Business Success Online!

I want to tell you about a couple who have changed their life by starting their own business and the internet plays a big part in how it works.

I called this a success story because even though they admit there is still a lot of work to be done I reckon they qualify for the title 'Success Story' just the same.

I received the following e-mail from Geoff earlier in the year.


Hi David,

Due to the success of your budget program we have started a company selling dog treats online and now have our own website www.smokeypig.com.au and on eBay Dog Food 2 U.

We started this business very small due to the money we found with your budgeting techniques, and bought small amount of products and sold them at the markets. We now import a range of pet treats and also buy a lot of Australian product and ship it all around Australia.

I just wanted to thank you for your help and direction with your program.

Regards
Geoff



I recently asked Geoff to tell me more about how his business got started and how it is going. This is the Success Story I want to bring to you today...


Geoff and his wife were working full time jobs; stuck in the employment grind and just living day to day. They really wanted to change their lifestyle and do something. Geoff says the first step was learning how to budget their income and the other was to set realistic and achievable goals.

Geoff's wife Tracey was a Dog Groomer. She was occasionally asked to supply pet treats and dog food for her dog washing customers. She decided to open accounts with the major brands and started to sell dog food on a regular basis. This business flourished and they started a new company selling "Free home delivery dog food".

They were asked for all sorts of products and one of those was dried pigs ears for dogs (can you imagine a dog with pigs ears!). They had no idea about this industry but went about finding local suppliers and started to include this in their range. They made very little money buying local product but it was a way to test the market and see the opportunity.

They expanded into the natural treat products and sold these at the markets as well.

At this stage they realised they were getting very busy and time was a real issue; so much so that it started to have a negative effect on the time they were spending with their 3 young boys.

They were working almost 7 days a week till late. Something had to go!

They decided to shut the dog grooming business and also the free home delivery dog food business and solely concentrate on the natural dog food treat business.

The decision to shut the grooming business instead of trying to sell it was costly. They lost about $50,000.00 as they had to give back the assets to a franchisor after reading the fine print in their contact! Geoff says, "If you are thinking of purchasing a franchise in any business please get as much advise as you can and especially the exit rules!"

Right from early on, they realised they needed to import the pig and cow ear range to compete in the local market, so a lot of time was spent searching the world for factories and learning how to import.

They finally found a factory they thought would be a good supplier and they got a permit to import. After receiving satisfactory samples from the factory, they bought a test load (about half a container).

This is when disaster struck. The ears they received were terrible. They were devastated! They lost about $20,000!

At this point they could have done what a lot of people would have been tempted to do and that is, give up and promise to never try to kid themselves that they could be successful ever again.

This is when your tenacity is really tested and you learn what you really are made of and who your supporters and friends really are.

Geoff and Tracey determined that they would not give up so easily. They found another supplier and decided to have another go (after going to the factory and sighting the product and the factory first!)

They begged and borrowed as much money as they could. This was the last roll of the dice for them as they were in the red for about $140,000.

As is often the case, when you are at your lowest point and feeling like giving up, success is just around the corner. The new supplier turned out to be a winner and they had a good product to market and sell.

They have now built the business to wholesaling all around Australia to pet shops and pet supply companies and also retailing through their online business. They also have a store on eBay.

Geoff says it has been, and still is, a lot of hard work. They still have cash-flow issues, supply issues and all the problems associated with importing and distribution but they are well on their way to achieving their goals.

Geoff classes them as still being a small company and it is still only the two of them running the business.

Their goals for the future include introducing a Kangaroo product line in partnership with an Australian manufacturer and some other new and exciting health treats.

If you want to have a look at their products and get a feel for how they have developed the business go to their web-site at http://www.smokeypig.com.au or Dog Food 2 U on (eBay).



Well what about that then? That story should inspire you to have a go and not give up no matter what happens. Geoff says; the courage is in the trying.

Ordinary everyday people can change their lives by deciding to follow their passion and have a go. Of course as Geoff points out, you need to have your finances in order before you start so please get your budget in order. I hope I provide enough tools, information and opportunities for everyone to make that
change for the better. It is what I strive for.

That's it for today...

Regards
David Wright