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Making money online?

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2

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    #32
    Bandara
    Registered Users Posts: 3,282 ✭✭✭Bandara


    Mick I actually think we know each other.

    Did you train in Flex in teh good old days of John and Gerry O'G ?


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    #33
    Mickk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Mickk


    Hammertime wrote: »
    Mick I actually think we know each other.

    Did you train in Flex in teh good old days of John and Gerry O'G ?

    When flex was on frederick st or talbot st? I owned it for a while when it was called body systems on fred st. Poor old george bought it off otis but didn't know the landlord was owed a fortune by otis... You probably do know me, there isn't to many petrol stations I pass by, I should start buying it off you in bulk ;)


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    #34
    coup1917
    Closed Accounts Posts: 262 ✭✭coup1917


    Mickk wrote: »
    Yea alibaba, again its the beauty of my products. How wrong can you go in pouring iron into a cast and then painting it? I would never dream of buying anything like treadmills or anything technical over there, the chinese are a nightmare for making promises they have no hope or intention of doing, they are basically yes people. I think the they took the phrase the customer is always right too literally and just agree with whatever you say...
    Even for the more technical weights machines I buy them from the states to be safe.


    Best thread i've read on this forum so far.....Very interesting read and congrats Mickk..........
    You should have got the Apprentice gig before Bill C.....!!!:D


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    #35
    TheWaterboy
    Registered Users Posts: 379 ✭✭TheWaterboy


    Excellant thread and great information.

    Just wondering Mickk, when you deal with the States how does it work. Do you arrange to pay VAT and Customs duty or do you take a chance that your items might not be stopped. How do you find out what customs is due.

    Have seen ure Hummer around Camden street plenty of times. Defo a great marketing tool.


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    #36
    redroar1942
    Closed Accounts Posts: 388 ✭✭redroar1942


    At a guess I'd say a container load of gym equipment is going to be stopped. At least I'd hope so anyway.


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    #37
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Mickk, I meant to ask you, how do you stay innovative and competitive in your market? Do you have exclusivity agreements in place?


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    #38
    elgransenor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 117 ✭✭elgransenor


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Mickk, I meant to ask you, how do you stay innovative and competitive in your market? Do you have exclusivity agreements in place?

    There is no barrier to entry to anybody else selling similar equipment.


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    #39
    LightningBolt
    Registered Users Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭LightningBolt


    From what I gather of Mickk through Boards and from buying from him in the past there is no way to stay innovative in the supply of gym equipment. (Can you truly be innovative in marketing anymore?) It's a simple concept, 100kgs stays 100kgs. The big thing that he has going for him is his experience and the value he can add to a transaction. There's a lot of newb's out there when it comes to gym equipment and someone that takes even 5 mins to go over possible options through the internet is going to get a lot more business than a faceless website that has order only facilities. He also has word of mouth going for him in my opinion, I've recommended his website to friends who've in turn recommended other friends.


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    #40
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    elgransenor wrote: »
    There is no barrier to entry to anybody else selling similar equipment.

    Thanks for that Mickk. :rolleyes:


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    #41
    Mickk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Mickk


    TheWaterboy wrote: »
    Excellant thread and great information.

    Just wondering Mickk, when you deal with the States how does it work. Do you arrange to pay VAT and Customs duty or do you take a chance that your items might not be stopped. How do you find out what customs is due.

    Have seen ure Hummer around Camden street plenty of times. Defo a great marketing tool.


    The process for bring in containers is completely different, you don't just hang around and hope it gets delivered! Usually the freight company has a clearance agent you can use or you can use your own. They can log onto a customs computer system and declare what the value of the goods in your container are and the taric code they fall under and it they are liable for vat. They lodge the money into customs account and the systems comes back with a green routing, orange routing or a red routing. Green means its cleared, orange means the actual invoice and paperwork needs to be sent to customs and red means customs want to examine the container.

    Taric codes can be found here
    http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarsect?ProdLine=00&Type=&Action=1&Lang=EN&SimDate=20081114&YesNo=1&Indent=-1&Flag=1&Test=tarsect&Periodic=0&Download=0&Taric=&taric=Browse&Country=
    &Day=14&Month=11&Year=2008


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    #42
    Mickk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Mickk


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Mickk, I meant to ask you, how do you stay innovative and competitive in your market? Do you have exclusivity agreements in place?


    I love lifting weights and have been doing it for years (although a lot less lately with all the work!) and am very aware of any advancements in the industry. To be honest tho the products have been around for years, its just a good product at a good price, there is room for everyone in most businesses. I probably only have a 10% share of the market as it is anyway.

    What I have found to my advantage is the fact that I have such a wide selection and some rare products. Even if I don't make alot of money having the rare small things, its good for word of mouth and referrals.

    No Exclusivity agreements, its only iron and generally the chinese would sell behind your back to whoever had the money, what would you do about it anyway, know any good chinese solicitors?


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    #43
    Mickk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Mickk


    LightningBolt wrote: »
    From what I gather of Mickk through Boards and from buying from him in the past there is no way to stay innovative in the supply of gym equipment. (Can you truly be innovative in marketing anymore?) It's a simple concept, 100kgs stays 100kgs. The big thing that he has going for him is his experience and the value he can add to a transaction. There's a lot of newb's out there when it comes to gym equipment and someone that takes even 5 mins to go over possible options through the internet is going to get a lot more business than a faceless website that has order only facilities. He also has word of mouth going for him in my opinion, I've recommended his website to friends who've in turn recommended other friends.

    Thanks for that man, I have to agree word of mouth is brilliant. I have actually developed a referrals system to reward people who pass on the site. I will start it in jan or feb when I get a load of stock in!


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    #44
    duncanb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭duncanb


    mick i am a young guy interested in starting my own company soon.

