Any Tack shop or Rug repair business owners out there!!

[crinster]

I have been running my own online tack shop for the past few years but I am now at a point where I want to expand, and that means getting a premises. I know the area where I live does not have a local tack shop and a lot of my customers who buy off me locally are always asking when I will set up a shop.

I also sell alot of 2nd hand goods and I can do rug repairs.

My main question is, I am unsure whether to go the whole hog and open a small tack shop or to go down the route of rug washing and repair? I'm wondering what people find most profitable.

Thanks

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Insure you have already looked into it, but consider the difference in overheads between a shop and wherever you would carry out the repairs/washing from. I own a feed merchants/pet shop/accessories shop and the overheads are pretty hefty, if I could run the lot from my spare room and garage I'd be quids in!

 

[Goponygo]

Whereabouts in Gloucestershire are you thinking? There are quite a few tack shops around the area that I know of and I know some that do more online than they do in store and are going down more of the click and collect (order online and collect from shop) route x

 

[WelshD]

from experience when many people say they will 100% support you what they actually mean is that if the situation suits them well they will 100% support you. if you put your prices up to cover overheads will they be banging your door down or back home on the net ordering from Robinsons?

bear in mind that shops are closing or becoming online only and to buck that trend you'll need to be rock solid on your business plan and research

If you have the room to dry the rugs then rug repairs and washing is an idea.

 

[crinster]

Hi, whatever option I take I would need to rent a premisis, the over heads do worry me. The rug washing is less of a start up cost, especially as I already have the sewing machine! But I actually enjoy the tack shop sales and have been doing it for nearly 3 years so would seem a shame to give up everything I've learn't. Our closest tack shop is Countrywide, and you can be pretty sure if you buy something from there that at least 2 others at your yard will have the same thing!

 

[Dubsie]

I would say that you are going to increase footfall with rug wash and repair, as people will bring in to you. So I'd look for premises with that in mind and see if it can adapt to an attached shop rather than go for a more expensive shop. I'd also look at having a reason for going to you rather than Countrywide such as a very large, very active and free to use noticeboard - allow people to email you ads to print off might be good.