Here is what DIDN'T work...

[Guest]

I know that various markets can fluctuate, and things may change as the game progresses, but at this point, I feel comfortable giving my thumbs down on certain ventures. Not that they couldn't or wouldn't be profitable under certain management, only that I had difficulty doing anything worthwhile, when attempting them.

1. Stores in anything other than red. This was lesson #1 for me. I built a grocery in the Congo, thinking... feed the poor Congo people! Only the poor Congo people have no money! Thus, no profit or sales. Then I found out the Saudi's have money, but don't want to spend it. So, always build stores in red, you will have maximum profitability.

2. Food Plant-- Bad Idea. The time it takes to produce all of the ingredients is the main factor for me. Then you end up with a product that sells in your grocery, when a fruit plantation grows an immediate product.

3. Jewelry Biz-- Bad Idea. Again, the time (and resources) it takes to create fine jewelry to sell in a fine jewelry store, is not worth the trouble for what you end up making. If you look at diamond rings and see that you only need a mine for silver and diamond, and you can sell the rings for 5000, that sounds great, but the production cost is very high, so you end up not making as much as you might first envision.

4. Grocery-- ??? Not great, but not completely bad to start. This one is simple, you have to look at the grocery as a fruit store. You pick a market and a fruit, build a fruit plantation to grow that fruit, and sell it at your fruit store. To be honest, I have found no other good product or use for the grocery....maybe chickens... then you would call it your chicken store.

5. Advertisements-- Unless you have your heart set on becoming the industry giant, and wish to invest a ton of resources and devote all your effort into producing quality ads cheaply, it's not a good product. The production cost is very high, even it the green area, and it requires a ton of power to produce just a few ads. It's a lot of time and energy devoted to production, so consider this carefully.

Okay, those are some observations of mine, and I am not far removed from Noob status, so I don't claim to know everything. These are ventures I have tried and ended up ditching along the way, which, by the way... (if you ever DO decide to sell a building, it's wise to fire the extra employee first.)

I have not ventured into the automotive or electronic industry, so I have no knowledge in that department, but I would love to hear other observations from other players.

[Guest]

producing wardrobes is more profitable and its easier than produce cars.
electronics makes a good profit too, also leatherjackets. but you need some buildings, to produce the raw materials.

Gas is one of the easiest and most profitable goods.
powerplant, well, factory : thats all, okay, you need a gas station to sell your gas

[Tycoon]

1. Stores in anything other than red. This was lesson #1 for me. I built a grocery in the Congo, thinking... feed the poor Congo people! Only the poor Congo people have no money! Thus, no profit or sales. Then I found out the Saudi's have money, but don't want to spend it. So, always build stores in red, you will have maximum profitability.

Ok, you can discuss about the green area... but I definitely know that the yellow area also will make good profits (there are players in other versions who have their shops only in the yellow area; the advantage is that prices and qualities do not fluctuate too often like in the red ones)

2. Food Plant-- Bad Idea. The time it takes to produce all of the ingredients is the main factor for me. Then you end up with a product that sells in your grocery, when a fruit plantation grows an immediate product.

I agree with you: the food branches are very slow in the beginning. But you have to see that the profit comes when having big stores by being able to sell higher amounts. The fruit plantation brings immediate products, yes, but you can make more profit, e.g. with meat or biscuits.

3. Jewelry Biz-- Bad Idea. Again, the time (and resources) it takes to create fine jewelry to sell in a fine jewelry store, is not worth the trouble for what you end up making. If you look at diamond rings and see that you only need a mine for silver and diamond, and you can sell the rings for 5000, that sounds great, but the production cost is very high, so you end up not making as much as you might first envision.

I think it is too early for such an estimation on jewelry... pls keep in mind the profit you can make by research... the biggest players in the German versions emphasize on jewelry.

[Guest]

My humble opinion would be to start off with 2 mines and a factory in the green area. Produce coal and iron ore and buy power, water and chemicals. Use the factory to produce and sell steel whenever possible.

Once you have a business going, get another mine or 2 in the yellow area.

Once your steel enterprise is settled, expand the business into television production. At this point, another factory may be useful.

[Guest]

Tycoon, I see what you are saying, and I agree, the long-term strategy and goal may be a factor. I am speaking from a beginner's perspective, and where I have ventured so far, and what hasn't worked well for me.

I'm sure that if you had 10 power plants, 15 mines, and 20 wells, you could make good money on jewelry, but for a novice, this is unrealistic. I often see someone post... what should i grow? what should i sell? Well, these are some things you maybe shouldn't start out doing, unless that is just your only objective or something. I found it nearly impossible to get my company off the ground by trying to produce food products and jewelry, because the amount of time and resources it took to turn a profit. When you first start, this is vital. Stones are great to start with, Diamonds are not. That's all I was saying.