Think where your interests are and find a market for that. I started small, 5k lang in 2009, pabili lang sya for goodies in Korea kasi I lived there until 2012.
Through trial and error nakita ko alin ang mabenta. Then there came a time na sobrang dami nang nagbebenta ng kroean beauty products so I shifted gears, naghanap ako ng mga pwedeng ioffer na services at product lines na wala
pang nagooffer. I realized ang gusto ko talaga sa biz is the part where I get to hunt out (and try) new things to introduce to clients. So ayun, since ayoko ng daily work na nagiinvoice, naguupdate ng site etc, kumuha ako ng fulltime assistant
to do the things I don't want to do. So far, since 2009 buhay pa ang shop ko. Umalis na ako ng Korea and moved to Europe pero my loyal clients are still with me. Nakakatuwa and nakakaaliw. So overall, you have to know yourself, alin
ang strength mo (ako kasi magaling maghanap ng bagong items na iooffer sa target market ko), then the things you can't do or don't want to do, you delegate to capable people. Partida, yung aking small business is sideline lang hahaha, as I work fulltime in a total unrelated field.
Also, be prepared to leave your "hangin" or "hiya" when you become an entrepreneur. Kasi you will have palpak transactions lagi, but know how to correct a mistake fast and cleanly. I realized that the only thing you have to do to appease a client is to come out clean, admit it when you make mistakes, and try to make up for them. Clients, in general, appreciate sincerity and honesty.
Minsan nasa Europa ako on a leisure trip, paguwi ko sa Madrid where I am based ang bagahe ko puno ng cookie butters na orders ng clients. Niloloko ako ng mga kasama ko na "Para ka namang madaming pinapakain kung makaracket eh!". Tawa lang ako, they do not understand how buying
hard to find goodies for clients, and filling in a need in the market makes me oh so happy. Kebs lang kung natatawa or naaawa sila sa akin.
When I started my small biz akala ko when I leave Korea, I will end it na rin, pero it turns out once you have some sort of system na you can pivot your small biz kahit saan ka pa mapadpad.
So go lang! Yes, start small, read, read, read but do not follow the biz advices blindly. Know thyself, then adapt your biz to what will work for you, your lifestyle and personality.
Ayan, mahaba na haha! Sorry!
