The
Coming Millenium: A Dozen Business Interviews
By
Jack D. Deal
1.Computer
Repair. Hardware and software sales are tough. We are trying
to get away from that but it's not easy. We have to offer
more of a solutions-based rather than products-based approach.
If we can't do that we will be gone.
2. Watch
Repair. There are fewer watch repairers now. In Switzerland,
they are trying to recruit and train watch repair people.
The demand is going up. I buy old watches, redo them and sell
them on the Internet. I also get people fedexing me watches
from all over the country. Jewelers and watch retailers send
me their work because they can't find anyone to fix them.
Engineers especially love mechanical watches.... and remember
the most expensive watches are mechanical.
3. Scuba
School and Dive Center. The retail end of our industry has
been going through some really tough times. The Internet and
Discount Centers have hurt the retail trade. We are doing
more advanced and technical trips and instruction. We feel
this market is growing and we are able to fit the need. The
strictly retail stores will continue to close.
4. Computer
training. As the technology changes and becomes more complex
people and businesses will have to learn it. We have a good
future only if we continue to learn more and more. We have
to stay on top.
5. Custom
Woodworker. Ours is a dying art. In my day you walked in looking
for a job and were happy to start sweeping floors. Today the
kids want 15 bucks an hour -- that's the first thing they
say! That's why I got rid of my employees -- too much paperwork
and bs.
6. Network
Security. Security is still within it's infancy ... and the
awareness of the need of security is growing incredibly fast!
As you know, more and more sensitive information is being
processed in networked computing environments, dramatically
increasing the efficiency of millions of businesses around
the globe, but at the same time rendering them vulnerable
to software and hardware failure and misuse from internal
or external sources. Security is essential.
7. Herb
and Spice Distributor. We are growing by leaps and bounds.
The neutriceutical and health food industries are causing
us to grow quickly. We put out a new herb and then we get
all sorts of requests for it from those wanting to use it
in ways we never imagined. The Internet has allowed us to
ship anywhere. Our biggest problems are tracking inventory
and keeping the right amount on hand. We can't always project
if we will need 10 ounces or 1000 pounds of a product.
8. Mechanical
Contracting, Heating, Air Conditioning. We find it hard to
keep good employees. Because we are not union, some journeymen
will drive an hour to get better pay. We are in a limited
marketplace as well. We don't see how we can really grow at
this point.
9. Organic
Coffee Distributor. We should continue to grow steadily. We
are selling more product over the Internet. We would like
to sell more overseas but the risks are high for a small company.
Our biggest problem is finding reliable employees that want
to work.
10. Mountain
Climbing Gym. When we first started there was one other gym
within 100 miles. Now there are 8. Labor is over half our
cost. Since we don't have benefits we get high turnover and
it costs us. The applicants we get have little or no work
ethic. Our memberships have not grown as quickly as we had
anticipated so we have been much slower at repaying our loans.
It is truly a labor of love.
11. Garment
Manufacturer. 20% of the garments made now are made of natural
fibers. That should rise dramatically in the next century.
The environment is getting worse and I am worried about my
children's future. Recycling will play a greater role in our
future as well.
12. Microbrewery.
We sell all we make and even run out at times in the summer.
We are kind of in a bind of sorts. To expand and grow we would
need to get more space and buy more equipment. It's really
hard for us to determine if it's worth it or not... the numbers
really don't come out all that well. We will most likely just
go another year or two and do what we're doing...
Jack
D. Deal is the owner of the Deal Consulting Group - a knowledge-based
business consortium. 831-457-8806 / jackdeal@ix.netcom.com.
Related articles may be found at http://www.dealconsulting.com (this domain is not active and may be owned by someone else in the future)
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