Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

KevinW
Your business sounds really intriguing.
Is there any way you can roll out a test site with a local WalMart or Best Buy?
You might be able talk with a local/regional manager about running it on a conditional basis. (i.e. low risk for them...)
It would be similar to having a prototype invention.
Just an idea.

The Swaynester

Interesting idea.  Is it similar to Shopatron (www.shopatron.com)? 

~Kim

KevinW,

The Swaynester`s comment is DEAD ON! there`s nothing like a little real world proof that you`ve got a great business concept before you talk to the money people.

it`s kind of a new application of that popular bumper sticker, "Think Globally, Act Locally" - and it really fits the situation. the more data you can develop and learning you can do prior to rolling out your business concept, the more credible you will be with any customers, partners or financiers.

rich

Hey KevinW--
I think you`re on the right track. I would conduct my own marketing research. How about a focus group? 
Interview some people on the street... maybe some people shopping at your targeted test site?
And build your case.
I was thinking about your model.Are there any up-and-coming chains that might be more accepting to your idea? What about a smaller-type businesses?
Just thinking out loud now.  

In my area, there are a few regionally-owned bargain outlets.
The one I`m thinking of has about 20-plus stores in this region. Very mom and pop, and, unfortunately, I did check and they don`t have an online catalog, per se. But I`m wondering if there are other places like that... with an ecommerce arm. 
What about Costco, BJs Warehouse?
My other weird-a%$-ed thought... would a drug store chain consider this? Some have their own perscription delivery. But maybe you could make the case for an add-on service?

WOW!!

Maybe you should consider hiring theswaynester`s bowling league to do some consulitng for you!!  Seems like their on fire for you!!

Who knows? Maybe this could get up and running a lot faster going in your side of the US and their side .. 

If you (or anyone for that matter) need a write up like a press release .. let us know my husband writes them for all kinds of companies .. That`s another idea (I just had) -- press releases are an AWESOME thing!!  They don`t cost you any advertising dollars, some newspapers are looking for fillers ..

If done right, they look like a professional journalist did a whole interview and everything .. for an additional service we`d be happy to contact the newspapers for you and get them in there!  I just read one the other day (not knowing what it was) asked my husband who wrote it b/c there wasn`t a by line .. he said it was a press release .. I thought wow!!  They are much more professional then I had given them credit for!!

Kevin,

Where do I start, for several months, I`ve been trying to come up with a better mouse trap,  and beter product distribution channel,  a more efficient way, a cheap way for businesses to deliver their products to the national customer base.  I figure this would be a revolutionary concept that would slightly change the business community.  I know it is out there, I do have different ideas,  I just havent been able to lock it down yet.

  Which brings me to you...

I am talking about less than the driving cost if you chose to shop in store personally.

Wow that is great, but I do not know how that can be done,  if you have achieved that you have something spectacular.  the reason why I say this is because I don`t know  how it is possible for someone to operate a business with all of the expenses associated with it and your going to be able to deliver products for less than that what it would cost the customer to drive to the store. Did I not understand that correctly because I don`t know how you are going to hire someone to do work for less than it will cost for a customer to drive to the store. I am going to assume I am thinking correctly and that you have what I believe is what you have.

I`ve filed a patent for the business model.

Patentable, Interesting,  I wonder how much a new business has to be different not infringe...?

No it is not like Shopatron. It is more like uship.com and licketyship.com. Both of them are innovative but their markets are niche, comparing to the main stream market my model is targeting

I don`t understand the whole patent thing yet because I would of never guessed that I could have a business like another already in existance then I would be able to patent mine..  may be reading into your comments to much..

It is brand new and any analysis of consumer behavior is a guess at best

I believe you can to some extent...If you were the consumer,  yea  you are ,   as a consumer, an unbias consumer would you purchase or desire to use the service???  I presume your service has a competitive advantage over other alternative services....  What is stoping Walmart or any other big box retailer from changing the business model enough so they can simply do the same type of delivery system on their own  for themselves???

My difficulty is that the model will require the retailers to deploy some kiosks in the store.,,,,,, From there I will take care of delivery from the point the order is packaged and ready for pick up in the store.

Last two red flags..

Why would you need a kiosk in the store?  I guess I`m still way out side of the inner working of the business idea. If they are home ordering online, I could only guess that it would be for the store employees to proccess the shipment to some extent.. can you tell I`m guessing..?

Ready for pick up in the store.  From my experience of working for the largest online business supply retailer ( at least thats what is claimed) I don`t know if all Wal-Marts carry all of the products that they offer online.  Because I know my company doesn`t ,  and then you would have split orders and a bunch more potentials situational problems.

 Mike

PS we offer free delivery for any order over 50$ and if you could reduce our expense that much,  I`m willing to bet that MY upper management would love to here about it because cost cutting is one of the reasons why the stock has nearly doubled in the last year.

Kevin,

email sent,  I just wanted to let everybody here know  that I was pleasantly surprised with your program,  I didn`t see it coming..

Mike