Global Economics and Trade Help Desk and Q&A

[Palisede]

I have another question: Is it possible to have a thread that specifically requests storefronts come forward and put forward proposals in exchange for a contract? (as per real life process, known as "request for tender"). Or is that too demanding for them? (or contribute to spam?)

[Common Territories]

I have another question: Is it possible to have a thread that specifically requests storefronts come forward and put forward proposals in exchange for a contract? (as per real life process, known as "request for tender"). Or is that too demanding for them? (or contribute to spam?)

Yes. Posters have often ran threads looking for a specific type of item - some for example look for a tank or an assault rifle. So it's not uncommon to do this, and since it's an economic centered RP it should fit nicely here. You have to approach it right though; doing it badly can seem less quality driven or be considered... poor. This thread is a good example of what you should aim for in terms of making a request for tenders.

[Stormwrath]

Hello again. What kind of things are there in a container shipping company storefront, particularly one with dedicated shipping instead of just selling cargo? I was considering creating an FT shipping storefront and I have already consulted. Should there be information about ship classes, rates offered to applicants, contracts and the like? What about ports of call? Should it be at the discretion of the applicants so ships of my company can unload goods X, Y and Z there? Are there any container shipping company storefronts that I can look at so I can get an idea for how my storefront is going to materialize?

[The Nation of Ceneria]

Hello again. What kind of things are there in a container shipping company storefront, particularly one with dedicated shipping instead of just selling cargo? I was considering creating an FT shipping storefront and I have already consulted. Should there be information about ship classes, rates offered to applicants, contracts and the like? What about ports of call? Should it be at the discretion of the applicants so ships of my company can unload goods X, Y and Z there? Are there any container shipping company storefronts that I can look at so I can get an idea for how my storefront is going to materialize?

I personally have never seen any storefronts of this type in my time browsing GE&T, but that is no indication of its success. While I personally find this interesting, I'm not sure what sort of appeal it would have to a wider audience.

What I am a little concerned about is how difficult a service like this is to write about. A well-filled-out storefront tends to have lots in information about the products, but your storefront sells shipping. I'm not sure how much can feasibly be written about that without saying the same things over and over again.

Again, I'm not sure how well this will be received, but it's certainly worth a shot in my mind.

[Maltropia]

It's been a while since I saw a decent shipping storefront. I used to run one, which I'm too tired to find right now (Maltropian Cargo International, if you're committed), and there have been others. I think I would include info on ship classes (and if you need ships, I have another storefront that'll sell them to you) and rates, yes. Ports of call was a stumbling block for me, as I tried to force everything into specific routes that just got messy and likely would have been far from economically viable. Learn from my mistakes. I know I don't.

[Pharthan]

It's been a while since I saw a decent shipping storefront. I used to run one, which I'm too tired to find right now (Maltropian Cargo International, if you're committed), and there have been others. I think I would include info on ship classes (and if you need ships, I have another storefront that'll sell them to you) and rates, yes. Ports of call was a stumbling block for me, as I tried to force everything into specific routes that just got messy and likely would have been far from economically viable. Learn from my mistakes. I know I don't.

Maltropian International Cargo
#SearchFunctionIsAwesome

[Maltropia]

Maltropian International Cargo
#SearchFunctionIsAwesome

#SleepIsBetter

Thanks though.

[Prosorusiya]

Is there interest\room for freight charter airline? I assume that, given the multiversal nature of storefronts, most airlines are in fact charter companies? I used to run a ferry chartering company here, back in the day...

Also, would using turboprop aircraft turn people off? I know most storefront use jets, and I think there was a bush airline once that wound up failing.

[Common Territories]

Is there interest\room for freight charter airline? I assume that, given the multiversal nature of storefronts, most airlines are in fact charter companies? I used to run a ferry chartering company here, back in the day...

Also, would using turboprop aircraft turn people off? I know most storefront use jets, and I think there was a bush airline once that wound up failing.

If I remember right there have been a few of these kinds of storefronts in recent history. But I don't really see them anymore so your market is open. My only concern is how you can present it and how many customers you could get. As you noted, airlines sorta do this but with larger crowds. I once had someone come to me for help on this exact idea so I'll tell you what I told them.

Make your thread/presentation as best as you can, hunt for clients IC and OOC, and show professionalism in your thread and when interacting. Your largest worry here is customer flow since you can always improve your thread, so take care to find customers. I'd also offer a decent number of services with plenty of perks too.

[Prosorusiya]

Thanks, I'll keep that under consideration. I will move in the range of large ex-Soviet airlifters, probably Il-76 or An-22s, if that sounds good. I could also use An-12s, right now my Air Force has four of them at Nalchik. Given the size of my aircraft and the market, should I have less than the dozen or so aircraft the airline how to recomends? I've run a few storefronts in my day, but they always sank to the bottom of the forum and were forgotten and died.

