Niche Market: The Way to Go?

In today ultra-competitive business world - thanks to the Internet and Web 2.0 platform - you simply can't compete head-to-head with others. Sure, you can try to beat your competition, the logical way: you improve customer service, you lower your price tag, you value ad your product, you cut costs to give customer more discounts, etc, etc...

Logical? I don't think so... it's a circle of death: You cut price, your competitors follow - you improve customer service, your competitors do, too... Of course, there's always room for improvement - HOWEVER, "the room for improvement" is getting smaller and smaller (or more and more crowded) - there is no such thing of "better mouse trap". You simply need to stand-out to beat competition - but, it's not for the faint-hearted.

What would I do? I would play safe, for some reason: Resources - limited. Knowledge - limited. Network - limited. You wouldn't want to challenge bigger competitors head-to-head. I'd go niche... a market segment that is few competitions exist. Elaborate, pliz?

OK. Opening a fast food restaurant is interesting, but the market is sooo crowded. But, opening an all-organic ingredients fast food restaurant is promising. Giving discounts is common - but pay as you like? hardly in business owner's mind. Cars are men's game field - wrong! Women influence most purchasing decisions made by men - Owning a car showroom exclusively for women is niche... etc, etc.. the lists will go on with endless possibilities.

In conclusion, I think there are no better choice than go for the niche markets. Serve them, and you will be rewarded well. Whaddaya think?

Motomedia: Breathes Life Back to Empty Retail Units with Innovative Use of Technology

Those guys at Motomedia, based in UK, surely know how to use (existing) technology to develop new kind of advertising media. The target empty retail units at highly visible area, with plenty of people passing by. The tech use is so great, that the advert using Motomedia's tech will stop people on their track, curious and be fascinated on the advert. Meaning? To advertisers, it means their ads will be more exposed to potential customers. To Motomedia, it means $$$ (or GBP GBP GBP, to be precise :D)... advertisers will kick each other feet just to be placed in one (or more) spot in more than 70 prime location in UK alone - primarily in London area, and in high streets of UK main cities, such as Birmingham). And, oh, it's also good for the shop unit's owners, since Motomedia will share ads revenue with them... niiiceee...

Their concept? Empty unit's shop front is being transformed into huge ads - with printed vinyl, projected videos & images, and sounds with no speakers in sight (they use the shop front windows to transfer voices - neat-o!). Furthermore, they can customise the tech into many unimaginable ways - to bluetooth ads and promos to people standing in front of the shop windows, to 'see' who views the ads, to identify whether it is he/she who view the windows, so that the system sets the ads to be displayed on screen according to the viewer's gender, etc. - sick-o!

Currently they are looking for investors to bring their concepts overseas. I think this kinda biz could be 'it'. How much to invest, I would learn about it myself. Please visit their website for more info. Cheers!

Another Afro on the Net

J. Hustle from the Chub City - bigga afro! It's actualy a character toy from Jada Toys. But an afro is an afro! A toy or not, 'should give afro some respects :D

30 Under 30: America's Coolest Young Entrepreneurs

Another list of sicko entrepreneurs - this time, the top 30 entrereneurs under the age of 30. Here is the top 3 of the list:

Sicko #1. Ben Kaufman "The innovator" - Innovate lines of iPod accessories, as well as allowing customers to design them. 2006 sales: USD 1 million. *gasp* *choked* And, oh, he is just 20 years-old. *retch*

Sicko #2. Sean Belnick "The Chair Man of the Board" - At 14, he took USD 500 an start selling office chairs online. Today, at 20, he runs a USD 24 million furniture biz (bizChairs.com) whose customers include Microsoft, Google, and the Pentagon. *aargh* *blabber* *hic*

Sicko #3. Bo Menkiti "The Home Maker" - In my opinion, the most noble of all. He develops homes for teachers, firefighters, and other first-time buyers in the neglected middle market of Corporate America. Age: 30. 2006 sales: USD 640 million. *cough* *wheeze*

My favourite? the sicko #2, 20 y.o. Sean Belnick. I mean, selling chairs to the Pentagon? This guy must be the MIB of biz chairs world! Congrats to you, Sean! You really makes me re-think about opening an online biz here in Indonesia. With Indonesia's very low Internet penetration, should I have a Rp. 100 million (around USD 10.000) online biz would make me as good as you, Sean! (is it possible? hmm...)

