Grooming Business School: #3 Flawed Priorities

A thread on a popular forum (notice my comments about forums here) is asking what to do in a particular situation. The author is in a pickle because she has narrowed her decision to three converters. An east coast, a west coast, and GT; which is right in the middle.

THIS GUY’S PRIORITIES ARE:
1) BEER

2) SKINNY WIFE (MORE BEER FOR HIMSELF)

She is thinking of going with her east coast converter simply because they are local. All three converters build vastly different products and have tremendously different philosophies. She is not wanting to spend the few hundred dollars to visit the other converters and is willing to make the most important decision of her new career based on flawed priorities.

Financial illiteracy is the biggest problem in the mobile pet grooming business. Financial illiteracy is the root to making poor decisions over what trailer to purchase, how much debt a groomer should take on, how to write a business plan, and so forth. GT doesn’t sell trailers to these people. Because GT markets to a different group of people than the other converters, we do not hope to make sales to those who are not willing or able to visit Denver. GT customers are the most financially literate, business-minded mobile groomers on the planet. We don’t sell to Internet forum groupies; we sell to people looking for smart business opportunities. This is why GT doesn’t attend shows, advertise on social sites, or offer giveaways - we simply don’t have to.  Don’t misunderstand, most of our customers purchase our trailers WITHOUT EVER PHYSICALLY SEEING ONE!!!

Moral of the story: Always start businesses in the position of power! If a businessperson cannot travel to investigate a conversion, or is not able to make an adequate investment in a new business; they probably shouldn’t be starting a business in the first place. They should save their money so they are in a position that will allow them to make good choices, have freedom, and make a profit.

Patrick