Opening a business in your SO's country

[Ta Ta 1]

Random, yet slightly business related. A friend went back home to Ethiopia for a long visit. He told me someone in Bahir Dar opened up a cafe called Obama Cafe. They have tons of Obama photos and stuff...the place is always packed. Thought it was nice, unique, and smart.

LL, those are some extensive plans! I know you two can do it. I admire that its important for you to participate in reconstruction.

Thanks! LOL @ the Obama Cafe. I would love to go and visit that place one day. That was such a great idea!

Obama cafe ,I know you would LL, but for now you have to drink your cyber java at the Omoba cafe

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

I know the family is paying a bit to rent things for the burial. Chairs and tables and shelters and trays for the food.

I assume because epolepl are always dying ( and getting married ) there is a market for that.

[Ta Ta 1]

Who has thought of opening a business, store, shop in your SO's country ?

Who has actually done it and are you glad you did ?

were thinking of several businesses like taxi service, Boutique, computer parts and repair ( he is big into computers )

but have settled on a Rice and staples shop.

The initial investment is very low, $ 500 for rent for a whole year and $ 50 per sack of rice.

We would also sell oil, flour and sugar.

He wanted the computer store but I think it would be a hassle buying the parts for repair as they are not easily accessable

in Sierra Leone so the Rice and staples is more realistic.

It is fun planning and talking about it for us and to kick ideas around. ( The phone company loves our long talks about it too !!! ) It is so difficult to find work in S/L so we may as well open a business ourselves and he will be operating the store there since

it may take another whole year for him to get here. Then someone in the family or close friend can take it from there.

Just wanted to bounce ideas around.

Omaba,

Where would the business be located? In large urban area? In his area is there a certain industry(s) that provide good incomes ( I am thinking something to target those employees and employers.) When I did a real quick search for S/L and found the economic summary below:

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $3.971 billion; per capita $700. Real growth rate: 6.8%. Inflation: 11.7%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 8%. Agriculture: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish. Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.). Industries: diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair. Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite. Exports: $216 million f.o.b. (2006): diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish. Imports: $560 million f.o.b. (2006): foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals. Major trading partners: Belgium, Germany, U.S., UK, Côte d'Ivoire, China, Netherlands, South Africa, France (2004).[/b]

Reading it didn't give me any ideas because it pertains mainly to big business... but it might give someone else an idea.

I really like the rice and staple store(non perishable items) the only things I would worry about it competition but I am sure he would know where such a shop is needed.

You mentioned a taxi service. I read that S/l was trying to increase tourism. If he had a taxi service maybe he could concentrate on private airport transfers....you know the guys waiting for you with a sign. A lot of tourist when they travel like to be meet at the airport by a prearranged and driver and not have to the hassle of trying to negotiate a taxi at the airport. ( I say this as a female who travels alot international on business. My company will pay 40-60 bucks to have me picked up at the airport..when I can hail a cab alot cheaper. Believe me its nice to have someone waiting on you at the airport when you arrive.) He can promote this thru company's that bring in foreign workers or guest and with hotels...or with a website. When he doesn't have any scheduled pick ups he would just operate as a general taxi. Down side you would have to provide a car that is nicer than the average taxi.

Anyway thats all I could come up with.......

ZiZi

Thanks ZiZi, good idea about the airport transport. For now though it is too high of an investment, but I like the idea a lot.

[Ta Ta 1]

And yes, location, location, location is very important and also how we can set apart our business from anyone else in the area.

[taurean 0]

And yes, location, location, location is very important and also how we can set apart our business from anyone else in the area.

Omoba: I can't agree with this more. As you know from being in Senegal everyone is selling something and most often the same thing, and even more often in shops right next to each other. Probably is the same in S/L. So I do agree that location is important. But it looks like you have that part covered already. One other point: since you are looking to sell staples, like rice and other boxed or canned items, you probably won't be affected by the frequent power outages. I think you mentioned that as an issue in your earlier post with the failed ice cream enterprise. Too bad Stephen couldn't become the DQ of Sierra Leone!

I wish you and all the other starting businesses luck in your endeavors! Please report your experiences because it would be beneficial to those of thinking to follow suit.

[Ta Ta 1]

And yes, location, location, location is very important and also how we can set apart our business from anyone else in the area.

Omoba: I can't agree with this more. As you know from being in Senegal everyone is selling something and most often the same thing, and even more often in shops right next to each other. Probably is the same in S/L. So I do agree that location is important. But it looks like you have that part covered already. One other point: since you are looking to sell staples, like rice and other boxed or canned items, you probably won't be affected by the frequent power outages. I think you mentioned that as an issue in your earlier post with the failed ice cream enterprise. Too bad Stephen couldn't become the DQ of Sierra Leone!

I wish you and all the other starting businesses luck in your endeavors! Please report your experiences because it would be beneficial to those of thinking to follow suit.

DQ of S/L ................well he tried

[Ta Ta 1]

We switched from talking about the rice and staples store to a poda poda transport business now.

Looking for decent priced vehicle and cheap shipping.

I heard vehicles are cheaper when shipped from Belgium and Germany rather than from the US. It takes a lot of time to find a reliable honest

shipper, some run off with the vehicle and shipping money.

Does anyone know of reliable, established reputable car shippers ? I am looking for word of mouth and reference versus online search.

Any other poda poda input welcome !

[reeses16 8]

Whats poda poda?

Hubby has a friend based in Poland that ships cards to Ethiopia. I'll get him to ask if they've done any in Sierra Leon or know people who do. It might take a while. I'll let you know when I get an answer.

[Ta Ta 1]

Poda Poda are the van sized vehicles to accommodate more passengers than just a car as taxie. We figured might as well fit as many people

in there as fit to increase the profit.

Thanks for checking reeses.

[Simply_Uno 1]

Poda Poda are the van sized vehicles to accommodate more passengers than just a car as taxie. We figured might as well fit as many people

in there as fit to increase the profit.

Thanks for checking reeses.

had to be difficult....just couldn't say a "van" nooooo, you had to say Poda poda

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Poda Poda are the van sized vehicles to accommodate more passengers than just a car as taxie. We figured might as well fit as many people

in there as fit to increase the profit.

Thanks for checking reeses.

had to be difficult....just couldn't say a "van" nooooo, you had to say Poda poda

In Ghana we called them trotros.

In Brooklyn, we called then dolla vans!

[Kanyiri 0]

They have trotros in Brooklyn?!

[Ta Ta 1]

Poda Poda are the van sized vehicles to accommodate more passengers than just a car as taxie. We figured might as well fit as many people

in there as fit to increase the profit.

Thanks for checking reeses.

had to be difficult....just couldn't say a "van" nooooo, you had to say Poda poda

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

They have trotros in Brooklyn?!

Yup! When I lived there we called them dolla' vans! And they were much faster than waiting for the bus. But they didn't have the "colorful" decorations like they do in Accra.

[LovinLiberia 0]

Poda Poda are the van sized vehicles to accommodate more passengers than just a car as taxie. We figured might as well fit as many people

in there as fit to increase the profit.

Thanks for checking reeses.

had to be difficult....just couldn't say a "van" nooooo, you had to say Poda poda

LMAO! I know, right?! I said the same thing. Anyway, in Liberia they are just called 'vans'. So unoriginal...