Fionn Downhill – Digital Shenanigans

Well we did it our first black Friday.  Got up at a respectable 7.00 a.m. and left the house at 8.00 to head first to Fashion Square.  Place was deserted and some of the stores were not even open.  When we did enter the stores they were quiet and I am not at all sure where the bargains were I did not see many.  Its seems that there are a handful of items at a good price and everything else was normal or with a slight discount.  It was just like any other Christmas shopping day and we did get pretty much everything we set out to get just not at very cheap prices.  We then headed to Nordstrom rack.  We were not dissapointed and we picked up some great stuff there.  A $400 pair of pants for $120 and a Juicy Couture shirt originally $180 for $50.  Good old Nordstrom rack my favorite store in Phoenix.  We went to Kierland later in the day and  picked up the last few items and still no rush or crowds.

My other daughter and husband went to Wal-Mart and said it was just like an ordinary Saturday they got everything they wanted as he was responsible for the electronic purchases.  Even got a new blender but we have strict no blender for gift rules.  A blender as a gift equals an instant divorce filing so the new very good blender which only cost $14 is now fully operational on the kitchen worktop. 

We went to Palm Springs on saturday for some R&R and paid a visit to the Cabazon outlet mall.  It was like a madhouse.  We only stayed 40 minutes after parking in god knows where miles away it was too crazy for me.  I saw on the news about the crowds everywhere so what gives is it Arizona? Does the fact that we have now lost more jobs than Michigan have anything to do with it.  Where is our presidential hopeful John McCain as Arizona slips deeper into the Abyss with a mother of all commercial real estate crisis predicted for the New Year maybe our Black Friday turnout is an indication of  just how bad our economy is.

A very happy thanksgiving to all my readers and friends.  After living in the US for 13 years and two years as a nationalized US citizen I have decided to brave my first Black Friday.   As a Black Friday virgin I have decided to take it easy on our first time out and start at 7.00 not 4.00 a.m.  I have convinced my teenage daughter to come with me.  I am curious more than anything else.  I have completely wimped out on going to the big box stores and will be hitting Scottsdale Fashion Square to first check out the new Barneys store.  I figure that might be a bit quieter but since its my first time who knows….

I am hoping to survive and I will report back on first Black Friday experience if I survive!!

Its the dream of the Internet start up.  Find an interested investor and get in front of them to give your passionate pitch.  Investors see many passionate pitches but invest in very few of them.  They are looking for passion, business acumen and an opportunity to make lots of money quickly if your pitch does not convince them of that dont bother.  You have to able to convince them that you and your business are that opportunity.

But if you are not already making a lot of money be prepared to give away a large slice of equity if you  want an investment.  Remember investors are only interested in making a lot of money.    However, if you cannot convince them that you are a credible person they can do business with then you are likely to leave your pitch empty handed.  These two young internet entreprenurs had a strong pitch but had to give up 50% of their business for a reasonably small amount of money. 

Hungry House - An online home food delivery service in the UK.  Here is their pitch.  They lost 3 investors quickly but finally won two.  All Dragon’s Den investment deals are subject to due diligence by the investor before proceeding.  I would love to hear from the Hungry House owners how it went after the Den.

Part 1

Part 2

What is Minnovation?  This interesting article from Harvard Business discusses why it is not necessary to be the next Bill Gates to be an entrepreneur and piggy back on existing ideas.  I saw an entrepreneur last night on Dragons Den (one of my absolute favorite TV shows and a must for anybody who ever plans on pitching investors)  She had a business distributing a line of fully recycled gift packaging.  Interestingly enough, despite the dragon’s green leanings they were quick to point out that in order to survive she needed to expand to ‘recyclable products” as well as products which were made from f”ully recycled paper”.  A good example of minnovation adding something different to an existing lucrative market but leveraging the existing market to make money.  Upon her agreement Theo Pafitis owner of one of the biggest stationery chains in Great Britain backed her.  He liked her green idea but not much use if it doesn’t make money and profits.

This is a very funny post about the upcoming world cup match between the Irish and the French.  The Irish are funny even if I am biased. 

Nicolas Sarkozy and the Irish get out of the box

Go boys in in green!!

My beautiful little niece in Ireland in her Gymboree Pumpkin outfit!!! I never saw a pumpkin in Ireland so I am sure she was a novelty. Not only a pumpkin but a cute little human one.

No cuter pumpkin than this one