I ran in to a hamburger place today mainly to get out of the torrential downpour. I couldn't resist. I wolfed my hamburger down and went over to snoop at what I can only assume was an independent contractor. While his client ate her meal he swapped out her notebook motherboard right there at the neighborhood eatery in no more than ten minutes. It was his ninth one of the day. The day before he did 15, he said. Despite a bit of a nonchalantness and busyness he seemed a bit leery about what I "thought" about the white-box market. "I know" I asserted putting out just a few facts including the message below.
Who says there's no room or money in the white-box market for private enterprise? Only the naysayers (oh, I'm sure there's more) who read my message I posted on Dellideastorm a while back.
Dell expects the same low cost components which enhanced the company's 2nd quarter profits will hurt its profitability with slow costs declines in the second half of the year. It's not like Dell to sit still and be overrun or to let opportunity pass. The recent opportune acquisition of Silverback puts Dell in the role of virtual IT department for small business. So, why wait, given low-cost component prices? The opportune moment for Dell to take on the role of white-box component supplier for private enterprises is ripe for the taking.
Mere months after Dell abandoned its 2 year foray into the white-box its own team recommended the following in pages 47:
Since white boxes increasingly use the same components as brand computers, their functionality differs little from those sold by the Tier 1 and 2 vendors (Graham-Hackett, 2005). The recent trend towards consolidation and the decreases in component prices has led to the intense competitive pricing now facing the industry. Given the long-term downtrend in PC pricing, vendors will need to continue to cut costs from their operations. The growing ‘white box’ market will require the Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors to maintain competitive prices. Companies with more favorable cost structures increase their chance of profitability.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Strategic+analyses+and+recommendations+for+dell
And page 50
Race and age is also a factor in computer usage, according to the U.S. Census Bureaureport. Blacks and Hispanics have the lowest rates of computers at home of any U.S. racial group—providing a market opportunity for computer hardware companies which target these groups. Further, people 65 and older had the lowest rates of computer (28%) and internet (25%) use of all age groups. As the baby boomers age, this demographic is likely to increase its use of both technologies, partially due to exposure at younger ages. However, the current 65 and older population is also a market opportunity for computer hardware companies.
(Note: Dell, like HP and Acer [who just acquired Gateway] is Tier 1.)
Check out what Equus is doing with whitebooks thanks to Intel's push for standardization. I have urged Dell do much the same as Equus _ for resellers_ by stepping into the role of components supplier to white-box builders.
http://www.crn.com/white-box/201807253;jsessionid=MXTCSQHG3HH1KQSNDLPCKH0CJUNN2JVN
Bottom line is you don't have to wait for Dell, HP or any of the major manufacturer. Contrary to common perception it's the hundreds or thousands of mom&pop, resellers and solution providers who have the lion's share of the white-box market, not the mega manufacturers. Next best thing to you going it alone as a white-box custom builder, whether desktops, notebooks, (or servers) is going in with and building your own Independent Contractor Network.
Regards,
GT
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
A real poetic piece of work
Cotton is to textile what textile is to fabric what fabric is to apparel.
Letters are to words what words are to poetry what poetry is to God.
Little things make big things. Big things make little things.
What you do is not important, but it is important that you do it.
It is written, "You are the workmanship of God created for good works". That big word, "workmanship" is a translation of a small greek word which is variously translated in english as "poem", "poet", "poetry", "poetic". ("works" is "energy")
It's fair to say poetry, whether or not we are versed in it or is not for us, is a putting together of many letters to create a few words which can say so much. No less, the spinner who spins cotton to make yarn to create a piece of cloth.
Certainly, no less did God spin in his hands to create a piece of work, a "poem" when he created man. No wonder, then, that we discover such great joy with the work, the creation, the poem, the tapestry woven by our hands. It's not that it's big or small that makes it important. What is important is that you do it, because thereby you reflect the image and glory of our maker.
Truly, we are a real poetic piece of work.
Be of good cheer.
Letters are to words what words are to poetry what poetry is to God.
Little things make big things. Big things make little things.
What you do is not important, but it is important that you do it.
It is written, "You are the workmanship of God created for good works". That big word, "workmanship" is a translation of a small greek word which is variously translated in english as "poem", "poet", "poetry", "poetic". ("works" is "energy")
It's fair to say poetry, whether or not we are versed in it or is not for us, is a putting together of many letters to create a few words which can say so much. No less, the spinner who spins cotton to make yarn to create a piece of cloth.
