Milk Shake Take Away Shop, any thoughts???

Encantador

Only ever seen two, one in York and one in Derby, both small but busy.

Thinking of opening one and combining Milk shakes and smoothies.

Would be interested in any thoughts, good or bad, especialy from anyone who has had any involvment with one.

Thanks

ukbill69

Unless you can start something up where its really busy like outside liverpool street like theres a fruit shake people. Most people go to mcdonalds for milkshakes anyhows, unless you can bring out something thats really good tasting then dont bother.

freelance_3

You should check out Shakeaways website!!

http://www.shakeaway.com

When I was a student in Bournemouth the 1st Shakeaway shop opened and it was a huge success. 6 years later and I now live in Bath and they have opened a shop here too!

http://www.shakeaway.com/bath.html

they must be doing really well as they have about 8 shops now.

Their unique selling point is they will put literally anything into a milkshake (within reason!). If you check out the video on the link I have given for the Bath shop and you see the little plastic boxes lined up on the shelves behind the counter, they are full of after eights, maltesers, crunchies, aeros, milky bars, oreo bars, digestives, smarties I could go on and on...

Their milkshakes are gorgeous and the shop is usually always heaving with customers at the weekend

Most people with any sense don't go to Mcdonalds for milkshakes, they are vile!!!

If you use lots of fresh ingredients and use you imagination, people will come to you rather than buy the junk provided at Mcdonalds...

taika

I have been to Shakeaway before in bournemouth, and they have one in kingston now too, my sister bought me home a list of all the MilkShakes they do, and there are LOADSSSS....

Stompa

Not sure about the milk shake aspect, but there was an interesting documentary on TV a while back on about a couple opening a juice bar in Brighton:

http://www.channel4.com/money/ontv/risking_it_all/risktakers/sejuice.html

it seems to be repeated every now and then. Might be worth a look if it happens to be re-shown.

shinkyshonky

I read an article just before christmas in the free giveaway paper metro...there are many in london lol...and the reasoning was that there are many years left in this market...quite a few juice bars and smoothie bars are opening mostly chain ones though ...but there is scope for the independent bar ..so good luck go for it...just make sure they are reasonably priced...too many have jumped on the bandwagon charging over the odds...borough market in london is an example..£3.50 yet go to the market at chancery lane behind hatton gardens...£1.50 and made as you wait!

richt71

Stompa wrote:

Not sure about the milk shake aspect, but there was an interesting documentary on TV a while back on about a couple opening a juice bar in Brighton:

http://www.channel4.com/money/ontv/risking_it_all/risktakers/sejuice.html

it seems to be repeated every now and then. Might be worth a look if it happens to be re-shown.

Was just gonna mention this program. If I remember rightly they opened a second juice bar within a year as it was so popular. Think it worked for them as they used fresh ingedients, opened early to catch rush hour and where placed in a good street with high level of footfall.

punkypickle

I've been to shakeaway and although the shake was very nice it was really lumpy (1 1/2 boost bars in one shake) and I couldn't drink it...

what I think would be a great idea is a bit of a retro visit to milkshakes, like a 50s style diner doing a multitude of shakes and ice cream sundaes....a gimmick

The program about the couple opening a juice bar was "Risking it all". Very inspiring, but also sometimes there are some real nutters on there....how not to start a business!

sandhabibi

I'm in Southampton and there is a shakeaway shop here too. All the flavours you could ever think of and more. Strangly enough op I was going to do yr idea until this one appeared.

Encantador

Thanks for the input, very interesting thoughts.

The one on TV is a cafe/bar serving food and cocktails too, so not really the same market.

I have not found one combining shakes and smoothies, there might of course be a reason for that.

The menu for the shakes would have to be reasonably varied but I can`t really see the point of having 150 options as some seem to offer, surely they can`t ALL sell enough to make it worthwhile.

Although in a smallish town, the location we are considering is near a college, 50 yards off the main street in an area where people go at lunch for food.

Anyone think there is a rush hour (8-9am) market for either shakes and/or smoothies?

Thanks again.

Encantador

Thanks for the input, very interesting thoughts.

The one on TV is a cafe/bar serving food and cocktails too, so not really the same market.

I have not found one combining shakes and smoothies, there might of course be a reason for that.

The menu for the shakes would have to be reasonably varied but I can`t really see the point of having 150 options as some seem to offer, surely they can`t ALL sell enough to make it worthwhile.

Although in a smallish town, the location we are considering is near a college, 50 yards off the main street in an area where people go at lunch for food.

Anyone think there is a rush hour (8-9am) market for either shakes and/or smoothies?