focus group for me please...

DQ · #1 07/21/08, 03:13 PM

How many of you would appreciate a local place to buy specialty homesteading type supplies or would have when you were just starting out? (and/or do you have a place to buy these things already that you utilize)

I'm talking about things such as...

Dairy supplies (especially goat)including a variety of milk stanchions, medications, disbudding irons, scales tattoo kits, cheese cultures etc....

extensive canning and other preserving supplies and home brewing equipment,

Adult laying hens, egg cartons, incubators, nest boxes, durable chicken tractors.

You add what else you would like to be able to (or been able to) purchase locally instead of building or ordering. Many of these things I have had to order which goes against my nature of wanting to handle and see the things I am going to buy. And for some things I may have been willing to fork over a little cash for instead of scrounging up the stuff to rig it myself if it were available.

I know some of you hardcore homesteaders out there wouldn't consider buying alot of that stuff but, how about you more moderate hobby farmer/homesteaders?

mnn2501 · #2 07/21/08, 04:11 PM

Probably be hard for a small place to make a go of it, which is why the internet is such a good deal. Personally I hate going shopping, other than groceries I use the internet for most things.

The Paw · #3 07/21/08, 04:25 PM

I like to see and handle certain things before buying too. As a result, I will travel an hour to a Home Depot for some items rather than order them from the local co-op lumber yard out of a catalogue (especially if I am not sure exactly what I want).

But the idea of local places carrying this stuff is probably not feasible. If there was sufficient demand, local retailers would likely carry it already. If you are planning on doing it on a small scale, you will have inventory issues to resolve and your shipping/handling costs per unit go way up for small orders.

I think the way to go would be to set up a website/portal where you could list "approved" or recommended speciality items provided by a range of suppliers. You might be able to set it up where people order from your site, and you have the mfg ship directly to the customer. You could have product reviews and recommendations from customers as well.

I think in today's market, the added value you could bring was as a clearing house for people to look for this type of product, and the "trusted advisor" function from people who have used it.

bgraham · #4 07/21/08, 04:26 PM

I totally would. I would love a place like that.

I would include gardening items like organic fertilizers and open pollinated seeds. Red worms and worm bins for composting.

Butter churns and Cheese presses.

Rabbit supplies.

Wheat berries.

And have a barter board.

Beth

Faithful One · #5 07/21/08, 04:47 PM

I think what you would need is "low volume" of everything, for example maybe just THREE of each Item, one on display and the other two boxed.

This way if somone bought one or two, you still got one to sell. I would like to see the Country Living Grain mill, and old "tyme" laundry products.

Oil lamps, and you definitely want to support what you sell with replacement parts.

The old time country stores were quite small, and really you need to sell things that will not compete with WAL * MART.

This is the PERFECT time to start such a buisness I think, what if gas was $10 a gallon? Small town will be revived.

DQ · #6 07/21/08, 04:47 PM

rabbit stuff! I didn't think of that! I would plan to also have a base as a feeds store with some specialty feeds. alt of items would be very specialty and one time buy things but I would be the only place that I am aware of to purchase them in person in this area. also thinking of seasonal heriloom variety transplants and seeds. worm bins are a great idea too. I would be counting on some recurring purchases but also partially on some big specialty items occasionally. maybe pluckers and scalders and such. I get really frustrated when I have to drive to 3 different feed stores to get what I need around here too.one place carries corid, another cmpk, still another I get the best price on alfalfa pellets. sometimes one store has hog feed sometimes they don't. can't buy clear gel anywhere for canning and had only one option when buying a pressure canner unless I ordered it kinda like the idea of a scythe but havent' found any around here and I' not buying one unless I can hold it in my hands first. I'm thinking of trying to fulfull those types of needs.

Keep it coming both good and bad!

The Paw · #7 07/21/08, 05:37 PM

Oh, one more thought.

Not to be a killjoy, but you should take the results here with a grain of salt.