Afro Artwork

Great artwork by Vincent Fraser... Give afro sylez some love, y'all!

i-tutor.net: Better Education For All

I've come across a franchise (license, I think), than run rampant in ASEAN countries, particularly Indonesia. Why run rampant? This fact: 500 licensees in 1,5 years - in Indonesia alone. But it's only happen in Indonesia. Others seems 'normal'... Indonesia's i-tutor.net is so 'un-normal' that investors from other countries buy the license from i-tutor.net Country Rep. in Indonesia! sicko!

The reason is that Mr. Sofian, the i-tutor.net Indonesia Country Rep. re-develop i-tutor.net original system, in such a way that it accomodates Indonesia's limited Internet access. For info, i-tutor.net original system is for students to access study materials through the Internet. In Indonesia, i-tutor.net uses offline software that looks and feels like the online version. Genius!

From educational perspective, i-tutor.net introduce cinema edutainment concept - students learn in an environment that uses audio-visual learning system through a 'movie' projected to screens - just like watching movie in cinemas. In this way, students learn 5 times more effective than conventional learning methods (proven) in an intergrated environment that promotes affective, cognitive, psycho-motoric, and EQ of the students. Moreover, i-tutor.net is relatively low in tuition fee - great value for money, considering the i-tutor.net education is endorsed by e-ASEAN Initiatives, developed by 60 professors (including 10 child psychologists), and developed according to Singapore curriculum standard.

From biz perspective, i-tutor.net is, perhaps, only one of few franchise (license) that offer investment model - with license value that tends to grow, with license term that is for a life-time and transferable (this will end soon, so join i-tutor.net now!), and with multiple source of income - not only from the increased value of the license and from the operating profit of the courses, but also from sponsorship program - through referring new licensees, promoting i-tutor.net system to education institutions and local gov't office, and through becoming a distributor - managing licensees and retaining a percentage of the managed licensees license fee, royalty fee, and merchadise sales. Sounds like a networking system? It IS a networking system, but not a pyramid system (not all can become a distributor - distributorship is only assigned to one entity per region) - so it's legit.

Interested? Please contact me for more information. Cheers!

OilPods: Oil and Natural Gas Leases Ownership Possibilities.. for You and I and the People Next Door

Do you ever has a dream of owning a oil and/or natural gas-producing land? Well, today, you and I... and the people next door are given the opportunity to play in the big-boyz' playgrounds - at least a fraction of 'em - this concept is called retail investment in oil and gas... jargon, jargon...

OilPods, a Singaporean company, market ownership deeds (called working interests) to investors resides in Asia region. You can own oil and/or natural gas-producing land for as little as USD 5,000 (USD 10,000 in Indonesia for somewhat reason).

OilPods is a marketing company for a number of projects from Powder River Basin and Gas Corp. (PRVB), a US small-capped-going-public oil and natural gas drilling company. PRVB focuses on already-producing oil/gas fields, therefore significantly reduces risks (watch the video of TV coverage on OilPods).

Up to the date of this post, PRVB has "outsourced" the marketing of 8 projects to OilPods, with the latest project - a natural gas project - Biamante, has started on 1 August, 2007 at Goliad County, Texas, US. The project offered working interest, representing up to 26% of the Biamante Project Field for USD 10.5 million. Should you invest USD 10,000, you'll end up owning 0.095% of the field. A bit smallish, but, hey, you own a part of the gas field! The USP, is the ROI they claimed to be achieved within 2 to 3 years of involvement in the project (3.5 years, conservative projection), plus 1.5% to 3% of cashflow thereafter for a total investment period of more than 10 years, all depend on the fluctuating energy commodity prices and the oil/gas reserve that, they claim, always goes beyond the forecasted. Whoa! that's right... should the reserve will be depleted in 10 years, you may enjoy 7 years of passive income out of your investment!

Interesting? you bet! By investing in oil/gas field, you are enabled to diversify your investment porfolio. And, you own a real asset - unlike your savings and mutual funds.

Wait, wait, wait! what about risks involved? well, EVERY investment ALWAYS involves a certain degree of risks. Even your savings involve a certain amount of risk. In this case, instead of high risk high gain of oil exploration projects, your investment in OilPods projects brings you low-to-medium risks and more-medium-than-low gain. The risk? environmental risk, including storms that often happens in US, and shorter-than-expected fields' life span.

