What to do with 500 sq ft of retail/workshop space?

[singlecoil]

I'm reorganising my 1000 sq ft workshop and now only need half of it. That leaves the other half clear. It's not really feasible to let it to somebody else, and I daresay my landlord would object anyway.

There are a few visitors to the trading estate it's situated on and as I have to be there anyway I've been wondering about retailing something there. Question is, what? Can't be foodstuffs as I would need to comply with the various regulations and cope with refrigeration and wastage. Can't be anything I know nothing about, so clothing is out.

I'd prefer to avoid stuff that would need to be delivered and/or installed so furniture won't really work either.

Any thoughts?

[Doofus]

Musical instruments?

[Monkeylegend]

DIY accessories.

[singlecoil]

Doofus said:

Musical instruments?

The only ones I know about are guitars, and the cost to enter that market is enormous. Unfortunately.

[48k]

Tools? DIY stuff? Maybe a little hire shop?

[eliot]

grow room?

[CoolHands]

Car storage / workshop / detailing space? Something like that maybe. If a detailer in your area wants a cheapish easy to rent space maybe.

[Doofus]

CoolHands said:

Car storage / workshop / detailing space? Something like that maybe. If a detailer in your area wants a cheapish easy to rent space maybe.

500 sqft isn't a lot.

[CoolHands]

Is it enough to detail a car? Only need a double garage size I would imagine.

[Doofus]

CoolHands said:

Is it enough to detail a car? Only need a double garage size I would imagine.

Yes, but storage would be a stretch.

[The Goat]

eliot said:

grow room?

Beat me to it!

[singlecoil]

Doofus said:

CoolHands said:

Is it enough to detail a car? Only need a double garage size I would imagine.

Yes, but storage would be a stretch.

It's enough for 6-8 average cars, but I only have one car and anything else would involve sub-letting which I ruled out in the first post.

[MustangGT]

First question should be:

What use is permitted for the unit?

[singlecoil]

Class E, so pretty much anything that isn't covered by other regulations/laws. Landlord is cooperative but that cooperation wouldn't extend to me sub-letting, as noted earlier.

[Frankthered]

I remember seeing this a couple of years back when I was looking at franchises:

https://www.puncturesafe.com/puncturesafe-business...

No connection to me other than that, but I recall that the investment was quite low and (at that time) they were pushing it as a possible part-time business to be run alongside something else.

Might be worth a look.

[Bannock]

Kitchenware/crockery/cutlery?

Office supplies/stationery/computer peripherals?

Gardening supplies?

Domestic fuels - e.g wood, kindling, smokeless fuel?

Pet foods/supplies?

Very much depends on where you premises are, I'd say.

[Promised Land]

Bannock said:

Kitchenware/crockery/cutlery?

Office supplies/stationery/computer peripherals?

Gardening supplies?

Domestic fuels - e.g wood, kindling, smokeless fuel?

Pet foods/supplies?

Very much depends on where you premises are, I'd say.

Surely anything sales related you’re competing against known competitors in that line who buy in bulk already and have a client base established. Likewise the diy tools post, you’ll never compete with the major chains so your profit margins aren’t going to be worth the time to get it going.

Tool hire store, you need to know the business and be able to outlay a lot on small plant/ machines and be able to service/ repair them.

It’s certainly a tricky one to find something but ultimately you need to know the business/ competition etc so it’s got to be something you already know a lot about.

[RizzoTheRat]

Can you expand your business in to other related fields, either from the woodworking side with something like furniture restoration, or guitar side selling amps, speakers, etc?

[Bannock]

Promised Land said:

Surely anything sales related you’re competing against known competitors in that line who buy in bulk already and have a client base established. Likewise the diy tools post, you’ll never compete with the major chains so your profit margins aren’t going to be worth the time to get it going.

Tool hire store, you need to know the business and be able to outlay a lot on small plant/ machines and be able to service/ repair them.

It’s certainly a tricky one to find something but ultimately you need to know the business/ competition etc so it’s got to be something you already know a lot about.

Did you read the OP? This is just a sideline, to try to make something from otherwise unproductive space. He's not trying to take Argos down.

What he's looking for is some kind of stuff to retail that casual passing trade might glance at and go "oh look, I need some of that, I'll grab it whilst I'm passing". So it needs to be fairly low cost stuff, where the price isn't necessarily the deciding factor.

I think of the things which I suggested off the top of my head, the domestic fuels might be a good idea. Small bags of logs and smokeless fuel for the occasional user of an open fire or log burner, not bulk supplies for central heating. Also firelighters, kindling, charcoal, that sort of thing. Can be sold off the pallets it's delivered on, no specialist knowledge required. Maybe in the spring/summer switch to bags of compost/fertiliser/decorative bark chippings.

I know that's the sort of thing I struggle to get anywhere but an overpriced petrol station forecourt so would be tempted if passing.

Edited by Bannock on Wednesday 3rd August 15:01

[ozzuk]

Half/full barrels are big at the moment with the ice dunking phase..

As you get closer to xmas, do nice quality indoor/outdoor decorations. Or source and cut xmas trees. My neighbour does all this and is doing well.