Risky Business

Dealing with international traders is risky, I have learned. And given our current circumstances, it's probably not the best time to be dabbling in a risky game.

In order for this business to showcase quality products, I need to sample some products before I commit to large orders. Oddly enough, some traders almost demand I order massive quantities (10,000 units +) of their product before I've even tried it (must be good then, ey?) and I've learned just how difficult and tedious this process is.

Over the past few weeks I've been organising to have some samples sent to me of various cosmetics products. Just trying to arrange this has been so tricky. In particular, I had ordered quite a large lot of samples from one company in China, it cost me about $350 for the lot and I was advised they would arrive within 5 - 7 working days. As I had other orders due to arrive at the same time, this delivery time was reasonable. However the delivery never showed. I emailed them multiple times, and got no response. It wasn't until 3 weeks later that they responded to say the parcel was rejected at Chinese customs. They told me they re-sent the goods and will arrive in 5-7 working days. 2 weeks past, and nothing. I sent more emails (mind you, emailing is what I'm limited to these days when it comes to international business) and another 2 weeks pass, and they inform me that the courier lost my parcel (bullshit) - they couldn't even provide me with a tracking number, which says to me they never sent it. I have no idea what they were doing, why the parcel never arrived (or left the country for that matter) but I consider myself lucky to get my money back.

It's incredible how email has made people willingly exploit others. I don't think this would have happened if it were face to face. Really, I should have been more careful. From my very first communications with this particular company, they told me their minimum order was $300, but when I went to their website, it stated their minimum order was only $100, and given my circumstances that would have been a much smaller risk. In addition, they said I had to add 6% for the use of Paypal, and on their website it stated 3%. They will suck you dry if they can. Essentially, I had to pay the extra 3% to pay for the products, so I had to pay, to pay.

It was a real eye opener of the risks associated with starting a business. I would much prefer to be dealing with Australians and sourcing my products from here, but we don't currently make the product I'm after, and I don't have the money or resources to invest in an R&D team. If the business kicks off, I'll be keeping it all Aussie!!

I was talking to my dad the other day about how things used to be. He was telling me when he was a young dad, there was work everywhere, and everyone could do anything. All they had to say was 'I'm a fence builder' or 'I'm a florist' or 'I'm a book keeper' and they were. And when there was help needed, it was a job. Nowadays, you need a damn PhD to become a florist or become a call centre operator. And if I had started this business 20 years ago, when things were different, I think I'd have a much better shot then, than I do now. It's like the things that are designed to advance our lives are just making it more complicated, and therefore hindering out abilities. And somehow, I struggle to make this pursuit simple. I'd love to just ask someone to make me a bunch of these cosmetics, and then I'm going to sell them. Such a simple concept, yet there's just endless obstacles because everyone wants to fuck you over. Favours don't exist anymore.

But anyway. I'm still in the sampling stages. And it is so tedious and tiring. It's hard to stay focused on something of this magnitude, especially when you have life getting in the way all the time. I don't think I could have picked a worse time to be doing this - I'm just hoping this wont eventuate to being another failed attempt; I'm just so tired!

I read up about other mums who have started their own business, and when reading their profiles and stories of how they started, they all seem so at ease. Am I missing something? Just trying to find the energy to entertain Anna all day long (reading story books and singing songs seems so easy) let alone finding the energy to pursue this business. I've got a list of 'to do's', all of my PR activities listed, and I'm struggling to fathom doing it.

Maybe I'm being too complex. International business tends to be what established companies venture into, or so my uni studies have taught me. Maybe there is 'risky' and then there's 'too risky'. Am I overstepping the boundaries for now?

I hope not.