Got a cheap shop for £35 a week all in without a lease!! But what can I sell?????

helliecopter1

Sounds like a great opportunity to me. I'd set up a clothes agency especially with the credit crunch and economic downtown. The basic idea is provide a service to people who want to sell good, clean clothes.

- People bring items to you to sell
- You check the condition and give a receipt to the seller
- You price up the items
- A buyer comes along and buys the item
- You split the sale price with the seller (eg 30% to you 70% seller)

I think it's a great idea as people shopping on a market are generally on a budget. Baby things and women's clothing always sells well. You must make sure that the clothes are decent makes (Next etc) and in good condition. You could also sell household items (glasses,piccy frames etc) but i'd avoid anything electrical because of legislation. I'd write an agreement for the seller to sign giving basic rules of sale, sale split,number of weeks the item will be offered for sale, contact details and a clause saying that if the item's not been collected that you will dispose of it after an agreed time. As for stock empty your wardrobe and ask around friends and family. It'll take a bit of time to get it up and running, but i think it's worth the effort. Children's clothes are so expensive and they're only in them for such a short time. I'd rather put my children into 2nd good brands rather than the cheaper high street stuff.

Good Luck!

motorguy

mikeopvc wrote: »

Go on then Richard Branson tell us whats wrong

Easy

For kick off, setting their minimum price as a reserve is a recipe for disaster.

(a) they will value it higher than its really worth on ebay
(b) even at the reserve price you will have ebay fees and most likely paypal fees
(c) if it doesnt make reserve who pays the fees?

Also, how do you make your money?

(a) second hand stuff usually sells for rock bottom prices, therefore the odds of there being a decent margin on it over what the seller wants for it are slim
(b) what happens if you post it off and its faulty on arrival?
(c) what happens if its not 'as described'
(d) what happens if it works for two days then quits?
(e) what happens if the item turns out to have been stolen or counterfeit?
(f) what happens if the paypal transaction is reversed?

Far too much hassle for very little return.

motorguy

Idiophreak wrote: »

Doesn't really matter that much. I didn't read the OP like the guy was wanting to poor his heart and soul into this thing, just make a few quid from a cheap space.

It's not shockingly hard to find out places that sell stuff to trade, you call them up, then sell it.

Anyway, OP was asking for ideas/suggestions, not career advice...

So, lets say the business opens 6 days a week, 09:00 -> 17:30, which i guess is standard retail hours. Theres 51 hours a week just being there, plus all the hours needed running after stock, accounts, etc. Theres 60 hours per week gone. You would have to be very commited to this to make it work.

No its not, but if anyone can do it, chances are someone is in his area too.

Then theres all the shop fittings, startup stock, advertising....

ben500

I suppose it depends a lot on location also as to what kind of line you are to go with. What is foot traffic like for instance?

guerillasaver

How about sub-letting the unit?

heatherbelle_3

guerillasaver wrote: »

How about sub-letting the unit?

Exactly - where are you based? I'd gladly take the place off your hands as I am desperate for a premise that is reasonable.

I think you need to have a knack to being a business owner - thinking of ways to make money before situations even come up - have you never seen a business and thought 'wow i'd love to do that?' You need to want to do this, and have an interest in it and there is no point asking us for ideas as they probably wont be suited to your tastes... good luck though - it sounds like an amazing offer!

DKLS

Open a Head shop, they always do well, and its great fun doing the product research