New Businesses That Don't Do Their Homework

[chimneys]

As I say, I wish them nothing but well. Just that every time I go past there its completely deserted. Hopefully their wine tasting evening and other promotions will achieve the right results. But IMHO they face an uphill struggle.

Know exactly what you mean about the Park View BTW. It's my nearest boozer by far but I refuse to go in there due to the laughably rubbish time it takes to get served. Only slower bar service I'm aware of is at the Amex

Have to agree with Josky!

Although you say otherwise, by even starting this thread, you are putting people off and effectively giving them a kick, even before they are down.

Particularly in these difficult times I think we should all do all we can to "promote" and support our local independents.

Presume there's no personal axe to grind here? If not, then surely better to do the post mortem if and when they fail?

 

[Tricky Dicky]

One of those retro sweet shops opened in Burgess Hill about 18 months ago, people were queuing outside for the first month, It's not there anymore.

Seem to have seen quite a few of those - been one in Shoreham for a while, never seen anyone inside.

 

[rabbitmaddie]

A few retro sweet shops around Brighton & Hove. Must be very exciting for them on a Saturday morning, when they have a queue of kids, each ordering only £2 of sweets. They need to either:

a. sell sweets by the barrel-load (which none of them do, as no parents will generally allow kids to spend too much on sweets), or

b. sell crack sweets, get the kids hooked, then bolster the price up to £10

Can't see any of them surviving, otherwise.

 

[Cian]

Trait over here of people using their redundancy money to buy whatever franchise appeared towards the top of the list in a previous years franchising magazine awards. My mid-sized suburb now has:

3 ink cartridge refill shops
4 car park car valets
2 "we buy your old clothes" stands, one actually has a substantial retail unit at that.

I suspect not one will be there next year.

We also have every single franchised pizza brand in the country but seeing as there's a university, they might cope.

The second trait was someone using low rents as a way to try and make money from whatever skill or passion they had, so there were four PC repair/parts shops for a while, now there's 1. There was a high-priced perfume shop, now gone. There was a road that became nearly entirely boutiques, except now its got an ink cartridge refill place, a retro sweet shop, a pound shop and some empty units...

The only people likely to be making money from this are the commercial lettings agents!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Have to agree with Josky!

Although you say otherwise, by even starting this thread, you are putting people off and effectively giving them a kick, even before they are down.

Particularly in these difficult times I think we should all do all we can to "promote" and support our local independents.

Presume there's no personal axe to grind here? If not, then surely better to do the post mortem if and when they fail?

Absolutely no personal axe to grind. Indeed might work in the establishment's favour as somebody has pointed out a number of positives over the competition. And may well make other NSCers aware that its there. Still think they haven't done their homework though, how many people realistically have money to spend on high end wines in the middle of a recession? My rant was about new businesses doing their homework first before sinking large sums of money into a venture that is doomed before it starts. Sometimes that's only obvious to an outsider. For example, anybody thinking about opening a fish nibbling pedicure business? Don't. Just DON'T.

 

[chimneys]

Absolutely no personal axe to grind. Indeed might work in the establishment's favour as somebody has pointed out a number of positives over the competition. And may well make other NSCers aware that its there. Still think they haven't done their homework though, how many people realistically have money to spend on high end wines in the middle of a recession? My rant was about new businesses doing their homework first before sinking large sums of money into a venture that is doomed before it starts. Sometimes that's only obvious to an outsider. For example, anybody thinking about opening a fish nibbling pedicure business? Don't. Just DON'T.

I suppose "no such thing as bad publicity" is how the saying goes!!

Not living in the area, would be interested if you gave an update in say 6 months' time as to how they are doing.

Guess run up to Xmas will be fine, but the true test will be Jan/Feb in their line of business.

Good luck to em!

 

[perseus]

A Life Insurance business in Midsomer was not my best idea

if you are not cut out to be an undertaker ...... if you do something you don't like you are bound to fail.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

money laudering front. i see a number of takeaways opening and thats my only conclusion why they'd be opening while existing establishments are quieter than before.

Not really possible except in extreme cases - funnily enough pizza firms normally do really well in a recession - look at dominoes especially in Poland!

You wouldn't get the turnover through a small takeaway to money launder - its more large restaurants that do that and use the set up costs to filter it in dodgy cash. Best time is just before xmas when they can set up take all the xmas party money and then go pop owing the vat and the landlord. Most small takeaways set up with very little money and have no idea what it costs to get started and then fail because they can't afford the rent after the six months free they got. What they do then in Brighton is they sell at a loss to a mate who then tries the same trick often getting another 3 months free rent only for the same outcome!

Everyone thinks running a takeaway is easy so loads of people try it. They often come from Iran or Sudan with money from there in the hope its easy and they will make it rich and send the money home.

