14 September 2006
Hello freinds and family. I'm finally starting the website I've talked about for the past couple months, I've decided to name it
ISBU INFORMATION
Here is a little introduction of how I learned of this ISBU concept and the business research I'm engaged in to determine
the feasibility of beginning a small but efficient ISBU home construction business somewhere in the U.S.
Living and Doing Business Globally
Living abroad the past 6 years has been difficult but so extremely enlightening. Although I've been doing import-export and
manufacturing overseas for the past 25 years most of the time I was only visiting a country for two weeks; do business, then
back home to my security in California. Going to any of the foreign countries for a week or two was exciting and refreshing,
in fact I always looked forward to the trips. But actually living in another country is very different and anything past two or three
weeks is almost claustrophobic.
Two things that are always eating at you when you live outside your own country- the culture difference and then the fact you
are in a place that is not really home. I always felt more confident in other free countries: UK, Canada, some Europe,
Australia and New Zealand, but in virtually all the other countries there is an underlying fear I can't explain.
When I first left the U.S. for a long term stay was in Brazil to develop software there. When I simply
went on a business trip there I was excited up, back, and all the time I was there. But when the day
came to leave for a 6 month stay my heart was heavy with an un-describable sadness the entire
flight from LA to Sao Paulo. The long term stays have never gotten easier.
Why Do Business In Asia?
Why must we do business globally to survive? ...I'm the first to complain.
I've been here in China two years now. When I began my digital technology investments in 1997 I feared that ultimately I would
need to do business in China to survive the competition. ...first I manufactured in South America, Korea, Taiwan, then in Hong
Kong. Every year the prices went up and my competition moved to a different country, therefore, so must I.
I first went to China on business in 2001because I was hearing even my Korean and Taiwan manufacturers were opening new
offices in a place called Guang Dong. I remember returning to Hong Kong from my 3 day visit to this "Guang Dong" place just
over the border, my thoughts then were, "hell no! Never"! As nice as the people were, it was much much too different than any
other Asian culture. I loved Korea, Japan, Taiwan, but the simple 30 minute ride to Guangdong Province in China was a 100
years leap back. ...three years later there I was again. Guangdong China--I either go there or kiss all my years of the digital high
tech investments good bye.
No more High Tech
Unlike the other Asian countries I manufactured in, after only 6 months here in China I knew that I wanted out of the "high tech"
and into things that were not an endless treadmill and roller coaster. Six years was enough and the fun was gone.
What could I do with my high tech experience and what could I do before leaving China?
The one thing I had that was somewhat stable was my Vidium Communications business in San Diego. I set it up and bought
the web servers in 2001 and it was quite stable. Ironically, the cost of website hosting in China was extremely high. We really
never knew why unless just so much government control. But ok, I can offer website hosting to all these new China factories
and make a killing.
In January 2005 I painfully dissolved my circuit board manufacturing business and opened a new business named Chinacom
to sell website hosting to millions of new Chinese businesses. In 1985 there were no "private corporations" in China, all were
government owned, but by 2005 there were now 80 million private corporations and very few had websites. Why? ...the cost of
website hosting in China. Everything in China was cheap except for that critical technology and lifeline to the world.
Just a few months ago we opened our new office in Hong Kong so we would have better acceptance across the border in China.
My internet servers were sitting very securely in San Diego, California, which made most Chinese companies feel more secure
about service; and my corporate administration was now in Hong Kong, which made the Chinese companies feel better about
making payments-- U.S. based web servers and Hong Kong based administration, just what the Chinese wanted.
I no longer had to worry of the fast technology pace of circuit board manufacturing and the web site hosting business was now
booming in China. ...less stress, more profit.
Business Logistics
So how did Chinacom get involved in Business Services and Shipping Logistics? Well, it was an unexpected invitation from the
China factories and a gift at my door step. FINALLY my reward for tolerating this, ....this wonderful place.
You've got to understand that I've been here two years now; married an equally successful Chinese businesswoman and so to
my China customers who are using our "super low priced and stable" web hosting and website services I am safe, trusted and
established. Well, virtually every China customer that is a factory or distributor soon began to ask us to assist them with other
international Business Services; ...website translations to english, communication and translations for orders, shipping and
logistics, and then the writing of their business materials into english.
Vidium, the American company had finally conquered the lucrative and fast growing Chinese market with it's Chinacom Corporation.
What Really Excites Me
I don't want to be here. As everyone close to me knows, I want to be back in the U.S., ...or Australia, UK, or Europe. Not here.
We have established a solid company serving China, but I really don't need to be here to service my China customers. With only a
couple employees in Hong Kong and China we can finally administer all our english services from the US using our IT and VOIP
technology. So guys "we're coming home"! There is no reason for us to be here now we have established China customers using
our US web servers, translation and business services.
ISBU Technology
So why am I interested in shipping container home construction?
I've learned so much while being here. I may not like living here but the technology and ideas of the world are right here. Every
country of the world has offices here and I can easily learn and see new products and technology concepts I would not know if I
were in the US--I'm learning when factories have us ship the containers for them; I learn when their foreign clients come here to
do business. We are right in the middle of so many of these transactions.
A few months ago our logistics department was asked to ship many containers, but the containers were empty. ...empty!
I really couldn't believe what I was hearing. Did we have a translation problem? Why would someone ship empty containers?
Finally we understand that a company is manufacturing Prefab homes using shipping containers. They buy a new container here
in China, cut holes, add doors and windows and insulation and then ship the empty units to the UK and other countries.
I was surprised and fascinated. Then when we asked more questions we learned that many companies here are doing the same
thing with shipping containers and sending them to Australia and also the US. They called them ISBU's. They said that when a
shipping container is used for housing, construction or non-shipping purposes it's called ISBU and becoming quite a trend in the
UK and Europe.
Ceramic Insulation
Then a few weeks later some customers from Saudi Arabia were having some shipments sent but only wanted them shipped in
containers that were coated with something called "Ceramic Insulation". ...I've never heard of such thing so I called the customer
for the China factory. This agent in Saudi Arabia acts like it's very common and that many shipments coming to the Mid East
require coatings with Ceramic Insulation then the customers just buy the shipping container and keep it for storage when it arrives.
New Technology
So now I've become so like a child. These simple things could have so many possibilities.
As most of you remember I had a small yacht in Southern California during 1998 and 1999 before going to Brazil. Every day I would
drive to the marina I would pass all these thousands of shipping containers, just sitting and the stacks growing. Even then I kept
thinking, "why couldn't they be offices or apartments? They are so strong and so plentiful".
Shipping Containers and Ceramic Insulation
I only know one thing for certain. I'm going back to the US and I'm going to start building homes using ISBU's and this Ceramic
Insulation paint.
Buy My Used Containers in The U.S.
I can buy the used ISBU shipping containers quite cheap there (i've already called and checked), then use the Ceramic as part of
the insulation. A stable business that is not "high tech", and a business that doesn't require me to live outside the US again.
The whole concept interests me for so many reasons and this is why I've begun this website, so other people can see what I've
recently discovered and to get more ideas and information for myself and others.
I'm very excited and hope someday you can see all the benefits of what these could really be.
Barry
