Amazingly simple way to make money
Amazingly simple way to make money
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Discussion

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

267 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
Over the weekend I met up with an old schoolfriend who wanted to talk to me about a business proposal. As it happens the proposal didn't appeal to me. Anyway, we got chatting about how he made his money in the 1990's. In short, he noticed that shops that were busy tended to produce better financial results - no surprise. However, by simply observing the 'busyness' of shops he found that, with some accuracy, that he could predict retailers that were likely to show good and poor results. Based on simply 'counting' people that left certain stores having purchased goods, he started buying and selling shares. Apparently, nowadays there are a lot of companies that monitor such things - so it's not as easy to be ahead of the game.

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
I'm sorry, are you saying that by looking at businesses and noting if they're successful, you're able to ascertain whether they're successful or not. that is bloody genius. i can see why they pay you the big bucks.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
Hmmmm....?

Marks and Sparks was always packed out round my way, as it trickled down the pan......

minimax

11,985 posts

286 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
nervous said:
I'm sorry, are you saying that by looking at businesses and noting if they're successful, you're able to ascertain whether they're successful or not. that is bloody genius. i can see why they pay you the big bucks.




I can just picture your indignation nervous

chim_knee

12,689 posts

287 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:
if I knew that I'd be a bloody rich agent.
Are you not, then?

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
god, theres soooo many jokes in there... im sorry LaLa. im doing my best not to say anything.








:snigger: you said 'toss'

minimax

11,985 posts

286 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
nervous said:
god, theres soooo many jokes in there... im sorry LaLa. im doing my best not to say anything.








:snigger: you said 'toss'


think yourself lucky he didn't say swizzlesticks or something equally hilarious, then you'd be stuck

scoobz

6,578 posts

278 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
LA, do you write stuff for the movie type industry?

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
minimax said:

nervous said:
god, theres soooo many jokes in there... im sorry LaLa. im doing my best not to say anything.








:snigger: you said 'toss'



think yourself lucky he didn't say swizzlesticks or something equally hilarious, then you'd be stuck



thats genuinely just ruined me: you said swizzlesticks. im done for now, giggling like a child here

minimax

11,985 posts

286 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:

nervous said:
:snigger: you said 'toss'

Duly altered!!


actually 'flick' is quite funny too

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:
Back to Srebbe's exact topic - can someone really quantify success by mere numbers?


Fermat could.

>> Edited by nervous on Monday 17th October 23:22

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

267 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
nervous said:
I'm sorry, are you saying that by looking at businesses and noting if they're successful, you're able to ascertain whether they're successful or not. that is bloody genius. i can see why they pay you the big bucks.


Astonishingly yes - but a little more scientific. Reason being, by the time the sales figures had made their way back to the boardroom it could be days, weeks or even months! If sales were slow, then a profits warning would be issued and there would be a run on the share price. Equally, if profits were higher than expected then the share price would rise. He had a knack of being over 80% right. Nowadays, it's different because the retailers and investors have wised up.

With retailers, profit is almost always turnover driven, because the overhead costs tend to be constant regrdless of turnover. So, for example, if turnover rises by, say, 10% then profits may rise by, say, 30%.

minimax

11,985 posts

286 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:

minimax said:
actually 'flick' is quite funny too

Sorry, Srebbe, this is why I write comedy now, everyone laughs when I'm serious.



which shows do you write LA? got any going at the moment? got any links? i'd be interested in taking a look

how is your city after the quake the other day? ok I trust

Tom

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

267 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:

srebbe64 said:
So, for example, if turnover rises by, say, 10% then profits may rise by, say, 30%.

I don't understand a word of that. Brain too small.


Well, imagine you own the local Tescos. You employ 50 people - and you have to pay their wages regardless of how much food is sold that week. Equally, you have to pay electricity, rent, etc, etc.

Let's assume you make 20% Gross Profit (you buy a pie for £1 and can sell it for £1,20).

If your turnover is below a certain figure you are certain to make a loss. If however, it gets above a certain figure - for every quid take in the till you make 20p. As such, the profit line is seldom straight - it jumps around depending on turnover!

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
ask him about his floor :snigger:

moleamol

15,887 posts

293 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:

minimax said:
got any links? Tom

Tom, YHM.
Can I have a peek too? Considering consultancy in this line of work so find it all interesting

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
srebbe64 said:

los Angeles said:


srebbe64 said:
So, for example, if turnover rises by, say, 10% then profits may rise by, say, 30%.


I don't understand a word of that. Brain too small.



Well, imagine you own the local Tescos. You employ 50 people - and you have to pay their wages regardless of how much food is sold that week. Equally, you have to pay electricity, rent, etc, etc.

Let's assume you make 20% Gross Profit (you buy a pie for £1 and can sell it for £1,20).

If your turnover is below a certain figure you are certain to make a loss. If however, it gets above a certain figure - for every quid take in the till you make 20p. As such, the profit line is seldom straight - it jumps around depending on turnover!


you had me at pie.

scoobz

6,578 posts

278 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
los Angeles said:

minimax said:
got any links? Tom

Tom, YHM.

hey i asked first!

hustlebabe

790 posts

256 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
minimax said:

los Angeles said:


minimax said:
actually 'flick' is quite funny too


Sorry, Srebbe, this is why I write comedy now, everyone laughs when I'm serious.




which shows do you write LA? got any going at the moment? got any links? i'd be interested in taking a look

how is your city after the quake the other day? ok I trust

Tom

Oh please do include me in this L.A.
Can we meet next month when i'm in LA?

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
scoobz said:

los Angeles said:


minimax said:
got any links? Tom


Tom, YHM.


hey i asked first!


yes, but youre a scouser. do you think that poor old Cracked-Tile himself needs his work stolen and sold down the pub to some struggling hallmark tv exec?