Archive for the 'merchant in SWG' Category
One of the perks I enjoy as a trader who doesn’t take sides in the war is the ability to go where I please and, generally speaking, not have to worry about who has control over that particular area. Rebels and Imperials alike are happy to buy my goods and very few bother to inquire whether I’ve taken up sides or not. I am, after all, just a simple tailor.
The sight of stormtroopers has never really bothered me. In fact, I’ve been known to smile and nod to the regulars in Theed. Why not? They have credits to spend on clothing the same as everyone else.
But the other day, catching a glimpse of that familiar white armor out of the corner of my eye suddenly caused a wave of panic to wash over me. The pistol!
Now I had no real need to worry. The pistol was safely hidden back at my house in the potted plant where I’d left it. But the fact that something as familiar as a stormtrooper had suddenly caused me panic made me think.
I have no desire to live in fear of any faction. It’s good for my business and my stress level to remain that simple tailor who sells to all without discrimination. I’m a little angry with this man for having burdened me with this silly pistol and all the baggage that has come with it. I’m a little angry with myself for not having had the courage to refuse it in the first place.
When he contacted me again to ask whether I’d purchased armor as he’d suggested, I explained that no, I hadn’t and I didn’t plan to in the future. I told him in no uncertain terms that I had no desire to live in fear. He asked about my past and i stood firm in my refusal to give him any more information about myself.
I saw him in the Theed cantina shortly after our conversation. He sat alone in a dark corner. I avoided looking in his direction and didn’t let on that I’d seen him. Outside the cantina, I ducked behind a pillar and spied on him for a bit.
I still don’t have a clue what prompted his interest in me in the first place. I don’t know why he’d be concerned about me having weapons and armor or even more perplexing, why he’d fake it if he’s not. I honestly don’t know if he means me harm, is trying to protect me somehow or if I’m just a pawn in some mind game he’s concocted to stave off boredom.
It’s tempting to simply cut off communication with him. Everything to do with him seems to lead to danger or the threat of it. And he remains distant no matter how hard I try to be friendly.
But I’m not sure it’s wise to walk away just yet. They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer…. so which ever he is, I suppose it’s best to just play along for now.
The committee came to a decision last night. We all agreed that the needs of our members can best be met by making our union official. So I acquired the necessary device and registered our new guild.
I’ve written before about how uncomfortable I am with the titles and all. But I’ve decided to step outside my comfort zone and accept the position of CEO. I believe in this project and I’m passionate about seeing it succeed even if I’m not the ideal woman for the job.
Fortunately, I’ve got a great team.
Brassk Gilla has taken the position of Executive Vice President. His clear thinking and good business sense has been instrumental in bring us this far. It doesn’t hurt that he’s quite personable (for a Trandoshan) and has inspired many to eagerly follow him (who wouldn’t be inspired by “Do it, or I’ll eat you”?)
LongJie Yun is our Vice President of Logistics. He is an accomplished pilot whose skills will certainly help us secure the most efficient and profitable shipping routes. He’s made himself available to help train new pilots as well.
We’ve several positions we still need to fill, but we’re off to a great start.
Since the Beowulf Squadron dissolved, I’ve been looking for ways to keep myself busy…and keep my mind off how much I miss everyone.
What started with casual get-togethers of local business people has recently transformed into an official committee with the purpose of seeking out ways to connect merchants and shippers with one another to maximize profits. As chairman of this committee, I’ve had plenty to keep me busy. So much so, I decided to leave the new guild so I could concentrate my efforts on my job as chairman.
It’s been a great opportunity to meet some new people and use my own business experience to help others…. and just the thing I needed to fill the hole WULF left in my life.
Many years ago, when I was first starting |Bahama-Wear|, I dreamt of a successful tailoring business. Back then I thought if I could just sell enough clothing to support myself, I’d be successful.
Recently I’ve been thinking about what success means now. Admiral Fenris shared his thoughts on achieving the rank of Admiral and obtaining his pride and joy, the Agamemnon. I completely understand how he might be a bit sad to have reached the top.
My business now is successful beyond anything I’d imagined. Just the other day, a customer I’d never met called me a celebrity. I still find that rather funny and I know he was probably just being a little dramatic…. but it made me think.
I have achieved creating a successful tailoring business. So what’s next?
I like having goals. I like working toward something. So is there still something for me to work toward?
Though sometimes it’s like keeping up with the laundry, I try to keep my vendors well stocked. I work toward serving the customers I have and winning over new ones. I work to supply uniforms to the fleet and find ways to get all our members everything they need to succeed in their choosen professions.
But in all the work and goals and meanings of success, a key thing is lost. See, I didn’t become a tailor because I wanted a successful business. I became a tailor because I have a passion for clothes. Because I love the thrill of putting together a terrific outfit or discovering a color I’ve never tried before or making someone look really good.
