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Shop owners want websites, Website owners want shops....
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Quail By Mail



Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Location: Brixham, South Devon
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 12:11 am    Post subject: Shop owners want websites, Website owners want shops.... Reply with quote
    

I've heard (and read) on numerous occasions recently of retailers large and small complain (or proclaim) that they want to retail via a different means then what they are currently doing.

I too am wondering whether to get a little shop on a street somewhere for Quail. One lady I spoke to thought I was crazy as she was thinking of selling her 3 high street shops because 2008 has been so dire, preferring to retail online only.

It's a buyer's market! Or is it just a classic 'grass is always greener on the other side of the fence'?

MarkS



Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think that it depends on the product, the location and the catchment area.

Do you map your buyers locations? do any geosocial analysis?

kaz



Joined: 09 Sep 2006
Posts: 189

PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Location, location, location......

We too have had a very poor retail season in a small town and would not consider another shop when the lease runs out here

If you decide to get shop premises could you sub-let an area of somewhere like a garden centre rather than a high street shop?

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Having a shop front for clothes would obviously have the added benefit that people can try the clothes on. I know a number of people who wouldn't buy clothes on line because they can't, and I'm iffy about buying footwear on line.

Who would run the shop? And actually be behind the counter?

Quail By Mail



Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Location: Brixham, South Devon
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

MarkS wrote:
I think that it depends on the product, the location and the catchment area.

Do you map your buyers locations? do any geosocial analysis?


The product is organic/ethical women's clothing which has been made in Devon.

Most customers come from Wales, then Scotland, then Essex and then France, Netherlands and at the bottom of the pile is people from the South West!!!!

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Do you do any face to face selling? If so, does the amount you sell lead you to believe that you could make a profit by running a shop?

I woudn't want the responsibility of running a shop myself.

Quail By Mail



Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Location: Brixham, South Devon
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jamanda wrote:
Having a shop front for clothes would obviously have the added benefit that people can try the clothes on. I know a number of people who wouldn't buy clothes on line because they can't, and I'm iffy about buying footwear on line.

Who would run the shop? And actually be behind the counter?


I always shop online and it is my favourite mode of shopping. Of course shopping is a major pastime in this country so browsing up and down the street appeals to more people. I agree footwear is certainly iffy to buy online! I think I would run a shop myself.

Mary-Jane



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My Mum bought a little shop and ran it for 6 years until she sold it. She said she knew, from the first day, it was a terrible mistake. Staff problems, thefts, bills, sales...to name but a few drawbacks. She always said the biggest problem was meeting her overheads - she had to make so much profit per month just to keep the place open, let alone pay herself and staff. That, and the fact she was never free of responsibilities...or to go on holiday.

Penny would be a good person to add to this discussion...

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

As a producer-retailer we made a concious decision right from the start not to open a farm shop or have a market stall purely because that is time away from the farm. People will be welcome to come to the farm & collect an order but a 'shop' would be too inflexible for such a limited staff of 2.

Mary-Jane



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rob R wrote:
As a producer-retailer we made a concious decision right from the start not to open a farm shop or have a market stall purely because that is time away from the farm. People will be welcome to come to the farm & collect an order but a 'shop' would be too inflexible for such a limited staff of 2.


Good call Rob.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What is Brixham like? Quite touristy I should think?

ros



Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 2469
Location: Beds
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

how about trying a stall at one of the Barnstaple indoor markets in high season. Think that would be pretty lucrative, there are all sorts of stalls on different days, but we often see locally made clothing -- or sometimes imported "hippy indian" stuff and it seams to attract sales.

Helen_A



Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 1548
Location: MK, Bucks.
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 08 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'd stick to wholesaling personally - get an agent and get them to get your product out there. Or grit teeth at the costs and take a stand at the trades (lots cheaper in the end than the year round costs of retailing) and find yourself retailers that way. I can suggest a couple of decent ones if you like

The other thing to look at is getting a wholesalers listing on Ethical Junction... it costs these days, but is still pretty good at feeding leads through

Oh - and register yourself with BAsFTS, its the main place that the various fairtrade shops look for when looking for new products.

Helen_A

Quail By Mail



Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Location: Brixham, South Devon
PostPosted: Sun May 04, 08 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rob R wrote:
As a producer-retailer we made a concious decision right from the start not to open a farm shop or have a market stall purely because that is time away from the farm. People will be welcome to come to the farm & collect an order but a 'shop' would be too inflexible for such a limited staff of 2.


Interesting comment. I live right in the centre of a seaside 'resort' so there's lots of visitors who walk by the cottage on a continuous basis. I'm wondering whether to open the cottage up and have a small display just inside my foyer...not the full collection but a few of the most popular things.

What do you guys think?

RichardW



Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales
PostPosted: Sun May 04, 08 12:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Or a small covered hand cart type thing if you have the space.

Justme

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