78 - Selling Drugs, Vending Machines and Stripping Bankrupt Companies for Parts with Chris Koerner
Nov 1, 2024
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Chris Koerner, a savvy entrepreneur and Nik's business partner, shares insights from their impressive journey generating over $100 million in various ventures. They discuss clever strategies for acquiring assets from bankrupt companies and the wild success of their viral perfume vending machines. The duo reflects on the challenges of rebuilding sales teams and the realities of unexpected business failures. Don't miss their entertaining 'marry, date, or kill' segment where they evaluate intriguing entrepreneurial ideas.
The podcast highlights the potential for entrepreneurs to acquire assets from bankrupt companies through social media outreach, unlocking unique business opportunities.
It also discusses the transformation of viral ideas, like perfume vending machines, into profitable ventures while emphasizing the importance of adaptability in entrepreneurship.
Deep dives
Generating Revenue from Business Ideas
The discussion revolves around innovative business strategies that can be executed by anyone, focusing on the potential of turning unexpected viral moments into revenue-generating opportunities. The hosts share their journey of creating a successful business from a viral post about perfume vending machines, realizing they have inadvertently entered a lucrative market. They emphasize the significance of simply reaching out to entrepreneurs or business owners through social media to acquire assets from bankrupt companies, showcasing a strategic approach that anyone can replicate for financial gain. This method not only democratizes business opportunities but also illustrates that substantial income can stem from proactive outreach and unique ideas.
Updates on Perfume Vending Machines
The hosts provide insight into their venture involving perfume vending machines, detailing the surprisingly high sales figures they have achieved despite initial hesitations about starting a 'real' business. They discuss the significant revenue generated—up to $200,000—yet convey the challenges faced in achieving consistent sales, particularly after key sales personnel left unexpectedly. New hires are now in place, enabling them to pivot their product offerings to include not only perfume but also items like cotton candy vending machines, demonstrating their adaptability in a changing market. This evolution highlights the unpredictability of entrepreneurship, where initial successes can lead to new ventures that require ongoing strategizing.
Lessons Learned from Business Failures
The hosts delve into a cautionary tale about a company called The Pros Closet, which specialized in buying and selling high-end bikes but ultimately went out of business despite significant sales figures. They analyze the missteps that contributed to its downfall, particularly emphasizing overvaluation of inventory purchased during a surge in demand during the pandemic. Industry dynamics are explored, revealing how external factors, such as shifts in consumer behavior post-COVID, can dramatically impact established businesses. This narrative serves as a sobering reminder that even seemingly successful companies can falter if they do not adapt and forecast market changes effectively.
Leveraging Negotiation in Pharmacy Benefits
A compelling business opportunity is presented around pharmacy benefit management, particularly through a model akin to Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs, which aims to increase transparency and reduce costs for companies. The idea is to assist businesses in renegotiating their pharmacy benefits by providing expert insights and leveraging market rates to secure better pricing. This model, which can save significant money for companies, emphasizes the vast untapped potential in the pharmacy sector, especially for organizations with large employee bases. The discussion reveals a systematic approach that entrepreneurs could adopt to navigate the complexities of pharmacy benefit negotiations, thus opening new avenues for consulting services.
Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), and my business partner Chris Koerner (https://x.com/mhp_guy) as we dive into another episode of HoldCo Bros! Chris and I have generated over $100 million across our companies, and every Friday, we brainstorm ideas and share exclusive insights into our businesses. This week, we discuss strategies to acquire assets from bankrupt companies, an update on our viralperfume vending machine business (over 20 million views!), and much more. Don't miss our 'marry, date, or kill' segment where we evaluate the three ideas we discussed. It’s a good one!
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we’ll talk about GPT for Google Sheets, a creative dating idea, and a business called Water Finds that we think you’ll find interesting. Be sure to share, like, and subscribe!
How can you buy assets from bankrupt companies to start a business?
How do you turn a viral idea into a profitablebusiness?
What can we learn from The Pro’s Closet’s failure to avoid similar mistakes?
How to make money with Negotiations as a Service?
Which business idea is worth pursuing and why?
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Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________
00:00 Introduction to Business Insights 00:53 Perfume Vending Machines: A Viral Business Model 03:19 The Pros and Cons of Business Growth 09:05 Exploring the Pros Closet and E-commerce Trends 15:18 Understanding Pharmacy Benefit Managers 21:03 Business Opportunities in Pharmacy Negotiations 26:20 Marry, Date, or Kill: Business Ideas Discussion
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