Competitive Advantage

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Def. noun. the conditions that make a business more successful than the businesses it is competing with, or a particular thing that makes it more successful.

The easiest way to succeed in business is ensuring that other businesses don’t. That’s Economics and Marketing 101, or maybe it’s not–you didn’t exactly pay attention in the introductory classes, selling your stash of the conveniently-out-of stock (but mandatory to have) course textbook was a much more productive use of your time. But it should be. And sure you have alcohol of your own and some competition in business is healthy, sure, beneficial even, but the thought of missing out on sales to Hunter leaves a sour taste in your mouth. And with the bet… the urge to maximise your profits is stronger than ever.

So you set out to find Hunter. It isn’t particularly hard. The man isn’t quiet about his interests–if the gaudy Soccerball Captain jersey, and constant talk about getting his head in the game is anything to go off. He’s probably practising soccerball, and ergo he’s probably at the Activity Centre.

You’re right, as you tend to be. Hunter is there kicking his ball around, looking really quite sorry for himself. You’d feel bad for him if he wasn’t so loud about his displeasure. He sighs loudly, inviting you to ask what is wrong. You consider turning around, avoiding this whole conversation, when you notice a grocery bag of alcohol on the floor. You’d steal it but no–having a reputation of a thief would be no good for business.

So you swallow your pride, only slightly, and ask Hunter what the issue is.

You nod attentively, trying to look as sympathetic as possible. He mumbles something about an ex-girlfriend, one of her friends trying to flirt with him, and about how they wouldn’t even tell him the location of the party.

You phrase it like you’re doing him a favour. You’ll take the alcohol off his hands, free of charge. After all, the alcohol is heavy and Hunter doesn't need to preserve his arm strength for Soccerball. He doesn’t look impressed until you tell him that you’ll throw in the location of the party too (as a freebie).

Hunter hands over the rest of the alcohol pretty quickly after that. Who knew other people’s relationship drama could be so good for business?

The camp is dark and you’re surprised how good of a party Margot, Jen, and Blakeleigh put together on such short notice.

You arrive fairly early, sacrificing the coolness of arriving fashionably late for the ability to prepare. You claim one of the picnic tables and lay out the bottles neatly: there’s spirits and mixers; beer; red solo cups and shot glasses; and most importantly your money box and card-reader (with a 13% service charge automatically added to each purchase, of course).

Margot walks over to your make-shift bar, and you chat for a while. She pours you a drink and makes a joke about how she could replace you as the bartender. You’d normally be annoyed with this kind of statement, running a business isn’t easy you know, but their gaze lingers over your singular exposed shoulder and you forget all about it.

More party guests arrive and Margot departs, called over by Jen and Blakeleigh. Your bar soon gets crowded and you get to work serving drinks.

The next hour or so passes quickly, the other campers don’t complain about the prices of the drinks and you watch the money box and your bank account steadily fill up. Someone calls for a game of Spin the Bottle, and for a split second you think about joining but another voice in your head reminds you of your commitment to the simple motto “buy and sell.” So you stay put.

The party eventually reaches a lull, most campers being pleasantly drunk enough to stop ordering drinks and you take out your phone. You watch the stock market for a while, and smile to yourself as you watch the market work in your favour. You’re debating on whether to sell as it rises to prevent the market falling when all hell breaks loose.

Someone shouts ‘OH MY GOD. IT’S BIGHAND!’, and people start rushing away into the forest. With customers leaving at an alarming speed, you pack up the glass bottles that still contain alcohol and follow them into the forest. You glance back as you speedwalk and see Hunter and Damien, looking both confused and frustrated.

Later that night in bed, you count the money in the moneybox and you smile. There’s no way Tabitha can sell more than you have tonight. Salé 1, Tabitha 0.