What I mean is if you are looking to do a local store, you really need a focus group of people who live within 10-20 miles of you. While this thread might be a great source of ideas, it doesn't help you much that there is a demand among a niche population scattered over thousands of miles. Hell, I'm not even in the same country....

OzarkHmsteaders · #8 07/21/08, 05:50 PM

well, I have to say,If your store was anywhere close to me,
I'd be a regular customer

we don't have a store like that near us that I know of
but It would sure be nice.

RoseGarden · #9 07/21/08, 06:54 PM

Gaskets and plugs for a few popular makes/models of pressure canners, and maybe a spare guage or two. When folks haul out the canner, they often only use it once a year, and like me, they sometimes find their gasket is no good and they have to run to the hardware store.

A case of canning lids on hand.

Maybe a very limited line of sewing supplies like machine and hand needles, notions, scissors, belts.

Locally produced products like honey, soap, etc. that you maybe could take on limited consignment.

Lynn Bodoni · #10 07/21/08, 08:01 PM

Would beekeeping supplies be good in a store like this? Maybe as seasonal items?

EasyDay · #11 07/21/08, 08:37 PM

If you were nearby, you'd see MY face in your shop. Probably more often than DH would like!

DQ · #12 07/21/08, 08:57 PM

some consigment items and used equipment would be an excellent addition. I also am hoping to sell raw milk and eggs ( if I can keep animals on site its legal) and possibly frozen raw scrap meat gleaned from local butchers for the raw food dog diet that is a bit in fashion (legality unknown at this point). some advertisement through those items will draw in people that otherwise wouldn't consider entering a store like this. I would also like to sell a few cutesy gift items related to country living and homesteading. I know of two people around here that breed quite a few dairy goats and someone must be buying those doelings and those someones would surely buy a few items. when I put two dairy does on craigslist they were gone in an hour.

the paw- I know this is hardly an accurate inquiry into its feasability in my area but its the best I can come up with

gosh darnit if I can't buy what I want here than I will SELL what I want here.

Wolf mom · #13 07/22/08, 09:03 AM

Go to the SBA (small Business Association) They will show you how to do the demographics for your area to see first if this is a viable idea for your area.

Then you need a business plan.

Do you know what side of the street is the best location for your proposed store? Location is important.

Do you know what 80/20 sales means?

Do you know your competition??

Faithful One said get 3 of everything. Many items cannot be bought less than by the case. You can't have a store that looks empty.

Credit? Cash? Many wholesalers won't sell on credit unless you have a proven track record with them.

I think your idea is great. But you really, really need to do your homework before you go into setting up a retail store. Too many stores close because people don't do this even with a cool idea.

DQ · #14 07/22/08, 03:51 PM

yeppers, lots of homework! our area supports quite a few businesses. It is a growing suburban area with lots of 1-5 acre lots being sold as well as traditional housing developments. I'm thinking those 1-5 acre lot buyers are my main target consumers. WM just built a super center and that is drawing tons of businesses. I would do it right or not at all. nothing worse than walking into a store with sparse inventory or shoddy half @$%&* shelving and displays. I agree withtheh 3 isn' t enough shelves need to be full. one of the problems I have with current supplier now is that their inventory is so variable. I would be counting on a business loan of at least $100,000 in addition to my own investment. Inventory alone would be at least 1/2 that by my ballpark figures and I would need some operating capital.

this is the beginning of me developing a business plan. I know location is of the utmost importance. I'm eyeing some commercial rental properties that are available on a main hwy that people take from rural areas to town for work and shopping. I will look at the sba again to see if I can find a way to do the demographics. thanks.

One thing I am having trouble coming up with is an avg % markup for items so I can get some idea of what my profit margins will be at sale in relation to the inventory cost. without that I can't come up with a repayment plan to apply for a loan that has any meaningful figures. the only industry that I have an inside on is oil, gas and auto motive equipment because that is what my husband sells. He can't give me a good answer because in his industry it varies wildy and it is not a retail business anyway.