Certainly, no less did God spin in his hands to create a piece of work, a "poem" when he created man. No wonder, then, that we discover such great joy with the work, the creation, the poem, the tapestry woven by our hands. It's not that it's big or small that makes it important. What is important is that you do it, because thereby you reflect the image and glory of our maker.
Truly, we are a real poetic piece of work.
Be of good cheer.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
IC-Networks presentation poll at Orkut site
Dear Friends,
I would like to extend an invitation to visit my Orkut site. Follow the link below, scroll down and take the IC-Network presentation poll.
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=39182128
Thank you
I would like to extend an invitation to visit my Orkut site. Follow the link below, scroll down and take the IC-Network presentation poll.
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=39182128
Thank you
Sunday, August 26, 2007
China Quality Problems and their Lesson for Alterations Boutiques
I want to state outfront I am not a party to bashing China for its export quality problems of late. However, these issues provide some lessons for US independent apparel designers and retailers.
Despite China's great need for development and implementation of quality standards and regulations quality is not something to be injected at the end of a process.
In recent years major apparel retailers have done away with backroom alterations departments choosing instead to "outsource" these duties to independent alterations boutiques. It is these boutiques who took on the task (and economic opportunity) of injecting quality into a product which, had it been tested before it left the factory, would have failed the quality test. The market will sustain neither designers nor retailers who compromise quality for productivity and sales.
I contend quality problems are related to lack of, or, inferior training.
You can not shortcut the training process with assumptions a trainee knows what is expected in your operation.
Training in method is best followed up with the voice of experience to provide valuable advice and tips on improving flow.
A well-learned process results in quality with productivity yield increases as familiarity becomes second nature for process operators.
Further, I find too many independent retailers assume they cannot compete against low-price imports. The assumption is that since these sell as big as they do through Walmart and the like consumers neither care nor pay for quality. Wrong. Consumers buy what mega corporations decide will turn the biggest profit FOR THE CORPORATION, not the consumer. Corporations then proceed to squeeze out their competition by flooding the market with their low-price imports. If corporations were to decide they would sell high-price quality-only items and proceeded to market their quality-only message to the consumer they would soon squeeze out their low-quality competitors. The reality of corporate decisions is that when it comes to sales a wider, diverse target market is preferred to a small, exclusive one. Hence, for mega corporations, low-price holds the greater promise for bigger profits.
Finally, too many independent retailers want to play like the major retailers. They shop their goods at merchandisers (whose goods are low-price imports they rachet-up for resellers, typically) buying bulk quantities their boutiques cannot handle tying up precious large sums of capital.
Quality control is not a subsitute for inability or unwillingness to teach quality to those who would enable you to grow your business.
The solution to quality and supply issues in apparel is not China size. It's small, local independent contractor, or designer, networks which supply quality apparel for local independent apparel retailers.
Despite China's great need for development and implementation of quality standards and regulations quality is not something to be injected at the end of a process.
In recent years major apparel retailers have done away with backroom alterations departments choosing instead to "outsource" these duties to independent alterations boutiques. It is these boutiques who took on the task (and economic opportunity) of injecting quality into a product which, had it been tested before it left the factory, would have failed the quality test. The market will sustain neither designers nor retailers who compromise quality for productivity and sales.
I contend quality problems are related to lack of, or, inferior training.
You can not shortcut the training process with assumptions a trainee knows what is expected in your operation.
Training in method is best followed up with the voice of experience to provide valuable advice and tips on improving flow.
A well-learned process results in quality with productivity yield increases as familiarity becomes second nature for process operators.
Further, I find too many independent retailers assume they cannot compete against low-price imports. The assumption is that since these sell as big as they do through Walmart and the like consumers neither care nor pay for quality. Wrong. Consumers buy what mega corporations decide will turn the biggest profit FOR THE CORPORATION, not the consumer. Corporations then proceed to squeeze out their competition by flooding the market with their low-price imports. If corporations were to decide they would sell high-price quality-only items and proceeded to market their quality-only message to the consumer they would soon squeeze out their low-quality competitors. The reality of corporate decisions is that when it comes to sales a wider, diverse target market is preferred to a small, exclusive one. Hence, for mega corporations, low-price holds the greater promise for bigger profits.
Finally, too many independent retailers want to play like the major retailers. They shop their goods at merchandisers (whose goods are low-price imports they rachet-up for resellers, typically) buying bulk quantities their boutiques cannot handle tying up precious large sums of capital.
Quality control is not a subsitute for inability or unwillingness to teach quality to those who would enable you to grow your business.
