What to use this property for if we get it?

[Beesandhoneys]

Being quite vague as could be outing. DH and I might (and might not) be getting a commercial property that's 1200 square feet. Was a shop before. Not keen on keeping it as a shop if we do get it, what other ideas are there? Were considering a small cafe but the towns inundated with cafes. Any ideas would be great!

The location is vital for anyone to give you advice. Is it a busy town? A well to do town? A poor town? A quiet town? A market town that's busy only one day a week?

Yoga/Pilates studio?
Kids/baby friendly cafe with soft play/toys and classes
Art gallery?

Are you considering running it yourself or subletting the space?

One idea...if the town is an up and coming/arty place, you could open a co-working space.

Small cafe, lots of desks...a meeting room. People pay you for a membership or for a desk per day.

There's one in my town. They do well from it as we're semi rural with a big arts community so there are tonnes of freelancers. They work in there, hold workshops and meetings. There are also classes for people...some subsidised by local council. So...a teen's barista class for example. The local bank part pay for that....to make it more affordable.

There’s a paint and play near where I lived- was always busy and there wasn’t another anywhere near

Sorry, tried to keep it vague but it's a small tourist town in Scotland and it'd be us running it, not subletting it. Real mix of affluent and poor people here.

Rural area

You've got to look at need and at what people have to spend. Are there lots of young families for instance? Or mainly old people? Which businesses are thriving? Which are doing well and have been there for years?

If there's a shortage of jobs you could open something with a government grant...if for instance it benefits the local community. An art gallery with workshop areas for artists to work from and sell from for example.

Run classes in arts for adults and for children.

I really think you need to look at your strengths, interests and the needs of the local towns. Running a business is really hard, let alone just trying one out based on what you fancy. You have to really love it and the town needs to need it to be a success

What are you both trained in?

Shared workspace, offer start up advice sessions, regular network sessions etc

A small cafe - just hot drinks would be fine to start with

Teaching space: yoga etc plus craft sessions, from seeing to silver jewelry making

Stitch and bitch type sessions, £5 a session including coffee and cake

Swap meets, clothing, records, kids toys etc etc

I'd also have a habidashery corner of 2nd hand, donated fabrics, old buttons, patterns etc too

I have been working on just such an idea for DSis and I to work together. We may eventually get to actually do it!

@BillHadersNewWife thank you, that's helpful. It's mainly elderly people. Business that thrive are the restaurants/cafes but because there's so many with an established local clientele, I don't know how it'd go down if we did it as well.

A gallery like this makes money from taking commission from the art that's sold and from rent paid on the workshops/studio space by artists. These don't need to be large spaces at all. Or if there's no room for that, you rent shelf space to artists in addition to taking commission from the work you sell.

Add to that art workshops and classes...which YOU advertise and you pay artists to run, you could be ok for profit...and a small cafe...just coffee and cake.

Also, you can do children's parties...art based.

If I were you I'd do a survey. Stand out in the street for a few days...do various times so that you get a mix...get as many opinions as you can.

Oh, and a Mending Cafe, get non working, retired men with skills in, add a MG element if your local GP or LA have one

Contact your local council and see if they could make use of free drip in space. Local charity work, like benefit advice, parenting classes etc.

The one in my head mixes all the work done in a community charity I used to work for with the local art/craft community.

Parcel depot. I often think there’s a need for a fairly central place all parcels can be dropped off to- amazon, hermes, Royal mail etc.

Small subscription, some lockers for ooh access....

Therapy rooms - manned reception area, and a series of therapy/consulting rooms let out (per hour) to beauty therapists, massage therapists, counsellors, physiotherapists, podiatrists, osteopaths etc etc.

OP I don't mean to be unkind but maybe do a little research into how many small businesses fail in the first year or two. I would re think.

You don't know what kind of a business you want. I don't see how a spur of the moment business venture can work when even well established businesses are failing.

But good luck with whatever you decide.

No, it's a really valid point @Lifeoverhaul

A pop up shop has done well around here - all it sells is non alcoholic and low alcohol drink

I wish you well, but I would think it more usual to have an idea for a business venture, then find space for whatever it is, rather than discovering you have space to do something commercial and go looking for what 'it' might be.

People listening to real music is on the increase again so a record / vinyl shop that specialises in memorabilia too?

The ones around here that do well also have a coffee shop inside

Curious there's a mending cafe in my nearest city. It's great.

Are you inheriting a family business (or premises related to one)? What was it before? How successful - or not - was it?

If you know nothing about shopkeeping or commercial premises just rent it out via an estate agent to someone who does.

Does it gave parking?
Does it gave good foot fall from passing trade?