The crisis continues – this time hitting the Western world and distribution. Last month it was about factories being closed and not able to make the product- now it is about Western countries / USA – being able to receive and ship it. Can you believe yesterday, March 17, 2020 amazon suddenly announced it will not accept new inbound shipments …
Company Retreat in Bohol Turned Operation: Evacuation
Writing this up from my hotel room in Bohol under much different circumstances than I expected for our team retreat. Rushing to the airport on Thursday, Marc told me that Manila is considering going on full lockdown. I wasn’t sure if I could make my flight before the lockdown was announced or what would even happen. Flight went like normal …
On “My Worst Investment Ever” Podcast Sharing Biggest Business Failure!
Still on a roll getting the word out online and was invited on the “My Worst Investment Ever” podcast with the amazing host Andrew Stotz to share my biggest business failure. Was a pleasure to be on – and it was a bit painful to share and dig up those memories (and the money lost) – but we need to …
Watch a Budding E-commerce Community Grow – Trip To Baguio, Philippines
Catching my breath after two 7 hour bus trips to Baguio and back in a few days- but it was quite the experience! Note – if you go to Baguio – bring a light jacket – it is cold. 5,000 meters above sea level, you will take a coach bus for 7 hours and towards the last hour you will …
True Passion – Sharing and Teaching People How to Earn a Living
“Back at it” – The Alpha Rock Capital partners have let me loose and to do what my passion is – to share and spread the good word. Alexa and I took a trip to Quezon City (my old home from 2010!) to speak at Ace and Andi Estrada’s Manila Mastermind e-commerce event. A few hundred attendees there, all local …
First Week in Manila: Volcano Hit, Studio Work
Been a week now in Manila and I know I’ve been quiet. Busy – rested up last weekend after a rough flight w/ bad connecting flight. And Monday morning started off the week with a volcano eruption Welcome to Manila! So in today’s video blog just a walk through some of BGC / Makati and meeting the team I’m working …
We Bought a Shoelace Amazon Business
We Just Bought a Shoelace Business (example of what I’m doing lately) To give people on the personal blog a bit of an example, at Alpha Rock Capital we just purchased a business selling elastic shoelaces on Amazon. They previous owner had been building it up for a couple years and it is a top ranking product in the re-usable …
In Bloomberg About the Trade War & SME Effects
Quoted in Bloomberg About China/USA Amazon FBA Merchant Stress I’ve been talking to quite a few journalists lately about the effects of the USA/China trade war on small business owners. One of them decided to take a quote – and it is in Bloomberg, Monday June 24, 2019 Here’s the link (paywall): https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-23/u-s-china-trade-war-hits-amazon-s-small-businesses And here’s a screen capture And here’s …
Re-Entering The Bar Products Online Retail Industry
Re-entering the Bar Products industry A bit early stage to say anything, but hey – this is my random personal blog and I have been wanting to get it out of my head for a while. So my first e-commerce business, that I started in 2005, well technically started on eBay in 2004 but launched the website in May 2005 …
Interviewing Top Chinese E-commerce Executives
Interviewing Top Chinese E-commerce Executives. Mike’s Blog 134 Going deeper into the China side of cross border e-commerce export. Spent a ton of time this past week interviewing top Amazon FBA sellers in China and service providers. What is crazy to me is the rest of the world has no idea who they are – they are like a faceless …
Helping Clear Out Good Deals – Win, Win, Win!
Helping Clear Out Good Deals – Win, Win, Win! Mike’s Blog 129 As a blogger, I think that is what I am – I am always trying to find ways to justify all this content I am creating. Well – it’s not just for me but for my wife and kids (I get regular reminders!). I love making these videos, …
Announcing The Big Thing I Thought I’d Never Do Again
Announcing The Big Thing I Thought I’d Never Do Again Mike’s Blog 119 So, a ton of my friends have been on the edge of their seat waiting for today’s announcement. I really had trouble keeping it to myself but I want to make sure I had everything ready before getting it out there. So, time to spill the beans: …
Signed The Papers, Transferred my First Business Over
Will be a quick post, but monumental for me. I’ve been blogging (i.e. complaining) about the the difficulties of winding down my first business, as a couple weeks ago, based on all the circumstances (“checkmate in USA operations”) as well as positive future in China social media and consulting, I MADE a decision to close it, that is what a …
Winding Down My First Business, Moving Onwards + Upwards
This post is the real deal, many of my close friends have been advising me not to post this, but I’m not going to cover up, make up some fake business deal or share transfer. I am living and learning, and I am not afraid to openly blog my business and life experiences. I hope you guys get something out …
Business Tour Guide? No, I’m a Chinese E-commerce Consultant
Have had my ‘tour guide’ hat on the past couple day, and expect to keep it on for the rest of March. I was tour guide of the year at my university, being one of the first tour guides to start during my first year enrolled there. I enjoy showing people around new places and giving them insight and advice. …