Re: UKNM: Nutravida

[Duncan Clubb]

Dear Mike and Trevor

Assuming that I am one of the "philosophical pratts" referred to below, you

should know that an awful lot of the contributors to this list are what you

term

dotcom pioneers and ARE in a position to discuss these matters with a degree

of

authority.  A lot of us, myself included, work for startups, have a great

deal

at stake, and have been through the mill on more than one occasion.  If we

can't

take criticism on the chin, then we are doomed to repeat the mistakes made

by

others.  This list serves as a very useful forum for all involved in this

industry and, personally, I think most of the views aired in the thread in

question were valid and not aimed at any one company.

Handbags away, now.

Duncan Clubb.


Mike's Mail wrote:


> Trevor ...this is the first time i have written to this site .your last

> paragraph is the best thing i have ever read here

> you are exactly right in what you said......i too am with a start up that

is

> experiencing financial difficulties because of the market

> place not because of the way we have run the business.

> too many people have their 'two pennys worth' when they themselves haven't

> the balls to stand up and be counted ....every one in this business

> has taken a risk to do this but at least we have done it and not been some

> philosophical pratt who claims to know everything about the dotcom

> world while hiding behind a glass wall in a trendy office.(no offence

> intended )when ever anyone thinks of slagging off us dotcom pioneers just

> stop and think if you would give up your cosy 9 -5 job and risk not paying

> the mortgage and being able to look after your family just to try and

> do something like trevor and his collegues have.......yes there are some

> dreadfull business plans out there that don't deserve to exist but don't

tar

> every dotcom with the same brush.........

> ----- Original Message -----

>

From: Trevor Millett <trevor [dot] millettnutravida [dot] com>

>

To: <uknmchinwag [dot] com>

> Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2000 11:20 PM

> Subject: UKNM: Nutravida

>

> [Sam says: this was sent by Trevor Millett from Nutravida in response to

> comments made on the list. As far as I'm aware Trevor isn't a member of

the

> list, himself. As I've said before when Brent from Lastminute.com took the

> time to reply to comments on the list, it's laudable that senior

management

> of companies take the time to respond to the list.]

>

> As the CEO of Nutravida I would like to respond to some of the comments

made

> by your contributors. Firstly we have not spent money either excessively

or

> imprudently. We raised circa �1M, a large proportion of which went on

> creating a fully transactional web site and the support services needed to

> operate a retail site. The balance has gone on operational losses

supporting

> the business in its early few months.

>

> Our business model forecast a break into profitability in the Autumn of

> 2001, our performance to date has supported this as being realistic, if

not

> prudent. Unfortunately, to achieve this we need additional funds to

finance

> the short term losses and such funding has proved very difficult to find.

> Despite the almost hysterical comments of one of your contributors, this

is

> not an unusual business scenario. Venture Capitalists, Bankers etc would

not

> exist if all businesses made a profit from day one. Believe it or not most

> of todays huge business concerns made losses in their early days and

relied

> on the faith of their financial backers to support them through to

solvency.

> Unfortunately, in our case as in several others, the market climate to

> support pure online B2C plays has moved so radically that investors are

> extremely nervous. I understand that even though I think they are now

being

> too cautious and their caution might sound the death knell for my

business.

> None of this is 'little children playing at business' or any other such

> rubbish. For the record I am 41 and have spent a lifetime running 'real

> world' companies. It is just part of the cycle of a free market. Very few

> 'dot coms' were founded or managed by lunatics and many investors will yet

> see a very healthy return as the market returns to normal, as it will.

>

> There is a saying about those who 'do' and those who 'watch' -  my fellow

> investors, my staff and me had the courage to get up and do something. It

> was always fairly high risk and everyone involved knew that. Some of your

> contributors might be less bitter and better able to pass comments if they

> had the courage do the same.

>

> Regards,

>

> Trevor

>

> Trevor Millett

> Chief Executive

> Nutravida

> 32 Brook St

> W1Y 1AG

>

> Tel.020 7290 1700

> Fax.020 7290 1701



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