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View Full Version : What Precisely Do I Do.......?



b33j915
28-01-09, 23:05
I have received several PM as to what I do and how do I have so much knowledge in the Food Industry...so rather than reply all the messages, I will post here precisely what it is I do....

I am a FMCG (Fast Moving Consumable Goods) Specialist. My primary line of business is the Wholesale or Import/Export of Seafood....Primarily items sourced from the Pacific Northwest (California to Alaska). Before I started business in Malaysia, I was a Seafood Broker...I would basically source items and sell by the 40ft or 20ft container. As a broker, I would simply arrange the purchase and further resale of the items and take a small commission (3-7% depending on the items and how many containers were bought).

I have over 15yrs experience in the Seafood Industry as both a buyer and a broker. This basically meant I traveled around the US purchasing Seafood...from San Francisco to Maine and all states in between. Not a particularly glamorous job...but nevertheless a good one and I was damn good at my job.

I acted as of late as a "Ship Chandler"...meaning I specilized in supplying Luxury Cruise Ships...if any of you have ever taken a cruise in the Sth China Sea (Royal Clipper, Star Clipper or Star Cruise) within the past 5yrs....chances are the food you ate on board was supplied by me...from the salt and pepper shakers to 50kg sacks of "Wheat" for bread baking. In other words, if you want it and its available in any market, be it Europe, Asia, North America or South America...I am the man to see. I can get you the best quality products at the most reasonable prices, why? Because I cut out the need for purchasing through Wholesalers...I was a Wholesaler as well as MY OWN BROKER...So there was no need for several "middlemen" to gain a cut of my action....

I will provide a general list of the items I deal in...mind you, this is just to give you an idea of what I source on a regular basis, but I have had to catch many a late night flight to meet a delivery on special request from any of the Luxury Liners...That included securing chocolate from Belgium (actually flew there to make a purchase) to purchasing spices in Calcutta...this is my life, I love good food, and great wines...but most of all, at the end of the day...I love to get a call from my numerous clients saying.....

"Thank You...we couldn't have made that dinner such a success or office party without you"

Now that you know what I do, the reason I'm here is simple. One day I woke and have a near nervous breakdown...I just plain and simply got tired and the stress is unlike anything you can imagine. A typical day would start at about 12am (as it is 8am in the US Pacific Time)...I read stock reports and fishing manifests posted by the largest fleet fisheries on the East Coast, West Cost and companies in the Gulf of Mexico as well as Sth America. Come 5am, with my research done, I'd sleep for a few hours and at 9am...I would stroll thru the doors of my Frozen Food Company in Kuala Lumpur and look at all the rested faces of my employees. From 9am until 6pm, I went about managing the affairs of my daily business (Customs Clearance, Deliveries, Stock Checks, and Meet 'n' Greets to secure new contracts)...a typical workday for me was an easy 18hrs...16hr day if I was lucky...sometimes I would have 20+ hr days depending on when my Cruise Ship Season began...

As I haven't had much success getting this information on my own...I will put it to the readers of this forum for input. To be honest, I came here to get away from the food business and have some semblance of a normal life...but immediately seeing the need for precisely my kind of services after reading about a woman who couldn't find "Gerber" brand baby food or Salad Dressings...This was just totally crazy...so again I see myself drawn to what I have come to despise...It just goes to show, you can take a horse out of the race...but you will never take the race out of the horse...its in his veins!!! So to is the Food & Beverage Industry in mine.

I am trying to determine if its worth trying to break in the business here and take on some "Home Delivery'" clientele. I can meet or beat the current prices you are paying for items...more often than not...I can beat the prices significantly.

I would like to attach the lists however, there are too large to be uploaded. If you wish to view items please PM with your email and I will send along a copy of products I deal in. If there is enough interest and promises to support this form of business, I will seek the necessary information to get things underway. Right now, I'm interested in responses from the general public at large.

