Zoo Digital Share Discussion Threads

[rob008] 02/12/2006 12:04

Cheers appreciate, took onboard...

Think I'll read this first + the links to get myself fired up.



I don't intend going on Dragon's Den by the way, I'll leave that to Cash.

[jacobjohn7] 02/12/2006 11:59

my only tip is once you realise your going to potentially be in silly tax brackets on earnings, then go limited, if i was sharper of the mark in my first year, would have saved a good few grand... five plus.

[siwel100] 02/12/2006 11:49

ROBOO8...Suggest you start with one of the general sheets from one of the banks:
https://www.barclaysmicrosites.co.uk/start_up/landing_battery.html?WT.srch=1
Take each topic and then search for specific information relevant to your specific business and location. Tax, leases, marketing, becoming an employer etc etc
Dont forget to visit your local library, the internet is extremely useful for niche and specialised information but for a good general overview you wont beat a book written specifically for new start ups. You will also find useful titles on Accounts, the principles of marketing with examples, employment law etc
You should also look in your local area for support services such as business mentoring. There are numerous services available at minimal or no cost to help new business's. Most new business's fail due to very simple of mistakes, dont be afraid to continually seek advice.

[rob008] 02/12/2006 11:36

Cheers uk, had a gander at gov. etc stuff in past but thought someone might have found a particularly useful site...

[uknighted] 02/12/2006 11:21

Try typing "Starting up in business" into your search engine - hope this is of help.

[rob008] 02/12/2006 11:17

Anyone know best place to look for info. on starting your own business?

[rob008] 02/12/2006 11:16

Diamante, have you not tried going to Threshers with this voucher before 10th December? Available on champagne too. Your deal gets mentioned in the comments...

[macca28] 01/12/2006 23:03

jj: number nine not included,

disney princess dvd games will be screenlife
with a mini controler included to help it along,

[diamante] 01/12/2006 15:27

Oops daisy, thanks for pointing out the error Artey

Looks like another 100% buy day today, even though one marked as a sell.

It's comforting to know there are just only a handful of even possible sellers (ie those who bought lower). Probably some left who bought higher, or much higher, but their holding have been more or less diluted and consolidated out of existence - a pretty unique situation to me.

o/t Tescos have 25% off wine off six bottles - not bad when combined with their half price offers. You can pick up Chateau neuf du pape for about a fiver, almost half the price I pay in France for it. Another great buy is a St Emillion, can't remember much more about it, but for £4 its a bargain - every St Emillion I've had is consitently excellent.

[artey] 01/12/2006 12:39

OUAT have been busy with interactive dvd's. Most with DES, but some by Imagination.

[artey] 01/12/2006 12:25

No "e" in Oops ;-)

[diamante] 01/12/2006 09:33

Oopse - too late!

[diamante] 01/12/2006 09:32

I think that today will be the last day where you can get in for less than the vulture capitalists and directors recently paid.

[siwel100] 30/11/2006 21:36

Diamante....You just dont seem to understand. DVD mastering requires a small team of technicians. Prior to the switch to Zoo they will have used Sonic. If Zoo had not fulfilled the requirement then they would have reverted back to Sonic.Prior to commiting to a contract with Zoo, Disney would have been used it on a couple of projects (which took time). These produced the benefits hence the change. During the first 12 months the software met expectations hence renewal of initial contract and expansion to include new tool.
These guys have been producing DVD masters for more than a decade. They are extremely experienced users of development software.The switch to Zoo will not have been a major thing. This low barrier makes it easy for other studios to change, its only been 36 months, they will get them, its just a case of developing some champions. If Zoo had folded then Disney would have continued using the software on existing projects while reverting to Sonic on new projects. There never was any risk.
You are confusing the Studio usuage which is straightforward with iDVD development. There you are talking about sophisticated projects rather than just straightforward production.

[jacobjohn7] 30/11/2006 15:57

i agree it was a substantial committment by disney, to just change their operating system. Part of the reason why the contract took so long.

[diamante] 30/11/2006 15:00

Who said Disney wanted to buy Zoo? I thought both UK and myself agreed that it made no business sense whatsoever to do so. What is 'daft' Sewage is you saying others are saying Disney will buy Zoo when the only opinion stated is the opposite.

No Sewage, the Zoo contract isn't a 'wee' supplier contract. Before committing to Zoos software, they will need to know that zoo and its software will be around for the medium term in order that the software will both be supported and enhanced. Disney will invest in training, and developing their business process to incorporate DES, TAS and Regionalisation into them. If Zoo folded, then Disney would lose money and possibly their competitive advantage, so obviously, Disney have done some due diligence to convince themselves Zoo aren't a business risk, or, if they are, are prepared to support them. The Zoo contract isn't like a contract with those who supply their stationary for instance - although possible of a higher value, has no implications for any Disney business processes,

Don't worry if you don't understand these pretty simple business concepts Sewage, but please don't try to condescend those who do.

Oh, and nice to see your posts here haven't all changed into a '.', so I assume you still hold, lol.

[uzbekking44] 30/11/2006 14:40

I agree with you Swiv about Disney relationship. Software is not their business simple as that. The only tactical advantage Disney would get from buying ZooTech would be to prevent competitor studios using the software.

On an off topic, what are Sonic up to at the moment? Now I can see an outfit like them making a swoop for ZOO's software and patents assuming the patents are water tight.

[macca28] 30/11/2006 14:22

edit, oops we are 1 hour behind time

[siwel100] 30/11/2006 14:22

Diamante....what are you burbling on about? Disney is a major corporation which uses suppliers and services of all types, shapes and forms. They happen to have a small software contract with a UK company called Zoo. The software is used by some of their technicians. Big for Zoo but to Disney its just a normal wee supplier contract.
Lets not get silly. Zoo has some very nice software. Its being increasingly used in niche sectors. a modest £1m profit should value Zoo at £20m or a tenfold increase from the current market cap. At the rate they are developing this looks achievable over the next 2-3 years. But talk of Disney wanting to buy Zoo because a few of their technicians use the product is just daft.

[diamante] 30/11/2006 13:15

I answered that, I said 'No'.

I also invited you to explain about due diligence because I expected you to have some information to share. All you said 'A general interpretation could be that Zoo will maintain the intellectual confidentiality of the partnership.' which is why I though I'd explain my experience of it.

Call it lecturing if you are that touchy about things, but I'm just adding my bit where I can.

I just tried to buy more, but I'm not buying on the current spread, and my broker couldn't get any market maker to shift from 47p - first time that has happened. On a big spread, I have always managed to deal within it before.

[uknighted] 30/11/2006 12:17

Diamante Thanks for the lecture but I am quite aware of what due dilligence is having been an FD in a former life. Due dilligence is also normally part of the takeover process - as you are no doubt aware.
I was asking if you had seen it in a specific announcement with regard to the Disney/Zoo working relationship.

[diamante] 30/11/2006 11:51

UK, No. Due diligence, in my experience, is where a large company investigates a small company it wishes to do business with, particularly if aspects of the small company are about to be embedded in the systems of the large company. Usually, the large company needs to be certain that the small company is reputable now and will be around in the foressable future. In cases I have seen, one criteria was 3 years of rising profits, and a decent roce - although obviously those particular criteria weren't the criteria Disney required! (or they were waived).

The point here is that Disney can, if needs be to protect its own position, ensure Zoo is profitable and enduring, if the need arose (which I don't think it will). (I'm exploring the downside protection here).

[macca28] 30/11/2006 11:41

here's an interesting read on patents,
start from the hi-lited yellow print

1999 no doubt things have changed a bit since then