Does Edinburgh need one?
Discussion
Not twenty years ago we had
Sports Tune on Brandon Terrace
Carnoissuer on Gorgie Road (later DTM briefly)
Transcal at Haymarket Terrace
Superspeed on Corstorphine Road
Starting Grid on St Johns Road
Auto Image on Fountainbridge
Macs Audio Shack at Roseburn (then Colinton briefly)
Ray Smith at Abbeyhill
and thats only from the top of my head not mentioning the existance of Halfrauds and their delve in to the Ripspeed market before it became little more than their expansion of their autos department again.
Looking back at all these places, the product they offered, the knowledge, stock levels and the likes its all been overtaken by the internet.
If I want to know what the best pad compound is likely to be in my car I can look it up on my phone on the way to work on a forum, if I want a set of speakers that'll take three days to get here then I can have them come to my front door.
Custom number plates? No problem, e-mail the spec, proof e-mailed back, arrive a few days later.
The only gap in the market so far as I can see is the area of supply and fitting combined.
"Yes sir, you could buy that Thule roof bar and box set on e-bay for £40 less than retail but I can have it here and on your car for the RRP sir"
Problem there, beyond eating in to the margins that pay the bills, is that you need quality staff and a good reputation from the word go. No one will come near you if your fitter has been found to attach crossovers to the inside of a door by duck taping them to the inside of the door card - I've seen it done during a "professional" fit.
Location wise you would likely be better to be on a retail park with other outlets, purely to try and keep the bread and butter footfall up of non petrol heads who will still come buy car shampoo (without being anal about brands), mats for their hubby's Christmas stocking filler and the likes.
What you basically need Si is to buy Halfords at Hermiston Gait, turn the Cycles section in to a workshop, extend the front out in to the car park and make it a cafe/diner!
Sports Tune on Brandon Terrace
Carnoissuer on Gorgie Road (later DTM briefly)
Transcal at Haymarket Terrace
Superspeed on Corstorphine Road
Starting Grid on St Johns Road
Auto Image on Fountainbridge
Macs Audio Shack at Roseburn (then Colinton briefly)
Ray Smith at Abbeyhill
and thats only from the top of my head not mentioning the existance of Halfrauds and their delve in to the Ripspeed market before it became little more than their expansion of their autos department again.
Looking back at all these places, the product they offered, the knowledge, stock levels and the likes its all been overtaken by the internet.
If I want to know what the best pad compound is likely to be in my car I can look it up on my phone on the way to work on a forum, if I want a set of speakers that'll take three days to get here then I can have them come to my front door.
Custom number plates? No problem, e-mail the spec, proof e-mailed back, arrive a few days later.
The only gap in the market so far as I can see is the area of supply and fitting combined.
"Yes sir, you could buy that Thule roof bar and box set on e-bay for £40 less than retail but I can have it here and on your car for the RRP sir"
Problem there, beyond eating in to the margins that pay the bills, is that you need quality staff and a good reputation from the word go. No one will come near you if your fitter has been found to attach crossovers to the inside of a door by duck taping them to the inside of the door card - I've seen it done during a "professional" fit.
Location wise you would likely be better to be on a retail park with other outlets, purely to try and keep the bread and butter footfall up of non petrol heads who will still come buy car shampoo (without being anal about brands), mats for their hubby's Christmas stocking filler and the likes.
What you basically need Si is to buy Halfords at Hermiston Gait, turn the Cycles section in to a workshop, extend the front out in to the car park and make it a cafe/diner!
Edited by ALY77 on Wednesday 21st May 21:18
The issue is margin, a retail shop will struggle with online shops, so there would have to be many ways to retail the stuff i.e a shop and online shop and something different to make you stand out.
Now there is independent shop in Inverness Aberdeen & Dundee not to mention Lanark Airdrie & Larkhall and they are still on the go.
Edinburgh can support 3 Halfords stores (worked in all 3), so why cant it support a small independent?
Now there is independent shop in Inverness Aberdeen & Dundee not to mention Lanark Airdrie & Larkhall and they are still on the go.
Edinburgh can support 3 Halfords stores (worked in all 3), so why cant it support a small independent?
Soupie69uk said:
One near fountaintain Bridge, owner had an imola RS4 and think it was called Auto Image.
I used to do Margaret's website.I went in one day before they had one and said "You need a website, and I need new alloys & tyres for my Prelude".
A suitable deal was done and both parties were happy
I kept it going for a couple of years but then Grant took it over I believe, then they shut the Edinburgh shop.
No idea if they are still trading in Glasgow?
Dinoboy said:
I take it your thinking this sort of thing https://www.carnoisseur.com
I do think its odd there are 4 of them in Northern Ireland and not a single one in the whole of Scotland.
Spoke too soon I do think its odd there are 4 of them in Northern Ireland and not a single one in the whole of Scotland.
https://www.carnoisseur.com/outlets/view/19?utm_so...
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