Tim M
29-01-09, 07:58
Send me the info, ill pass it on to my expat community at work

b33j915
29-01-09, 08:02
Send me the info, ill pass it on to my expat community at work

Done deal!!!!

Tim M
29-01-09, 08:14
How do you plan to deal with the huge problems importing products at the moment?

b33j915
29-01-09, 08:20
How do you plan to deal with the huge problems importing products at the moment?


This is twofold...there is always a way to do things...both thru proper channels and otherwise. If there is enough support and people are willing to pay me say 10% above my costs...that is an option. Typically the markups are 20-50%.

Option 2...circumvent when necessary and the costs will be added to the items in addition to the 10% fee.

I think this is more than fair....

atlantis
29-01-09, 08:35
This is twofold...there is always a way to do things...both thru proper channels and otherwise. If there is enough support and people are willing to pay me say 10% above my costs...that is an option. Typically the markups are 20-50%.

Option 2...circumvent when necessary and the costs will be added to the items in addition to the 10% fee.

I think this is more than fair....

You may want to browse through the website of the Directorate of Customs and Excise (http://www.beacukai.go.id/). They may have some infos to know for you business. They have some pages in english. If you require any text of law (bahasa indonesia version only :(), I should have quite a few in my database concerning imported goods. If you allow me a bit of time, I should be able to provide you with.

b33j915
29-01-09, 09:46
You may want to browse through the website of the Directorate of Customs and Excise (http://www.beacukai.go.id/). They may have some infos to know for you business. They have some pages in english. If you require any text of law (bahasa indonesia version only :(), I should have quite a few in my database concerning imported goods. If you allow me a bit of time, I should be able to provide you with.

Looking forward to it....thanx again:)

baliexpat
29-01-09, 11:50
Sounds interesting work. And you still have time to post here!

Mauricio
29-01-09, 11:53
I think I saw you standing outside the Mandarin Hotel at 11am earlier today...

b33j915
29-01-09, 12:57
Sounds interesting work. And you still have time to post here!

Actually I walked away from the business...kind of trying to get in touch with myself and whats important in life. I lost sight of a great many things over the years and just trying to figure out how to put the pieces of the puzzle back together again.

When I arrived here and began reading the posts...it just kind of hit me, no matter where I go and no matter what I do...I can never view food the same as "regular people". I don't walk in a restaurant and take a bowl of beef soup w/o trying to discern rather it was freezer burned or at same point was it thawed and re-frozen??? Its
really a strange thing sitting and eating with others and analyzing food.

But that is how I came to be in Jakarta, and perhaps its the love for the Food industry that may convince me stick around a little longer?

April
29-01-09, 16:18
Mmm...a very sleek way of advertising yourself but with a touch of spirituality.

I love your motto below though as that's what I am too.

b33j915
29-01-09, 17:07
I think I saw you standing outside the Mandarin Hotel at 11am earlier today...

If that is somewhere near the Grand Hyatt...then it was me!!!

Was looking for Western Union:D

b33j915
29-01-09, 17:10
Mmm...a very sleek way of advertising yourself but with a touch of spirituality.

I love your motto below though as that's what I am too.

Thank you...I believe in honesty above all else, I'm a simple person...no hidden agendas or pretentiousness, just wanting to make a difference in this short time we have on this planet!!!:D

baliexpat
29-01-09, 18:35
I had a feeling you might be into MLM :) I was in a similar situation two years ago with my job and took off to Asia. It was the best decision I made and have not looked back since.

I think with your experience you will be able to develop into some kind of business in Indonesia. Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

b33j915
30-01-09, 02:54
I had a feeling you might be into MLM :) I was in a similar situation two years ago with my job and took off to Asia. It was the best decision I made and have not looked back since.

I think with your experience you will be able to develop into some kind of business in Indonesia. Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Seems we are own the same page and have much in common from both a personal and professional POV. I will definitely keep you posted as I maneuver my way through this.

Hope all is well with you n ya girl!!!:)