Comments - Seeking folks for advise & support for new business venture - OpenCoffee Club2024-03-28T20:52:15Zhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=609012%3ABlogPost%3A5302&xn_auth=noMoeen,
When do you plan to s…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-06-18:609012:Comment:100122007-06-18T12:28:59.787ZShishir Sharmahttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/codedweapon
Moeen,<br />
<br />
When do you plan to start this venture, and what is the current state of the whole concept?<br />
<br />
Have you already done a feasibility study, and what about the business plan?<br />
<br />
Basically, how can we begin contributing (Other than our suggestions/initial thoughts that we post here) to this venture?<br />
I'm not sure in what areas of the business do you need help.<br />
<br />
Maybe if you post the requirements (that you already have figured out), we can see where we fit in and where all we can…
Moeen,<br />
<br />
When do you plan to start this venture, and what is the current state of the whole concept?<br />
<br />
Have you already done a feasibility study, and what about the business plan?<br />
<br />
Basically, how can we begin contributing (Other than our suggestions/initial thoughts that we post here) to this venture?<br />
I'm not sure in what areas of the business do you need help.<br />
<br />
Maybe if you post the requirements (that you already have figured out), we can see where we fit in and where all we can contribute.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
Shishir Douglas, superb comments, tha…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-06-11:609012:Comment:96072007-06-11T12:55:13.302ZMoeen Raoofhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/Bullhorn
Douglas, superb comments, thanks very much. Yes I do concur and will look into your suggestions. Cheers.
Douglas, superb comments, thanks very much. Yes I do concur and will look into your suggestions. Cheers. Perhaps a way to approach thi…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-06-11:609012:Comment:96062007-06-11T12:32:24.182ZDouglas Hutchisonhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/dughutch
Perhaps a way to approach this idea might be similar to how amazon.com allows other vendors to sell items... sort of a hybrid across ebay/amazon where merchants offer goods and / or services and others can purchase said items.<br />
<br />
And its not inconceivable that you might approach amazon.com with your business plan (and that they might act as your VC) as a new market segment for amazon.com... one not necessarily competing with ebay so much as acting as the global market place for goods and…
Perhaps a way to approach this idea might be similar to how amazon.com allows other vendors to sell items... sort of a hybrid across ebay/amazon where merchants offer goods and / or services and others can purchase said items.<br />
<br />
And its not inconceivable that you might approach amazon.com with your business plan (and that they might act as your VC) as a new market segment for amazon.com... one not necessarily competing with ebay so much as acting as the global market place for goods and services...<br />
<br />
Additionally, you might seek some funding from the international shipping organizations that could benefit from the shipping of goods sold. In fact, said shipping companies might also be potential clients who offer competing bids on the shipping of goods.<br />
<br />
Overall, what you propose sounds like something of a global bazaar where all vendors might meet in order to transact business and as such your role is in facilitating said transactions. Thus, perhaps an additional reason to seek partnership with amazon.com or even google.com is to gain their facilitation in the transfer of value (money for goods / services rendered) in order that you might make use of the financial infrastructure that they already have in place.<br />
<br />
An additional note might be to make user related ratings available similar to the comments allowed on amazon.com so that users might spread the word about one another, the level of satisfaction with services, etc.<br />
<br />
Finally, a consequence of this type of service might be allowing the smaller producers to compete / gain access to / and provide for the larger consumers in the market... thus a Starbuck's might discover additional coffee sources heretofore unknown...<br />
<br />
Overall it would appear your mission / goal is to act as catalyst / facilitator so others might successfully meet and transact business. Would you concur? Perhaps a way to approach thi…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-06-11:609012:Comment:96052007-06-11T12:28:23.396ZDouglas Hutchisonhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/dughutch
Perhaps a way to approach this idea might be similar to how amazon.com allows other vendors to sell items... sort of a hybrid across ebay/amazon where merchants offer goods and / or services and others can purchase said items.<br />
<br />
And its not inconceivable that you might approach amazon.com with your business plan (and that they might act as your VC) as a new market segment for amazon.com... one not necessarily competing with ebay so much as acting as the global market place for goods and…
