Opinion Needed on New Business

naff123

Hello all

I really need peoples advice here. Basically I am in the process of building a new price comparison website like no other.

This comparison website will specialize in comparing prices for gardening and some DIY materials. So if a person wants to turf their garden but doesn't know where to go or how much to pay they can come online type in their post code and what they want an we will tell them every place which will do it and what they get for their money.

This will range anything from Skip hire to clear up rubble and excess top soil to fencing and hot tubs.

What I need to ask before undertaken such a task from nothing is risky.

Would people on this website use this tool? and what would you look for on it?

I'm thinking of adding a tool so people for no obligation can upload a pic of their garden and drag items that are for sale onto the picture to 'Try before they buy' from whether it is featured items or a specific theme i.e. Venetian themed. When they hover on the item it will tell them how much it is and where it is from.


What do people think is it something people would use?

coupleuk

A simple straight forward comparison site would probably work well.

BUT - and here's the problem, where would you get sufficient information to make it worthwhile for the customer to try it?

It's no good just having a few local traders in each County sign up - you would need 90% of them to make the system attractive to users.

Who is going to keep the information updated - Im sure there are technical (coding) ways for getting info from the major retailers websites but you would need a lot more than that.

Garden Centres tend to cover a wide geographical area so customers may not actually have much of a choice on who they use anyway.

Even when you get a few together (within 10 miles of me are a Sanders Gardenworld, Cadbury Garden Centre, Wyvale and a couple of others), customers tend to know who has the better range and will use that outlet - it may even come down to who serves the best coffee in the on-site restaurant.

I think you would have better luck if you concentrated on the big bulky stuff - like pallets of slabs, turf, gravel etc. But I think someone is already doing that online.

I dont think this is something which can be done on a small budget.

naff123

Exactly your correct that is why im considering taking a few internships fresh from uni or college if they have done computer sciences or like thus cheap labour but they are getting work experience the way you can keep everything up to date is have personal account managers for firms is a possibility.

I am looking at starting regional then if proves successful i will then look at rapid expansion i am in the preliminary stages to look for investment and getting it patented basically I am trying to see peoples thoughts on this before I venture into the big business world

closed

where is the income stream coming from?

naff123

With the main income source I have multiple options either charge a monthly fee to clients to be on the website. Or a One off fee to them.

Or finally stick a small margin on the products.

Or Advertising on the site i.e. pay per clicks and other stuff

BryanSmallBiz

Well, nothing much turns up in Google for this at first sight so there may be a gap in the market. However, is there a market in the gap?
Ways to avoid being dead-in-the-water: talk to potential suppliers in your area - would they sign up for such a service? Approach local gardening clubs: would their members be interested? Get both sides of the transaction to tell you what they want and how they would pay for it then work out whether you can build it and run it and make a margin.

naff123

I have links in the plant hire trade and building trade so I will start approaching them with Survey's asking them what they would want from the service then i will approach groups like your idea.

In may i am going to a business fair to pick up some tips an inspiration in regards to marketing and investment.

I am really happy with the positives i am getting from fellow members in regards to asking me the right questions as it has helped me see things from another light

am

Comparison websites use data, where will you get this data from? You know also that it can be expensive to buy data?

simplydevine05

No

I wouldn't use it. It doesn't sound like it will offer much over and above what a local search on Google will except Google is free.

naff123

simplydevine05 wrote: »

I wouldn't use it. It doesn't sound like it will offer much over and above what a local search on Google will except Google is free.

What on earth are you talking about I wouldn't charge customers to use it! Ands it all fair and well using google but google doesn't supply every single business on there unlike Thompson and BT and Yell do otherwise why would their phone books provide such a popular service.

Same argument really

naff123

am wrote: »

Comparison websites use data, where will you get this data from? You know also that it can be expensive to buy data?

I have links and ties quite high up in Thomson so I can get my hands on data pretty damn cheaply which is always a advantage