Lucky I Noob
Last Thursday , I was at Midvalley ..attending the SME Solutions Expo 2010 .
You see , I am the guy , who never had a job resume , who never worked for a big corporate before . I have no idea how does a HR system or a Storage System works .I didn’t even know you need a computer software to monitor your employee’s leave .
I thought taking leaves was about employees sms-ing me saying they cannot make it for this period of time , then they tell me what needs to be done , also the issues that are still pending , followed by how to overcome it .
The only thing i know about business , was accounting . How to keep proper documents , stock control , tax , laws and stuff ..THATS ALL .
I admit , that i am a total noob in business . This SME Solutions Expo really exposed me to many things ..
For example
1) New Courier service & Shipping companies .
This one quite okay lah , since its my 5th year dealing with importing and exporting . Just some new rates with some new names in the market . I am more interested in international forwarders .
2) Point of Sale .
I was looking for one . I found a very canggih one that cost RM9000 . But i have to pay monthly training fees , subscription fees etc ..
3) Security System (Locking)
Don’t really need that since i’ve gotten my CCTV and Alarm , but its great information & technology . Anyway , who dares to mess with Joshua & gang ?
4) HR Management & Accounting Software .
Got Quoted RM38,888 for the package . Can pay by monthly installment . Quite an impressive program . Price also very impressive .
5) Website
Got Quoted RM7,000 for a shopping cart website that accepts PAYPAL , Credit cards , Maybank2u , Cimbclicks ..everything lah …the perfect payment gateway on the Internet , Just like Airasia’s website . Very INTERESTING . Comes with voucher , Invoice , Membership portal , Accounting software , Shipping update system etc …also with subscription fees & update fees. Nice . But why everything needs to pay subscription fees ? So lazy , all wanna goyang kaki and money come in ! Go work for your money lah !
6) Storage Service
Uhhh , don’t need that ATM ..
7) Mass SMS Service
Never really believe in SMS marketing . Cause i always delete them when i receive them .
8.) Online Advertising .
It amazed me how SME companies are willing to pay RM5000 for a small banner on a website doesn’t have much traffic in Malaysia . I rather go Adsense or advertise on some celebrity blogger’s site .
……and many more . Alot of COOL DEALS .
But …
…when i was in the event , i wasn’t thinking should i get this or should i get that…
I was thinking to myself …
Lucky , I noob .
Lucky , I noob when i just started this business .
I started my business , with RM2500 fixed cost per month (which is damn bloody cheap!)
If i am exposed to this before i started my business …
1) I will have a smaller capital , capital money spent on software , that program , this and that .
2) With all the subscription fees , maintainence fees and what not , my business fixed cost would probably shoot up to RM4000-RM5000.
3) I might not have survive until today . The fixed cost will kill me & my capital .
LUCKY I NOOB .
This is me , 1 month before starting Music Master . Aiyoh i look sooooo cute just like a bear !
When i started , it was all about doing accounts using my UBS student edition , staff wanna take lift just sms me , wanna do claim just fill up a simple form ..no software involve ! ..The only software was this blog , wordpress , facebook , my email , msn …thats all !
…and if you really wanna know . I did my accounting with pen , paper and a calculator for a first few months .
Noob businessman , learns how to survive FIRST .
During the event , i met a 10 years experienced Corporate man..planning to quit his job to start his own business .
He told me about his future business , how the system is going to RUN by signing up with this company , purchasing this program and software ..all those stuff .
Most of the time , he is comparing his current job in a billion dollar public listed company , with his future , RM300,000 Capital Business .
He wants his business , to have the same systems with his current billion dollar public listed company job .
I asked him “Why do You wanna start your business with so many commitments & expenses ?”
He told me “Its professional”
Okay , Thank God i am not a Professional .
Sometimes , it pays off being a “noob” . Its better to be unexposed .
August 8th, 2010 at 1:48 am
so u started of with selling used guitars? like u buy from someone and sell at a higher price?
August 8th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Nope . I started of with selling used pickups . Like i bought a used guitar with nice pickups on it . Sell the pickup off and settle with the stock pickups .
August 8th, 2010 at 1:56 am
im planning to get used guitars and sell them. u think that will work if i want to start something?
August 8th, 2010 at 2:19 am
Why not ? Of course it will work . All you need is
1.A damn good reputation
2.A damn good supplier
3.A damn big holding power
4.A damn good marketing plan
Thats all !
August 8th, 2010 at 7:58 am
If u ever need security help, I’m ur man.
August 8th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
…Hmm.
Anyway, Gap you thinking of expanding arh? Maybe in 2012 open up a new outlet?
August 9th, 2010 at 11:56 am
joshua and gang:
joshua(thinks where to hit the fella, then hits him 1 time so hard he never gets up again)
sam (keeps hitting the fella but the fella still ok, takes forever to pwn the fella)
dennis (smokes at the sidelines, makes a few jokes, runs off really fast after pissing the fella off to draw him away from the group, when the fella exhausted then turn around and kick him in the nuts)
August 10th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Any contacts for international forwarders?
August 15th, 2010 at 1:18 am
but all i do now is browsing around forums like lowyat or jamtank and grab some affordable guitars , and mark them up a little then sell them.
and finding a supplier?
where to find one anyways :X
September 8th, 2010 at 10:47 am
hey.. you really reminded me of my yesteryear .. when i’m running my own business.
yeah.. i only have my quickbooks software to run the accounting and all the invoicing, purchase order , quotation and what not..
leave system? naa.. same like you , it just that I only have leave form.
EPF? – yeah.. calculate by the system.
what else? very simple setup lah – it’s good to be noob.. rather than being burdened by all those subscription fees and other thing.
afterall – they want to money.., for them to survive..! why would you do that.. if you still can manage you thing..!
1 thing for an upgrade – an accounting system that can be connected to POS system and all your stock control useing barcode. It really saves you a lot of hassle.. and you can keep track you stock level down to how many guitar pick you have on 1 particular brand.. :p.. or someone pick-pocket your guitar pick..