43. The food supplement branded "Thailand-Secrets".
Shortly after we got back from our Thai adventure, I started mulling over the idea of producing some
interesting product using my trademarked project name. Usually after returning from the land of smiles,
nostalgia keeps me going for a long time, which makes me create new ideas to add value to the whole
project. Not to mention that the daily maintenance of the project, with at least 30 posts a day on the
Facebook page, keep me moist and living two lives - one the real one in Sofia and the other mentally in
Thailand. I conducted a poll among a group of friends of different genders and asked them the question
"What product do you first signally associate the name Thailand-Secrets with?". I was not surprised at all
by the result. Almost every single answer was "Think something around sex tourism. Thailand is known as
such a destination". The next step was to research the market for reliable supplement manufacturers who
had the capacity to fill our order and, with our submitted prescription, produce a minimum quantity. We
found a great Bulgarian one. My wife, being a graduate with a degree in Clinical Pharmacy, was able with
a little help to complete a successful formula for a multifunctional aphrodisiac. It was to have many uses
as a preventative, to aid male energy and reproduction. And so my trademark shone on 2,000 packs of 60
vegetarian capsules. As a matter of fact, I developed great marketing and with the assistance of a leading
doctor in the field, we were able to sell those quantities through. And something even more important.
We really believed we were helping its users. First and foremost for us has always been the social impact
of everything we do, not so much the profit. The emotion around all of these events was so energizing
that it made us feel better ourselves. It all went on for about 3 years and instead of bravely moving
forward, we made the sensible decision to stop. Temporarily for a start, and then it turned out to be
permanently. Many factors emerged that motivated such a decision. And they are by no means related to
some failure and insecurity. On the contrary, we really had a desire to go very far. However, the market
itself was shackled by many new regulations that did not allow us to reach our full potential. And, when
any business model reaches a situation where it cannot be fully developed, then it is better to make a
rational rather than an emotional decision. For any business, it also needs serious investment to take it to
another level. Something we could not afford either. You never know, one day we may renew and further
develop this mission of ours, but only time will tell.