Hello, my name is Vladimir. I am located in Rochester New York. I was reading through these forums last night and I must say the forums are a very very very good source of information so first of all a big THANK YOU goes out to everyone who contributed.
Well back to my origninal question...If i read the forums right the professionals suggest to start small by providing products for local small businesses. How do I go about talking with these small business owners, i must mention I am 19 years old so i dont think these business owners will take me seriously even if i am dressed professional so that being said I have to make each meeting very good.
Should I ask them about how many of a certain product they sell per month or is that a little to private to ask? basically how should this whole process start from the begining phone call / email to the end of the meeting with the owner.

Email: Customlinepc@gmail.com
Aim: PathToSuperiorty

Thank you for your time I hope to hear from all of you soon!

Replying to [Customlinepc]:
thanks for your posting

Replying to [Customlinepc]: Well put Aussie, I wish I thought of that when I start my business. Thanks for the tips, I could still use it today.

Replying to [Customlinepc]:i think i fully understand the thing what u mean...as i had a similar thing some time ago...well to start with my answer which might be said as not very practical by many....but it worked well and i can say really it worked very well....as i practiced it personally...

1)I m not sure what business u r into but like suppose u r into local supply or marketing or something like tht then if its possible for u and u can find a female who can work for even a part time then the tihngs wud work well....u can take the appointment and narrate eveything on phone to the local business men....n then formally a lady or a female can visit...

2)if u r operating from home...or u have a small office u can try to project it as a average good running business thing...as it is a bare truth tht these days noone is ready to let new comers pop in unless they know him personlly...

3)see with local traders etc u must not be dressed very professionally...but u can be dressed in semi formal way...i mean a way in which u will look very much like a normal trader.....if i give u an example from my place.....dressing in a formal coat,suit n such thing n then going to meet a local trader does not work....infact wearing just a semi formal shirt and a neat trouser wud work more....i hope u get what i mean to say.....

4)as said by kind aussie....u might take a clip board etc n it wud work...but then with tht u can not take big deals in ur hand as they will treat u as a collective boy ,report boy or something like tht....

5)u can find the traders by yellow pages ofcourse but u can find more by telephone directory i think....if u r tending to provide some services.....

all the best

Replying to [Customlinepc]:

All of this is very good advice, but there is one thing that hasn't been said.

What sets businesses appart is the level of CUSTOMER SERVICE that is provided.

Make your customers your number one priority and always keep their needs at the top of your list. Learn what THEY need and provide it for them instead of trying to sell them something that YOU want to sell. Be attentive and work on their schedule; one thing I have learned is that you will sell alot more product if you have a high level of contact with the customer without pushing product on them. Building a personal relationship with them makes them want to talk to you, they will welcome and even look forward to your calls, meetings, or emails.

When I send out an order, I call the customer to let them know that it shipped and give them the tracking information. I follow the tracking information and call them the day after they receive the package to make sure it arrived alright. Then I follow up in a week to make sure they are happy with the product that shipped. I'll contact them a week after that to make sure they are still happy and see how it is selling, maybe I can help them go in the right direction to move the product. I treat them as if my goal is for them to make money, because my paycheck doesn't come in if theirs doesn't.
Through all this contact I reassure them that I'm not pushing for the next sale, I'm just making sure their needs are met. I'm always available to answer questions or offer advise on what may sell better for them.

Perfect example, I just set-up a new distributor for our showerheads in Australia. I talk to him on email or on the phone at least 2 times a week.
---He originally talked about exclusivity with our product, but he is already the only distributor for us in the entire country. So, why make him buy an initial purchase of $35,000 and sign a contract that he will order a minimum of 1 container per month when it isn't warranted. You see, he would have made the large order and signed the agreement, but it probably would have taken him 6 months to a year to move that initial order and he wouldn't have been able to keep up with the monthly orders. When he finally sells it all he's frustrated and off and doesn't make another order. Out of a deal like that I would get one big payday, and that's it, plus he would tell all of his distributor and dealer friends that our product is too difficult to sell making it difficult to get back into that market.
---Instead I talked to him about starting off small, his inital order is $3500. He will be able to move that product quickly, making him happier about the product, making him a better salesman for the product, in turn giveing him the ability to sell more and faster. Now he will continue to make orders; they may continue to be small or they could grow in size. But this way he wins because he puts up less money to start with, doesn't have to warehouse as much, and gets to test the market for which showerhead sell the best. I win by keeping him happy, and taking care of his needs, so in turn this keeps my paycheck rolling in. The commission checks may be small right now, but in the long run they will total much more than the one large pay check I could have had.
---Plus we are still going to keep him exclusive as long as he can handle the volume. Even though we don't have a signed agreement, I am still going to turn all Australian inquiries over to him. By helping him grow his business I am growing my own business.

Bottom line is to treat every customer as if they just purchased a million dollars in product from you, even if they only purchase $5 worth of product. You never know who will be the next Donald Trump and people remember who took care of them when they were the little guy.

Good luck in your business, with you attitude you should go far.

Replying to [Customlinepc]: I think you are quite right to want to address the age issue and I think you will find that an obstacle. Not so much that you are not competent to undertake the business in question, but because there will be deemed very little recourse against your "business" if something should go wrong.

I would suggest you find an established business that will allow you to practice through there good offices. They will provide you with the compliance and procedural backup and should only releive you with a minor portion of your earnings for the facility. YIu will at least have some earnings to make deductions from.

I would recommend considering such an option.