Ask HN: What are some middle man businesses in the market?

[Retailslave]

I'm young adult and I'm looking to start a business. I'm particularly interested in businesses which let me enter the market and become a middle man. I just need some ideas for products that I can buy from whole sale suppliers and sell to others. If any of you have ideas but wish to discuss them privately please contact me.

Can you help me HN?

[CyberFonic]

Your business idea is somewhat "before internet". Unless you add some real value to the supply chain, your buyers will go to your wholesale suppliers directly.

[Retailslave]

I distribute it to them, they don't have time to go and buy from the whole salers because, A. Not enough space. B. they can't buy wholesale

But what are some internet ideas that I can use? I know hacker news is more focused on internet/programming related businesses.

[CyberFonic]

Read your other submissions. You seem to be really looking for something worthwhile to do.

1. You really need to get a handle on what you understand and like. Without that you will get trapped in doing something because the money is there, but your heart isn't.

2. Retailers sell what their customers want. If you can get ahead of the curve then that is a big win. To succeed at that you need to understand some market segment well and have an affinity for it.

3. The internet makes it very easy for retailers to locate products. Those that don't will expect the representative (you) to beat a path to their door with samples. The big chain retailers will not buy from some bit player.

4. Anybody can buy wholesale. Those that can't have a credit worthiness problem. Do you want to take them on?

5. Those who don't have the space. Well are you going to be running an inventory and then ship in smaller quantities?

6. You did say in one of your earlier posts that you have some considerable capital. You could always fund some excellent ideas by bing an angel investor. That could provide better ROI than shuffling stuff around.

[Retailslave]

First, I'd like to say I highly appreciate your post, it was rather informative. This is what I love about HN!

1.I've always read, and have been interested in investing in the markets,(I read financial news daily) however, I know no one in my environment that would have knowledge of these topics or anyone that would provide me any insight. I know investing in some stocks won't make me much, I'm not delusional and I know how much prices generally fluctuate. I've tried finding classes in my college but there aren't I know. I also don't know anyone who deals with anything related to computers, software, websites, or anything technology related. I wish someone would let me in and show me what they do so I have an idea of how businesses operate on the internet.

2. Makes sense, deal in something you are interested in. but I am not planning to sell to retailers but people who will directly use my product(other businesses). The product that I have in mind is non-perishable, and in demand daily, the type of competition is closest to a monopolistic competition, probably somewhere in between perfect competition and monopolistic, so entry and exist is not very difficult. Profit should probably be low though, until I have "relationships" with the people I'm selling to. The most important thing to them is price however.

I can talk more in detail if you provide an email. :)

4. Hmm, you're right. I am unable to do any such thing.

5. No I'm not doing any shipping. If I knew how to operate a site I would. It would open up a lot of possibilities.

6. Not considerable in any sense for any of you.