Adrian Day Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Hello everyone. I have been looking into starting my own business .. selling model building parts ... balsa , glues, push rods coverings I have contacted suppliers and got some great prices .. but pardon the pun do you think it would take off ... I have just got the website to try it out but need some feed back ... I would also be looking for more suppliers and stock.. Any Information would be gratefully accepted Regards Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Hi Adrian!! As I've got some experience in trading, just would remind You about three most important things LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.I know that here in UK it might look a bit different than f.e in Poland, but just yesterday I've gone to Blackburn Models. I didn't have gps as my phone could not catch the signal, so just had a quick look on the route before take off. And in the result, almost gave up, just couldn't find it.. Think about that.Another improtant thing is Your stuff. In my opinion it is better to have a lot of choice from balsa, glues and coverings, than no choice in planes, cars, boats and anything else. Personally I'd try to concentrate on smaller aspect of hobby at the start, but offer a great choice in it. After some time You could add something to the offer, couldn't You??And another good advice would be - don't think Your customers are idiots and don't force them to buy things they don't want. This really makes life easier if You will be honest and allow customers to go by their way. CheersTom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Hi Adrian I wish you well, are you thinking of having premises or 100% online? Have you considered not holding any stock (on bigger items), but waiting for orders, it does throw any next day delivery out of the window, but you will reduce your stock levels and if the price is right a longer delivery time might be acceptable. Who are you looking to compete with, and what makes you different? Is the website available for use to look at? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom T Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Hi Adrian, I asked the same thing a little while back, unfortunately the thread know longer exists, but what I got from it was that there just isn't a market for it anymore. But maybe it has changed since I asked. I was going to have a 1&1 website + domain and then do drop shipping (thats if you are planning on having a 100% online business) If you are planning on having a shop, drop shipping won't work which means you will have to buy from wholesale. Do you have a template shop we could view? Cheers Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary w Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 HI Adrian As a model shop owner its not easy at all, the amount of money just to keep the day to day things in stock... Also people always want wat you dont have and most want it there and then not to be order in... My website has been going for 2 years now and not getting the hits i was expecting... we decided to open a retail store luckily we got offered a 6month rent & rate free from the council which was test trading it worked out pretty good now we have our own shop in stockton. It was said earlier Location is the main thing... There is one other thing you wont get all the support from your local flyers??? And the internet is all about cheap which then your profit is next to nothing... good luck if you go for it.. regards Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Noooo! Don't do it! But if you do make sure you always stay one step ahead of the Taxman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Day Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Hello all Thank you all for your comments ...well i have been looking into things and found some short cuts .. thanks to a local shop owner.. i now dont need any stock as he is going to stock what i need and sell to me I just add my % on the top then when i need parts or anything like that i just go to him and send out..kind of killing two birds with the one stone...keeping the local market going and still running my own business .. and now i dont need any stock just keeps eveything simple..working from home and not having overheads means lower prices and maybe more customers but i will be keeps it on side of the tax man at same time.. just got to work on things more..Tom T : I have looked into what you have been saying on the things changing and if its worth while.. looking at the market there is gap for more balsa suppliers at present climate more people are making their models rather than buying RTF's and finding a good supply is key to this if you have a good stock then of stick, sheets, block, you could hit the market with the right price and a cost effective delivery price.the more people will order.. dont know if my wordings correct.. the website @present is only floating .. but can be viewed but no sales are being taken at the moment.. untill i get the art work sorted out i have added what i can ..will post when its more viewable // Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I think the local shop owner is having a good smile. The distributor he buys from is taking a cut, the shop owner is taking a cut, and you will be taking a cut. Where's the bit where the end customer will gain? There aren't many short cuts in business, not profitable ones at least. No overheads? I would count having to feed the local shop as well as myself an overhead, it will certainly reduce your margin, probably to the point of making it a pocket money earning hobby instead of a business. Have you done any spreadsheets showing at least your expected sales and profits for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months? Have you looked at small business start up loans, or at least spoken to the people (from whatever body does it in your area) ? They would help you look at the viability. If this is going to pay your salary, how much do you have to sell to make that, and do you have enough to go without it for 9 months to a year? If it is going to supplement something you already do, it indicates you have spare time, have you thought about expanding what you already do instead? Can you do all the paperwork and returns, or will you have to pay someone to do it? Are you permitted to run a business from your home (usually you can gain from it, but in some areas, and often for rented properties, it is not an option). I should think that most of your business will probably come from your website, which makes that an absolutely vital component to get right. There are hundreds of similar websites, and personally I usually, on a first visit to a site, leave the page in well under 20 seconds. That