Success isn’t defined by how many customers, ships or credits. It doesn’t depend on level or rank.
Success is knowing what you love to do and being able to do it.
I was working in my shop the other day when a couple came in.
The woman walked in and the gentleman ran in after her yelling, “Hey!”
I said hello and asked if there was anything I could help them with. The woman ignored me and walked over to the vendor. The gentleman looked at me and said, “I need a ring.” Before I had a chance to respond the woman said, “Come on, I got one.”
“Well I need one”, he replied. In a harsh tone she said, “You didn’t get yourself one??!!” Sheepishly he replied, “No.” She marched back over to the vendor and purchased a second ring. I smiled gently at the gentleman and said, “Looks like she’s got it for you.”
She swung around abruptly and said, “There! Now let’s go.” She was out the door in a flash. The gentleman politely thanked me and then ran after her.
I give that marriage 3 days.
I was out doing some bargain hunting the other day. I did a search for all items selling for a credit. I picked up a couple of paintings, a load of couches we used to decorate the guildhall and various little nick-nacks. Good deals, all of them.
A pack for sale caught my eye. It was named “+20 Power Bits”. I don’t do much work at all with enhanced items. The couple of time I’ve bothered to enhance a piece of clothing it’s been just to add +10 luck to a wedding gown. After all, every girl should have as much luck as possible on her big day!
To someone who doesn’t work with them much, +20 power bits are quite high. The limit is +35 and it takes someone with a lot of experience and luck to produce that. I personally can’t make a +5 bit so I quickly saved the waypoint for the +20 pack and went to check it out.
The vendor the pack appeared on had only a few items on it. Other packs were labeled ‘+30 bits’ and ‘+35 bits’. Every other pack was listed for the maximum number of credits - so not really for sale at all. Why the heck would someone be dumping a pack full of +20’s?
I purchased the pack and was immediately guilt ridden. It had to be a mistake. None of the other packs were for sale. A pack with 34 +20 bits was certainly worth more than a credit. This poor trader had made a mistake and here I was taking advantage. Shame on me!
I quickly took down the name of the woman who owned the rest of the packs on the vendor and added her to my friend list. When she showed up as available, I tentatively sent her a tell.
“I bought a pack from your vendor yesterday. I think it might have been a mistake”, I began. “The +20 power bits?”, she replied. See. I knew it. Too good to be true. It was a mistake. I started thinking about whether I’d retained the waypoint for the shop so I could return it to her…
“No, that wasn’t a mistake. I don’t use the 20’s. Only 30’s and up.”, she said. I reread that line over and over with my jaw hanging low. Whoa! She doesn’t even use the +20’s. They’re beneath her. She continued, “I was actually planning to fill that pack up with 20’s before you bought it.”
Needless to say, I’ve saved the waypoint of that vendor. One man’s trash…(No, you can’t have it. Go find your own trash! :P)
You can have multiple factories, vendors, crafting tools, tons of high quality resources, adequate storage, a great brand name, a well researched price list and a fancy droid with a crafting station installed…but without customers, you’re not a trader.
So how do you go about getting customers? There’s many different strategies and which will work for you depends on what line of business you’re in, what kind of business you run and even your personality. But here’s a few good places to start:
- Put your tag up. Choose a tag that clearly describes the trade you’re in. Make it easy for folks to see what you do and they’ll be more likely to approach you about your products.
- Walk. Now that you’ve got your tag up give them time to read it. When you’re in a public place walk, don’t run.
- Go out and meet people. People like to buy from someone who’s familiar. Get out of the shop and do some crafting in the cantina. Chat with folks at the bank. Talking with folks about general things can open the door to discuss what your business can do for them.
- Be polite. Always. Even the Dark Lord himself doesn’t want to do business with someone who’s lacking in social graces. Any time you’re out in public your potential customers are watching you. Act like you care.
- Follow up. If you have a positive conversation with someone about your business don’t forget to follow up! Send them an email telling them you enjoyed meeting or talking with them… and don’t forget to include the waypoint to your vendor. If someone asks for a product you can’t yet make, take down the name and item. Email them when you learn to make it. Even if they’ve already bought the item elsewhere chances are good that they, or someone they know, will want it in the future.
- Give it away. Freebies are a great way to get your brand name out there while also improving your reputation with potential customers. It doesn’t have to be big and fancy. Choose something you can afford to give away.
If you put your focus on your customers (not your level) you’re sure to become a successful trader 
So you’ve decided to be a trader rather than a collector of schematics. You’ve started stocking your vendor with all the items you can make, done your research, experimented on the bazaar with various items and prices and you’ve got a price list started. Perhaps you’ve even made a few credits selling already! You’re off to a great start. Now’s the time to aquire the other things you need to run your business.
