Football inflater business

[condor]

Now before you lot laugh -I've been asking on Facebook for anyone to inflate a football. It's a world cup branded size 5 football and I was surprised to get an un-inflated one in the post. 3 times I've posted a request on the local facebook page and got no response. Checked Timpsons site as the 'do anything ' but they don't inflate footballs.
A football pump costs from £4-15 depending on various attachments and whether you get a pressure sensor or not. How viable do you think this business set up would be? I was thinking of charging 50p to £1 to inflate a ball

[Taita]

Are you going to drive round in a van to do it

[soad]

This time next year you'll be a millionaire, many times over.

[curlie467]

[condor]

As I said, you can laugh -but where could a person that receives an uninflated football in the post get it inflated? Nowhere it seems to me. I have a £60/month membership of a gym and asked there the other day. No, was the answer.
That's a gym that has fitness balls - so how do they get inflated? The reception staff haven't a clue either.

I'm now thinking of a UK wide series of football inflaters via a franchise

[Shuvi McTupya]

I cant really offer any advice as this is definitely outside my sphere of expertise.

But, good luck.

[PBDirector]

condor said:

How viable do you think this business set up would be? I was thinking of charging 50p to £1 to inflate a ball

OK, I’m up for this. Let’s work it through from first principles to customer feedback.

How do you see this working? Will people come to you with their uninflated balls? Where will you be? Etc.

[PBDirector]

Shuvi McTupya said:

this is definitely outside my sphere of expertise.

That’s such a deflated attitude to have.

[condor]

It's outside of my expertise too - all I want is an uninflated football inflated - however, now see an opening and likely way to make a profit

[Taita]

I can't see this blowing up to be honest.

Let alone you going round the houses with it

[condor]

PBDirector said:

OK, I’m up for this. Let’s work it through from first principles to customer feedback.

How do you see this working? Will people come to you with their uninflated balls? Where will you be? Etc.

I was thinking of doing a doorstep leaflet drop - leave your ball out on the doorstep and I'll pump it up, if you leave 50p/£1 on the side. Not too sure on the pricing yet

[PBDirector]

condor said:

It's outside of my expertise too - all I want is an uninflated football inflated - however, now see an opening and likely way to make a profit

Well, I would point out to you that the phrases “it’s outside of my expertise” and “likely way to make a profit” are very rarely a winning combination.

...but I’ve successfully raised finance a few times and started businesses so I’m happy to walk thru it with you.
What do you imagine your costs might be? And how did you arrive at the 50p- £1 a ball figure?

[PBDirector]

condor said:

I was thinking of doing a doorstep leaflet drop - leave your ball out on the doorstep and I'll pump it up, if you leave 50p/£1 on the side. Not too sure on the pricing yet

Ok awesome! Tell me more.
Will you walk around using a foot pump or a compressor driven from a car cigarette lighter socket, or cycle around with a gas canister?
How will you choose a route and time of day(s)?
How will they tell you they want your service? Will you just assume that balls by doors are for inflating?
What if people’s balls blow away or get stolen?
etc etc

[condor]

The costs would be to buy a football pump - from the very cheap £4 to £20 depending on whether I get an accurate pressure sensor with it. Previously I'd just want to get the football inflated without ot costing me much ( not happy that it was sent uninflated), if going into business I'd get the one with the accurate pressure sensor.
Minimal costs then.

[condor]

PBDirector said:

Ok awesome! Tell me more.
Will you walk around using a foot pump or a compressor driven from a car cigarette lighter socket, or cycle around with a gas canister?
How will you choose a route and time of day(s)?
How will they tell you they want your service? Will you just assume that balls by doors are for inflating?
What if people’s balls blow away or get stolen?
etc etc

No - will be hand pumped , that's what is recommended for footballs.
I walk dogs everyday, so can happily do different routes to accomadate customers.
People would call or text me to say they've left a ball out for me to inflate. Possibly to say it's in the garden shed if it's windy
No money left...no inflation

[Hoofy]

1. Inflate footballs
2. ???
3. Profit

You probably know a football, basketball, volleyball etc coach who will have one or more pumps.

[condor]

I've already asked at the Gym - it's a tennis and squash racquets health club - no footballs there!
Only sporting friend I've got outside of motorsport is a cricket coach and they have hard balls.

[PBDirector]

OK, this sounds good.
So how much do you think the leaflet printing will cost you? And will you deliver them yourself?
How long do you walk your dog for/ how many miles?
Do you think you might leaflet drop one route and inflate those balls for a while then do the same with a different route?

[PBDirector]

condor said:

Only sporting friend I've got outside of motorsport is a cricket coach and they have hard balls.

The idea of contacting a sports club because they have a lot of balls makes sense, but I wonder whether £1 a ball soon adds up to the point where they think “I’m not paying £40 to have my balls inflated when a pump is half that and we have volunteers”. But you should absolutely test that assumption by trying!

[Hugo a Gogo]

taking this remotely seriously, those 'spike' thing adapters to pump up a ball cost maybe 2 quid for a pack of 4 or 5?

bike pump, assuming no-one had one, cost a couple of quid too

pressure sensor, do me a favour

anyone who's buying a mail order ball for home use is perhaps at best using it for a kick around in the local park, a few PSI here or there notwithstanding

have a word with yourself


mind, the price might be going up, what with inflation...