Work From Home

[concern2]

The question is: What to sell?

[pojo]

I think the more accurate question is: "What is your passion?" If someone’s passion is say collecting something, then the person has a better chance of putting up a blog, wrriting about his or her passion and concurrently sell those items to those visiting the website. Chances of success are therefore much higher.


If you find something to sell just because you can buy it for $5 and sell it for $10, at best you will get a mediocre business since there is essentially very little entry barrier.

[UncleLim]

concern2:

The question is: What to sell?

Decades ago, it was a big big thing to get an \"agency\" or \"distributorship\" for a brand or a range of products. If managed properly, that business relationship can turn out to be very lucrative. People got rich selling a certain brand of watch, or an industrial machine, or a good collection of books. But that has eroded somewhat in recent years. Anyone can go onto the Internet and buy the same product from another country and save money. So the big fat margin for the local distributor is gone.

Most Singaporean businesses are traders. True to our heritage, we continue to buy and sell to this day. But the globalised world of internet portals, cheap shipping, digital payments has diminished the rewards of trading greatly.

So the only way one can get a rewarding profit is to create new products. This includes innovation, design and manufacturing. But too bad our education and upbringing did not give us the chance to be creative, or to have a backyard in which we can do little DIY projects. These are the necessary ingredients for budding inventors and manufacturers of great products.

I have been through this question a million times \"But sell what?\" and I am sure some of you have been down that road too. And the truth is, even when you do succeed despite all these obstacles, you will find your product copied and sold on the market at cut throat prices, thanks to the efficient of Shenzhen factories.

[UncleLim]

pojo:

I think the more accurate question is: \"What is your passion?\" If someone's passion is say collecting something, then the person has a better chance of putting up a blog, wrriting about his or her passion and concurrently sell those items to those visiting the website. Chances of success are therefore much higher.

pojo, you are absolutely passion helps. But strangely while we all think we are unique and special (well, to a degree), we all actually end up looking the same. We take photographs of our children, we blog about our travels and the food we tried at this restaurant or that cafe, we review a new gadget or a piece of furniture. So, in the end, none of us really stand out.

[pojo]

UncleLim:

concern2:

The question is: What to sell?

Decades ago, it was a big big thing to get an \"agency\" or \"distributorship\" for a brand or a range of products. If managed properly, that business relationship can turn out to be very lucrative. People got rich selling a certain brand of watch, or an industrial machine, or a good collection of books. But that has eroded somewhat in recent years. Anyone can go onto the Internet and buy the same product from another country and save money. So the big fat margin for the local distributor is gone.

Most Singaporean businesses are traders. True to our heritage, we continue to buy and sell to this day. But the globalised world of internet portals, cheap shipping, digital payments has diminished the rewards of trading greatly.

So the only way one can get a rewarding profit is to create new products. This includes innovation, design and manufacturing. But too bad our education and upbringing did not give us the chance to be creative, or to have a backyard in which we can do little DIY projects. These are the necessary ingredients for budding inventors and manufacturers of great products.

I have been through this question a million times \"But sell what?\" and I am sure some of you have been down that road too. And the truth is, even when you do succeed despite all these obstacles, you will find your product copied and sold on the market at cut throat prices, thanks to the efficient of Shenzhen factories.

Uncle Lim

You are spot on. In short, it used to be a seller's market. Now it's a buyer's market.

[pojo]

UncleLim:

pojo:

I think the more accurate question is: \"What is your passion?\" If someone's passion is say collecting something, then the person has a better chance of putting up a blog, wrriting about his or her passion and concurrently sell those items to those visiting the website. Chances of success are therefore much higher.

pojo, you are absolutely passion helps. But strangely while we all think we are unique and special (well, to a degree), we all actually end up looking the same. We take photographs of our children, we blog about our travels and the food we tried at this restaurant or that cafe, we review a new gadget or a piece of furniture. So, in the end, none of us really stand out.

Uncle Lim

I have to agree with you.

[sssdarlings]

What about co-op for mothers/ parents? This idea was brought up sometime ago, in the papers??


Since there are a number of us keen to work from home, can pool resources/ talents together and offer something ‘in demand’?

[Oppsgal]

sssdarlings:

What about co-op for mothers/ parents? This idea was brought up sometime ago, in the papers??


Since there are a number of us keen to work from home, can pool resources/ talents together and offer something 'in demand'?

But do what job? What about coming to a term in agreement? Limited liability if bad luck and company bankrupt?

[Oppsgal]

Actually is a good idea if interested parents just pool the resources, talents to start an online business, with little capital. As long not too much risks, and have limited liability (lost only the amount spent).


Can also spend more time with kids. No need OT. No bad boss.

[UncleLim]

pojo:

UncleLim:

[quote=\"pojo\"]I think the more accurate question is: \"What is your passion?\" If someone's passion is say collecting something, then the person has a better chance of putting up a blog, wrriting about his or her passion and concurrently sell those items to those visiting the website. Chances of success are therefore much higher.

pojo, you are absolutely passion helps. But strangely while we all think we are unique and special (well, to a degree), we all actually end up looking the same. We take photographs of our children, we blog about our travels and the food we tried at this restaurant or that cafe, we review a new gadget or a piece of furniture. So, in the end, none of us really stand out.

Uncle Lim

I have to agree with you.[/quote]But come to think of it, blogging is not altogether useless.

In Korea, product manufacturers regular send new appliances to homemakers who blog. The homemakers' reviews can be a way to promote the products because these ladies are experts in dealing with household chores.