Re: UKNM: So, any techys from BOO like a job?

[Robin Edwards]

From: Sarah Clelland <

sarah [dot] clellandsnowvalley [dot] com

>

>BUT, if the lunatics have taken over the asylum in the

> finance department, is there a case that the techies are the

> scapegoats for what was actually a failed business strategy?


Most definitely. Ian (if you've still got net access), are you able to

comment now?


> I fear that many businesses who have let impatience override sound

> business judgement may go the same way as boo.


Undoubtedly, but you can almost feel the heat from the tar brush being

applied to your back because we're all Internet bods ergo we can't make a

profit :o(


Note to VCs: Make a questionnaire to follow when seeing start-ups thus:-


(1) Are you a loss making e-commerce start-up?

(2) Can you realistically make a profit?


If "yes" to (1) and "no" to (2) then don't back it! Simple as that.


Actually, any VC with so much as a shred of business accumen will look at

the boo.com scenario in detail and understand that it does not automatically

mean they should ignore valid exciting business opportunities.


IMHO it is purely a press thing, and an easy target to boo(t).When Rover

sadly ran into trouble I don't recall the press predicting the demise of the

motor industry. Mainly because the public would have rightly said, "what a

load of crap."


I'm sad because:


* Many talented people are now having to unsettle their lives and find a new

job. Clearly some of them will find it difficult because they are being seen

as responsible for this, regarldless of what actually happened (spending

more money than they were earning).


* The press will milk this one for all it is worth, and will gloss over the

success stories, of which there are just as many, but they don't make for

great TV/print.


* The share prices of totally unrelated businesses will suffer unnecessarily

causng a whole heap of trouble, and all because of mis-information and

hysteria.


All I can say is, I hope at least someone got some enjoyment out of spending

the money (and no, I don't believe all of the stories about extravagent

spending as I, like most of us here, don't actually know what was going on

behind the scenes). I also hope that all of the gloating, press and industry

alike, is short lived and isn't taken personally by those who really are not

to blame.


> Anyway, if any techie from boo.com with good asp skills is out there,

> Snow Valley can offer you a good home.


And if any ex-boo's have had enough of London (WTF was a mail order retailer

doing in the centre of London anyway?), you know we're waiting for your

call.


Robin

--

Robin Edwards

Clockworx

T: +44 1543 252370           F: +44 1543 420761

E:

robinclockworx [dot] co [dot] uk

     W: http://www.clockworx.com/ W2:

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