Lost without her...

[Poeticdragon]

I know this seems a bit odd, but I'm simply hoping to converse a bit with Kathleen sometime as she is currently (apparently) a fellow retailer and I'm considering starting up a store of my own.

The store would be based in Chicago, but would be run by myself and former child actors/actressses and would sell memorabilia from their shows and others, hopefully primarily from LOTL, Sigmund and the Seamonsters, H.R. Puffinstuff, etc...

Basically, I'm just hoping that Kathleen will be interested enough to maybe discuss the idea at least.

Hope someone here can help put me into contact or at least forward this message to her for me.

Thanks all.

[Marius69]

Your business idea is a good one. However I doubt you would make much money doing it unless you contributed substantially to the business venture in the form of financial backing or some other way. If you actually got child stars to get involved, they would most likely take the larger portion of the proceeds from the business venture. Your role would slip more & more into a kind of middleman. Then into nothing when one of the child stars recognized the potential of the business you originally thought of. That child star might then take over all operation of that business & you would slip into some kind of title that meant nothing. Best to be totally prepared before you even hint towards the idea. Have all the props, the location & it's rent paid for plus a litany of legal contracts that clearly define your role & percentages due to you etc. That is the only way to start. Anything else is just a pipe dream. . . :D

[enoch]

As a possible potential customer, it sounds like an interesting idea.

However, would it be better as an Internet shopping site rather than a "brick and mortar" store in Chicago?

[Poeticdragon]

Your business idea is a good one. However I doubt you would make much money doing it unless you contributed substantially to the business venture in the form of financial backing or some other way. If you actually got child stars to get involved, they would most likely take the larger portion of the proceeds from the business venture. Your role would slip more & more into a kind of middleman. Then into nothing when one of the child stars recognized the potential of the business you originally thought of. That child star might then take over all operation of that business & you would slip into some kind of title that meant nothing. Best to be totally prepared before you even hint towards the idea. Have all the props, the location & it's rent paid for plus a litany of legal contracts that clearly define your role & percentages due to you etc. That is the only way to start. Anything else is just a pipe dream. . . :D


Actually, I've already got most of the "details" worked out, including the backing and such...
All Child Stars who would work for the business would be contracted to do so and receive a large portion of the business proceeds based on what is contracted to them.
My role would be as retail management and would run the daily routines that they are not used to doing...but, since Kathy currently has retail experience, she would be a MASSIVE boon to the business in general!
But, I do appreciate your input and concerns.
:)

[Poeticdragon]

As a possible potential customer, it sounds like an interesting idea.

However, would it be better as an Internet shopping site rather than a "brick and mortar" store in Chicago?

Thought about the internet store idea, but I've done some market research on this already and the brick and mortar would be a more solid base to start from....from there, it may expand into an internet store, but the store itself needs to be physical first to get the idea into people's eyes and minds.

"Hands on" has always been one of the first key rules to running a successful retail business.
:)

[enoch]

But you would be hands-on to (I think) just the Chicago area.

Amazon has gotten rather successful without the hands-on. I'd really recommend having a friendly web site with e commerce to coincide with the brick-and-mortar opening. Have you netted any child stars to help out with at the start?

[Poeticdragon]

But you would be hands-on to (I think) just the Chicago area.

Amazon has gotten rather successful without the hands-on. I'd really recommend having a friendly web site with e commerce to coincide with the brick-and-mortar opening. Have you netted any child stars to help out with at the start?


I've actually got the entire website design (database included) already setup (me = former webdesigner/webmaster/network administator)...so, I've kind of got the web thing already in mind along with the brick and mortar, however, should this dream come about, I will (yes, I am serious, not being sarcastic) credit you with the idea, if that's fair enough for your help?

As for the child stars...well, can't mention any names, but...no, not really...not yet.
I've tried contacting a few, but thus far, no responses.
Hoping that if and when Kathy contacts me, it will prod others into motion as well. :)
I am hoping to hear from her soon...along with the "others".

[lostfound]

Do you still do web design on the side? If so i'm interested and would gladly deal with a fellow Land of the Lost forum user over a total stranger any day. If not does anyone else here do business web design????

[The Dude]

It would be neat talking to her :)

[Poeticdragon]

Do you still do web design on the side? If so i'm interested and would gladly deal with a fellow Land of the Lost forum user over a total stranger any day. If not does anyone else here do business web design????

I do still do some webdesign when time allows...so, let me know what you need done, I'll let you know if I can do it for you or not. Always willing to help out someone in need wherever and whenever I can. :)

Oh, I've added a "signature" line to my stuff...hope that it doesn't offend anyone who reads it, if it does, I'll delete it. :)