I'm interested in investing in the Biamante projects. It's a new project, thus by entering early, I have a chance to enjoy more years of passive income. Should you interested in the project or the retail investment concepts, just e-mail me for more information. I believe this is a new form of investment, by building a community to leverage power to fund the projects, as well as share ownerships (it's a trend, according to TrendWatching.com).

Hot 500 - The Fastest Growing Company in America

Entrepreneur Magazine published Hot 500 - The Fastest Growing Company in America. In my opinion, the publication raised two of my eyebrows, due the fact that those biz is not typical fast growers. I thought that the list will bulk up with Tech company, including ITs and DotComs. But the fact is, the three most loaded industries on the list, in orderly manner, are Construction (surprise, surprise!), Business Service, and Technology (typical!). Sure, Tech place #3, but construction place #1? in fastest growing list? I've never thought of that! Sure the #1 fastest growing company is a Tech industry company - DivX Inc. - THAT video tech famous.

Success Secret of DIvX Inc.:"The ability to embrace an unforeseen opportunity and the patience to ride the waves to see the vision realized."

About the construction industry, the leader on the list is Earth Tech Entreprise (#32), a landsite development company. Started out in 2000 with $2,000.00 initial investment, turned profit in 2003, reached their first million-dollar in 2003, and 2006 sales reached $25,000,000.00 (whoa! lots of zeros). Eybrow-rising isn't it?

Success Secret of Earth Tech Enterprise: Having the same customers that we
started with."

Check on the list for the other 498 crazyly-amazing companies to learn from!

Ben Wallace of NBA: Heroes

Ben Wallace, a basketball player of Chicago Bulls of NBA, should receive more love from you guys. Everybody talks about Michael Jordan in NBA history, but you should give credit for those who are not only hard worker, but have "resilient" in their middle names!

Ben Wallace's career is not a walk in a park. He started out being a sub in Washington (1996-1999), Orlando (1999-2000), and finally bling his way to superstardom in Detroit Pistons with NBA Champs titles (2000 -2006), and now with Chicago Bulls (2006-present). Being a sub for the first three years is no fun; especially if you only average 5 minutes of play on your 1st season for 34 games. I mean, you have to learn a lot in those 5 minutes! Never give up, finally, all the hard work and resillience paid off. At Detroit, he won Defensive Player of the Year, being in All-Defensive first team for years, play in All-Stars, NBA Champs, etc. etc. Nobody to somebody. A Winner. Period.

To be a bit one-sided on his game, a defense-only approach, makes me think of one fact: you have to play to your strength; don't be a wannabe. Ben's situations can be found in your life - family life, biz life, etc. You want to be rich? play to your strength. You want to be happy? play to your strength. Nobody can guarantee your happiness should you marry celebs or not; nobody can guarantee your success should you play in the stock market with gambler mind set... the point is, work your way up through learning, learning, learning, learning... so that when opportunities are present, you know how to take advantage.

And, oh. He has an afro hairstyle, too! :D

ARN Business Opportunity

ARN (Ananda Rambah Nusantara) is a local biz ideas consultant where its biz evolves around setting small-scale shop, its standard ops procedure, management system, admin & accounting system, including hiring staffs, initial stocks, and shop decor & furniture. ARN also provides consultative service on bizzes need boost, while keeps options open to buy the "dying" bizzes, re-managed and re-packaged, to be sold or simply to be owned by the franchisee. ARN focuses on small bizzes/shops, with capital requirement less than Rp. 100 million (mostly, ARN develop shops for as little as Rp. 15-20 million in cap requirement).

Sounds complicated? Wait, it's actually simple: First, should we buy the franchise, we are entitled to help others establish new shops or developing existing ones for a fee in exchange (hard cash coming in!). Second, the shop owners may trust the shop's management to ARN franchisee, for a percentage of net profit in return (cashflow coming in!). Third, ARN franchisees are entitled to build such shops ourselves and may sell them to potential investors later (cashflow coming in + potential hard cash coming in!). Fourth, ARN franchisees are entitled to receive from many more income sources, such as ARN Biz Book sales, additional services - staff hiring, back office system, etc, commission on opening new ARN offices, etc, etc, etc (more hard cash coming in!)

I also interested in this client-based biz (+ with multiple stream of income$$) simply because it's what early entrepreneurs have been thinking about - limited in cash, want to start biz, don't know where & how to start - more guts than experience (even ability). ARN tries to accomodate such entrepreneurs.

