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Shops, costs and pros/cons?

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st3v3
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PostPosted: 19:34 - 10 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bit of a throwback this, but figure why not ask for a bit more advice?

Robby wrote:
It seems your business is based around delivering takeaways and groceries to people's homes. A niche currently filled by takeaways that offer delivery, and supermarkets that offer delivery.

I don't see the need to have a shop. If you need some storage space, why not use your living room when you start out?

I can see your idea failing pretty quickly. If your business is based around delivering for takeaways, and it means they get more business, they would get rid of you and use their own (cheaper) delivery drivers, or knock you down to 50p/delivery.
I'm genuinely glad I can say at this point I hope Deliveroo and Uber Eats have changed opinion on the harder sold-to here. Laughing

I'm in the middle of doing this all again in a different property and given the market has changed finding it much more difficult. Initially, as above, it was hard to sell the idea but now it's hard to sell being able to compete with the big boys. Amazing.

So, my hope is to keep a mini blog here where the high and lows of it can be documented, i'm not big on social media personally these days.

My plan has adapted too, will update shortly but 1 thing i'm struggling with is understanding the credit score system.
To get a retail place they need a credit check.
To get a business bank account they need a credit check.
I'm told a few checks can impact a credit check Evil or Very Mad Laughing so I can't work out what's best! I need an account to store money and take card payments but I need premises to operate from?
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Ste
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PostPosted: 20:06 - 10 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do some Googling about soft credit checks.

Basically you only want to apply for stuff properly if there's a good chance of you getting it.

For a business account, as old fashioned as it might sound, I'd be tempted into your local branch and talk to them about it rather than just applying online. If you're borderline then that's going to complicate things but going in person rather than just online goes some way to shows your seriousness.
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G
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PostPosted: 21:03 - 10 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Capital one offers a bank account that doesn't require passing credit checks (though they may still do them) - https://www.cashplus.com/business-account/ .
You can't pay cheques into this last I checked. Probably not a big issue for you.
Starting off, I suspect you'll find it a lot less hassle/more realistic to take debit/credit cards by way of a third party regardless of the business bank account.
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st3v3
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PostPosted: 01:46 - 12 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

My credit in itself isn't bad, but isn't outstanding.

I'm worried that little checks early on will affect serious stuff yet to come, do I not need a business account to get the third party payment option linked to said account?
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stephen_o
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PostPosted: 15:30 - 12 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Best wishes for trying again.

The retail landscape and attitude to tenants from landlords and banks to risk have all changed in the last couple of years.

You will get credit checked for everything, do baby steps and plan before you apply - don't apply to say natwest then decide that hsbc might be better - that's where you will shaft yourself in terms of checks.

Do things like bank account etc which are "moveable" between different properties before going for the immoveable which is the property.

I have been self employed for 15 years, 11 as a retailer and in those 11 years there have been a lot of moments, arguments, clear-outs, sackings, walkouts, incompetence etc.


as I said before - good luck.

p.s signing up to mse credit checking club which is free allows you to keep a check on your experian credit profile for free and it can advise you on things you can do to improve your score and profile.
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stevo as b4
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PostPosted: 19:29 - 13 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

It might not be relevant to OP or their client demographic, but there must be 1000's others like me who:

1, choose take away once home and nearly ready to eat, instead of pre-ordering for a set time.

2, will choose only from my fave local takeaways, and one person will go to collect on foot or if it's too far by car/ push bike. I like walking to the takeaway as it can work out about right time wise if it's close enough, but you feel like you've earned a big unhealthy meal if you expended calories going to pick it up.

3. Won't ever use the likes of just eat. It took me ages to work out what they were about, but I won't have stuff from different takeaways and am very picky about who I use. I also don't like the idea of kitchen places cooking up stuff to order, of any nationally. If I want a Chinese then I want it from a good place that knows nothing about other varieties of food, a specialist if you will.

4. Hate the dealings with takeaway delivery drivers, lateness, food not correct or cold etc. I also don't like neighbours to see who's bringing what stuff to my house etc. That's a reason why I'd never use even a supermarket delivery service.

Oh and if I'm too tired or ill or skint to go to the takeaway, the thing about having whatever is in the cupboard is a plus at times, as you use up stuff you'd probably chuck out, and sometimes with imagination you can rustle up a fairly nice feast from scraps.
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st3v3
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PostPosted: 17:33 - 14 Feb 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

^ Laughing I can't speak for other companies or experiences but this half feels like an objection to bust.. Laughing

In the very remote chance this relaunch sees the success I'm aiming for and the business grows nationally I will say that with cold food, used to have a policy where if the delivery was cold or messed up by the outlet (can happen) then it would be replaced for free and corrected for free respectively.
I used to have a customer who was *something* intolerant and ordered McDonalds twice a week but the branch often put cheese on the burger so it had to be swapped; because we don't interfere with the food only transport it we would never know until we got there if it was suitable.
(never actually had a cold order either, just for the record, it's kind of a reputation damager Embarassed Laughing )

With choosing favourite places you have to consider that if your fav place closes or you move etc then you come to find an alternative anyway, a recommendation of takeout we also collect from might be a benefit.

