1. Can he return to the seller?
2. futures contract:
2.1. Consider cash flow
2.2. New node
3. Get list of other wholesalers from UK supplier
4. Need storage/ warehousing if keep stock
4.1. Use shipping container to house stock
4.1.1. New node
4.2. Negotiate with other local businesses to rent temporary storage
5. Has UK supplier been paid?
6. How quickly must he sell them on? And how much can he afford to lose?
6.1. Does he have the time, means and resources to turn this stock into an opportunity to make a greater profit?
6.2. Or is it better to sell the pipe cleaners cheaply and cut his losses? The cost of storage and distribution would add to his losses if he keeps them.
7. Set up eBay shop selling art supplies - post worldwide
7.1. Can discount just to get cost back or make profit.
8. Offer señor ortavia loan to rebuild his premises or offer to run his business out of temporary storage - shipping containers until rebuilt by insurance cover.
8.1. Employ Ortavia to sell stock
8.2. Does Senor Ortavia have insurance?
9. Who were Senor Ortavia's customers and the type of wholesale company?
10. Reason behind the fire?
10.1. Is it suspicious? Could it have been an insurance scam?
10.2. Did he have any other orders due it?
11. New node
12. Get goodwill ambassadors to promote the products to merchants (sam adetona)
12.1. Use placards to exhibit outside the shop with a small token
13. What about time of year? Christmas / Easter / Halloween trends in gifts, interior ornaments, team with magazines / stylists
14. contact local schools. Sell small amount to different consumers
14.1. Any local community projects?
15. look for similar businesses to the original wholesaler, there must be more than one in the same market
15.1. New node
15.2. Art supplies stores
15.2.1. Who where the wholesaler customers go direct
16. get customer list from wholesaler
17. List all the possible uses of pipe cleaners and from that discover as many potential markets as possible.
17.1. Consider pipe cleaners for play and crafts. How many things can they make? Who might they appeal to and why?
17.1.1. Promote the idea of pipe cleaners for play and craft to local people
17.1.1.1. Post You tube videos to promote these ideas
17.1.1.2. How much fun can be generated by a handful of coloured pipe cleaners?
17.1.2. Give pipe cleaners to children and students and see what they can make with them.
17.1.2.1. Is there scope for a new trend?
17.1.2.1.1. Yes remember when kids in the 80's put crisp bags under the grill and put pins in get kids to use them to be different. Fluffy shoe laces or jewellery.
17.1.2.2. Competitions: the most creative use of pipe cleaners and use these as marketing and promotional opportunities
17.2. Who else uses pipe cleaners and what for?
17.2.1. Pipe smokers for cleaning pipes
17.2.2. Difficult to reach cleaning products.
17.2.3. Team with sellable trends - create ipad / iPhone covers