From the proposal I receive, the total investment is approximately Rp. 200 million - Rp. 75 million in license fee (take note, license fee is not franchise fee, although it's treated as one), Rp. 50 million in working capital (to establish 2 or 3 shops for potential clients), and others for renovation, fixtures, equipment, etc.

In my opinion, this business opportunity can be good in the future, because of its uniqueness in Indonesia biz arena. However, I'm still unsure what potential it will bring for the investor. And oh, investors aren't required to be active-owner: managements are set up by ARN HQ and run by themselves with minimum involvement of the investor. Possible? I can't say, unless I buy one and prove it myself. Any investors interested to work with me? :)

Anyway, I'll update soon should any information uncover! ;)

Why client-based franchises are better than retail-based franchises

Recently I found out that the way to go is to buy client-based franchise, rather than retail franchise, for several reasons:
1. Client-based are usually need-based. Yes, there are high-seasons and low-seasons in a year, but I believe they are not as severe as retail biz.
2. Client-based biz is not impulsive; you want it because you need it. Therefore, client-based biz is more logical in apporach than retail biz.
3. Yes, you have to bust your ass to persuade clients to use your service, while in retail biz you are more in a waiting-game mode than actively seek clients mode... but at least you see results - because, sometimes, the more you bust your ass in retail biz, the more you will be ass-kicked by potential customers. Trust me! I've been there...
4. The most important reason: in current political and economical conditions of Indonesia, regardless of what experts said about the positive economy outlook of Indonesia, retail biz (including F & Bs, electronics and apparels) will always be a victim. Many retail bizzes was, are, and will be killed on-site, not because they sucks, but simply because political and economical strains will result in less customer buy their products. In retail biz, less customer mean R.I.P., A.S.A.P. Got it? no sales, no cash inflow. No cash inflow, R.I.P.

Anyway, it's just my opinion with no textbook-backed theories. Any comments?

JSI Luarrrbiasa Pro Franchise

JSI Luarrrbiasa Pro Franchise, in my opinion, is one of the biz to watch in Indonesia. It's a software, accounting and registered tax consultant franchise. It reminds me with Jackson Hewitt, US' leading tax preparation service franchise.

They do tax consulting, financial report preparation and consulting, IT & Accounting sytem developer, work outsourcing and accounting software developer & retailer. In the near future, they will complement their line of services with law & legal services. Kewl stuff!

At the time this post is written, in one year of franchising, they already have 11 offices in Jakarta and Tangerang area, which 5 of them are own units. In regard to experience in the business, the founders, Jan, Jemmy, and Irwan - all former college mates in Universitas Tarumanagara, Jakarta are officialy started the consulting biz in 1994. I have met them not long ago, and I think they are the right people in the right business - "bad ass", ambitious, experienced, friendly and teamwork-infested way of thinking - something that you and I should look for in frachisor's character set.

Regarding investment, there are 3 type of franchising:
1. Software sales & implementation only (franchise fee: Rp. 30 million)
2. Full accounting, tax & IT service (franchise fee: Rp. 350 milion)
3. Full service plus training center (franchise fee: Rp. 450 million)

For total investment, add Rp. 50-70 million in equipments, renovation and fixtures (excl. office rent fees, if any).

I'm thinking to buy one, but I don't know if they consider me to be the right candidate in their long waiting list. Let's wait and see. I'll get back at you for updates.

Multiplus Franchise

I currently own 2 stores of one of Indonesia's leading local franchises, Multiplus Business Center located in Lippo Karawaci Utara and Cimone, Tangerang, Banten Province. Multiplus Business Center is a one-stop shop solution for every business needs, such as shipping and package delivery, digital printing, copying, faxing, Internet access, and other business supports.

To be honest with you, this franchise is good, in term of brand value (which is one single important factor to consider why you pay hundreds millions of rupiah as franchise fee). In one decade, Multiplus Business Center has grow to 100 store nationwide. Big franchise. But also big problems ahead.

Yes, Multiplus is built largely by its franchisees. Yet, lots of its franchisees simply don't understand how to use the brand, and build the brand value TOGETHER. I mean, should you own a store targeted to middle-upper scale market, you wouldn't want to sell your products and services like you open a blackmarket store! Sad, but true! You pay for the brand name humongous amount of franchise fee, but you throw it to the mud, kick it and burry it under the soil! IT SUCKS!

