making money in Colombia

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 30, 2005, 10:31:

Millionaire receipe Take approximately $500 US to an exchange house. Convert for pesos,

Congratulations, you are now more than a millionaire in pesos.

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kernow62 says on Jan 30, 2005, 13:44:

Damn, I not even peso rich!

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spigrimace says on Jan 31, 2005, 02:42:

It's not easy As a business owner there, I can tell you a millionare in dollars isn't easy. I went from a corporate schlep making just shy of 90k (Remember I pay NYC prices so I lived at about the poverty line. lol) and I am forecasting making in profit about $20,000 this year in Colombia but am planning on plowing it back into the business and expanding. But where I used to pay $2400/rent a month I am now paying COP$600.000 or about US$255/mo. So if you can make a million dollars in Colombia, that's like amassing $10,000,000 in the US.

Personally, if you want to make a great business, I'd work out logistics on exporting flowers from there as I am astounded at the markup because flowers that I pay like $100 in NYC because they're considerded "exotics" are like COP$10.000 or $4 from a street vendor in Medellin.

Good Luck

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lpdiver says on Jan 31, 2005, 07:51:

Spigramice The two bouquets of flowers that I buy each week are often tagged as product of Colombia. I get them at Albertsons in Louisiana and pay about 3.99 per bouquet.

Of course I am sure you get a much larger bouquet in Medellin.

Antony

"cook some rice!"

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Bluesdude says on Jan 31, 2005, 07:56:

Bluesdude
No Mas Gringas Por La Vida

Bluesdude No Mas Gringas Por La Vida

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londonmalecomesback says on Jan 31, 2005, 10:12:

Okay so basically flowers could make me a million Good advice as you fly over Bogota you see all the greenhouses full of flowers. Should i grow flowers myself or just export them. Any other ideas would be appreciated

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cremaster says on Jan 31, 2005, 10:49:

Spigrimace That $4 you pay for the bouquet is the ´Gringo´ price. The Colombians are probably paying only about 50 cents for a bouquet.
So, yeah theres plenty of room to make money. Also, itt´s apparently easy to start whollesaling flowers locally (in America). Get a shipment , drive around to the flower-shops, you´re in business.

Patrick

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TiaKatia says on Jan 31, 2005, 18:03:

What do you guys think? Would it be a good business to sell Colombian leather goods in US? The quality of shoes and bags here keeps amazing me, not just the quality of the leather, but also the designs. I estimate that similar stuff costs at least 3-4 times more in the US. Obviously I already bought tons of things for me and my family and friends, but maybe I should try to export? It just seems like such a good business. But I am sure US retail market is tough. Has anyone tried to export Colombia apparel or shoes and bags?

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Lionheart says on Jan 31, 2005, 18:16:

Colombian leather The US and European markets would be tough. Most consumers and high end retailers want Italian brands. I wouldn't be surprised if some Colombian leather is actually re-branded for Italian manufacturers.

I assume only creating a market big style would work to be worthwhile. With the Colombian import/export problems smaller deals are probably not worth it.

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kernow62 says on Jan 31, 2005, 18:52:

Brazil was doing a good trade in the US in shoes, not very good quality usually but better than Chinese imports. The low end of the market is cornered by China and a few Eastern European countries whilst the better leather goods are from European countries and you pay for them.

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TiaKatia says on Feb 1, 2005, 09:07:

Tinto, "but with the hundreds of thousands of Colombians in several large U.S. cities, someone has probably had the same idea."

That's what I thought too, but I haven't seen any of these things f.ex. in DC or NY. The quality of Colombia leather goods IS really high, looks a lot like Italian stuff you would get in the US for hundreds of $$$.

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YEP says on Feb 1, 2005, 11:22:

he he ... Tinto ... I've heard political advisors don't come Cheap either ;-)

Then you can stay a "closset valento singer" ;-)

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Just another scandinavian getting ready to explore South America

------------------------------------------------------------------- Just another scandinavian getting ready to explore South America

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TiaKatia says on Feb 1, 2005, 11:38:

Tinto Thanks, will check it out.

Good luck with the vallenato career!

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ARMacleod says on Feb 1, 2005, 13:57:

For you Londonmale. 1. Try your hand at the snow clearing, that's a winner:or
2. Importation of antifreze for windscreen washers.
3. Colombians tend to drink a lot of Coffee, try importing it.
4. They are very short of paraquat tasters in Bogota?
5. Get a life!

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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