sundaymorningstaple wrote:I though vinegar was a drink? Durain was asking about fruit or food.
You'll use most anything as an excuse for a plug! Even to deliberate misreading of posts!
Actually you are quite right, i do plug vinegar for health, so it was like a duck taking to water, when Durain just asked the right question at the right time, just like diving, and swimming right!
Although i am not plugging any particular brand, and vinegar is officially listed as a food (condiment), than beverages in accordance with the FA, although that may also change in the not so near future, when vinegar drinks become the norm, I should imagine.
So Durain would do very well indeed selling durian vinegar, can you imagine how many durians are sold in Singapore & Malaysia, although nobody is presently developing it yet, it will more than likely be in the market within the near future, I'm working on it!
My main point, which i believe to be very important, piece of advice for locals, is that you do not need qualifications, to do good business and networking, and exhibitions are the place to do it.
Although one must be very confident on how to handle people, especially when so called experts turn up, and try to turn the tables in front of customers in an attempt to discredit ones information.
Like i was approached, while discussing with a crowd of people only to be challenged, by one person saying, I must be careful about what i claim, because this person had study bio-chemistry... I found it quite distracting, this person interfering with a demonstration.....
So quite openly i asked for her business card, to see that she was, in fact in another kind of industry...then I asked her, if she was accussing me of making false claims in public, which was beginning to be disturbing, because I only follow, what is quoted by noble prize winners...
So i found the time quite appropriate, to invite the Singaporean up and explain their professional knowledge on vinegar to the public, and we will compare it with the noble prize winners....but she quite embarassingly refused, and made a hasty retreat, obviously, she thought i was a sales rep, that she could bully into silence, but the table was quickly turned....I have never ever claimed to be an expert, although i do claim that my research is deep and on going, so I am open to discussion and I am confident, of my man management skills, having just turned the tables on one, who was getting a little too cocky for her good in a public place. It turned out she knew very little of drinking vinegar, for all her bio chemistry she had studied...she was infact in tourism
but just had her confidence rocked.
Although I must say, the manufacturer from Taiwan was very amused on my personal management skills, to run his Taiwanese operation, he offered me a job, to be his export manager....But that is below, what i have been educated for....so I had to say no, I work for no one but myself, and i am an examinated export consultant and business advisor, I cannot be bought, cheap anyway. I base my work on positive results only, and charge a percent of gross revenue I generate, I wouldn't take on a position until I knew the inside out of the product and business environment, so my time would be spent researching, and keeping updated on the market trends.
So he hired my services in Taiwan, to develop the world markets, arranging all the exhibitions, I have also been requested to hold a lecture for a prominent Singaporean government owned Company.
My point being if you know your product inside out, it matters, especially if you want to represent others....its not a matter of being a degree holder, it's rather like having a hobby and enjoying what you do best. (womanising can also be a fulltime commitment) which can be turned into a more positive aspect of hospitality! Like networking! So if you have the gift to chatter, you just need some fine tuning!
I have good man management skills by hands on experience as a military team leader, and SNCO instructor.....so I can in most cases use the so called experts of knowledge to my own advantage, by letting them take over the class, if they have the confidence to do it.
There is no point in trying to discuss ones point with someone that knows more, in front of a class or a crowd, all the person is attempting to do, is get the lime light, one must be reminded thatl the right time comes for questions and answers after one has finished. If they persist on interrupting, then turn the tables on them and get them to lead the speach, showing that you still have control.
From a networking point of view exhibitions are the way to go, but can be expensive for the new start up, although one can minimise the cost by sharing, a booth....
I tasted some very nice organic biscuits from Taiwan, and lots of coffees' hope they will be here in Singapore very soon!
providing i can play my tune 
and i agree it does get very boring. 
Although i guess its a nice bit of tail!
Well you wouldn't be far wrong, with that! Although i am trying hard to get to bed these days, for my beauty sleep, not that i need it, because there isn't much competition around these days in our age group 
