Quote from Incognito

Would you believe this joke actually escaped me until just now?

Why does your money-making have to depend on women? Do you sell ladies' under-garments?

Cosmetics, essentially, in fact.

It would be indeed a strange twist if money earned from women was to be directed into mens causes!

Even better, because the direction would be voluntary, and not via the state theif!

Maybe you aught to consider stating your views on the issues that matter to you the most Dad Sav, relating to the cause.

My views are not yet fully-formed. This is the problem. I, as yet, have allot to learn. You mentioned an equal parenting party and men's party, though? If such things existed in Australia I would certainly get behind them. I could, simmilarly, see myself giving generously to an Australian F4J. I know some people might go 'hmph' because I seem interested primarily in Australian issues, but that's where I live so, y'know, it's my main concern.

You're an Avon rep? Anne Summers party host? Dude, I am getting concerned now...

There's a lot of money to be made off of women's vanity...lol

I actually consider myself lucky because I cannot wear make up frequently ...even lightly..without it causing skin problems. Saves me all kinds of money and hassle and time. I only put it on when there's a special occasion to...which works out to be just a few times a year. Works for me!

Dad, I too think that Australia is ripe for an effort.

I do not see F4J having had much success here to date even though there are one or two people interested.

I don't see a Political Party that has enough of a men's focus either, with the possible exception of Family First. But I did send them a lot of information during the last Federal Election process and they responded with some gratitude and positive encouragement.

What Australia needs is its own major internet publication for men's issues, family issues and societal issues that can exert some influence.

There are at least twenty fine MRAs in Oz who work their butts off in their own small patches. The Country is so huge and the population is so dispersed that a 'co-operation' and interchagne is sorely needed.

We have Groups here that have made TV adverts encouraging fathers, run a radio show that reaches around the world, conducted Uni research to counter feminist crap, organised men's shelters and services etc. Yet they are not linked up and not co-operating one with another.

We have half a dozen men on this site that are Australian.

I would be very pleased if some of us could get together to identify where sound opportunities lie and co-operate on a long and large project together.

Having a funding source that is involved at every level of an effort and exercising some control and direction with a 'business sense' would be ideal.

Quote from haahoo

No doubt about it incog, you probably have the highest posting stats on here when it comes to volumes and frequencies!

""..when it comes to volumes ..""

the cyber granary is groaning with her posts

Quote from shaazam

""..when it comes to volumes ..""

the cyber granary is groaning with her posts

You're an Avon rep? Anne Summers party host? Dude, I am getting concerned now...

I'm pretty sure I've said this in the past. I don't mind going over it again. Years back I wasn't doing much; I took some courses; mostly massage stuff, I also did aromatherapy massage though and I saw then that sort of stuff seemed to be becoming somewhat popular so I also did aromatherapy skin care.

There's a lot of money to be made off of women's vanity...lol

Tera says it best here. I started up a business which was essentially myself and two other guys, massage, didn't make allot of impact but from the start I had this small stock of what were essentially cosmetics which I was also selling there. I also did consultations; which is to say you bring someone in, examine their skin type, problems, etc and recommend various products for them to purchase that will help. Not many people would pay for consultations though, so I started giving them out basically for free like if someone came into the place, or if I'd given someone a massage, and then they'd usually buy whatever I had recommended, or sometimes I would then go and make the various products I had recommended for them and they'd pay X amount for that 'package,'

From the start, my business model was a little unusual, so that made it very easy for me to adapt and change focus. The basic set up was I was renting a small retail space with rooms; first it was only a tiny retail area and two rooms. I wasn't employing anyone, perse, the other two masseurs were renting their rooms from me, and their business was independent from mine. My space consisted only of a small retail space and a consultation room in which I could also do massage. I'd found, at this point, selling cosmetics was certainly the most profitable part of my business. So I expanded it; I enlarged my retail space, started giving free consultations to anyone. One of the masseurs left because he wasn't doing very well, and I replaced him with someone who gave 'organic' facials; basically facials using all-natural products. Then we got a manicurist, another person to do facials, another consultant.

My business model is still what it was; the retail space is mine, and anything I sell is profit to me. This attracts customers of course, foot-traffic, and people rent space off me to exploit this foot traffic and customer flow via their own skills (manicurist, facials, massage, I had an acupuncturist at one point) I don't do anything anymore except looking after purchasing stock (I have some expertise regarding imports and can sometimes put this to work) as the cheaper I can buy stock, the more money I make off it, this is the most profitable thing for me to be in direct control of. I employ two people now one manages one store and one the other, in regards to the retail area and both give free consultations. The others just rent space off me; this is good because they benefit from people who come in to buy cosmetics, and I benefit from people who come in to use their services, also the fact that each one pays me a fixed amount of rent simplifies the financial side so that the effects of a 'bad' week can only be so bad (of course it also limits how good a 'good' week can be) it's almost exclusively women who do business with me.

I've said this in the past but in my 'better' store I have a tiny little 'men's corner' with various products and cosmetics that are suitable for or useful to men; things to use after shaving for example. These things don't really sell but I keep them there just for the hell of it. Mostly if one of these things does sell, it's a woman buying it, probably as a gift or something.

I actually consider myself lucky because I cannot wear make up frequently ...even lightly..without it causing skin problems. Saves me all kinds of money and hassle and time. I only put it on when there's a special occasion to...which works out to be just a few times a year. Works for me!

You’re just the sort of person we target. Those for whom the harshness of chemical cosmetics are a problem. We don’t really sell makeup, mind you, apart from those few natural products which are available. We sell cosmetics for the most part like moisturizers, cleansers and exfoliates and things of that nature. I’m not just trying to too my horn, but the stuff we (and people like us) sell is better. There are harsh and unpleasant chemicals in most mainstream cosmetics which, with long term use, actually damage the skin.

Dad, I too think that Australia is ripe for an effort.

Very much correct, Percy. At the moment I am saving and considering perhaps the value, possibility, potential, etc of whether it might be worth trying to bring all of those Australian MRAs together in one place in the spirit of mutual cooperation; to foster close ties and plan some kind of agenda regarding cooperative effort in the years following. I have a friend who was heavily involved in the US con-circuit and am currently discussing the potential for a kind of 'Men's Convention,' or something simmilar. Of course such an event I could not fund entirely on my own and it would need to draw some kind of sponsorship, something like that, but I'm thinking on it.

I hope my post didn't offend.. it was said in jest.

Naw, it didn't, s'cool Marx. I realize it's not the most 'manly' line of work to be in; my friends are constantly reminding me of this fact (all in good fun of course) but it pays the bills so you won't catch me complaining.

I would rather not say it is 40+ hours a week but it is but I do sleep in between!

Quote from Daveyone

I would rather not say it is 40+ hours a week but it is but I do sleep in between!

I doth mine cap..

I have been there too!

Haahoo Haahoo it's off to blog I go I think it is just one of many ways to get the message across, Facebook is good too internet junkie or what