Networking and getting yourself out there. You gotta shake hands and meet people.

It’s a total non-amswer that sounds insightful but means nothing.

Also say " That’s very INTERESTING", on some point he says. Then go quiet.

I don’t see what’s wrong with being honest here.

“Sorry, but this is my livelihood. I can’t share proprietary knowledge”

Set up a duplicate of your website that sells what you sell for 10% less and sell it to him via that and say that’s where you get it.

You could take all of the work and time you spent building a successful business. And just hand it to him so he can be a direct competitor, and likely undercut you until it’s not profitable to stay in business.

Or you could be polite, give vague noncommittal responses, and keep him as a client instead of a competitor.

Some are suggesting that he become a dealer for you, but sounds like he would be more of a pain to deal with. So my suggestion would be to pass and let him figure it out himself unless you can find a way to make it financially beneficial to you.

Mind you, you have a special sauce no doubt he can’t replicate so I wouldn’t be afraid if he became a competitor.

Tell him you’re not going to train him on how to become one of your competitors. Tell him to find his own gig.

You have 2 options in this scenario

1. Take him under your wing and teach him basics to it , watch from a distance and also don’t give him current market updates and trend information , let him discover that on his own. He will either get some sort of ball rolling or fizzle out

2. Basically sell him product at a 25% profit loss but would have to be consistent or high volume for it to work out for you , but that only works when you have a abundant inventory and have a pretty bulletproof supply/demand chain set up

Honestly looking at it in a ‘Scarface’ style situation but this happens in all small businesses people come around overly curious and actually has energy towards somewhat replicating what you built. Little do they know about the countless hours of research and dedication and not to mention risk involved.

“Will I be educating a customer or a competitor?”

If I were in your place, I would’ve probably hired him as my assistant or something and give him some cut of my earnings while I start on another side hustle. Considering you’re using Drop-shipping to earn money. You can maybe give him a few of the tasks while you work on another side hustle. Maybe take a few courses on trading etc and start with some stocks, start investing, invest on small companies who you think have the potential to atleast make you your money back etc

How about “this is my money!! Stay away from it you greedy little bastard!” And then go look in the mirror and reminisce on how you learned and got started and wonder what would have happened if some of your questions were answered in this same way.

I tell people they have to find their own way. There are franchises out there I guess if you’re desperate to literally own a business while following someone else’s rules completely, but imo that’s a job and if you want to do a job just get a job.

Keep talking all about shipping and customs paperwork. Explain the intricate details of ordering from other companies overseas. Just give him the details on all the most boring shit about your business. Tell him where to go find more information on those subjects and read everything.

Another thing occurred to me. Only offer wholesale pricing at wholesale volumes. In other words, tell him if he likes your products, he can buy X (high number) for $Y (low) price.

Trade Secrets. Don’t be foolish just because you want to be a nice guy. Sell him the info if he really wants in the game