Detailing products - opinions on opening a shop

[Crybert]

So, I've been thinking about this for a while now. I can obtain a premise free of charge in Glasgow city centre. I'm no expert detailer but know a couple of bits and bobs.

My proposal would be to open a shop purely containing high end detailing products for enthusiasts like us. Good quality products at (hopefully) a decent competitive price.

Whats your guys thoughts on it? I would open it purely as a weekend shop and stock as much as I could. Probably wouldn't stock any high value waxes due to the price but apart from that everything would be covered including some reasonably priced waxes.

Question is, should I bother? I hate not having somewhere to go and buy things when I need them urgently. Halfords doesn't cut it for me and I hate having to go.

cheers

 

[Wrighty.]

The only worry I would have about setting up a shop for detailing supplies would be the size of the market you would be catering for. If you can get the shop free of charge then that's ok, but you also have to factor in the cost of stock, running costs VAT etc.. And also are you going to be able to get close to the sorts of prices that the online shops can as they will be ordering a lot more stock so can afford to sell for less. It would probably be worth sending a few emails around and see what kind of prices you will be able to buy in at first.

But still on the scale of things you will still be catering for a minute market, as the professional detailers probably already have connections in the company's whose products they use, and with the fact It's so easy to order stuff online and get next day delivery it might not be worth the hassle.

 

[Knuckles]

Ask around to get an idea of how much demand is in your area.

My my only input would be 'I'd happily pay a small premium over online ordering to have the product there and then'

 

[Scrooge]

I would love one close to me, but how many other people would be interested I highly doubt there'd be many.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

In my opinion it wouldn't be the best market to get into . The market place is already flooded with " online " detailing products . Personally I order pretty much everything i want online , except food and most of my clothes . It's just easier and convenient .

 

[bloke]

sorry but that's got to be the worst business plan ever!!

shop purely containing high end detailing products Probably wouldn't stock any high value waxes

I would open it purely as a weekend shop I hate not having somewhere to go and buy things when I need them urgently

probably the two worst things in retail are not being open and having to say to someone 'sorry we haven't got that in'

 

[Crybert]

sorry but that's got to be the worst business plan ever!!

shop purely containing high end detailing products Probably wouldn't stock any high value waxes

I would open it purely as a weekend shop I hate not having somewhere to go and buy things when I need them urgently

probably the two worst things in retail are not being open and having to say to someone 'sorry we haven't got that in'

I couldn't afford to stock £150 waxes. I have a full time job and this would be something on the side. Just looking for input. I'm no business man. Just an idea.

 

[Jay.S]

Having a shop to run as your 2nd job isn't the best idea tbh.

Why not do a online shop? Low overheads and keep your stock in a lockup/garage.

Who would wait until Saturday to go to pick something up when they could order it online in the week for cheaper and have it before your open. Starting with the online business always gives you the option to branch out if you ever wanted to.

Even a online business I see the detailing world as a niche or clique type of world. Can't see it being massively successful.

 

[GrahamS]

Shops on the highstreet are 3 things; stuff you can't buy online (coffee,veg etc), stuff which cost too much to post (99p stores, builders merchants) and a front to a much larger online business.

I would love to have a shop which sells highly specialised detailing and car products close to me but I understand why there isn't one. I don't think the demand is there without having a big online base. Overheads would be huge for the relatively little gain over a purely internet business.

Motorbitz in Winton, Bournemouth does a load; poor boys, DJ and the more professional Megs but also does lots of things like Halfords which I suppose is where the majority of business is.

It's a great idea and I would shop there but I think opening at weekends wouldn't cover overheads and it's a very tough business to keep going without a big online base.

 

[Crybert]

Cheers for the responses folks . It was more of an idea than an actual plan anyway. Always think I have the best ideas before dozing off to sleep.

i don't think id make much money at all, but would be a decent project

 

[Scrooge]

A small online business to go along side it may make it more worth it?

 

[Mikeyjp]

i think there are too many overheads with a shop, like bills, staff? ect, better off starting online and see how that goes

 

[Crybert]

The online thing seems like a better bet however there is so much competition out there and I doubt I could compete

 

[Scrooge]

For the cost and effort I reckon it's worth a try, especially with free shop used to hold stick and for people to just pop in in the weekend.

 

[Advikaz]

Wonder if any suppliers would be interested in a franchise type thing...

Or perhaps you could become an agent etc.

 

[Crybert]

I've already been in touch with companies and you effectively become an agent/reseller.

problem is I am unproven so my discount is very low at the moment. Especially on smaller orders. Obviously if I build it up my discount will become higher and the order size will be larger. Other issue is that I can't just go selling on forums without paying the forums, as on most it's against the rules. Likes of here would be a great place to offer products/offers etc

 

[Jack-C]

I live five minutes from ultimate finishes unit which is at brands hatch and one Saturday afternoon I was passing so thought I'd stop by and pick up a bottle of c2v3. When I arrived there was a guy detailing a bmw in the unit so I went in and said I'm after a bottle of c2v3 and he said we don't stock or sell anything here because there's no passing trade, everyone buys online. The unit is at the paddock entrance so there's constantly car enthusiasts passing by the unit and yet there's no demand to sell products there.

I think that's the trouble you would have. Online is just easier and suits a lot of people.

I would love a local detailing shop but I'd suggest going online first and if your business takes off then look into having a shop to stock your products and maybe get a little passing trade.

Fair play tho mate and good luck to you whatever you decide to do.

 

[JD]

Online is fine. As soon as you run something physical, it takes it's toll as you're relying on walk ins. Hence PB and AF run detailing services with products on site as an aside to their good digital presence.

Look at Shinearama for example. Just couldn't make it work as too much pressure was put on product sales aside from digital stores. And that's nicely covered by I4D, PB and CYC (to name the majors), as well as Amazon and eBay.

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Look at "Shop n shine". He started off stocking products in his garage and selling online. Now he has a unit in an industrial estate where it's possible to collect from but also still trades online. He's doing really well!

It is possible but you need to sell online also

 

[Gally]

You need to have online if you're going to have physical. It's sadly still a niche market. Stocking halfords style products will also help especially because anyone can sell cheaper than Halfords!

 

[Crybert]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll look into the online thing but highly doubt ill to for it

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll look into the online thing but highly doubt ill to for it

If you need an ecommerce website, drop me a pm

 

[Crybert]

If you need an ecommerce website, drop me a pm

Can u expand Thomas? Not got a clue what an ecommerce website is!

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Can u expand Thomas? Not got a clue what an ecommerce website is!

Ecommerce website is just a term used for a website which allows you to sell items, via a virtual shop/checkout etc!

 

[Crybert]

Ecommerce website is just a term used for a website which allows you to sell items, via a virtual shop/checkout etc!

Ah! Top man, I'll let you know. Currently looking into things such as trade discount on products and postage/packaging

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Ah! Top man, I'll let you know. Currently looking into things such as trade discount on products and postage/packaging

No worries and okay mate! Good luck with it

As I said on the last page just take Shop n Shine as an example!