The solution to quality and supply issues in apparel is not China size. It's small, local independent contractor, or designer, networks which supply quality apparel for local independent apparel retailers.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Making enough money
A friend enquired after church wanting to know about my apparel business. After hearing my tale and with a bit of bewilderment in her face she confided. Seems she is quite talented in terms of making apparel as well as purses (or handbag, forgive me ladies, but I won't profess to know the difference).
She does not do it out of need, but simply because she can and is able to immerse herself in the creative garden of her imagination.
It's the reality that intimidates her.
"I'm not sure that I could make enough money to make a living at it" she says.
Therein lies a vastness of doubt and aloneness, not that my friend is a person of doubt or aloneness, but that there are so many people with similar talent as her, and,_ doubt.
True. It's the exceptional person who can go at it alone, with doubts and all, and come out doing quite well for themselves financially.
Herein is the good sense of Independent Contractor Networks. Although I have been told lately "designer" is actually the more accurate word than "contractor" either way I am talking about:
An individual who makes apparel in
their home either by themselves or
with someone else for a retailer.
When one or both of them are in the Network they are in business for themselves, but not by themselves. How can you put a price tag on being in an environment and part of a Network where you interact, share coffee or a meal and exchange ideas and business projects with designers and retailers?
PLEASE! Do not misunderstand the IC-Network model. It's not just a social club of apparel makers. IC-Networks extend to many other areas including computer builders, satellite dish installers and more. This is a Network that generates income for you in addition to what you yourself make personally with your own hands.
What you need to decide for yourself is how important it is to you and your family that you find and take advantage of the means that will make enough for you to make a living. . .and then some.
Thought of the day shared with a friend: Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
She does not do it out of need, but simply because she can and is able to immerse herself in the creative garden of her imagination.
It's the reality that intimidates her.
"I'm not sure that I could make enough money to make a living at it" she says.
Therein lies a vastness of doubt and aloneness, not that my friend is a person of doubt or aloneness, but that there are so many people with similar talent as her, and,_ doubt.
True. It's the exceptional person who can go at it alone, with doubts and all, and come out doing quite well for themselves financially.
Herein is the good sense of Independent Contractor Networks. Although I have been told lately "designer" is actually the more accurate word than "contractor" either way I am talking about:
An individual who makes apparel in
their home either by themselves or
with someone else for a retailer.
When one or both of them are in the Network they are in business for themselves, but not by themselves. How can you put a price tag on being in an environment and part of a Network where you interact, share coffee or a meal and exchange ideas and business projects with designers and retailers?
PLEASE! Do not misunderstand the IC-Network model. It's not just a social club of apparel makers. IC-Networks extend to many other areas including computer builders, satellite dish installers and more. This is a Network that generates income for you in addition to what you yourself make personally with your own hands.
What you need to decide for yourself is how important it is to you and your family that you find and take advantage of the means that will make enough for you to make a living. . .and then some.
Thought of the day shared with a friend: Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
IC-Networks: Your private enterprise
Dell's recent wise decision to revisit the retail experience in partnership with Walmart may revive an old flame for the company.
Dell has yet to announce a return to its white-box sales experience. Where might Dell find a suitable partner for such a return?
The answer is much more widespread and abundant than all Walmart stores and employees combined. The suitable partner for Dell's return
to the white-box sales experience is through the smaller, unentangling partnership of Independent Contractor Networks.
A colossus like Walmart is impressive, but a nationwide IC-Network of technicians, engineers and computer savy individuals is
far more diverse and widespread.
While it may be true many people who dream of their own business never do it the low investment costs of a white-box
enterprise that puts computers in the hands of the US low income population segment is a huge gain for Dell, America and private enterprise.
This is at-home/small white-box business support and a revenue maker for Dell.
Dell, more than any other computer manufacturer is best equipped, qualified and stands to gain more (and quicker) than its
competitors; not in the conventional retail sales model, but through IC-Networks.
Dell has yet to announce a return to its white-box sales experience. Where might Dell find a suitable partner for such a return?
The answer is much more widespread and abundant than all Walmart stores and employees combined. The suitable partner for Dell's return
to the white-box sales experience is through the smaller, unentangling partnership of Independent Contractor Networks.
A colossus like Walmart is impressive, but a nationwide IC-Network of technicians, engineers and computer savy individuals is
far more diverse and widespread.
While it may be true many people who dream of their own business never do it the low investment costs of a white-box
enterprise that puts computers in the hands of the US low income population segment is a huge gain for Dell, America and private enterprise.
