I'm planning opening a pasty shop - what are the profit expectations?

carolt

Oh, we have the canoes already - inherited them (my OH used them when he was a teen). Have had them sitting round for years, taken from rented house to rented house. OH won't part with them - sentimental value. I'll be very glad when they finally go back in the water!

PasturesNew

carolt wrote: »

Yes, funny what other people regard as essential, isn't it?

... children's swimming lessons is an essential, and costs us hundreds a year.

Swimming/learning to swim's easy. I am surprised you say it costs so much. My dad taught us. Could you not enjoy the water by you teaching them? That's how we learnt, swimming with dad.

PasturesNew

carolt wrote: »

Oh, we have the canoes already - inherited them (my OH used them when he was a teen). Have had them sitting round for years, taken from rented house to rented house. OH won't part with them - sentimental value. I'll be very glad when they finally go back in the water!

This is what I want to do, Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Looks like great fun, even for me as I am unfit. They're a tad pricey though and I want an inflatable one so I can fit it in the car.

Davesnave

PasturesNew wrote: »

This is what I want to do, Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Looks like great fun, even for me as I am unfit. They're a tad pricey though and I want an inflatable one so I can fit it in the car.

Looks like a whole heap of no fun for Search & Rescue to me! At least surfers have to be able to swim, but even I could go on one of those, by the looks of it.:eek:

As a teenager, and supervised by people in a boat, I once swam against one of the famous rip tides in North Devon. Taught me all I needed to know!

carolt

PasturesNew wrote: »

Swimming/learning to swim's easy. I am surprised you say it costs so much. My dad taught us. Could you not enjoy the water by you teaching them? That's how we learnt, swimming with dad.

We could, although, as I've said, I'm a lousy swimmer, personally. I certainly wouldn't feel happy them doing watersports until I feel sure they are excellent swimmers, (far better than me!), done life-saving, the works.

Plus, TBH, it's a social thing too - it's good for them to be in a class outside school meeting other kids, etc - we do go family swimming too, but that's a different focus.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

an inflatable one so I can fit it in the car.

Haven't clicked you link yet, but inflatibles, asa child brought up on many a sunny beach, horrify me: thats when coast guads are needed, its amazing how those things just keep drifting out and out, peeople don't realise till its too late. I learned from watching tourists anything infltable is for pool or lake only.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

Haven't clicked you link yet, but inflatibles, asa child brought up on many a sunny beach, horrify me: thats when coast guads are needed, its amazing how those things just keep drifting out and out, peeople don't realise till its too late. I learned from watching tourists anything infltable is for pool or lake only.

Ah, but these aren't inflatable inflatables .... they're still like flat surfboards... and you have a paddle!

Only a fool would go out/be allowed to go out to sea when there's a rip or an offshore wind. It might make for some interesting Darwin Awards.

They can be used inland too, lakes, rivers, any bit of water. Brilliant. From 6" to 600'.

I really really really want one.

lostinrates

Hey I thought of this thread today. A chum in a feed merchants locally just told me she's inundated with enquiries about trailer hire and there is a gap in the market. We'e looking for a trailer anyway, second hand, and I'm not too precious about inevitable scuffing if it could pay for itself or atleast its servicing each year.

because its just a trailer (not towing vehicle) I wouldn't need to change my driving licence or insurance.

Down sides I have thought of include:

change of insurance cost of trailer (no idea how muc this would be)
risk of theft
increased costs of servicing and repair
Repair issues (how long it might take between customers if one damaged it, as I have not the skills to repair and would not have a spare to snd out instead)
roadside coverage: not sure of a scheme to cover trailer under hire even exists. (normal car repair/rescue doesn't normally cover you if you have animals n a trailer AFAIK)
possible impact on trailer choice (recognising a nice one is unlikely to be kept nice for long)
risk of abetting illeagal towing (would probably have to keep a list of cars suitable for towing: reglations frequently ignored/misunderstood by people towing.)

Go on you lot, disillution me as to the feasibility of this!

carolt

Why not give it a go - if you're getting one anyway, what do you have to lose? (As long as you've got the insurance side sorted out...)

If it looks like a niche it probably is. Niches are nice and cosy.

Thrugelmir

lostinrates wrote: »

Hey I thought of this thread today. A chum in a feed merchants locally just told me she's inundated with enquiries about trailer hire and there is a gap in the market. We'e looking for a trailer anyway, second hand, and I'm not too precious about inevitable scuffing if it could pay for itself or atleast its servicing each year.

because its just a trailer (not towing vehicle) I wouldn't need to change my driving licence or insurance.

Down sides I have thought of include:

change of insurance cost of trailer (no idea how muc this would be)
risk of theft
increased costs of servicing and repair
Repair issues (how long it might take between customers if one damaged it, as I have not the skills to repair and would not have a spare to snd out instead)
roadside coverage: not sure of a scheme to cover trailer under hire even exists. (normal car repair/rescue doesn't normally cover you if you have animals n a trailer AFAIK)
possible impact on trailer choice (recognising a nice one is unlikely to be kept nice for long)
risk of abetting illeagal towing (would probably have to keep a list of cars suitable for towing: reglations frequently ignored/misunderstood by people towing.)

Go on you lot, disillution me as to the feasibility of this!

Trailers take many forms some very specialist use.

Having only one to hire is very restricted choice.