Easy Money From Offices

David Montgomery, 47, and married with three children, was made

redundant by an office supplies firm in the Midlands, following a

takeover.

He had worked there for nearly three years, knew a lot about the

business, and so decided to set up on his own.

This is his story.

From my relatively short experience, I knew that the margin of

profit on most office supplies is greater than for just about any

other product sold at retail, with profits on many items running

as high as 300%.

I was also aware that most Office Supply companies are quite large

concerns with consequently large overheads, which includes rent

for attractive branches in expensive areas, wages for telephone

and other office staff, commissions for the expensive

representatives, delivery vehicles, etc.

Additionally, not many people appreciate that all the suppliers

have two sets of prices for everything in their glossy free 300

plus page catalogues - one set in the free catalogue for their

'direct' customers, serviced by their own reps, and one (with no

name on the cover, for independent agents) for which they charge

around two pounds.

I operate entirely from home, using a cheaply shelved Talbot

Express high roof van (they have more inside space than any other

similar vehicle) which I have on a three year lease for just over

$45 per week, including servicing.

Originally, my wife answered the telephone at home and took

orders and enquiries whilst I was out delivery brochures to

potential customers and requested items to existing customers, but

I now have a smart vodaphone in the van, obtained by taking up one

of the cheap offers in the National Press.

The rental is just $25 per calendar month, and as I rarely make

outgoing calls, the 25p per minute cost of these is not a problem.

I do however make use of the rather clever 'call transfer' system,

which automatically at the press of a couple of buttons, transfers

any calls to me direct to my home telephone.

This ensures that I don't miss any calls whatsoever; the small

cost of this really does pay off as I need never miss a call,

which is much appreciated by my customers.

In this way I have totally eliminated nearly all the overheads

normally associated with this type of business.

Additionally, since I need no other assistants, there are no wages

and so on to be paid.

I have established a regular route of small offices and businesses

in the area which I call on weekly, taking orders and making

deliveries there and then of the faster selling items.

Other items are obtained usually the same day and because I have

reduced the overheads to nothing more than the expenses of

operating the van, I can undercut all my competitors by a wide

margin.

Although anyone automatically gets at least 30 days to pay for the

items, as I do from my suppliers, I also offer a straight 10%

discount there and then for cheque on delivery.

An amazing 70% of the smaller customers are quite happy to do this

- saving us both money!

I have had no problem in obtaining all the customers I can

conveniently serve; you could do the same.

Start by looking in your local Yellow Pages under Office

Supplies.

Nearly all the companies listed there will supply you with their

catalogues with blank covers for your own name.

I'm now (after only 18 months), making a take home pay of an

average $900 + per month.