[Common Territories]

Thanks, I'll keep that under consideration. I will move in the range of large ex-Soviet airlifters, probably Il-76 or An-22s, if that sounds good. I could also use An-12s, right now my Air Force has four of them at Nalchik. Given the size of my aircraft and the market, should I have less than the dozen or so aircraft the airline how to recomends? I've run a few storefronts in my day, but they always sank to the bottom of the forum and were forgotten and died.

Well I'd focus on describing the luxury your aircraft provide. That is where the importance lies. If you're up for it I also suggest yachts and other ships you could rent for voyages; there are companies in RL who rent a nice ship and crew to rich visitors all the time. But I think the more professional your thread is, the more you keep up with trying to get customers, the better your chances.

[Maltropia]

*cough* He's asking about freight airlines.

It could be interesting to do, and I can certainly see how it would tie in to numerous industries. There's the traditional GE&T airport-airline relationship where you go around applying to airports for landing rights or they come and invite you; and of course there are many industries that ship small or time-sensitive cargoes that need to be rushed off somewhere or other - especially pharmaceuticals and other medical products such as blood, but also things like food or replacement LEGO for that one house set that was missing a few pieces. I will say that it might not be an industry where you can rely purely on customers to come to you, as with military storefronts, but if you can establish some regular relationships with a few companies you'd be onto something.

[Prosorusiya]

So, if I've got this right, market demand is generally for smaller package freight rather than heavy lift, and long range operations rather than bush type operations (Wildcat Airways used to do that, but they went out of business). I was thinking of copying ATRAN Airlines of Russia, and having a small fleet of An-12s suplimented by Boeing 737 freighters. I might also copy another airline and do Il-62 freighters instead. Which sound like a better idea? Also, any idea what existing storefronts would be interested in starting a business relationship?

[Prosorusiya]

Quick question, what should the deciding factor be between wether to use a Tu-134 or a Tu-154 on a flight? I have just started some VIP ops and need to know...

[Common Territories]

Quick question, what should the deciding factor be between wether to use a Tu-134 or a Tu-154 on a flight? I have just started some VIP ops and need to know...

I imagine the cheapest, roomiest option would be best in terms of selecting an aircraft. Though I think VIP planes matter more on their interior luxury rather then how new or fast they are - you can always modify the interior of an aircraft.

[Legatia]

I see a lot of standardized designs for airliners- is there an app to use?

[Common Territories]

I see a lot of standardized designs for airliners- is there an app to use?

You mean is there a code with a basic design for an airline storefront or is there a basic model they use for their aircraft art?

For the first one im sure people see and build off other's designs if they didn't make up the idea themselves. This is the likely case since there are so many airline based storefronts that im sure resemble a lot of their competition. Though I believe someone did make a code for a basic airline thread a while ago but I don't remember where it is - it may be on this thread up a bit ways.

In terms of art, if that's what you mean, there are a number of art based sites like Juniorgeneral or Shipbucket that may have them. Otherwise I don't really know where they come from other then them being used by players here.

[Yohannes]

Hello guys,

I want to open up a fictional Burger chain. Let's call it Burger King. If I copy a real life company... will I be sued? I also want to know if there's a demand for a burger chain that also sell ships to nations, and rifles to junta rebels

[Allanea]

Are you parodying stereopyical GE&T posts?

[Allanea]

P.S. The above is not meant as an insult - I have a known problem distinguishing comedy from serious material. It extends to movies and TV series too.

[Yohannes]

Okay I am sorry... I was a bit tipsy and I thought '... hey..! Seems like I've struck gold with this brand new, original idea!'

So... since I am new to Global Economics and Trade, I thought some individuals would know if there's demand for... uhmm... you know, stuff like that

[Allanea]

Well I mean GE&T - and general science-fiction and adventure-fiction - is full of megacorporations that somehow simultaneously sell hamburgers, guided missiles, children's toys and dubiously short school uniforms.

[Liberty and Alderney]

Well I mean GE&T - and general science-fiction and adventure-fiction - is full of megacorporations that somehow simultaneously sell hamburgers, guided missiles, children's toys and dubiously short school uniforms.

I call it the power of imagination. I honestly would like to see more people venture into the crazy and whimsical a bit more in GE&T, so long as they put proper effort into it (Unlike this idiot right here).

[Aquatus]

How to make and edit a map for nationstates?

[Aquitayne]

How to make and edit a map for nationstates?

Download a photo editing program like Paint.net or Photoshop. There's no way to do it through NationStates.