Monday, November 9, 2009
Grasp those business opportunities....
People of Tonbridge: look the recession is all but over so let's please have some business people, entrepreneurs, call them what you will, come forward with some bright ideas for shops to smarten up the High Street. We've recently had the opening of Sweets and Shakes that very bright candy coloured place next to McD's and the green grocers, but how about an electrical retailer, a smoothy bar, a new and dynamic sports and outdoor shop, a canoe centre (we are on a river after all) a camera shop. A mens clothes shop other than Burtons and Beales would be a start or do we just want more coffee shops, charity shops, estate agents and hairdressers? Come forward you people wherever you are, there are business opportunities out there waiting to be grasped....
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17 comments:
... and somewhere to buy a decent pair of jeans. Beales have axed all the worthwhile lines. T Wells here I come.
a primark would be nice for this town as well as a music/dvd store like hmv because there is hardly any retailers that stock a huge amount of music and dvd's
there is to many charity shops and cheap shops in this town it is crap!!!!
Tonbridge Blogger there is already a camera shop in tonbridge!!!
If you opened a canoe shop in the town it would never stay afloat. It would need to sell at least 500 a year plus kit. I only ever see a handful at a time on the Medway.
You of all people, Tonbridge Blogger should know exactly what's involved in running a retail business. You are also no doubt aware of the astronomical rents demanded for High Street outlets, so let's not be naive about this and start mis-leading people into thinking it's easy-peasy running their own shop.
I was lucky with my shop, as the rent was reasonable, but there were still the long hours, when you had to be there, deliveries to take in, trips to the cash and carry and the bank. Let's not romanticise about this, running a shop is sheer, bloody hard work!
I'm thinking about opening a second-hand book shop, we could use one of those ;-)
A camera shop? Oh yes Jessops you mean....
Canoe shop? Maybe it would work if they branched into outdoor gear etc. There is a canoe centre near Wrotham which I keep meaning to go to and there is a canoe club on the river in Tonbridge. Perhaps if there was the opportunity to try and buy canoes more demand would be stimulated. Might work if an enthusiast ventured into it....
All this talk of "enthusiasts" starting up shops reminds me of the old maxim that one should never mix business with pleasure.
There's more than a grain of truth behind those wise words, so be very wary gentle readers!
tonbridge blogger why an earth would tonbridge need a canoe shop. for a start it would need to be in a large property for example on an industrial estate, car parking so customers can collect their canoe and put it on their trailer!
the empty shops that are currently avaliable in this high street are two small to house a canoe shop.
you think you know about retail well you dont!!!
Look these are only straight off the top of my head suggestions and opinions. Ease off will you! If I know nothing about retail then I'm trying to catch up fast and would always welcome any pearls of wisdom from anyone with more knowledge and experience than myself. I would never try to say that I know everything but I do know a fair bit...
Paul Bailey: I'm surprised when you say that being enthusiastic about one's business is a problem. Personally I think that when a business becomes just that it's reached the top of a long slippery slope. The longer the owner of a business can maintain his personal enthusiasm for the business then surely the better for it. I hope that I never come in with to my shop with a feeling of dread and hope that I can always think of it not as a job but, rather, as a pleasureable hobby. So long as it makes money of course!...
With all this hurtful critism it's a good job I'm not as sensitive as Stephen Fry isn't it! Anyway why don't some of you anonymouses get proper names. It gets a bit confusing when there are several anons commenting on the same post. It can't be that difficult can it? Then it would be like your own personal handle/nickname. It can still be criptic and anonymous but just a bit more fun. How about: Anonbridge or Mallings blog or Little bridger, big bridger, Castleblog, Richard De Clare, Dry Hiller, South Tonbridger, North Tonbridger, Trench Wooder etc etc try it!...
Yeah. Do it people.
Well I think Tonbridgeblog has a point with the canoe shop - the shop would only need storage at the back and there are properties close to laoding areas or facilities where this culd be done. There is a thriving canoe club - we do have a river - there are enthusiasts who offer outdoor pursuits holidays and similar in the area and canoes could encompass anything that goes with watersports too. Maybe an outdoor enthusiasts shop - skateboards, snowboards, rolller blades, canoes, wakeboards and all that stuff. Who knows where it might end. So it's not quite as daft as we all may think. Give Tonbridgeblog a break guys ... at least he's enthusiastic.
You misunderstand me TB, there's nothing wrong with being enthusiastic about things, but there is a danger that people can let their enthusiasm carry them away. If not careful they end up letting their hearts rule their heads, and when people aren't thinking straight they end up making bad decisions.
They say that business-owners should be passionate about what they do, and I'm certain it applies in your case, as it did in mine. The trouble is that you can sometimes spend so much time on your "passion" that it ends up becoming a chore, (either that or you end up with no time to enjoy your passion). I hope this does not happen to you; it was starting to happen to me in that wilst I was indulging my passion for beer by running a specialist beer shop, there was very little time to actually get out and enjoy the stuff. Since selling the business I am now able to truly indulge this passion of mine, by travelling to places that are renowned for their brewing traditions and heritage, both at home and abroad. In short I have re-discovered my passion.
I hope this makes sense, and BTW don't let the anonymous "knockers" get you down. By writing and hosting this blog you are no doubt indulging your passion for writing, which can only be a good thing. May I also add to your plea that all these faceless anonymouses have the courage to reveal their identities, even if they start off by hiding behind a pseudonym.
rumor has it woolworths is going to be poundland, thats all tonbridge needs another cheap shop
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