    Can i ask you how do you advertise...what means/types of advertising do you find effective?


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    #45
    callaway92
    Registered Users Posts: 14,449 ✭✭✭✭callaway92


    duncanb wrote: »
    mick i am a young guy interested in starting my own company soon.

    Can i ask you how do you advertise...what means/types of advertising do you find effective?

    Depends what you want to sellWhat do you want to sell??


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    #46
    duncanb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭duncanb


    callaway92 wrote: »
    Depends what you want to sellWhat do you want to sell??
    service to businesses


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    #47
    callaway92
    Registered Users Posts: 14,449 ✭✭✭✭callaway92


    duncanb wrote: »
    service to businesses

    Like what...We need to know this..Advertising is very specific


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    #48
    duncanb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭duncanb


    business 2 business services...thats all i can say.

    How would you go about advertising B2B services in general..?


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    #49
    Raskolnikov
    Registered Users Posts: 10,148 ✭✭✭✭Raskolnikov


    Just to give you another perspective. I have a blog, have thrown some Google ads up on it. I get thousands of views a month, but I've made only $20 in three months.


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    #50
    Mickk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Mickk


    duncanb wrote: »
    business 2 business services...thats all i can say.

    Well for a start on a forum full of business owners I wouldn't keep my business a secret :confused:


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    #51
    jamesy08
    Closed Accounts Posts: 144 ✭✭jamesy08


    Hi ,Mickk,just a fast question,ive a small business,building and installing playground equipment,i have a large 2,000 sq ft warehouse,i work 7days a week,long hours,etc,but the outgoings outweigh the incomings,rates,loans ,fuel,ins,etc,would you have any ideas,maybe on another product,that I could turn over faster,in and out,i can deliver myself nationwide
    thanks Jamesy08


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    #52
    Tony
    Registered Users Posts: 11,327 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    Are you still using elavon? I've had a few problems with them myself. Congrats on your success

    Mickk wrote: »
    I started in a lockup around 50 sq m while the website was taking longer than expected to get finished (and while elavon completely ****ed me around on the merchant account) .

    Desktop PC Boards discount code on https://www.satellite.ie/ is boards.ie



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    #53
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    Mickk wrote: »
    Well for a start on a forum full of business owners I wouldn't keep my business a secret :confused:

    +1

    Duncan, no business is exclusive or has not been done - so tell us more to allow us to discuss and maybe point you in the right direction.


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    #54
    byrne0f56789
    Closed Accounts Posts: 201 ✭✭byrne0f56789


    The internet is great for good businesses like Mickk's. They provide good customer service and as a result, create great word of mouth.

    Does traditional advertising work anymore?

    I don't think so. However, as Mickk mentioned Adwords worked for him. That's because people are in "I want information on how to buy gym equipment" mode and not "it's halftime I'm going to make a cup of tea instead of watching these ads" mode.

    Should all new businesses build their business model around the Internet?


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    #55
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    byrne0f56789 wrote: »
    The internet is great for good businesses like Mickk's. They provide good customer service and as a result, create great word of mouth.

    Does traditional advertising work anymore?

    I don't think so. However, as Mickk mentioned Adwords worked for him. That's because people are in "I want information on how to buy gym equipment" mode and not "it's halftime I'm going to make a cup of tea instead of watching these ads" mode.

    Should all new businesses build their business model around the Internet?

    Well, they should look at the net seriously as a sales channel depending on the business. I have a pal who has a great sales/service biz and does'nt use the net - does'nt know how or care. I tried to tell him - but would he listen? NO - its such a missed oppertunity.
    The brilliant thing about the net is more and more people are going towards it to order/buy good and when (if ever) Ireland has 100% broadband this will increase.
    The best thing of all is they are surfing for a reason - researching prices and then there you are ready to pop into their buying mind! Not like radio or TV......like listen to the radio and try and remember when you heard an ad that stood out or made you make that purchase? Its few and far between.
    Can anyone here point me in the direction of a really good write up on Google adwords?


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    #56
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    niceirishfella wrote: »
    Can anyone here point me in the direction of a really good write up on Google adwords?

    Now that's what I'm talking about!!! I need this too!


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    #57
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Now that's what I'm talking about!!! I need this too!

    :pac: +2 , +3 and plus 4:D


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    #58
    delllat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,388 ✭✭✭delllat


    plus 5


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    #59
    CallieO
    Registered Users Posts: 74 ✭✭CallieO


    Can I ask what the mystery with google adwords is?

    What do you want from a write up? How to use them or more specific guide....


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    #60
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    How to use themn, costs, coding, successfull turnover to sales etc etc


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    #61
    Mickk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Mickk


    jamesy08 wrote: »
    Hi ,Mickk,just a fast question,ive a small business,building and installing playground equipment,i have a large 2,000 sq ft warehouse,i work 7days a week,long hours,etc,but the outgoings outweigh the incomings,rates,loans ,fuel,ins,etc,would you have any ideas,maybe on another product,that I could turn over faster,in and out,i can deliver myself nationwide
    thanks Jamesy08


    Hmm how long is a piece of string... There are so many variables I really couldn't advise, I do often see big goverment tenders for playgrounds and skate parks on etenders.gov.ie. Another new trend that might take off and is along your line of work is this new outdoor fitness equipment. They have just installed 8 or 10 pieces along clontarf strand. You should get them for around 100 euro and sell them for over a grand, its just about getting out there to the councils around the country and convincing them its a good idea in times of recession when their constituents cant afford gym memberships and a council gym would cost millions to build, for a mere 15k from their budget you could set up an outdoor gym which doesn't need any maintenance or staff.

    Here is what I am talking about btw for people who aren't familiar with outdoor gyms http://www.tgogc.com/


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