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bjm2020 · 03-21-2008, 10:43 AM

Here is my situation. I am in the process of researching my market to write a business plan. My business is a dvd movie rental kiosk business. I have been having problems getting sales data from this type of business. I can get data from traditional brick and mortar companies like Blockbuster but this will not give me a gauge of my potential sales because they are much larger than me. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get some type of sales data for this business?

There is only one machine like this placed in a grocery store in my area. Should I try to contact the owner of this establishment? Would it even be worth my time because I doubt that they would give information to there potential competition?

Robert Mayfield

rogercbryan · 03-21-2008, 11:48 AM

Robert,

Be a little stealthy. Call the company that provides the kiosk and pretend to be a retail establishment. Get them to sell you on their product. You’ll learn everything you need to know about their business by doing that.

bjm2020 · 03-21-2008, 01:58 PM

Thats a great idea. I don't really like to lie but it sounds like it may work.

rogercbryan · 03-21-2008, 03:12 PM

It's not lying... its market research... every company does it...

daveleighton · 03-21-2008, 03:45 PM

I do not agree with rogercbryan. I was just in a similar situation as you BJM. I faked my identity to gather info about my competition. I eventualy got to the owner of the company and ended up speaking to him on the phone. I was extatic because I was about to get the motherload of info on my competition. Unfortunately he made it clear to me that it was not uncommon for people with a story like mine to gather info to help their company. I froze on the phone and casualy got out of the conversation as best I could. The point being that I felt horrible after the call. It went against all my better judgement and rendered me useless. I finally wrote a letter of appology just so I could continue on with a clear concience. My advice would be to never cross your moral standards when dealing with the competition. The payoff is never big enough to put your mind at ease.

rogercbryan · 03-21-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveleighton

I do not agree with rogercbryan. I was just in a similar situation as you BJM. I faked my identity to gather info about my competition. I eventualy got to the owner of the company and ended up speaking to him on the phone. I was extatic because I was about to get the motherload of info on my competition. Unfortunately he made it clear to me that it was not uncommon for people with a story like mine to gather info to help their company. I froze on the phone and casualy got out of the conversation as best I could. The point being that I felt horrible after the call. It went against all my better judgement and rendered me useless. I finally wrote a letter of appology just so I could continue on with a clear concience. My advice would be to never cross your moral standards when dealing with the competition. The payoff is never big enough to put your mind at ease.

HUH? You were scared to get information about your competition? I see no ethical questions here. Do you think Verizon sends reps to the AT&T store? Do you think GM tears apart Toyotas? Come on this is not only common practice... it's common sense....

latinolive · 03-22-2008, 02:42 PM

You definitely need to do market research. Call your competition. Otherwise, how will you know what they are doing so you can create "a better mousetrap" as they say. Really know the market and create a business plan and marketing plan. Samples are on US Small Business Administration website at www.sba.gov

Carlos

bjm2020 · 03-25-2008, 09:04 AM

Thanks guys for all the comments. I did some digging on my suppliers web site and managed to find some contact information for some of their current clients across the USA. I am going to contact them to try to get some solid sales data.

rogercbryan · 03-25-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjm2020

Thanks guys for all the comments. I did some digging on my suppliers web site and managed to find some contact information for some of their current clients across the USA. I am going to contact them to try to get some solid sales data.

Business is War - Take no prisoners - Give no second chances

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