I won't be Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber, I have taken what I started out as back then and improved the model. If I can get a premises sorted soonish then by the end of the year I plan to have a few branches in bigger cities.
The catch 22 with starting out is I have no brilliant credit score, no loan opportunities, about a thousand left in the bank and deposit/legal fees to pay when I get my foot in the door - there's apparently no help for new business risk when it's not someone wanting to be a plumber, hairdresser or similar.

It's a biiig ask! But I bought the delivery bags and bike already so i'm not about to waste the money I have spent.

Edit, I noticed this elsewhere:
MaxSmithS wrote:


Also, someone above said you have to pay for the top box/bag. You pay a deposit for all your equipment, e.g. phone holder, waterproofs, t-shirts, external battery, etc. This comes out of your first few pay cheques and you get it back when you leave. Seems fair to me - what else can they do?

When you think on that they're supposedly valued at 2 billion as a company, the very least they can do is take the hit on the cost of the equipment they require couriers to use, it's not like it's fit for any other job.

By example, as mentioned I've gone out and bought a bunch of delivery bags for employees to use, I own them, staff turn up and use them, leave behind when finish their 6hr shift on NMW, no costs for them they're just earning a wage.
If I can create a financially viable business plan with this in mind they have no excuse, it's greed.
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st3v3
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PostPosted: 21:35 - 15 Mar 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

While i'm on here for research here's a mini update;

Firstly the shop plan now isn't happening quickly, it needs about 10k upfront because it's all about the money today and I don't have it lying around, so i'm on a waiting list for renting an office in about 4 weeks.

There's also been an alteration/improvement to the plan Embarassed Laughing I'm putting the food delivery stuff on hold for a second while I trial clothing delivery.
It's a whole new world to me, but one with no big competition I can find so it's worth a look at, i'm combining it with my new advertising business, eventually I'll have all 3 running together.
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Jewlio Rides Again LLB
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PostPosted: 21:42 - 15 Mar 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Will you also be ironing the garments before delivery?
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toby1
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PostPosted: 11:16 - 19 Mar 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some people 'try' clothes on by going to a wedding / function - then return them, how will you deal with returns? This is expected nowadays Rolling Eyes
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stevo as b4
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PostPosted: 22:47 - 19 Mar 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

How ever more realistic and credible the OP's business plan seems with every twist! Laughing

Clothing delivery business, what could possibly go wrong or have not been thought of by all the big money retailers in this game already?

I hope for OP that his business model works out and makes him a decent living too, I really do as most people arnt brave enough to step out on their own and take the risks of losing all their cash and failure etc.

But I was thinking today while walking home, what I'd do if I had the means/ motivation and desire to set up a business.

Pubs are a dying trade, food chains work on tiny margins and lots of quick turn around. But in most towns especially just on the outskirts of the high street/central areas, I've seen alot of these Micro Brewery's set up and do quite well with a small premises and reasonable overheads space and size wise.

Therefore I'd look to set up a mini wine bar, nice and classy and hopefully in an area that has some decent bistro/ chain restaurants nearby but no wine/cocktail venue for after meal drinks. I'd expect midweek trade to be good and have themed nights with music and girlie cocktail making classes etc.

Might be the twattest idea ever, but I think it's equally viable to the OP's too!
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Shaft
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PostPosted: 00:19 - 20 Mar 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

toby1 wrote:
Some people 'try' clothes on by going to a wedding / function - then return them, how will you deal with returns? This is expected nowadays Rolling Eyes


Must admit, this was my first thought.

Delivering a bit of nosebag is one thing, if the customer doesn't like it, they chuck it in the bin and open a tin of beans, but non perishables are a whole different game.

Apart from the scenario toby mentions, people order a couple of different sizes and send back the one they don't want, or order on spec and don't like it in the flesh.

Mail order catalogues were offering free returns 30 years ago, now everyone is at it, even shopping channels.

Unless you do a deal with suppliers that means you get paid both ways, I reckon anything you make on deliveries will get eaten by returns.
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G
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PostPosted: 12:46 - 20 Mar 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

stevo as b4 wrote:

Therefore I'd look to set up a mini wine bar, nice and classy and hopefully in an area that has some decent bistro/ chain restaurants nearby but no wine/cocktail venue for after meal drinks. I'd expect midweek trade to be good and have themed nights with music and girlie cocktail making classes etc.

I'm not in a particularly hipster area, so I was surprised when a micro-craft-beer-pub opened down the road when the cornershop split it's premises up to let half of it.

However, it's still going a year or so later and often looks quite busy.
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st3v3
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PostPosted: 15:08 - 16 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

The clothing side has problems to be worked out, and that's probably why the business model doesn't exist in the industry yet.

But, that doesn't mean there isn't space for it. The way I see it, cost wise, it's pennies in the pound long term, I have an advertising business, a courier/food delivery business and soon a clothing delivery business using staff paid an hourly rate whichever task they're on, if 1 business doesn't perform then staff can take up slack in either other and earn their wage, very little lost overhead.

