Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The Skeptic




I opened a small retail store on Main Street in Riverton, Wyoming in 1994. I started very small, part-time, sharing retail space with another fledgling business, a trophy and engraving shop called Lasting Impressions. I soon outgrew that arrangement and moved to a larger location, resigned my position as Director of a Technical Training School, and took the plunge into full-time entrepreneurship. I sold sports memorabilia, apparel, comic books, gaming supplies (Dungeons & Dragons and the like), pool cues, darts, paintball supplies, and just about anything else I could fit in my store. I even had a game room with pool tables, coke and candy machines, and video games. My enterprise grew by leaps and bounds as it was about 120 miles to my nearest competition. My customer base ranged from hard-core sports nuts (of which I can relate) to the Magic the Gathering and D&D crowd (of which I pretended to relate as it was good for business). Business was booming.

Sometime in late 1995, a man walked into my store with a salesman’s gait and a large satchel. It was a slow day and I decided I would listen to his pitch before I tossed him out into the street. He was from a company called Ty (which I had never heard of) and he had a new product that was going to “sweep the nation”. Then he opened his case and proudly produced the most ridiculous looking, poorly made, generic, piece of crap I had ever laid eyes on. He introduced them as Beanie Babies. He further stated that my business (due to size, location, reputation, and success) had been selected to be the exclusive outlet for this product in my town. He assumed that blowing that much smoke up my ass would endear him to me. He was wrong. He did not realize what a skeptical person he had encountered. Though I had lost interest immediately and was paying little attention, I believe he said that a $3,000 initial outlay would assure me all of the new issues, of which many were planned. I rather rudely dispatched him from my establishment, but not before belittling his product as only a person of my wit and cruelty can. He urged me to reconsider, but when he fully assessed my size and attitude he left by his own power, without fully closing his sample case. Beanie Baby extremities were frantically waving goodbye to me as he exited.

By Christmas of that year, every Tuesday morning throngs of grandmas encircled the block waiting for Jerry’s Flowers and Things, a block or so east of me to open. Tuesday was the day the new issues of Beanie Babies arrived. This phenomenon continued for several years. You see, the somewhat androgynous Jerry was open-minded and saw the profit potential in selling crap to people who collected crap. He made a fortune from this foresight. Though I also sold crap to people who collected crap, my crap seldom appreciated 5000%. I tell you that story to tell you this story.

In 1998 I heard through one of my wholesale distributors that a new game called Pokemon was being released soon that was going to “sweep the nation.” I immediately placed my order. I am skeptical but not a complete fool. I bought this game direct from the factory in the largest quantities allowed. I usually pre-sold the entire issue before it ever arrived. I would not even open the cartons; just redirect them to eager secondary market buyers as far away as Australia. For nearly two years I profited more from that one product than everything else in my shop combined. Sadly for some, Pokemon sales hit a wall shortly after I sold my business and moved to South Carolina. I tell you that to tell you this.

A couple of months ago a COSTCO member that I was visiting in my role as Business Development Representative told me about Vemma, a new and wonderful nutritional product he had just discovered. It was going to “sweep the nation.” My ears and mind opened wide. He gave me a bottle to try. In a few days I realized that I was going to buy Vemma. I did a little research and decided I was also going to also sell this amazing product. I have since given samples to others who have shared my excitement. Anyone who is suffering from any health issues can benefit from replacing whatever nutritional supplements they are taking and this one simple product. I cannot adequately describe its potential in this forum but if you take a moment and visit my website www.myvemma.com/rickwainright you can learn about this incredible product. As you have read previously, I am a hard sell. I am admittedly the most skeptical person alive. If I am sold on it, you will be too. Whether you are looking to just improve your well-being or are looking to embark on a home-based business, this product is for you. I am no longer selling crap to people who collect crap. I am selling a better quality of life and everyone needs that. Feel free to ask me any questions. rickfanattic@yahoo.com.

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