Location, location, location…

There is an old saying in the real estate world that says that most of how well you will do in business lies on exactly where you will do business.

Over the years, I have met a lot of business people, some good, some bad, but this week, I met a clever young entrepreneur.

His business?  Begging for money.  His location?  The local East End No Frills.

As you know, when you grab a basket at No Frills, you need to pay a deposit.  This deposit used to be a reasonable $0.25, but now, it’s gone up to a hefty looney, which doesn’t really matter because in the end, you get your looney back.  Or do you?

Our clever business man–let’s name him Joe for the purpose of this article–can be found outside the No Frills, day in, day out, standing right besides the carts.  After someone returns the said cart, he moves in and asks “Would you happen to have any change?”

There is no point in lying.  Joe knows you have a looney, he’s done his research and from the looks of the bags you are carrying out, Joe also knows that you can most likely spare it.  Joe banks on that.  He also banks on the fact that it is darn cold outside.

The morale of the story?  There is no stupid business.  Anybody can achieve success!  Find a location (no frills), find a need (in this case, feeling like you’re doing good or at least not feeling like a jerk), target your market (people who have a looney to spare)  and go for the jugular (get them to give it to you)!  That is the basic of business.