If you are smart, I need your help

**zeke** · 02-08-2007 09:49 PM

I am about to start my new business: we will sell imported wines and fine foods from all over the world, such as cheeses, cured meat, italian salami, cheesecakes, etc.

I didn't figure out yet if the best option is to sell online, to have a store, or both.

On one hand, selling online is great, because you can reach the whole country, instead of just the city where the store is located, and the costs are much smaller.
On the other hand, these are high-quality products, very unique, and the concept of quality I think it is lost if you have to ship very expensive premium food on UPS boxes... In that case, I think people would feel delighted by coming into the store, tasting different products, etc. More personalized attention I guess.

I could also do both... I don't know... I need your help. What are your thoughts about this?

And a bonus: I am looking for a name for the company. Give me ideas and if I select the name you proposed, we will send you a gift basket full of our products! Yummy!

Thank you for your help guys!

**TheCompany** · 02-08-2007 09:56 PM

Sounds great. Where are you located?

**ChaseManset** · 02-08-2007 11:35 PM

I'm not sure how far along you are in the process of starting your business, but sounds to me that you are just speculating. I did a case study on a specialty wine shop in northern New York for my entrepreneurship class, The House of Wine I believe it was called. Start up alone was a few hundred grand, around 400k I think. Bottom line is that if your posting such a vague business plan, you need to go do some market research to see if there is even a demand in your area or online. After you reach the conclusion that there is a demand for this, then you should start thinking about launching such a venture.

**turbooo** · 02-09-2007 04:38 AM

i think to get fda approved since these are all import one of the things you must meet are delivery. i think delivery must be made via truck or possibly climate controlled trucks. not 100% sure though. good luck hope that everything works out. =D

**zeke** · 02-09-2007 01:22 PM

TheCompany: Thank you for the feedback! We will be located in Denver, if we decide to have a retail store. Otherwise, we will have an online business, and we will ship everywhere.

ChaseManset: we already did a market research, with great results! The idea is very unique, I am not telling why, because the idea of how our store will operate is our big asset. So yes, there is a demand. And we won't need 400k, but almost 1M. I like to think big. One little advice: a lot of potential entrepreneurs spend so much time doing market researchs, wondering if it will work or not and over-analyzing everything, that they actualy don't do anything and never really become entrpreneurs. I am not saying a market research shouldn't be done, of course it should. But in my opinion, building a business is more about doing and less about thinking. Thank you so much for your feedback! It helps a lot!

turbooo: you are right, dealing with the FDA is a pain in the butt, that is why we won't be importing stuff ourselves, but buying from importers that have a very clear know-how about the business. Thank you for our feedback!!!

**JoeZ430** · 02-09-2007 04:56 PM

E-worldimports.com

I would have a strong Italian name.

**zeke** · 02-10-2007 05:11 PM

Thanks Joe!

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