Perhaps a way to approach this idea might be similar to how amazon.com allows other vendors to sell items... sort of a hybrid across ebay/amazon where merchants offer goods and / or services and others can purchase said items.<br />
<br />
And its not inconceivable that you might approach amazon.com with your business plan (and that they might act as your VC) as a new market segment for amazon.com... one not necessarily competing with ebay so much as acting as the global market place for goods and services...<br />
<br />
Additionally, you might seek some funding from the international shipping organizations that could benefit from the shipping of goods sold. In fact, said shipping companies might also be potential clients who offer competing bids on the shipping of goods.<br />
<br />
Overall, what you propose sounds like something of a global bazaar where all vendors might meet in order to transact business and as such your role is in facilitating said transactions. Thus, perhaps an additional reason to seek partnership with amazon.com or even google.com is to gain their facilitation in the transfer of value (money for goods / services rendered) in order that you might make use of the financial infrastructure that they already have in place.<br />
<br />
An additional note might be to make user related ratings available similar to the comments allowed on amazon.com so that users might spread the word about one another, the level of satisfaction with services, etc.<br />
<br />
Finally, a consequence of this type of service might be allowing the smaller producers to compete / gain access to / and provide for the larger consumers in the market... thus a Starbuck's might discover additional coffee sources heretofore unknown...<br />
<br />
Overall it would appear your mission / goal is to act as catalyst / facilitator so others might successfully meet and transact business. Would you concur? Does itmatter so much about j…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-05-28:609012:Comment:88812007-05-28T00:50:33.573ZMaggy Younghttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/Crosskey
Does itmatter so much about just agriculture anyway ? What you gave us was just an example. You are proposing empowerment of the poorer indiiduals & groups through information & this allows dispensing with the middle man. I think we have to accept that certain groups will catch up quicker or slower, but given the opportunity, collectives will arise & will form the role of sales trade unions using your data as bargaining power. I suggest this will happen inevitably & the real ?…
Does itmatter so much about just agriculture anyway ? What you gave us was just an example. You are proposing empowerment of the poorer indiiduals & groups through information & this allows dispensing with the middle man. I think we have to accept that certain groups will catch up quicker or slower, but given the opportunity, collectives will arise & will form the role of sales trade unions using your data as bargaining power. I suggest this will happen inevitably & the real ? for your company is therefore the lead times & to what extent social funding might be available to facilitate this process. Good luck anyway This is like a marketplace ju…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-05-25:609012:Comment:87362007-05-25T15:45:37.834ZLi HONGhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/cefs99
This is like a marketplace just for global SME/Individuals. However, the challenge/opportunity I see is really how to fulfill the online/offline gap. For SMEs that already online, eBay/Alibaba etc could be a no-brainer choice and I hardly see any unique value bullhorn could really bring in for them except a "focus" approach. But if you can figure out a way to aggregate millions of if not billions global SMEs like the Cashew Nut farmer in Africa that never have a computer, that will be a big…
This is like a marketplace just for global SME/Individuals. However, the challenge/opportunity I see is really how to fulfill the online/offline gap. For SMEs that already online, eBay/Alibaba etc could be a no-brainer choice and I hardly see any unique value bullhorn could really bring in for them except a "focus" approach. But if you can figure out a way to aggregate millions of if not billions global SMEs like the Cashew Nut farmer in Africa that never have a computer, that will be a big golden mine.<br />
<br />
You can either make money by making the exchange of information more efficient/effective like eBay/Alibaba/NASDAQ those market place, or by "creating" the information that largely resides out side the Internet world like those offline SMEs. Agreed, excellent points Shis…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-05-25:609012:Comment:87272007-05-25T15:24:10.037ZMoeen Raoofhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/Bullhorn
Agreed, excellent points Shishir. Yes, Bullhorn will appoint agents in the countries or Regions to provide back-up and support. In addition, will have preferred companies, i.e., companies that we recommend to companies such as shipping companies locally or nationally, banks, etc.<br />
