Milk Shake Take Away Shop, any thoughts???

Stompa

Encantador wrote:

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

IIRC they started out with the intention of just selling smoothies but quickly discovered that would not generate enough income - though this was exacerbated by a competitor opening up nearby shortly before they did. I know their location in Brighton and it's a pretty busy street.

Encantador wrote:

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?

I think you need to do some market research. Go down there and see how many people pass by at various times of the day, ask them if they would use such a bar. It's all very well having a college nearby but presumably that'll only generate custom on weekdays during term time.

Slinky

I agree with Stompa, check the location very carefully. 50yards might not seem much to you, but if it's 50yards down a quiet street with little footfall, you're going to struggle however good your products are. What other businesses are there around your target premises? Will they be attracting your potential customers? Do they look like they are thriving?

Encantador

Pretty sure the location we are considering is suitable, but no matter how much research you do, there is obviously an element of risk. Hopefully, if the products are good and priced right, the fact that it is the only one (at least for a while) should give us a fair chance.

I know what you mean about students only being around term time, but during the holidays when they are missing, there `should` be more school children in town which should go some way to making up the shortfall.

Thanks again for the input.

empfun

I've always wondered what sales would be like during Winter/cold periods?

crompton

They have one in cardiff which is packed even in the winter. Simply shakes its called and they put anything you want into a milkshake, toblerone, dime, creme egg, dairy milk, chocolate orange and they sell like coke and crisps etc. but its always heaving. The one thing i will say is that its a bit expensive at £2.50 for a regular shake...

empfun

Packed even in winter eh? That's pretty surprising. Does the cold have any effect on people?

I think £2.50 is max I would pay for regular, perhaps that's dear in Cardiff but in London is quite acceptable considering healthy smoothies are in and above the £3 region.

jembie

This is an excellent idea. I wish we had one of those in Derby...I have seen the juice stall outside Sainsburys but I haven't seen a Milkshake shop. My kids would be there every weekend if there were.

I would love to take up a challenge like this myself...shame that there isnt a franchise opportunity...or is there?

empfun

jembie wrote:

I would love to take up a challenge like this myself...shame that there isnt a franchise opportunity...or is there?

Give it a try yourself! :-) I don't think it would take very much to start one up yourself. Start small and see how you go on from there.

lethal_2

check this out: http://www.shakeking.com/about/index.php

a franchise milkshake bar company

emg

just wanted to say, i love Shakeaway too. They also do hot shakes (I like a hot reeses peanut butter cup myself!) so i guess people buy these more in winter. I think part of their appeal too is that they have all the american sweets or hard to get sweets available there.