There just not ready!

Nicksyb · #1 08-03-2010, 08:18 AM

I'm having a monday morning dilemma

After doing some searching for suppliers to my shop last night I came to the conclusion that maybe Gloucester just isn't ready for what I want to sell

The reason being is that the products are retro, kitsch stuff and the indoor market is all haberdashery and big pants stalls nothing young and funky. Which makes me think is the market the right place as I could have a fantastic stall but no customers, I don't see elderly people buying my stuff do you!

Which leads me to the next thing should I purchase the stock and sell it online via ecommerce and also do the crafty fairs that pop up. Then re-assess in a years time and see how the market is then for the gifts in Gloucester.

I guess the latter idea would be less money wasting than the first and I can then see if the products do sell here in the UK and then decide on opening a shop etc, hopefully with a lot more money behind me. That will also enable me to work full time still and save as much as possible towards the venture.

Ooohhh decisions decisions!!!

IP · #2 08-03-2010, 09:35 AM

To be honest I have pretty much shelved the idea (although I keep debating it) of opening any further shops. We sell far more online than we do through retail outlets now. Towns and cities are declining and will continue to do so even after the recession is well behind us. So I would tend to agree going online where you have access to a much wider customer base rather than a store is probably sensible providing you get your SEO right.

seanstevens · #3 08-03-2010, 09:36 AM

Good that you are looking into more details. Not worth throwing money into something if the market is not there for it.

Perhaps have a look around markets in other towns, see what is being sold there.

Nowt wrong with doing some eCommerce stuff if you can get it all sorted and it gives you time to earn some other cash for a while.

RandomTemplate · #4 08-03-2010, 10:01 AM

As I mentioned in the other thread I think this would be a great idea, keeps the initial costs down and you can build up a following them to help secure funds (and custom) for when you do open a store (or stall).

The advantage to online is that anyone can see it and you could trade globally. You could even work out where most of your orders come from and open a store there to target them. Just a thought.

Nicksyb · #5 08-03-2010, 10:43 AM

I think my mind has been decided about going online wth the shop rather than bricks & mortar (or market stall).

I don't want to be throwing away money on rent for nothing especially when that money can be used to buy stock.

I think I am lucky in that I have the space to work from home and hold stock aswell as the know how to run and build an online shop.

Now that the decision is made I actually feel a lot better, It will take off the need to earn a certain amount to pay rent and overheads etc so I can concentrate on the shop itself.

Now just to figure out what e-commerce system to use.

RandomTemplate · #6 08-03-2010, 11:02 AM

I would recommend Magento, I'm switched from Magento to an normal site then onto Wordpress since I'm not longer selling directly on the page and I setup a 404 notifier, since then I've had about 50-60hits a day on the old magento system that have gained attention through google (hasn't re-indexed) so its obviously done well on the SEO front.

Not 100% sure on this and sure maslins could advise you more, I'm fairly confident if your working from home & you are paying a mortgage you can claim back part of that as a business expense - not sure how it works for online businesses though.

AdeTheBizCoach · #7 08-03-2010, 11:45 AM

I think online is the way to go. I was going to suggest that you get people who come to your stall to enter a draw (or similar) to get their email addresses so you can market to them when you're not on your stall.

How is this new venture going to be different from Little Black Cauldron?

Nicksyb · #8 08-03-2010, 11:52 AM

LBC is purely withcraft items where as Spellbound will be kitsch retro gifts, sort of shabby chic meets funky.

Also the products are all handmade, or most will be.

RandomTemplate · #9 08-03-2010, 01:08 PM

Just thought i'd mention this, one of my recent clients has me working on a series of e-commerce sites in the "witch/spell industry"... they don't sell a product but a service. It really shocked me at first but apparently selling "magic services" is a fairly growing industry. One of the sites is turning over around £7-8k a month.

Nicksyb · #10 08-03-2010, 02:00 PM

There is a demand for the witchy stuff, my mum owns a dropshipping company purely new age stuff and she makes a small fortune from it. But then again she is a supplier not a distributer.

OK, just got back from the city where I went and had a look at the market.

I don't think I will be going there any time soon! There is 9 stalls empty and at the last count 3 stalls that are closing down. Only people who have stalls there are ones that have been there for years and years. It certainly isn't the market I am looking at.

Its a bit sad aswell just walking round the city as half of it is empty and the other half is closing down. Sooo many retail shops to lease but the customers are just not there.

On a side note did pick up a fantastic old desk for my crafting for a bargain £50

There just not ready!

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