going to be very very ugly for them, especially with the credit situation being what it is.

It's a long-winded way of saying that you'd be well advised to do something that's takes account of the fact that people are going to be more careful about their spending than ever for a while... it's not a particularly exciting message for an enthusiastic young entrepreneur, but perhaps the best opportunity to make money is in the realm of austerity, economy, frugality and necessity!