<br />
In addition, once Bullhorn can attract the right funding and support, it will incorporate information on Government export laws, procedures, etc.<br />
<br />
Ideally, the cost for export will be borne by the purchasing party, as…
Agreed, excellent points Shishir. Yes, Bullhorn will appoint agents in the countries or Regions to provide back-up and support. In addition, will have preferred companies, i.e., companies that we recommend to companies such as shipping companies locally or nationally, banks, etc.<br />
<br />
In addition, once Bullhorn can attract the right funding and support, it will incorporate information on Government export laws, procedures, etc.<br />
<br />
Ideally, the cost for export will be borne by the purchasing party, as well as all costs of transportation, paperwork, etc.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your comments. This is an amazing concept...…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-05-25:609012:Comment:86252007-05-25T07:07:58.905ZShishir Sharmahttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/codedweapon
This is an amazing concept... however, I have a question:<br />
<br />
Does Bullhorn only plan to provide a platform for interaction, or do we also plan to provide logistics support.<br />
<br />
As Bullhorn is mainly aiming at small farmers/manfacturers etc., the most important consideration (other than providing them a platform to interact) would be to provide the logistics support.<br />
<br />
For large farmers/manufacturers, exporting their goods may be easy, but when it comes to small vendors, the whole idea of managing…
This is an amazing concept... however, I have a question:<br />
<br />
Does Bullhorn only plan to provide a platform for interaction, or do we also plan to provide logistics support.<br />
<br />
As Bullhorn is mainly aiming at small farmers/manfacturers etc., the most important consideration (other than providing them a platform to interact) would be to provide the logistics support.<br />
<br />
For large farmers/manufacturers, exporting their goods may be easy, but when it comes to small vendors, the whole idea of managing export may be overwhelming and may prove to be a roadblock.<br />
<br />
Also, the export cost when added to the product cost may cause it to lose the cost advantage that we plan to offer.<br />
<br />
You might want to consider this in the business plan.<br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
Shishir Great idea. It sounds like yo…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-05-08:609012:Comment:64432007-05-08T12:58:41.756ZConnie Shawhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/connies
Great idea. It sounds like you are pretty agriculturally oriented, but of course this idea can work in many arenas. So if there's any way for a book publisher to be of use within your concept, perhaps I can participate.
Great idea. It sounds like you are pretty agriculturally oriented, but of course this idea can work in many arenas. So if there's any way for a book publisher to be of use within your concept, perhaps I can participate. Seni, thanks for your comment…tag:opencoffee.ning.com,2007-05-05:609012:Comment:58452007-05-05T11:30:15.920ZMoeen Raoofhttp://opencoffee.ning.com/profile/Bullhorn
Seni, thanks for your comments.<br />
<br />
Devils Advocates always welcome, keeps me real.<br />
<br />
Agreed, small farmers indeed face surmounting.<br />
<br />
Imagine if you will, a Bullhorn Agent or Franchisee in, say Ethiopia, is contacted by a small Coffee Farmers Cooperative, who are sick and tired of the "middleman" paying very little for their coffee. The Bullhorn chap places their ad on the Bullhorn website and provides them with the prices of the world coffee in that week.<br />
<br />
Now imagine if you will, you are a Coffee…
Seni, thanks for your comments.<br />
<br />
Devils Advocates always welcome, keeps me real.<br />
<br />
Agreed, small farmers indeed face surmounting.<br />
<br />
Imagine if you will, a Bullhorn Agent or Franchisee in, say Ethiopia, is contacted by a small Coffee Farmers Cooperative, who are sick and tired of the "middleman" paying very little for their coffee. The Bullhorn chap places their ad on the Bullhorn website and provides them with the prices of the world coffee in that week.<br />
<br />
Now imagine if you will, you are a Coffee Shop owner, who procures 4000 kgs (4 Tons), of Coffee per-annum, you sales are rising and you buy regularly from a wholesaler whose "middleman" is the chap operating in Ethiopia.<br />
<br />
Now both of you are on Bullhorn, you get in touch with each other, you both agree on the quality, quantity, price, mode of payment (Escrow Account thru Bullhorn), and delivery, and bang, there we have the start of a directly beneficial business relationship.<br />
<br />
Can you imagine, you pay virtually the same prices for the coffee directly to the farmer that you would have to your wholesaler, the farmers cooperative cuts out the middleman fees and their cooperative starts to get out of debt.<br />
<br />
It will work, all we need is a start, Bullhorn.Net is offering that start point. The rest is up to you.<br />
<br />
Imagine.