I love what I do, I do it very well, I have the best product in the market, strong backing (financial and logistical) and am very good at dealing with clients. But still it feels like I am trying to swim up a waterfall.
I have one main competitor who previously held a monopoly and who's name is almost a by-word for the products within Ireland. While their products and service are regarded as very poor, through deals and their parent business they have direct connections with almost every major client in the country.
I have been told by contacts within my industry that several companies have together decided to do everything to run me out of business. Even state organisations have strung me along at a safe distance for months then suddenly dropped all contact, avoided my calls and then awarded the work to one of the companies mentioned previous. My competitor has also offered clients free service just to make sure I won't get the work.
One time I had a big meeting with one of the county's top sporting organisations, the day before, the person I needed to meet told me he couldn't make it and that he'd send his assistant. I suggested postponing, he said no. I found out after that my competition acts as consultant to this organisation, heard about my meeting and called an emergency meeting purely so the guy couldn't meet me. It was like a kick in the teeth.
The last 10 months have been an incredible rollercoaster ride and I will not be stopping. Even without external forces I have made many errors of my own, eg I now see that I practically priced myself out of the market for the first 5 months. Being the best doesn't seem to be important. What matters is being cheapest! I also need to find ways to raise my presence. Sending out full colour, glossy brochures just doesn't seem to make people book me. I reckon that 80% of my market wouldn't even think of me when they want my products. Even though I have rang, email and sent promo material to them for the last 10 months!! Crazy!
Any thoughts? Have other business owners here experienced similar things? An extremely succesful freind of mine tells me that I have everything and that I just need that one last ingredient.....that lucky break. It better be quick!!
I have one main competitor who previously held a monopoly and who's name is almost a by-word for the products within Ireland. While their products and service are regarded as very poor, through deals and their parent business they have direct connections with almost every major client in the country.
I have been told by contacts within my industry that several companies have together decided to do everything to run me out of business. Even state organisations have strung me along at a safe distance for months then suddenly dropped all contact, avoided my calls and then awarded the work to one of the companies mentioned previous. My competitor has also offered clients free service just to make sure I won't get the work.
One time I had a big meeting with one of the county's top sporting organisations, the day before, the person I needed to meet told me he couldn't make it and that he'd send his assistant. I suggested postponing, he said no. I found out after that my competition acts as consultant to this organisation, heard about my meeting and called an emergency meeting purely so the guy couldn't meet me. It was like a kick in the teeth.
The last 10 months have been an incredible rollercoaster ride and I will not be stopping. Even without external forces I have made many errors of my own, eg I now see that I practically priced myself out of the market for the first 5 months. Being the best doesn't seem to be important. What matters is being cheapest! I also need to find ways to raise my presence. Sending out full colour, glossy brochures just doesn't seem to make people book me. I reckon that 80% of my market wouldn't even think of me when they want my products. Even though I have rang, email and sent promo material to them for the last 10 months!! Crazy!
Any thoughts? Have other business owners here experienced similar things? An extremely succesful freind of mine tells me that I have everything and that I just need that one last ingredient.....that lucky break. It better be quick!!