Setting up a sweets delivery service
Discussion
Hi all just looking for some advice or to see if there is anything i haven't thought of...
Been working for the man all my life, recent ill health has left me unemployed for the forseeable future so looking to go self-employed.
I have been looking into the recent trend for a sweet/chocolate/cake delivery service, the kind you find on Just eat. Now there is only one place that does this in my local area covering a radius of probably over 15-20 miles. They appear to make a roaring trade judging by the amount of reviews left on their page - and the reviews aren't exactly 'favourable'. I have ordered from them myself, and my impression wasn't great...Scruffy looking teenage girl delivered my food wearing her pyjamas for example - and i had to run out to the car to get my food!
So as you can see i clearly believe there is a market for this in my area.
I have very little experience of Business other then getting a 'C' in my GCSE. I have sourced a few potential suppliers whom i shall be buying from in bulk, as well as having decided on the variety of products i will be offering. The products will be stored in my house, in a clean suitable place. Initially i'm looking at starting off via Just Eat and using Social media such as Facebook/Instagram to raise awareness of the launch and thereafter, promotions/discounts will be advertised here. All of this will be delivery only.
Short term goal is basically to provide an income whilst health issues are investigated. If all goes well i would expand into ice cream/ ice blast etc etc if it became more viable.
Anybody on here done something like this before and were there any unexpected problems? Anything important i need to be focusing on?
Apologies for the long winded post and thanks in advance for any advice.
Edited: I have a small savings pot which will be funding the initial outlay on stock/just eat fees etc.
Been working for the man all my life, recent ill health has left me unemployed for the forseeable future so looking to go self-employed.
I have been looking into the recent trend for a sweet/chocolate/cake delivery service, the kind you find on Just eat. Now there is only one place that does this in my local area covering a radius of probably over 15-20 miles. They appear to make a roaring trade judging by the amount of reviews left on their page - and the reviews aren't exactly 'favourable'. I have ordered from them myself, and my impression wasn't great...Scruffy looking teenage girl delivered my food wearing her pyjamas for example - and i had to run out to the car to get my food!
So as you can see i clearly believe there is a market for this in my area.
I have very little experience of Business other then getting a 'C' in my GCSE. I have sourced a few potential suppliers whom i shall be buying from in bulk, as well as having decided on the variety of products i will be offering. The products will be stored in my house, in a clean suitable place. Initially i'm looking at starting off via Just Eat and using Social media such as Facebook/Instagram to raise awareness of the launch and thereafter, promotions/discounts will be advertised here. All of this will be delivery only.
Short term goal is basically to provide an income whilst health issues are investigated. If all goes well i would expand into ice cream/ ice blast etc etc if it became more viable.
Anybody on here done something like this before and were there any unexpected problems? Anything important i need to be focusing on?
Apologies for the long winded post and thanks in advance for any advice.
Edited: I have a small savings pot which will be funding the initial outlay on stock/just eat fees etc.
Edited by scottyfocus on Wednesday 15th May 21:13
Will be a mix of pre-packaged and i will be packaging some myself, so mix-ups, box specials with a bit of everything in...Everything will be handled with gloves on, stored safely. I have heard i may have to contact the fsa or local council?
Yep, i'll be delivering! 'Thankfully' i witnessed a good friend of mine lose his license only weeks after getting it, Pug 106, only the full beam worked! He got pulled delivering pizzas and lo and behold, no business insurance. I like my cars so i wont be making that mistake.
Yep, i'll be delivering! 'Thankfully' i witnessed a good friend of mine lose his license only weeks after getting it, Pug 106, only the full beam worked! He got pulled delivering pizzas and lo and behold, no business insurance. I like my cars so i wont be making that mistake.
First have a read up on general food hygiene regs on the FSA website. The generic "safer food better business" guides will give you a few ideas, much would not apply to what you are planning but you need to get a good understanding of the requirements (gloves are not one of them). Once you have digested that and thought about how you will mitigate the risks in your home get in touch with your local environmental health and discuss your plans with them. Then do a basic food hygiene course online and away you go.
Once you understand what they want its really just a case of registering and them doing an initial inspection.
Once you understand what they want its really just a case of registering and them doing an initial inspection.
Its probably not worth it, but you never know.
The local one to us seems to do ok ish but has really bad reviews. 5000+ reviews but only 2.5 stars...
They have a little Aygo with funky signage on it and see it about quite a bit. They also have a shop, which has started doing burgers and chips etc so that probably tells you the direction you need to go.
IMHO they have too many products, about 25 different shakes, about 25 if not 50 different cakes. Waffles, cup cakes, smoothies, cheesecake etc etc etc. Must have 200-300 items. If they concentrated on just doing a few they would perhaps do better?!
The local one to us seems to do ok ish but has really bad reviews. 5000+ reviews but only 2.5 stars...
