Please excuse my headline today. I just couldn’t resist…
You see, I was driving in the country yesterday (there is a lot of country near me) and I passed by the most bizarre form of roadside vending that I have ever seen.
The normal standard for roadside food is
the vegetable or fruit stand.
Local farmers or people just trying to make
some extra cash will set up a stand along
the road and sell a huge variety of foods.
…that was until yesterday.
Yesterday was different.
Yesterday changed my life forever.
Well, not really, but it made me whip my head
around in disbelief.
What I originally thought was a hotdog stand,
turned out to be a pea stand.
Yes, these people were only selling peas and
nothing else.
They also didn’t have a single customer and
stands like this usually have a group of people
waiting to pay.
So what happened?
They violated small business rule number one.
Sell something that people want. I mean, sure
people like peas, but are they really going to
pull the car over, and stop just to get a fistful
of peas?
Apparently not.
Next time you think of the most novel idea on the
planet, please check with your customers first
to find out of it’s a good idea or not.
Otherwise YOU might pea on your small business.
I am just finishing up the Underdog Marketing 101
book, so pretty soon you will have the opportunity
to download 101 different techniques for bringing
more customers into your business for free.
Have a great and powerful weekend.
Until Monday,
Joshua Black
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{ 11 comments }
Joshua:
Thanks! I did get a good chuckle from the headline and I needed that on this Friday morning.
I look forward to Underdog Marketing 101 book. I am sure it will not violate small business rule number one.
- Rick
I look forward to Underdog Marketing 101 book. I am sure it will not violate small business rule number one.
+1
Joshua mate, what a brilliant headline and use of words. I love the way you consistently weave a valuable business lesson in every story you tell, this one was especially well done – thanks, really enjoyed that one!
Thanks for the laugh. Perhaps you could have suggested to those pea sellers that they read your blog for some great business tips. Do you have a business card with your name, photo and blog address? I am thinking that it is about time I put one together for the next time I go past a pea sales stand.
Thanks for stopping by Michael. One of the blessings/curses of my position is that I see the most random things that I never would have noticed before. Almost everything in daily life is a small business or marketing lesson, because it’s all about human behavior and giving people want they want when they want it.
-Josh
Ha ha, I love the title of the post! It’s true though and is a must to consider when starting any business. As you referred to in your other post if people were to take an idea that is already successful and tweak it by 10% then they will have an even greater product that will attract more customers.
Anna
Thanks for stopping by Anna. The 10% rule is a much quicker way towards coming up with a successful business model.
-Josh
That must’ve been a pretty funny sight to see though! Lol… a pea stand.
Anyway, it’s an important lesson for THEM as well… because if they don’t give up, then it’s a failure that they most likely won’t ever repeat. If they ever set a stand up again, do you think it’ll be selling peas (I think not)… maybe it’ll be green beans but hey eventually they’ll fail enough until they finally see some success (provided they don’t give up in the process).
Thanks for reminding us of the fact that it may be the coolest idea to ourselves, but ultimately if nobody else thinks so, it won’t get anywhere.
P.S. I came to your site from a comment you posted on Alex Whalley’s blog. I’ve subscribed to your feed and looking forward to reading more great articles! Keep up the great work…
Classic mistake – wrong love. Falling in love with your stuff instead of your customer.
Hopefully those “pea-brains” will realize their blunder and create a more compelling offer.
Like cabbages.
Joe,
Yum, cabbages (blahhhhh!). There could be a pea stand/cabbage soup vendor side by side. That would really get the customers moving.
-Josh
i am sure that if that seller sold some cool drinks, he will become a big entrepreneur,, nice and motivating article,,