Some of Detroits suburbs, and cities across the country, have either disappeared entirely or have become almost ghost towns when their major employers move or close down. This consequence makes no sense. A city is made up of a community focus and people with different/multiple skills. When the major employer leaves, the normal thing to do is seek a replacement from outside--a new employer. That approach does not make much sense as those employers are usually successful and happy where they are and have often made capital improvements that should not be abandoned. A super way to bring back to life any city would be for those remaining to decide what they like to do best and offer same as entrepreneurs and/or as less expensive competitors to larger companies. For more specific examples; a cannery is closed down when shrimp is no longer plentiful enough to can. That same citys cannery can be used to can fruit and vegetables at negligible cost since the cannery equipment, the most expensive component, is still there. This new enterprise can now offer canned food at half the cost of the major competitors. [If bringing in the produce becomes expensive, it is logical and feasible to grow the produce locally--read greenhouses were necessary.] Also, one way to quickly find out what to sell can be based on what the community likes to eat and offer same to the community at cost! Perhaps the previous major employer was involved in electronics manufacturing; TVs, radios, etc. America wants inexpensive phones and cell service. America also wants printer ink pots that retail about $25.00 and use about $.05 worth of ink. The list is endless. Compete with these companies. Find out what different markets are selling a lot of and determine at what price and benefit to sell at! America wants better, often less expensive, faster, fancier and SOMETIMES, plainer and simpler goods and services. So--make it faster and less expensively. Offer your employees a percentage of the action/equity IN LIEU OF high salaries--for salaries were what sunk the last company! [High salaries require high pricesand we can only easily compete with speed and quality control. Since no nation can give the public the PERFECT combination of price, quality and speed [to market].......you have a chance--in fact, a perfect opportunity! Keep in mind within your city that you can and should have many independent contractors so that you wind up with more companies--so these small[er] entrepreneurial enterprises can grow on their own! I could add a myriad of examples on how to do this, but all it really takes is some research and matching of local skills, hardware and market threat. |