does not mean they don't have what I want at the price I want, just that the website is a failure. Often to much technical "cleverness" that may show the authors skills, but I did not visit the site to see that. How are you going to promote your website? Single shot advertising is not effective, and ongoing advertising is not cheap (not where it is worth having) Everybody knows how to do search engine promotions now, so it doesn't really give an edge, pluss google skew things to suit themselves. You mention balsa. I have not bought any balsa this year, as the economy bulk deals that usually come up on ebay have no appeared. Maybe the price has just gone up, maybe the sellers just want more profit, but I don't have the same increase in salary in the last year, so my purchases will wait. The point is, be it balsa or other parts, I don't think I am alone in being slower to spend, and then spending more carefully. I am not trying to be negative, rather to say that there is a lot to think about. In 2002-2003 I considered buying a model shop. I became a regular visitor to the shop, usually dressed in paint smattered jeans, and by visiting at different times of the day soon became aware of the customer base, and gleaned important info from the owners just by chatting. There were several reasons why I didn't make formal enquiries, but within a couple of years the shop had ceased trading, and a bit later on their other shop (slightly different focus, but still modelling) had also shut. Since then, I am always asking myself questions similar to above, and a lot more, when i find the answers coming out in the top half of the scale, I might think again. I would love to avoid working fixed hours for someone else, but I have to avoid all the perceived attractions and look at it as figures on paper. Having said all that, I would really like to hear that you have succeeded, and have found the way to success and happiness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Steve's long and honest post has it nailed - agree with everything said there Steve As many have said in the past, the way to make a small fortune in aero-modelling is to start with a large one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultymate Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Retail at the moment be it online or on the high street is a hard furrow to plough. Shop overheads are enormous particularly in good locations and footfalls on the high street are falling. Online trading is on the up but here too things are not as easy as you may think, having a shop on ebay has now become expensive. If you're going to set up your own website you need to be pretty IT savvy and you'll need secure shopping and payment systems and finally probably the biggest thing with online is to get your site coming out near the top of the list on search engines. If you do go for it the best of luck ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Posted by Tim Mackey on 14/02/2012 08:35:45: As many have said in the past, the way to make a small fortune in aero-modelling is to start with a large one.... I thought that was how to make a small fortune in the Philippines Lots of similarities though, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and reality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Day Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Hi Steve I currently run my own car audio business so this would be a weekend thing that just may or may not add something to my income , the main thing is that there isnt a layout and if people do buy from me, it would be a bonus but the income isnt a problem to myself if i make an extra £1 per month then so be it.. as for my business plan and accounting so on so on my wife if a fully qualified accountant and business advisor .. who has been working with me for the last 10 years, ok model building may not be something she would specialise in and she would agree with you that it may not be viable business but as i put above this isnt the be all and end all of my income.. more an add on to something i like / hobby.. on the property front i could work from home or i have office space above my business workshop that i could use.. but dont i have been talking to 10 different suppliers of balsa and modelling products and yes i agree that there isnt that much of a call for business at the moment 4 of the companies are making ends meet and the others are doing very well but as Tim M put they have put in big money .. so they can cut costs on buying bulk orders also this is only an idea not a set in stone Idea and something i may not venture into .. getting Ideas from public is the main thing and everyone who has commented on here has said not to do it in closing i would say nothing ventured nothing gained. and if people dont try building a business how ever small then this economy and even hobby may get worse either way.. how did JP start how did RCM&E Start?? as an idea and a small one nothing starts big and stays big .. on looking on here there are threads saying about this build that build everyone of those had someone supply one or more products to build it.. who can say how anything will turn out in this day and age .. there must be Some calling for suppliers as RCM&E and other companies Sell plans some one has to build them and some one has to supply them.. I hold my hands up to anyone trying to make something in life, and hard work may only get a little reward but its something .. when you have nothing.. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Day Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 ultymate: i agree with you shops are dropping faster than planes.. Internet has taken over big time and my wife can vouch for that .. As she has helped a number of companies start over the last 2 years who only sell online.. its a shop front that dont cost as much as high street shop front .. GBBO are now giving away websites (co.uk) for free for 2 years with google search admission free. and much more .. if you know how to build sites or if you pay someone to build it .. you can start making in a week .. And there are ways around sales on ebay and other websites that lower your cost of advertising and monthly layout .. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Posted by Adrian Day on 14/02/2012 09:39:57:Hi Steve I currently run my own car audio business so this would be a weekend thing that just may or may not add something to my income , the main thing is that there isnt a layout and if people do buy from me, it would be a bonus but the income isnt a problem to myself if i make an extra £1 per month then so be it.. as for my business plan and accounting so on so on my wife if a fully qualified accountant and business advisor .. who has been working with me for the last 10 years, ok model building may not be something she would specialise in and she would agree with you that it may not be viable business but as i put above this isnt the be all and end all of my income.. more an add on to something i like / hobby.. on the property front i could work from home or i have office space above my business workshop that i could use.. but dont i have been talking to 10 different suppliers of balsa and modelling products and yes i agree that there isnt that much of a call for business at the moment 4 of the companies are making ends meet and the others are doing very well but as Tim M put they have put in big money .. so they can cut costs on buying bulk orders also this is only an idea not a set in stone Idea and something i may not venture into .. getting Ideas from public is the main thing and everyone who has commented on here has said not to do it in closing i would say nothing ventured nothing gained. and if people dont try building a business how ever small then this economy and even hobby may get worse either way.. how did JP start how did RCM&E Start?? as an idea and a small one nothing starts big and stays big .. on looking on here there are threads saying about this build that build everyone of those had someone supply one or more products to build it.. who can say how anything will turn out in this day and age .. there must be Some calling for suppliers as RCM&E and other companies Sell plans some one has to build them and some one has to supply them.. I hold my hands up to anyone trying to make something in life, and hard work may only get a little reward but its something .. when you have nothing.. Adrian Adrian, there is a lot of insight in this post that I did not see in previous posts, that firstly puts a new light on your ideas, and secondly shows that many of my comments were not needed, you have already covered them ! I am all for people having a go and trying, but I hate to see somebody lose what they have simply because they did not look at anything more than the novelty and excitement of a new project.As for little reward when you have nothing, I have seen my fair share in Africa and the Philippines, and the satisfaction/pride it brings to those who succeed in even the smallest way. Reading your last post, I would say go for it, you have nothing to lose, and may even make good gains. Not being under pressure may well enable you to find a good slot in the market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Day Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Thank you Steve i hope i didnt come across nasty in my wording i just put things that way i say thing in my head and work with it .. i apologise i thank you for your comments in your previous post as much as the one im now replying to, In SHORT: When i first started out 15years ago in car audio i had nothing and i mean nothing a small shed with maybe 5 items of tools no money at all .. a friend had a wood yard with MDF that was not selling and was going to put in a skip.. (15 x 8x4sheets) i asked if i could take it .. this made me my first £1000 in my 2nd week work.. since then i have built a business that makes a reasonable profit ... I have worked hard to get what i have and never asked for anything from anyone.. only opinions. I take what people say as a big part of my life .. as its those who i intend to sell my product to .. so they are the people who count.. I work in 2 ways that i believe. I work on the supply and demand .. if some one want something i have to give then its a bonus.. i also work on freedom and freewill ... By this i mean that i maybe selling something that others sell and they maybe cheaper .. but i dont make you buy from me .. IF you do it WILL be the best i can provide and thats again of your choosing .. (freedom) and again a bonus, I wont try selling you something you think that you dont need. Thank you again for your comment and Again i may or may not venture into this line of work . But an avenue I'm tempted to look into. Best regards .Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Posted by Adrian Day on 14/02/2012 10:38:46:Thank you Steve i hope i didnt come across nasty in my wording i just put things that way i say thing in my head and work with it .. i apologise i thank you for your comments in your previous post as much as the one im now replying to, In SHORT: When i first started out 15years ago in car audio i had nothing and i mean nothing a small shed with maybe 5 items of tools no money at all .. a friend had a wood yard with MDF that was not selling and was going to put in a skip.. (15 x 8x4sheets) i asked if i could take it .. this made me my first £1000 in my 2nd week work.. since then i have built a business that makes a reasonable profit ... I have worked hard to get what i have and never asked for anything from anyone.. only opinions. I take what people say as a big part of my life .. as its those who i intend to sell my product to .. so they are the people who count.. I work in 2 ways that i believe. I work on the supply and demand .. if some one want something i have to give then its a bonus.. i also work on freedom and freewill ... By this i mean that i maybe selling something that others sell and they maybe cheaper .. but i dont make you buy from me .. IF you do it WILL be the best i can provide and thats again of your choosing .. (freedom) and again a bonus, I wont try selling you something you think that you dont need. Thank you again for your comment and Again i may or may not venture into this line of work . But an avenue I'm tempted to look into. Best regards .Adrian Not at all, I didn't see anything in it apart from discussing a topic, certainly no apologies needed, nothing to apologise for Comments can only be made on what you see, and your last two posts throw a completely different light on it, well that is how I see it. You have the framework in place, you've already dealt with all the obstructive legislation. If I was in your position, I would be very enthusiastic and confident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Day Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 I am glad that i didn't offend you in any way .. i try my best not to .... I'm glad that you took it the way that it was intended.. I have always been taught in business that you should keep your cards close to you .. thats why i didnt put to much into the previous parts of my post... there is always some one willing to take advantage of information and in business that is something that you need to keep to your self.. anyone can start a business these days but as you say sometimes you need to look at the big picture. and whats going on around it. Thank you Steve for your comments and i welcome your views Regards Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.