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Please help with insight on new business

JWelch

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I’m a 33 year old man with two kids, one being a 14 year old girl.

I’ve recently uncovered a typically “ignored” problem in our culture through speaking with her and have been really researching an industry and working through a strong message to potential customers and I really have a vision towards what could be a very impactful company.

There is a mental barrier I’m warring with though and I would like some feedback on where others stand.

I’ve got ZERO experience in this industry and it’s basically a product for younger girls, around the 10-17 year range.

Is starting a company where I am not nor have ever been a customer or recipient of put me at an automatic or nearly insurmountable disadvantage?
I think the obvious remedy in my mind is to tell our own story and also use perhaps a female spokesperson rather than be the one who’s more publicly recognized with the brand.
 
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ZCP

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How many have you sold?
 

JWelch

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Hasn’t launched yet so zero.
 

minivanman

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Even though young girls might need it, can it be made for a price that you can sell it cheap enough so they will buy it yet you make enough profit so it is worth it?
 
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D

Deleted52409

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Is starting a company where I am not nor have ever been a customer or recipient of put me at an automatic or nearly insurmountable disadvantage?

Dude what if I told you that the people who run big tobacco companies don't smoke? Or that the people who give out payday loans never get payday loans? Or that the founder of Taco Bell (possibly) never ate an actual taco and he definitely wasn't Mexican. I highly doubt Christian Louboutin wears high heels either.

As long as people want to pay for your service then this is no big deal at all!!
 

RobD88

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I’m a 33 year old man with two kids, one being a 14 year old girl.

I’ve recently uncovered a typically “ignored” problem in our culture through speaking with her and have been really researching an industry and working through a strong message to potential customers and I really have a vision towards what could be a very impactful company.

There is a mental barrier I’m warring with though and I would like some feedback on where others stand.

I’ve got ZERO experience in this industry and it’s basically a product for younger girls, around the 10-17 year range.

Is starting a company where I am not nor have ever been a customer or recipient of put me at an automatic or nearly insurmountable disadvantage?
I think the obvious remedy in my mind is to tell our own story and also use perhaps a female spokesperson rather than be the one who’s more publicly recognized with the brand.


I agree with @JohnnyAppleseed . So long as you're bringing value to the market it shouldn't matter. I have a teenage daughter too and while I haven't walked a mile in her shoes it's not hard to see things from her point of view. If you have a compelling message and good product or service go for it.

You may make mistakes or need to tweak or adjust course a little but in the end your lack of experience shouldn't hold you back. It may even be a blessing. You may offer a fresh perspective to the problem.
 

becks22

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Young kids in general don't have real responsibilities yet so they have more disposable income proportionally than adults to spend on whatever they want. In addition young girls tend to have a pack mentality when buying which means if one girl has it, chances are all her friends will want one to. Trust me, I bought some weird stuff when I was 14 just because my friends had it
 
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Xeon

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starting a company where I am not nor have ever been a customer or recipient of put me at an automatic or nearly insurmountable disadvantage?
I think the obvious remedy in my mind is to tell our own story and also use perhaps a female spokesperson rather than be the one who’s more publicly recognized with the brand.

Chip Wilson of Lululemon and James Lillis of Black Milk Clothing disagree with you.
 

JWelch

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Thanks everyone for the feedback.

I think of ideas ALLLLLL the time and this particular model is something that I felt an instant connection to for the simple reason that it challenges the status quo and the business stands for something that makes a positive impact in the world.

It’s something that I would stand behind and be proud of even if it didn’t make much of any money. That in itself is why I think I should pursue this opportunity.

Thanks for the backup and perspective once again. I’m going to start this thing up and work it the hardest I can.

As I make progress I’ll create a new thread so it will hopefully give assistance to others in learning from my good or bad decisions.
 

GMSI7D

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look for trends and you will make a fortune

whether you are a specialist or not is irrelevant



for example, a lot of businesses are making a profit from the survival movement

people have been exposed to this movement with Bear Grylls programs

bear grylls.jpg



so smart salesmen, who don't care at all about survival philosophy, are using this trend to sell silly but very profitable things to people

like prehistoric firestarter and so on



firesteel.jpg


it sells for 10 dollars a piece


while a random 1 dollar lighter does the job more efficiently

this is absurb when you think about it:

you sell cavemen things to customers while modern things are cheaper and more efficient !

this is the power of looking for trends

bic.jpg



so look for raving fans by following the trends and sell them original or old things


this will sell like hot cake

 
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amp0193

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Is starting a company where I am not nor have ever been a customer or recipient of put me at an automatic or nearly insurmountable disadvantage?
I think the obvious remedy in my mind is to tell our own story and also use perhaps a female spokesperson rather than be the one who’s more publicly recognized with the brand.


If you don't identify with the customers, you need to find someone who does. You'll never come across as authentic if you're the voice.

Insurmountable? not at all.

In my last business I sold hippie-a$$ products that I thought were dumb and useless. Amazon sales did amazingly well, because it's Amazon, and relatively impersonal. However, my website sales always struggled, as I really didn't believe in the product, and all my copy, etc. was just bland and uninspiring.
 

JWelch

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If you don't identify with the customers, you need to find someone who does. You'll never come across as authentic if you're the voice.

Insurmountable? not at all.

In my last business I sold hippie-a$$ products that I thought were dumb and useless. Amazon sales did amazingly well, because it's Amazon, and relatively impersonal. However, my website sales always struggled, as I really didn't believe in the product, and all my copy, etc. was just bland and uninspiring.
Thanks man. I certainly intend to find someone who would be a better “spokesperson” type personality to drive enthusiasm in ways I probably wouldn’t be as effective.
 

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