 

[Biffer]

The worst example of this I can remember was when someone looked around the bottom of Hove Street (right next to what is now The Ginger Pig). They couldn't help but notice that the entire street and most of the surroundings are inhabited by old, retired Jewish people and then for some reason they decided to open a German restaurant.
Funnily enough it hardly had a customer through it's doors during it's brief existence.
It's now called Coriander I believe.

 

[Gwylan]

As for saying that The Park View is competition - only if you fancy waiting 20 minutes to get served even if you are the only person at the bar.

We've just had a baby. My wife finds it much nicer sitting at The Purple Grape, especially with a push chair, than having to dodge the parade of smokers at The Park View before being told none of the tables are available because they've all been reserved for diners coming in in another six hours.

You're right, The Park View is shocking for service, although The Open House beats it hands-down for slowness - I've been the only person waiting in the OH and still not been served for 10 minutes.

As for opening up near existing outlets, I agree with beorhthelm. I bet many of them are money laundering operations. When I lived in Bradford, there were a few curry houses that we were widely believed to be fronts for drug money.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

You're right, The Park View is shocking for service, although The Open House beats it hands-down for slowness - I've been the only person waiting in the OH and still not been served for 10 minutes.

As for opening up near existing outlets, I agree with beorhthelm. I bet many of them are money laundering operations. When I lived in Bradford, there were a few curry houses that we were widely believed to be fronts for drug money.

I'm not saying it never happens but I think you will find that most takeaways understate their turnover not increase it with drug money. The vat office base what they pay on turnover, they even check how many chickens, burgers they buy against how much they declare sold to check its not understated and cash pocketed. Its pretty easy to work out a takeaways turnover by counting the people in on a Friday & sat night.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The Open House beats it hands-down for slowness - I've been the only person waiting in the OH and still not been served for 10 minutes.

And you tolerate this why?

 

[Gwylan]

And you tolerate this why?

In this particular instance we were waiting for a taxi and we're told it would be 30 mins. Haven't been back since then though

 

[Beach Hut]

Seem to have seen quite a few of those - been one in Shoreham for a while, never seen anyone inside.

You clearly have not seen Mini then, he lives in there after school

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

In this particular instance we were waiting for a taxi and we're told it would be 30 mins. Haven't been back since then though

Good man!

(The one over the bridge that used to be the Railway and is now the Signalman is a decent enough alternative IMHO)

 

[Norman Potting]

Seem to have seen quite a few of those - been one in Shoreham for a while, never seen anyone inside.

Funny that, we have had one open here in the town up in the hills. As someone has said you have got to sell an awful lot of sweets at a good mark up to make it pay. They have diversified into doing coffees, panini's and similar - just like the two longer established businesses virtually opposite them!

 

[Rowdey]

money laudering front. i see a number of takeaways opening and thats my only conclusion why they'd be opening while existing establishments are quieter than before.

Or, as i have seen up here in London, 'grocers' with about 4 things on the shelves, which i've then been told are crack houses/dens.

 

[portlock seagull]

Part of the problem is people of the pre ecomm era are still setting up in the almost post ecomm era and haven't realised the high street has changed beyond all recognition. They think they'd buy it or theres a demand for something when that basis can be applied to anything. As some dragons say, somewhere theres an idiot ready to buy anything; doesnt mean theres a market there. People just won't buy stuff on a w.e when they can do same from their computer during lunch for much cheaper and more variety. Spend the w.e doing other things like watching footy. And we're lazy sods who don't care about anything but price. Even food which we put in our bodies people are obsessed with quantity and cheapness over quality e.g. Oriental eat as much as you can style buffets....(pin out, walks away)

 

[BensGrandad]

One of those retro sweet shops opened in Burgess Hill about 18 months ago, people were queuing outside for the first month, It's not there anymore.

The sweets on offer were no better and a lot dearer than the average pick N Mix. There is a chain of old fashioned sweet shops, can't remember their name, but they are franchised out. 1 in Worthing nearly opposite Poundland and 1 in Horsham.

Incidentally I saw that 99p shop have applied to do alterations to Trading 4 U in HH, and the builders are in so that should be opening soon.

 

[portlock seagull]

Funny that, we have had one open here in the town up in the hills. As someone has said you have got to sell an awful lot of sweets at a good mark up to make it pay. They have diversified into doing coffees, panini's and similar - just like the two longer established businesses virtually opposite them!

Yep. All too common, I'm no businessman but surely theyve heard of usp and also their business model is utterly confused. On face of it they dont know what Market they're competing in or for. Fear for their long term viability, just hope they don't make things worse and understand when to cut losses. Friend of ours didn't and poured more debt unto the business when everyone else told him to do this: 3 years on he's just about returning to work after a complete breakdown. To say his wife and 3 kids have had it tough is an understatement. Nearly cost him his family never mind his health. Terrible.