My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
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Retail Chain Ladder
Start with small regional chains, prove success, use data to access larger retailers
Why It Works
Reduces risk for larger retailers, provides proof points and case studies, builds experience with retail operations
Prerequisites
Product with strong unit economicsAbility to measure and track velocitySupply chain that can scale
How to Execute
1
Target 3-5 stores in regional chain for pilot
2
Document velocity, customer feedback, and profitability metrics
3
Expand within same chain based on performance
4
Use success stories to pitch similar-sized chains
5
Leverage smaller chain success for meetings with national retailers
When It Fails
Poor performance in initial stores, inability to maintain quality at scale, or insufficient differentiation
Real Example
“Brothers Nuts went from 3 Fresh Time stores to 70, now using that data to pitch Whole Foods and Sprouts”