Going from online only to online & proper shop?

raineshoe

If what you already have works extremely well why change it. As someone else said the high street is dying. I run an online business and wouldn't change to a shop premises at all as its very successful as it is. My overheads would triple with a premises and whereas you have some freedom to leave your shop as it is and so something else while the orders drop in you can't do that with a shop.

Expand what works well now.

expressduck

You need to let the opportunities facing you shape how your business behaves. If you felt their was a large enough opportunity to make use of a shop space then go for it (although like alot of posters here, I have my reservations). Decisions like that need to be guided by your view/research of the opportunities in the future.....does that make sense. You shouldn't open a shop "because you want to", it needs to be driven by a set of solid reasons the end result of which needs to be more profit (allowing for the increased risk).

helenthemum

I went from being online only to having b&m shop as well.

Its hard work running both, I have found that the online side has slowed down as I don't have the time to do everything.

I also custom make items but for humans, 90% are happy to ccome back the next day or a few days later to collect their custom made items. That's also means the customer doesn't know how long it takes you to make something and question the price.

I was lucky in that I bought my shop and it came with living accommodation suitable for a family. You have to thinking about rent and rates, insurances, card machines, how you would continue to post your online orders etc. The list is almost endless.

I love my little shop, but it has limited my life in ways I would not have thought possible, family life is not what it was working 6 days a week even though shop hours are limited, you still have to be open when you say you are. For me summer holidays is the worst when the shop is really quiet due to seasonal products. September onwards is very hard work but fun.

Think very carefully employing people. It can be very hard work, alot of paperwork rules and regulations to check, double check and follow to the letter. If you find the right employees it can also be very rewarding and make working much more pleasurable

Good luck with you decision