- Factories. Sooner or later you’ll want to own your own factory. Many items require crated components and these can be costly to purchase from others. All things considered, factories are a good investment. In addition to being able to make the components you need, factories are a great place to store extra materials.
- Crafting tools. Be sure you make or buy at least 3 quality crafting tools for your area of expertise. It’s also good to have a generic on hand as well. Having 3 will allow you craft continuously with little or no wait time between items. This is also the time to experiment with where you keep your tools and materials. Be sure you’ve got things set up for maximum speed and efficiency.
- Personal crafting station or droid. You’ll need one or both of these to craft higher level and higher quality goods. I highly recommend droids with crafting stations installed but they may not be the best choice for you. Do your research before you buy.
- Brand name. Depending on which trade you’re in and what type of business you plan to run, you may want to put some effort into developing a brand name to set your products apart from your competition.
- Suppliers. If you’ll be harvesting all your own materials, you’ll need to obtain harvesters and survey tools. If you’ll be purchasing materials or components it’s a good idea to see if there’s someone in your neighborhood you can get a deal from.
- Storage. Trading for a living requires that you have a lot of materials and components available. Which means that you’ll need to find storage solutions. I already mentioned that factories can be a great place to store excess materials but then you have to go to the factory to retrieve them. Another possibility is to create a personal storage vendor. These days vendors can be packed up into your datapad and carried around for convenience. This is a good solution if you’re careful to attend to the stockroom, maintenance fees and always double check to make sure you’re packing, not removing, the vendor and everything in it.
Even with all this taken care of there’s still one more thing you need to be a master trader. Can you guess what it is?
I’ve seen a lot more traders around lately. You see them surveying for materials outside Mos Eisley or at the bazaar, presumably selling their wares. Many I’ve met are concerned about one thing - becoming a master of their trade. They set their crafting tools to practice mode put it on auto and expect to come back a few hours later a master trader.
But from where I’m sitting, I think they’re missing the point. You’re not a master trader until you’ve mastered trading, or the buying and selling of commodities. Otherwise you’re just a collector of schematics.
So, what’s my advice to new traders seeking fame and fortune? For starters, take your tool off practice mode. Actually make, by hand, several units of every item you have a schematic for.
- Record what materials are needed for each. You’ll need this information later to know which materials and how much of each you’ll need to harvest or purchase.
- Take the time to figure out how much each item costs you to produce. Now’s the time to start developing your price list and step one in doing that is figuring out how much you need to pay just to make it.
- Do some market research. Head to the bazaar and see what comparable items are going for across the galaxy. How many are up for sale already? Who’s your competetion? Is there a niche that’s been overlooked that perhaps you can fill?
- Get a vendor. Place a shop, set up a vendor and begin to sell the items you can make. You’re going to have to experiment a bit to see which items will sell best and at which price. Don’t assume that because an item is lower level there isn’t a demand for it. It’s also ok to sell things for less than they cost you to make. You’re paying for your education here!
- List on the bazaar. It’s a whole different game. Items tend to sell for much more on the bazaar in Mos Eisley than on vendors. Folks will pay more for the convenience. You’ll also find that demand is different. Those who are new to the galaxy have different needs and wants than those that have been around a while. So experiment and find out what you can make that they want.
That should keep all you traders busy for a bit ;) Next up: What you need to run your business.
I’ve been asked which is the best trader profession a few times over the past week. I find it an odd question. I’m a tailor because fashion is my passion. I always assumed shipwrights enjoyed crafting spacecraft and weaponsmiths felt strongly about powerful weapons. I guess it’s not always that way.
Which profession is ‘best’?
First, I have to wonder why they think I’d remain a tailor if I didn’t personally feel it was ‘best’. Then to answer their question I have to calculate what ’best’ means to them. Turns out for some it’s how many credits they can bring in and for others it’s how easy it is to master.
I suppose I can understand considering the potential profits. We all need to make a living. But to be honest, if money were my only consideration, I wouldn’t be a tailor. I make enough to take care of myself but I’m not rich.
I’ve only ever been a tailor and I went about mastering it the long way so I’m in no position to offer advice about the easiest profession to master. In general, sewing isn’t difficult and I’m able to craft high quality goods from even the most mediocre materials so I guess in that respect, tailoring is ‘easy’. But like any trader profession, you still need time to the learn the ins and outs of your particular craft. You need to accumulate experience, factories, resources, schematics, vendors and a customer base. There’s no magic formula for any of it. There’s many paths to being happy and successful in a particular trade.
I’ve agreed to mentor and help some wannabe traders. But I think the most valuable advice I can give is to follow your heart and make your own path to success. That’s what makes a trade (and trader) the ‘best’.
