My Business Idea?

Question

Here is what I'm thinking. I contact a manufacturer, lets say for example a knife maker who makes many types of knives for commercial (restaurants) and for the home. I tell them I want to be their salesman for my area and to send me samples, price lists, order forms, etc. They don't have anything to lose and I don't have anything to lose by going to different restaurants and showing them what I have. If I get an order, fine, if not, I'm not out anything. I could do this with many products, even un-related products. Like I said, the companies wouldn't lose anything and I wouldn't lose anything. And on the plus side they would have someone actively trying to sell their products. So a win-win situation. I know some of you are going to trash my idea but I've come to learn some people get their jollies that way. LOL

Answer 1

What you are thinking of is basically free lance selling. I suggest though that you find products to sell that are somehow related to each other so you can optimize your effort. Say you got a company to allow you to sell their knives that you plan to sell to restaurants, find other companies with products that you can sell to restaurants also.

Answer 2

Why would a professional chef buy off a catalogue? You'd need samples so either you or the business need to stump up for them so immediately you have an investment required and subsequent risk on one part or the other.

What's the competition like in your area for this product? How are buyers buying? I can't imagine that knives are bought from travelling salesmen? They'd be bought at tradeshows and through wholesalers or given by ingredients suppliers.

Not trying to trash the idea, just showing where it needs more thought and the generic questions that would be needed if it wasn't knives.

Keep trying though, Eddison failed 10,000 times to create the light bulb but we're all glad that he did.

Answer 3

Most mfg have their own reps, sell thru catalogs or web sites. They like to control who is representing their products in the community and how they are presenting them.