I need your help, thinking of starting up my own business

[elloryp]

I like my job but the commute is just too far, 2hrs each way on top of 12.5hr shifts I suffer with sleep apnea which has been particularly bad recently and this has been making me dozy on the bike resulting in two speeding tickets and jumping a red-light from fatigue in the space of just 48hrs. If I go on like this much longer im going to get killed, or worse lose my licence. Its been really frightening as ive hd my bike licence for over a year and not had so much as a single penalty point, now after just two days I could be looking at 9 points. All due to the fatigue of having two small children and 4hrs commuting on top of 12hr days.
Clearly something has to give, but I love riding I don’t want to give up riding to stay in a job that I just don’t care about that much any more. Heck im even at work now… on Christmas day while my kids are at home opening presents without me. Life is just too short.
I work in TV, my skills are pretty specific and there just aren’t any broadcasters where I live, I need to either move back to London which aint happening, or find work closer to home in a different sector.
After some real soul searching I have decided that id really like to set-up my own business, I love riding and I want to set up an online retail business, selling bike gear.
Everything from helmets, gloves and boots to intercoms, cameras and gps. Id also like to sell bike mods, so things like crash protectors, windscreens and so on.
I know what you are thinking, there are businesses out there already doing that, and some are doing it exceptionally well, sportsbikeshop and revzilla spring to mind as the best I’ve personally come across.
SBS stand out as having the best customer service I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with, and Revzilla have the whole reviews thing on lockdown, very professionally done and informative.
For a start I’d like to combine the two, id want to do a Motovlog that reviews the products I would be selling as well as a shop/studio based presentation on all the videos. I would also like to involve some of the new tech, perhaps get stock of things like the skully helmets and bike-hud. So far I don’t know of any online retailers that stock these products.
Also customer reviews would be very important, id want to encourage customers to review the products they buy. Another thing could be loyalty points and/or competitions.
Im still not sure if that is enough for a workable business plant to take to the bank though, I think I still need to find some sort of gap in the market.
So I come to you guys to ask for help, if you could take the time to answer a couple of questions id really appreciate it. you can be as short or as detailed in your answers as you like and feel free to add anything you think would be beneficial.
1) What sets online retailers apart from the others, who do you use and why?
2) Are there any products or brands you can’t easily find?
3) How do you go about choosing your products when bought online?

[elloryp]

why has someone reported this as spam?

[Pete.]

[hellkat]

First off, working for yourself will mean just as many hours. Its never 9-5 when you work for yourself, and you then also have the worry of being the boss as well as keeping the business afloat for the benefit of others.

Think about possibly making other sacrifices or changes in your life that you might not consider worthy of your consideration (or are currently making excuses not to do) but which will give you more time with your family, rather than less.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[elloryp]

No im staff, tbh im not even the furthest commuter. i come in from kent but we have one who comes in from the isle of white!
ive worked in my job for ten years and only moved out of london this time last year, its been tough but ok up to now but like i say my apnea has been really bad for the last week or so. have an appointment to see the doc in a couple of days, hopefully they will sign me off for a few days till the apnea eases off a bit. either way i need to not be behind the wheel or on the bike till this eases off.
Also got a hosp appointment on the 12th to discuss long term treatment options

[elloryp]

[hellkat]

Dropping London wages is always difficult. I lived near Canterbury for a while and I couldnt bear the thought of losing my London weighting, I couldnt have commuted that distance on bike OR train - even with a shorter working day.

But if your lifestyle is suffering that much you should consider doing something not necessarily related to what you're trained in. It will invariably seem like peanuts compared to London prices but somehow it evens itself out a bit. Eventually.

It's good that you are already considering options and also taking care of your health issues.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Rogerborg]

[M.C]

Most online retailers seem to sell a lot of cheap tat, and get away with it because you can't see the item you're buying. I think there's a 'gap' in a market for a low to mid-range priced store. I can think of one down Brick Lane market (for those who know the Islamic Republic of Tower Hamlets ), the main chains are so expensive I don't see who they cater for, when a pair of trousers costs the same as an actual motorbike

[Lord Percy]

[J4mes]

Get the train in to work. Catch up on some snooze then, won't get caught speeding or fall off the train either.

[arry]

[arry]

[Ste]

You want to setup an online shop as part of a get rich quick scheme with the vlogging providing the rest of your income?

You mention about sleep apnea, I'm not too sure what that's got to do with starting your own business. Personally, rather than starting your own business, I'd have thought a CPAP machine will be more likely to keep you alive than starting your own business.

Maybe you could make a business out of selling CPAP machines to people who need them but appear to have no idea about their existence?

I'll write reviews for your website, usual t&c and fees will be applicable. I also offer other review publishing services where I directly target your potential customers rather than just putting them on your website.

Loyalty points, competitions and other such crap? Your prices could be lower if you avoid those types of gimmicks.

1. Ease of use.
2. fite me
3. Choosing the product I'll browse whatever review sites, manufacturers sites, forums, etc etc to decide what I want. Then to choose where to buy from I'm want the cheapest price once cashback is taken into account.

hugs & kisses & fite me

[J4mes]

[Pete.]

Constant 16hr days I reckon it's knackereditis.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Rogerborg]

[Andy_Pagin]

[Pete.]

[MarJay]

I think it's a biblically epically bad idea.

You've been riding a year and you now want go start a business where the clientele know more than you about the product? And you want to Motovlog for promotion? As said before, motovlogging is the quickest way of turning something inherently life affirming and exciting as motorcycling into something as dull as a dull day in dulwich.

What aspect of TV do you work in? I've worked in the broadcast industry for 9 years and have never heard of 12hr shifts. Where do you live? Are you completely sure your skills aren't transferable? Don't you have a union?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Seems like a hell of a risk when you don't appear to have done much to sort your existing career. Life was fine, you moved to Kent, commute is now shit. Why not move back to London? Assuming you're doing well in your existing industry it seems silly to move.
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[jjdugen]

WHY DO YOU SOUTHERN LOT THINK LONDON IS SO GOOD!!????
Why do you fight to live and try to work in that unholy SHITHOLE!!!
If you are TV and want to work...... Manchester.....
Houses cheap, good and actually available to British citizens. Mainstream broadcasters and even more independent production companies.
Its not tin baths and whippets, its sophisticated and forward looking. No Boris, fabulous riding roads...... Surely a no brianer?
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[Ste]

[almostthere]

It's cause dem speak funny in Manchester innit
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Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk

[pdg]