I would honestly say to anybody thinking of their own thing - do what you can to at least try, worst case is in 6 months it isn't paying its way and you say you tried.

It sounds over ambitious, but why not? I've spent enough money getting this all going to not give it a decent effort. I'm pretty much skint Laughing and I don't like it.
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Ste
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PostPosted: 15:15 - 16 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

What advantages are there in paying you deliver some clothes rather than having them delivered (probably for free) by wherever you'd be buying them from? Confused
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toby1
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PostPosted: 09:55 - 18 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't forget the big sheds particularly Littlewoods (Very) when they open the new East Mids distribution centre in a years time, are going for same day delivery.................where do you fit in? can you better same day delivery? Can same day delivery ever be bettered?
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grr666
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PostPosted: 10:56 - 18 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boo hoo is gonna take some beating in that arena. My mrs buys from Boo Hoo all the time, it's never more than 24hrs
from order to hand, returns are free and they make the clothes too so they trial different lines to see what sells and what
doesn't and mass produce if it's a hit with the punters. They are also Primark cheap on account of having their manufacturing
in shithole countries.
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Polarbear
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PostPosted: 11:12 - 18 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

grr666 wrote:
Boo hoo is gonna take some beating in that arena. My mrs buys from Boo Hoo all the time, it's never more than 24hrs
from order to hand, returns are free
and they make the clothes too so they trial different lines to see what sells and what
doesn't and mass produce if it's a hit with the punters. They are also Primark cheap on account of having their manufacturing
in shithole countries.


And therein lies the problem with home delivery on just about every front. Next day, or even same day delivery from nearly all big retailers in every field. Amazon, Argos, Tesco etc. etc. You are fighting the big boys who will probably be looking at a no loss delivery cost rather than a profit, just to get your custom.

Look at Amazon (solely because I am familiar with them). Item doesn't turn up? You phone them and they will have another in the post same day. Item damaged, same. Complaint? Their customer service (in my experience) is second to none.

And you think you can compete with that?

I can't see a way of competing with them.
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st3v3
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PostPosted: 15:41 - 20 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

grr666 wrote:
Boo hoo is gonna take some beating in that arena. My mrs buys from Boo Hoo all the time, it's never more than 24hrs
from order to hand, returns are free and they make the clothes too so they trial different lines to see what sells and what
doesn't and mass produce if it's a hit with the punters. They are also Primark cheap on account of having their manufacturing
in shithole countries.

The important bit here is bolded, returns are free to every customer, and distance selling regulations are in the customers favour, the retailers lose out to the tune of millions.

The advantage to a delivery service is you have it within the hour, it's effectively a tailored service to you.
It might not work, i'm predicting a slow start but I don't see there's alot to lose, i'd rather try it than assume there's no market and see 2 other companies start up this year and dominate - with all the high street retailers closing doors or close to it, maybe 1 or 3 won't mind trying to lessen the cost of returns with this method.
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toby1
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PostPosted: 15:52 - 20 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Confused? are you offering a delivery or a returns service?

What do you mean by a delivery within the hour? Are you stocking and picking thousands of items to deliver to any address within an hour.........crazy or your the next Bill Gates Laughing
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st3v3
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PostPosted: 16:13 - 20 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

The way the system currently works is this:

Michelle the student / nurse / school teacher (or whatever) has a party to go to, she spends a week researching what outfit she wants but likes 4, and all have different size options.

What does she do, order one outfit which is wrong fitting or order all 4 and send 3 back?

If said outfits were delivered the same morning as the party, she gets to inspect and return what is not wanted.
Primarily this is a delivery service, there's no reason there can't be a returns option - businesses have to advance and adapt to what people want otherwise they get forgotten and vanish.

Once things are running I'll see by trial and error whether it's a thing.
Important bit here is the food delivery side, the game is gonna change. Thumbs Up

As for your last question, it's hard to answer, delivery within the hour is exactly that. As for stock, yes and no.
Without a shop though, half of the model just doesn't work, a premises is the key to progression.
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Ste
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PostPosted: 17:30 - 20 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

st3v3 wrote:
What does she do, order one outfit which is wrong fitting or order all 4 and send 3 back?

If said outfits were delivered the same morning as the party, she gets to inspect and return what is not wanted.

When does she pay you for the four outfits and when does she get her refund for the ones she decides to return to you?
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G
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PostPosted: 21:15 - 20 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Apparently 'outfit rental' is a big thing these days - could consider something along those lines and gives you an easy way to swap wrong sizes etc

These are often done on a 'love film' style membership system - so pay for 2 concurrent outfits and you keep 2 at a time, returning them for a replacement as and when you want.
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sickpup
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PostPosted: 07:50 - 21 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

st3v3 wrote:
The clothing side has problems to be worked out, and that's probably why the business model doesn't exist in the industry yet.


Actually it does, ASOS have been doing it for years. I know I set up the logistics side when it moved to Central London Wink
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toby1
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PostPosted: 09:45 - 23 Apr 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is also the re packaging issue of the three dresses Tracy doesn't want. Customers do not re package tried on clothes like new.

Do you scrap these........who pays?
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