What we suffer as a franchisee? the loss of brand image and value, customers won't trust us as much as few years ago, and the loss of confidence of other franchisees that are willing to bust their ass to make their store survive. Not prosper? The fact is, most can't be described as "prosperous." Like my store in Lippo Karawaci Utara and Cimone, we survive on a tight net profit margin, which I believe is not because of bad business - it's due to those above who sucks! What they did (and still do) crush my store's image also - afterall, we are a franchise. Like I said, we build the brand value T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R.

Anyhow, I plan to sell the business. It's not an easy business to be in, considering its a franchise. My company has financial difficulties due to my mistake in valuing retail service business. The stores I have are in average-to-good shapes, but I can't sell them high in value due to net profit:investment ratio.

One word of wisdom: Don't buy a retail service business on 100% loan money!
On paper it looks good, but in reality, you need extra work (and money) to
grow the business. Just like others in retail industry.

In conclusion, this franchise will remain one of the best in Indonesia. It has won several local and international awards, and considered one of the better in franchise system in Indonesia. My suggestion: buy this franchise if you want minimal involvement in stores and have all-cash investment to buy a store. DON'T use bank financing, at least in the first 2 years of ops - or else, you will choke your biz, and believe me, you'll kill your biz more sooner than latter!

Hear ye, hear ye. Asep Onde speaks! :D

Will you do anything to "go green"?

The Dutch Postcode Lottery, together with PICNIC, annual events for creative ideas, launch PICNIC Green Challenge 2007. The competition idea is simple: Participants are encourage to dream on greenhouse-gas-recuding product or service and send their ideas before 30 August, 2007.

The best idea will win EUR500,000.00 (wow!), along with expert coaching, a starting list of customers, so he/she can bring the invention to the world within 2 years.

Are you up to the challenge to do little things to save the planet?

Barber it like Beckham

I came across this link while surfing the web, and I couldn't help it.. *ROFL*

It's from BBC's Sport Academy - It contains photos of England Football's and Posh' David Beckham in many hair styles. But my fave is... Afro Becks!

Follow this link for more of Beck's hairstyles

Asep Onde's Origin

Asep Onde was born on Jakarta, Indonesia. ? Yes, he is Indonesian. Why post in english? well, unless this blog is supported with bilingual posts, I think it's safe to blog in English, for lots of reasons:
1. So more and more people can read about him (apparently!)
2. So more and more people can comment on posts (straightforwardly!)
3. That's it! :D

Ok. First thing first: Asep Onde is proud to be Indonesian. Sure, with critics and rants on the country, not mentioning the political and economical situations today, he still love to be Indonesian. Being an Indonesian has its perks:
1. When foreign embassies saw your passport's origin, there are increased chance that you'll be blacklisted... less travel overseas = more money saved!
2. When you shop online, the e-stores found out that your credit card's origin is Indonesia. Therefore, they reject your card and refuse to sell to you... even more money saved!
3. When people found out that you're Indonesian, there are usually two responses toward you: first, they think you are blood sucking, barbaric, terrorist, #@!& kinda person... Second, they think you are a nice person that is unfortunate enough to live in problems-infested country. But honestly, it's mostly the second case win, becoz many people believe that Indonesian should be treated with respect from other countries, as well as from it's own people!

Whoa... the no. 3 is kinda heavy. Well, it's painfully true that Indonesians curse their own country. If they know that Indonesia CAN be better, why not try to do some little things to improve it, instead of cursing it? Asep Onde speaks. :)

Anyway, there's there. Keep in touch!

Welcome to Asep Onde's Blog!

Wha..? Who's Asep Onde?

I'm (another) fictional character dwelling on the Net (no, I'm not an avatar). I'm a virtual character that represents the blogger in the real life. What for? Well, you and I are probably know that sometimes we are dreaming about being born a different person, with different paths to take, people to relate, environment to be lived in. Well, Asep Onde, is one of the manifestation the blogger life on the web - some are true, some are fictional - some are already being lived by the blogger, some are the dream and vision that the blogger has.

Hmpf! bull#*&%... I'm outta here...

Wait! oh well... with the bull-word you've said, I think you wouldn't be interested in my life, anyway. Begone! and don't come back y'all! :))

Anyway, for you that interested in my life, I'll share it with you on a daily basis! Howzat? Well, enjoy your stay, and happy reading then! And oh, don't forget to comment on my post... It would be fun sharing with y'all.