Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 15:39:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Larry Moss <moss@balloonhq.com>
To: Balloon Decorator List <balloondeco@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Re: Web sites for balloon decorators

Cherrie, I'm going to start where you ended your note:

> We all have to decide for ourselves what's best for our own businesses.

I agree.  I'm not trying to change your mind.  I think everyone has to make
their own decisions.  If that means that you choose not to have links to
other sites, that's fine with me.  But, you seem to be contradicting
yourself ...

> Not so much afraid of competition as to following the "big boys" with like I 
> said deeper pockets then me. 
 
So, are you deciding for yourself what works for you, or are you following
others?  You just pointed out that K-Mart, one of the "big boys", made
mistakes.  All businesses, no matter how big or small, are prone to make
mistakes.  Even if the big companies always get everything right, that's
what's right for them.  It's not necessarily right for a small business.

The type of business also has impact on your actions.  You mentioned
Qualatex and Tuf-Tex at the same time before saying that you'll look to see
what they'll do.  Just because they sell balloons doesn't mean they're in
the same business as you.  They want you to succeed because that's how they
make their money.  But they manufacture balloons and sell them to other
businesses.  You sell to consumers.  You have to have different business
plans.  In fact, that's why all businesses should create a business plan.
You can't simply use someone elses.  It is reasonable to look at what other
businesses do for ideas.  Just don't depend on them to make your final
decisions.

Now, I've just stated my feeling about using other businesses as guides,
but I'll give you the examples you asked for of major businesses exposing
their customers to their own competitors.  I'll even leave BHQ out of it so
no one can accuse me of being biased.  I get invitations from companies to
visit trade shows all the time.  Letters, sometimes even tickets, show up
directly from vendors telling me which shows they'll be at.  They know that
if I go to those shows, I'll see their competitors booths.  But they're
convinced that in the end, I'll buy from them if they can get me to see
their stuff.  A specific example is IBAC.  While IBAC itself is a Pioneer
sponsored event, and only Qualatex balloons can be used at IBAC, the
Halloween and Party Show is across the street.  Pioneer hasn't withdrawn
money from IBAC because someone might walk across the street and visit the
Tuf-Tex booth.  Sure, they don't want to lose customers to Tuf-tex.  I
don't blame them.  It costs money to get new customers, so who wants to
lose the old ones?  But, they know that exposure to another vendor doesn't
mean you'll jump ship.  After all, they're the ones putting lots of money
into a big balloon convention.  They know that you'll see much more of
their product.  They know that their name is in front of you more of the
time you're in Chicago.  

I know some people will continue to have links to BHQ and other balloon
industry sites.  Others will never have links to other industry sites.  It
is a decision you have to make for yourself.  You asked for counter
examples to your own.  I just wanted to give you one to think about.

Maybe this should be the next BHQ poll question - links to other sites or
only links within your own. (If you haven't voted in the poll about sharing
books and videos, you have until the end of the month. -
http://www.balloonhq.com/survey)

Larry Moss
BalloonHQ.com