Real estate. That would be the major hitch to any business start-up on Komarr. The domes make any space within highly desirable and if Mark needs it for manufacturing... Well, Mark might be looking for a long time for a space adequate enough if he isn't careful. He idly swirls his glass as he considers his broth--acquaintance's problem.
"If you're able to cover shipping costs between domes, you could have better luck in one without a spaceport attached," he says after a moment. However much that might cut into the projected profits. "Not many businesses are willing to go out that far. Are you searching for a place already equipped?"
He shakes his head. "All we need is the location. We want to build from the ground up, according to our specs. The equipment we're going to be producing is the best," he says, with rather pardonable pride. "So it won't just be some repurposed facility.
"And we had a location," he says, pride giving way to frustration. "A good one. In Solstice Dome - a cluster of old buildings that Mondavi was looking to tear down anyways. But it was blocked by the Solstice ruling council. A measure led by Cabot." Mark grimaces, and diverts some measure of attention to settling Killer. That's just what no one needs - another Councilor murdered by another Vorkosigan. Imagine explaining that one to his father.
"That's why I like business much better than politics. At least in business people forget old grudges if it means more money in the future."
What was the old business adage? Location, location, location. Solstice Dome would have been perfect for business purposes, but the mention of 'old buildings' has him internally grateful that the council still had their heads on straight. He manages to resist the urge to ask exactly what kind of history Mark had been attempting to mow down in the name of profits. The decision has already been made and he doubts the council will be swayed to revisit it. Thankfully.
"Ah, in that respect we're not too different from those in the Whole," he says, tone almost as if he's trying to lead a student down a particular path of thought. How much insider information on a competitor was Cabot gaining in this potential alliance?
"Did you look into Cabot's other business ventures?"
no subject
Date: 2 Mar 2016 18:32 (UTC)"If you're able to cover shipping costs between domes, you could have better luck in one without a spaceport attached," he says after a moment. However much that might cut into the projected profits. "Not many businesses are willing to go out that far. Are you searching for a place already equipped?"
no subject
Date: 3 Mar 2016 01:13 (UTC)"And we had a location," he says, pride giving way to frustration. "A good one. In Solstice Dome - a cluster of old buildings that Mondavi was looking to tear down anyways. But it was blocked by the Solstice ruling council. A measure led by Cabot." Mark grimaces, and diverts some measure of attention to settling Killer. That's just what no one needs - another Councilor murdered by another Vorkosigan. Imagine explaining that one to his father.
"That's why I like business much better than politics. At least in business people forget old grudges if it means more money in the future."
no subject
Date: 3 Mar 2016 01:49 (UTC)"Ah, in that respect we're not too different from those in the Whole," he says, tone almost as if he's trying to lead a student down a particular path of thought. How much insider information on a competitor was Cabot gaining in this potential alliance?
"Did you look into Cabot's other business ventures?"