How can I get LESS benefits?

Iffy_Wallet

Likewise, on the toast idea, (if it is allowed), how about selling mugs of hot Bovril?

Anyway, onwards and upwards.

I have heard several people (in the NW of England) say that they'd like a shop but are scared of costs and commitments etc. They may be people who produce paintings, or handmade costume jewelry, or small fashion items (handmade belts perhaps?). IF (and this is a big 'if'), you could find one / several people like this, who have stunning merchandise, but no outlets, perhaps you could offer to take stock off them and sell it, on the basis that you ONLY pay them once you have sold the stock and received the money. There is a slight risk, eg of theft - but if you have insurance in place, it shouldn't be a dramatic risk.

Ron G Holland, author of books like 'Debt Free with Financial Kung Fu' wrote in one of his many self-help books of how he hired a shop and invited people to bring their motorcycles in, on a sale-or-return basis. He said that he made oodles of cash, selling motorcycles, with no supply costs until a sale was made. (Google 'Ron G Holland motorcycles'). I'm not suggesting that you stuff motorcycles into your shop, but if you could try this out with the small items I mentioned above, then you have everything else in place - ie the customers, the shop, the sales staff and the cash register and all the other commercial tools. Maybe this could work for you too?

And finally, (I'm not totally sure on this one), is there any way that you could make money by taking orders for making T shirts, embroidered polo necks, or for photo-mugs? Then you'd take your cut off the top. Making money on this basis, would required finding a quality provider, and getting the prices and markup correct. Does this sound any good?

JimmyTheWig

Nice ideas, iffy_wallet, but I'm not convinced that teenage geeks (that's who I imagine are coming into the shop at the moment) would be interested in Bovril or artwork.

But it's been some time, Fishcake. How's it going? Did you try any of the new ideas?

Iffy_Wallet

Yup, I agree Jimmy. Fishcake may get away with it if the art was pop art (maybe) or if the jewelry was teenager based. I would have thought that many aspiring designers, just out of college (21 - 25) would be designing for a target age group of around 16 - 25. On the other hand, it all depends on whether there is any money in the pockets of those who walk through their shop door. Maybe the potential new customers that stroll in for the new internet cafe corner, or for printing services, may have an interest in alternative displays.

However, in the end, I guess the nack is to find and attract in people with money, where upon you have to persuade them to part with it.

I don't know. How would Gordon Ramsey or Mary Portas go about rejeuvenating this business? I know that they'd be both out on the streets, asking passers-by if they'd heard of the shop and offering freebies, vouchers or flyers. Who's out on the streets right now; who has any money; what are they looking to buy? I don't know the answer to that.

Iffy_Wallet

And another thing - is it super-obvious what your shop sells and which services you supply? Do you have any big poster in the window to help those who are not sure what you actually do? Obviously, your regulars have a pretty good idea what you do, but do passers-by know? Do you have your website address in the window? Maybe a lot of teenagers prefer to buy online (which is an area that you want to expand in). However, if anybody, with such a mindset, walks past your shop, they may feel reassured that your are both online and there in the street (the term "clicks 'n mortar" comes to mind).

Would any of the 72 colleges that run computer games design courses give you any free posters to hang on your walls?

Would it be of any benefit to run a competition to design a trendy T shirt to advertise your shop? Would that get some more gamers to drop by to give them some ideas for their competiton entry? And if you got a few T shirts made up with the winning design, and handed these out as secondary prizes to the best 3 or 5 entrants, would they walk around in town in them, giving you some free advertising?

(Where's Mary Portas when you really need her?)

SuziQ

The OP is having another child, so I would imagine that is taking up their time at the moment.

JimmyTheWig

Not due until August, though, SuziQ.

lynzpower

im glad this was bumped, as i had an idea but I couldnt find the thread.

Have you considered starting up with collect plus, all sorts of shops do collect + round here but theres not many about : as i understand it you gey a fee for taking in the parcel and it being collected. I dont know if there is much in it, but it might be something to think about

L

Iffy_Wallet

The Guardian carries the very unhappy story of 'Game Group to enter administration' - (Google: 'Game Group shops'), which puts an awful lot of jobs on the line, and shows how tough things are.

According to the 'Game' e-commerce website, there is mention of 'pre-owned games from £1.98'.

Now (before the end of the weekend) might be a suitable time for `Fishcake` to get down to 'Game' in Portsmouth to snap up / stock up on some clearance secondhand games at a very low price (unless they are buying cheaper than this), before 'Game' possibly closes its doors for good.

Fishcake_Random

Wow, I thought this thread would have been lost in the depths of the MSE forums lol.
I am pleased to announce that we as a business we are actually doing pretty well Our main/only read competitor went bust at the end of November, leaving many people high and dry as the owner ran off with their "xmas saving scheme" pennys and we were able to rescue quite a few people. This has given our store a fantastic reputation boost and got us a mention in 3 local papers (free advertising).
Just due to the other shop closing we have at least double the customers walking in the door and we have since heard the other shop would bad mouth us and spread rumours.
The whole situation with Game has been a major boon for us as our preorders for Mass effect were pretty astronomical due to them failing to receive any copies. Our new game preorders have since been very healthy
We tried most of the ideas suggested on this board which not only helped out with a few pounds here and there but brought people into the shop who would not have been interested in the game side of things alone.
Although we are still receiving some benefit the wages we can now afford to take from our business meens we are only "topped up" on rent and slither of council tax. So although I can not say we are benefit free we are certainly on our way to achieving it.
x x x

gingergee

Thanks for the update x The toast idea sounds great to me, few paper plates and bobs yr uncle!!!