This is at-home/small white-box business support and a revenue maker for Dell.
Dell, more than any other computer manufacturer is best equipped, qualified and stands to gain more (and quicker) than its
competitors; not in the conventional retail sales model, but through IC-Networks.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
All Dressed up, but can't compute?
I often ask myself if readers might feel all dressed through what they read in my blogs, but can't compute what this is about. I accept that burden as my responsibility to communicate repeatedly and with constant improvement this message. So, here goes.
WorkingMannequin is my original blog. IMWORKquinES is my secondary blog. WorkingMannequin and IMWORKquinES blogs are the voice (you may call them
alter-egos) of Torres Strategic Resources, Inc. The mission of TSR is to build and develop IC-Networks.
If major corporations through their chainstores and franchises can conduct business locally, regionally, state and nationwide and earn money, why don't you?
The reason you do not is because:
1 You're working a job, and
2 You're going at it alone
You've got:
1 A job that may makes you a lot of money, but it's not how much you make, but how much you keep. How are you leveraging tax law to your advantage?
2 However much money you make it's what YOU make. . .alone. How are you replicating yourself to increase your income?
Thus far, our focus has been on apparel and white-box computers more recently. Our belief is people in these and many other fields have acquired and accumulated the Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) to enable them to create an enterprise of their own.
Some of these fields include: Computer Networking, Satellite dish installation, cable installation, AC installation/repair
Others: Healthy Home meals, housekeeping, landscaping, home improvement
Others: Home Auto oil change/minor tuneups
Yes, some of these fields may require state certification compliance, but would you let that prevent you from doing what you know to do for yourself?
Networks are nothing new. The TSR Independent Contractor Networks model is true to the definition of the independent. ICs are nobody's employee TSR included. They do not receive salaries or quotas from TSR. They are in compliance with the federal government and IRS guidelines and regulations as to what constitutes independent contractors.
I see a lot of small computer shops and apparel manufacturers with 4 to 10 employees. I commend them. However, they exist because of the KSE of those employees who've probably never taken stock of their KSE or thought about how they could build their own enterprise.
TSR provides the IC-Network model that can enable them, and you, to build that enterprise whether in apparel, computers or housekeeping.
It's not just about getting all dressed up. Start computing your assessment of your own KSE.
WorkingMannequin is my original blog. IMWORKquinES is my secondary blog. WorkingMannequin and IMWORKquinES blogs are the voice (you may call them
alter-egos) of Torres Strategic Resources, Inc. The mission of TSR is to build and develop IC-Networks.
If major corporations through their chainstores and franchises can conduct business locally, regionally, state and nationwide and earn money, why don't you?
The reason you do not is because:
1 You're working a job, and
2 You're going at it alone
You've got:
1 A job that may makes you a lot of money, but it's not how much you make, but how much you keep. How are you leveraging tax law to your advantage?
2 However much money you make it's what YOU make. . .alone. How are you replicating yourself to increase your income?
Thus far, our focus has been on apparel and white-box computers more recently. Our belief is people in these and many other fields have acquired and accumulated the Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) to enable them to create an enterprise of their own.
Some of these fields include: Computer Networking, Satellite dish installation, cable installation, AC installation/repair
Others: Healthy Home meals, housekeeping, landscaping, home improvement
Others: Home Auto oil change/minor tuneups
Yes, some of these fields may require state certification compliance, but would you let that prevent you from doing what you know to do for yourself?
Networks are nothing new. The TSR Independent Contractor Networks model is true to the definition of the independent. ICs are nobody's employee TSR included. They do not receive salaries or quotas from TSR. They are in compliance with the federal government and IRS guidelines and regulations as to what constitutes independent contractors.
I see a lot of small computer shops and apparel manufacturers with 4 to 10 employees. I commend them. However, they exist because of the KSE of those employees who've probably never taken stock of their KSE or thought about how they could build their own enterprise.
TSR provides the IC-Network model that can enable them, and you, to build that enterprise whether in apparel, computers or housekeeping.
It's not just about getting all dressed up. Start computing your assessment of your own KSE.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Textile, fabric and (independent) retail
I add the necessary qualifier of "independent" with retail so as to distinguish it from the mega corporation chainstores.
Over the past ten to fifteen years these three, but textile and fabric in particular, have seen huge, in some cases, catastrophic economic forces weigh into them. The result, even if we do not understand them, have been textile mills closing down, fabric stores unable to move domestic fabrics against foreign-made fabric.
