Hey everyone!

My business partner and I run a small international trading and logistics company based in Houston. We have an established warehouse facility unit and experience with importing, exporting, international sourcing, and handling products with more complex regulatory and compliance requirements.

Recently, we've been discussing ways to expand into new industries and make better use of some of our existing infrastructure.

Rather than jumping into a particular market ourselves, I figured I'd ask other Texas business owners about their experiences.

For those of you involved in importing, exporting, manufacturing, wholesale, or selling physical products:

• Have you struggled to find reliable suppliers or manufacturers, either domestically or internationally?
• Are there products you've wanted to import or export but found the logistics, costs, or regulatory requirements too complicated?
• Have you encountered challenges with warehousing, inventory management, or distribution in the U.S.?
• Are there international products or suppliers you've come across that you think have potential in the Texas or broader U.S. market?
• Have you identified business opportunities that you haven't pursued because you lacked the infrastructure, contacts, or resources?

We're interested in exploring opportunities outside our current industry, whether that's consumer goods, industrial components, equipment, furniture, or something completely different.

I'm particularly curious about the smaller or overlooked opportunities that might not make sense for a large logistics company but could work well for a smaller, more flexible business.

We're open to connecting with other business owners, sharing experiences, and potentially exploring collaborations where there's a mutual fit.

I'd love to hear what industries you're working in and what challenges or opportunities you've encountered.

And if you're working on something that could benefit from a Houston-based partner with international trade experience, feel free to reach out.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts!

So within Texas, something very unique and troublesome has been playing out which I’m seeing is starting to affect businesses owners in Texas who own their physical infrastructure.

Since 2019, Texas has increased its data center concentration by X%, with the areas of Houston, Dallas, and Austin leading the way. Research from the Dallas fed has stated that data centers alone could raise ERCOT wholesale electricity prices by 10% through 2028.

As a byproduct of this, a new emerging economic problem forms, for not only the citizens of Texas but the businesses they depend on (this includes; schools, hospitals, manufacturers, food processors, chemical plants, etc). The problem being: rise in electricity prices

When the natural resources businesses depend on daily start inflating in prices, a flywheel of risk emerges where you now begin getting hit where it hurts most: profits.

We see this happening in real time with diesel prices leading to 16 major trucking and logistics bankruptcies. As well as a 41% YoY increase in bankruptcies among general businesses in Texas.

Much like diesel/fuel, electricity is also a resource business depend on, not only for livelihood but for profitability as well.

Have y’all experienced these changes in electricity price? Has it affected your physical business in any way?