The Computer Store

A new direction

2005-12-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

I've just launched the first (also most trivial) service of my business/project. The service in question is simply blogging. I blog on the topic of open-source and web apps.

Why blog? How is this a service? And what project do I speak of?

It's tentatively called Open-Source Software Sudbury, or possibly just Open North. I haven't decided. The point is I will be developing an increasing array of services to facilitate the use and implementation of open-source in Sudbury, Ontario. There currently does not exist such an organization in Sudbury.

So keep an eye peeled. I'll be adding new services, developing a website, and who knows what else to advance the good cause.

My online business toolbox

2005-11-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

The web is a wonderful thing nowadays. I'm developing my entire business plan from home for free. This includes market stats, competitive research, retail locations, as well as the actual composition of the document itself. I'm going to list the various free online software I've been putting to good use to date.

Backpack. This is the glue that brings it all together. I maintain my todo lists and keep all my notes on my account. I keep all relevant links and sources there too. They make it easy to format all my data, most usefully in their simple table creation method. Furthermore, integrating Writeboard allows me to compose all my documents regardless of which computer I'm using. I'll of course use a word processor (Open Office) for the final product, simply exporting my Writeboard documents.

Google Local. I've composed a detailed map of Sudbury on my computer. Using Google I'm mapping out where all my competition is located, the population densities, average household incomes around town, etc, etc. Which brings me to...

My Sudbury. I intially wasn't fond of this website. However, it conveniently groups all the relevant local business recources in one location. I don't have to search for hours for statistics and market research, as it's all available there, for free.

Blogger. Of course, I'm using blogger right now to document my development process. This serves as an excellet repository for all my ideas, without clogging up my workspace. It will hopefully also serve as a marketing tool as I approach the grand opening. Blogs in general have helped me tremedously in terms of gaining a free business education. Thanks blogosphere.

Google Alerts. Using RSS I can now keep track of news on my competition, my distributors, possible opportunities, all without spending an enormous amount of time searching for the info. It comes to me. Now, I'm not saying this is effective for corporate espionage. But for small businesses, it's a great way to stay on top of things.

eBay. Now this is obviously an exception to my free rule. But, eBay is helping me raise my startup funds by letting me sell a bunch of stuff I don't really need (a couple of guitars, amps, maybe an old PC or two). Investors and banks like it when you invest some of your own money, and this is a painless way of doing just that.

Finally, Ruby on Rails. This framework is going to help me develop my entire inventory system and e-commerce. It's obviously just a component, but it's the key to my success I think. We'll see in the coming months how that goes.

All of this boils to me developing my business without spending a dime to date. This isn't because I don't think business development is worth the money, of course it is! But what kind of business person wouldn't take advantage of all the resources already at their disposal before coughing up the dough?

The quest for supply

2005-11-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't have thought finding suppliers for computers and computer parts would be so difficult. 3 hours online so far and my best bet is still used items on eBay. Oh my.

It feels like for every supplier, there's 100 websites trying to make money pretending to be a supplier.

Just try the following searches on Google and see how far you get:

computer wholesalers
computer wholesale
PC wholesale
computer wholesale canada

Yeesh.

Don't decorate, design.

2005-11-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

That's what I've taken so far from Wabi-Sabi, the japanese philosophy on aesthetics. Decorations clutter. Design beautifies. Design takes what you already have, the bare bones necessities, and make them functional and beautiful. Decoration takes what you have, and hides it with bells and whistles.

Garrey Nolds describes just such a scene while on train in Japan:

An "ekiben" contains great content which is arranged in the most efficient, graceful manner. The bento is presented in a simple, beautiful, balanced way. Nothing lacking. Nothing superfluous. Not decorated, but wonderfully designed.

Delicious.

"Creative" Success

2005-11-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

Often, we hear about the importance of standing out in the crowd, especially in business. This is of course vital, but standing out is commonly confused with being original or creative.

The problem with this is truly new and creative ideas are untested. We have no clue where they will lead. They are of course also necessary for advancing society, but I submit that a far larger (like +90%) of development does and should come from finding new ways to use the tried, tested and true.

We have a habit as a people of assuming any really good idea has already been done. If it hasn't been done yet, we assume it's a bad idea.

But this basic assumption is completely irrational and is crushing the potential of every human being who submits to it.

The fact is, there is a whole lot of room for improvement in our lives and in our world. "New" ideas come from simply looking at a problem that really gets under your skin, and developing a solution. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Maybe too simple? Well guess who does just that, and is succeeding immensely because of it. 37signals, Google, and Apple, are all great examples of hugely popular and successful companies who simply developed simple solutions to every day problems. 37signals concluded they didn't expensive, bloated software for the majority of their work, so they made their own tools and made them available to the public for free or at a cost (depending on the tool in question). Google was started as a college thesis that concluded it made more sense to list websites by their popularity and relevance than by keywords and sponsorship. Apple realized PCs were hard to use and ugly as hell, so they made it simple and pretty.

Nothing any of these companies did was actually creative at all. They weren't the first people to say or think about it. They just actual did it.

All you need for this so-called "creativity" is a dedication to the analytical examination of life, more specifically of your life. Because while its irrational (and perhaps even stupid, if I may be so bold) to think everything worth doing has been done, it's completely rational to assume a million people share in your problems.

Solve your problems, then sell the solution. It's a recipe for success.