All this has happened with little or no support from Washington despite high level, well organized efforts by these industries. Go to the link below for an example of this high level, urgent pleas from the US textile industry.
http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/sectoralletter.pdf and
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Republic_of_Korea_FTA/Reports/asset_upload_file656_12766.pdf
Read with special attention the paragraphs at the bottom of pages 3 and 4:
"Others produce almost entirely in the United States. . ." pg 3
"The textile and apparel industry has gone through very difficult changes. . ." pg 4
All this begs the question: What is the independent retailer doing in the apparel sector? I quizzed a retailer, after doing my research, about the existence of an independent apparel retailers' organization or association. She replied, no, but she said, it sounds like a great idea.
Any such organization among independent apparel retailers would come as a by-product of apparel networks. The fact is that along the way to these retailers restructuring their supply and procurement ways textile and fabric stand to be among the beneficiares.
So, what prevents this from happening? I could be wrong, but my guess is these retailers have never figured prominently with textile or fabric producers and wholesalers. Yet, retailers continue to conduct business as usual. I do not wish to suggest they cease to do business, but I would urge retailers explore other options:
Networking with independent contractors as their local supplier for all their apparel needs.
One would be hardpressed to name a business idea that did not receive more than a few turned up noses, but think of those individuals as latecomers. While you get underway turning around your business they will come around, too.
Over the past ten to fifteen years these three, but textile and fabric in particular, have seen huge, in some cases, catastrophic economic forces weigh into them. The result, even if we do not understand them, have been textile mills closing down, fabric stores unable to move domestic fabrics against foreign-made fabric.
All this has happened with little or no support from Washington despite high level, well organized efforts by these industries. Go to the link below for an example of this high level, urgent pleas from the US textile industry.
http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/sectoralletter.pdf and
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Republic_of_Korea_FTA/Reports/asset_upload_file656_12766.pdf
Read with special attention the paragraphs at the bottom of pages 3 and 4:
"Others produce almost entirely in the United States. . ." pg 3
"The textile and apparel industry has gone through very difficult changes. . ." pg 4
All this begs the question: What is the independent retailer doing in the apparel sector? I quizzed a retailer, after doing my research, about the existence of an independent apparel retailers' organization or association. She replied, no, but she said, it sounds like a great idea.
Any such organization among independent apparel retailers would come as a by-product of apparel networks. The fact is that along the way to these retailers restructuring their supply and procurement ways textile and fabric stand to be among the beneficiares.
So, what prevents this from happening? I could be wrong, but my guess is these retailers have never figured prominently with textile or fabric producers and wholesalers. Yet, retailers continue to conduct business as usual. I do not wish to suggest they cease to do business, but I would urge retailers explore other options:
Networking with independent contractors as their local supplier for all their apparel needs.
One would be hardpressed to name a business idea that did not receive more than a few turned up noses, but think of those individuals as latecomers. While you get underway turning around your business they will come around, too.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tax benefits of fighting in a combat zone
I'm disappointed in myself not to have done this post sooner for all those families who have loved one's fighting in Afhganistan or Iraq war.
This is taken totally from Sandy's website. He's the consumate tax guy.
WM
This is taken totally from Sandy's website. He's the consumate tax guy.
WM
More than pittance for the poor
I thank God for this blog. I thank God for those of you curious, if not for yourselves, for others about, "What's this guy saying?" and "Could I possibly be an independent contractor?" It is yet another tool I resort to in a constant, ongoing effort to inform people on:
- Independent Contracting
- Independent Apparel Retailing
- Assessing one's Knowledge, Skills and Experience in their respective industries
- The creation and development of networks for peer association and revenue generation
- Texas' vast need and opportunity for displaced apparel workers a good number of whom are low income
No, not everyone, nor the majority necessarily, involved in apparel are in financial and economic duress. However, the reality is that a significant portion of those involved in the apparel-industry-turned-displaced-worker are defined by government statistics as being certainly among the lowest of income earners.
Those government reports get full press coverage as if by so doing there is a great aid being given to the poor. Similiarly, when a politician presents to the public his/hers newest, latest and best program for the poor press coverage abounds.
Reports such as these are after the fact, and, they are just the facts. Programs such as these are presented to the public before any proof of success.
The press and all media should rightfully inform the public of (local, state or federal) reports and programs. Whether they be government, _ especially, private enterprise, when these are about the direct involvement of individuals engaging in a productive endeavor which results in their financial and economic independence. It is truly an empowerment; more than a mere pittance for the poor.
Independence Day draws near!
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