They have a little Aygo with funky signage on it and see it about quite a bit. They also have a shop, which has started doing burgers and chips etc so that probably tells you the direction you need to go.
IMHO they have too many products, about 25 different shakes, about 25 if not 50 different cakes. Waffles, cup cakes, smoothies, cheesecake etc etc etc. Must have 200-300 items. If they concentrated on just doing a few they would perhaps do better?!
scottyfocus said:
..Scruffy looking teenage girl delivered my food wearing her pyjamas for example - and i had to run out to the car to get my food! ..
I'm going to have to look on JustEat to see if such a service exists in my area.
I assume the target market is people too lazy to walk to the local shop to buy a Mars bar.
Is it going to be any more profitable than just being a delivery person for the local take away or Dominos?
Have you thought about providing tuck boxes to offices? One of the clients I visit has three delivered every week - mix of variety pack cereals, flapjacks, biscuits, confectionary and cans of drink. Price list stuck to lid. Chap comes once a week collects the money and replaces the boxes. It's also a handy source of change for peeps in the office . Its done on an honesty box basis so might not work for your area but seems to work at my clients. I think the guy who does it works on a "3 strikes" rule, so if the cash is short you get a warning - third time it happens he doesn't bother coming back.
. Its done on an honesty box basis so might not work for your area but seems to work at my clients. I think the guy who does it works on a "3 strikes" rule, so if the cash is short you get a warning - third time it happens he doesn't bother coming back.
48k said:
Have you thought about providing tuck boxes to offices? One of the clients I visit has three delivered every week - mix of variety pack cereals, flapjacks, biscuits, confectionary and cans of drink. Price list stuck to lid. Chap comes once a week collects the money and replaces the boxes. It's also a handy source of change for peeps in the office . Its done on an honesty box basis so might not work for your area but seems to work at my clients. I think the guy who does it works on a "3 strikes" rule, so if the cash is short you get a warning - third time it happens he doesn't bother coming back.
This idea has been done before, quite successfully i think. There's something on here from years ago about it. I think it could work quite well.. Its done on an honesty box basis so might not work for your area but seems to work at my clients. I think the guy who does it works on a "3 strikes" rule, so if the cash is short you get a warning - third time it happens he doesn't bother coming back.Sweet delivery sounds like an utterly ludicrous and pointless idea... yet I know of a couple of examples of it being done.
I wouldn't know whether they are genuinely making a living from it, or if it's just another of these non-viable hobby businesses that allow people to claim they're ''self-employed'' and then rake in far more than they actually earn from working tax credits and other related benefit ''top ups''
(See also work from home cupcake makers, face painters, nail technicians, etc etc)
I wouldn't know whether they are genuinely making a living from it, or if it's just another of these non-viable hobby businesses that allow people to claim they're ''self-employed'' and then rake in far more than they actually earn from working tax credits and other related benefit ''top ups''
(See also work from home cupcake makers, face painters, nail technicians, etc etc)
You say that you ‘believe ‘ there is a demand? Some might say you need to know 100% there is a demand for this service having researched the market thoroughly. The risk of failing within the first 24 months is absolutely linked to startups not doing their market research thoroughly enough. How big (and profitable) is the market in: the UK; England; your region; your county; your city/town?
Delivering is also the relatively easy bit (less winter, when travel conditions (and indeed, demand) may be poor), it’s all the associated work that will need time and skill to allow the delivery to take place at all such as: marketing; website design and maintenance; ordering; sorting; accounts; vehicle maintenance; insurance; managing complaints; and 20 other things. There may be little time left to actually deliver if you’re doing all of this by yourself.
Being self employed is a tough gig. Being self employed and a startup is even tougher. Being self employed, a startup and in an industry that could change dramatically might just not be worth it:
Is it time to treat sugar like smoking? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48499195
Good luck!
Delivering is also the relatively easy bit (less winter, when travel conditions (and indeed, demand) may be poor), it’s all the associated work that will need time and skill to allow the delivery to take place at all such as: marketing; website design and maintenance; ordering; sorting; accounts; vehicle maintenance; insurance; managing complaints; and 20 other things. There may be little time left to actually deliver if you’re doing all of this by yourself.
Being self employed is a tough gig. Being self employed and a startup is even tougher. Being self employed, a startup and in an industry that could change dramatically might just not be worth it:
Is it time to treat sugar like smoking? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48499195
Good luck!
Totally get the need for work etc.. Good luck.
But of course there is the health implication of encouraging fat lazy workshy estate dwellers who can barely waddle to the reinforced bog, to move about even less, and eat even more with our benefits money.. A total PH anathema....
Unless of course this is in some high class area and it will be posh sweets for Tarquins birthday bash..
But of course there is the health implication of encouraging fat lazy workshy estate dwellers who can barely waddle to the reinforced bog, to move about even less, and eat even more with our benefits money.. A total PH anathema....
Unless of course this is in some high class area and it will be posh sweets for Tarquins birthday bash..
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