What business to open

[Murtaghjames]

So an opportunity has arose for me to open my own shop. A retail unit has become available in the village I live in. Its not a typical village, very busy with lots of amenities and passing trade. I had originally wanted to open a clothes shop as there is none in the village but I'm not sure now. What shop, service would you like most in your area? We currently have:

2 pubs
4 takeaways
3 pharmacies
2 Hairdressers
Beauty salon
Nail bar
Credit Union
Newsagents
Tesco Express
Home savers
Funeral Directors
Hardware shop
Bookmakers
A small takeaway coffee shop (most recent)

Surely you would start a business in which you have some sort of interest/background/expertise having done your own research of the area?

A nice cafe?

Bakery/ cafe?

I forgot to mention there is a cafe, we thought it was closed down but they are doing a refurbishment and will reopen again next week. My DH just found out on his way to work this morning

This seems a bit the wrong way round, as you've done no research into a) what you can do or b) what you want to do.

What planning permission has the unit got and will the owner give you permission to apply for a change (if application is required) - retail, takeaway or cafe, or multiple? How big is the unit?

What are you good at?

How much capital investment are you willing to make?

My family had a small business. It is all consuming.

Why not two cafes? If it’s a busy place I’m sure it could take two. Yours just has too be better!!!

Hardware / DIY -we have a new shop that sells a bit of DIY stuff, a bit of gardening stuff, a bit of kitchen stuff,basic kettles/toasters/irons, bits of car cleaning kit, bike repair stuff, lots of wellies, laundry things, household cleaning bits. They have a display of lunchboxes /water bottles etc. It’s all the tube of stuff that I’d order from Amazon, but in the village. I love it!!

How about a nice gift/card shop? We have one in our small town and they do really well. It sells all sorts from fine China, candles, glassware, baby gifts, leather goods etc. All very nice quality.

Eco shop?
With the reusable products?
Ask the locals and see what they want/need

Zero waste shop. One in my village does very well with refills of washing up liquid etc, foodstuffs like flour. Eco friendly toiletries, chocolate, wine.

Have you got funding? What is the rent for the shop!? If you don't know your products then how can you cost it? Do you have a business plan? Will you have staff/need to set up payroll? You can't just see a unit for lease and launch into planning? Have you secured the lease? What about insurance? Is the layout socially distance friendly? You may need to adjust the structural layout.

Combined book shop/cafe with strong eco credentials. That would be my dream.

What was it before?
Some businesses may need “change of use” planning permission.

My DH knows the landlord of the unit. The shop is 3000 sqft. It has planning for any multi purpose retail unit, including food. My husband runs his own company so he is going to help with business plan, insurance etc as he has done it before and runs a very successful business now. I was just looking for ideas as to what people would like where they live.

A really nice homeware and gift shop, with some plants too.

Where do people get their meat from in your village? A butcher with deli counter? Farm produce in crates outside.

@DianaT1969 the unit used to be a butchers, was there for many years until owner retired.

A handmade chocolate shop there’s one in a village near me does a roaring trade
Could combine it with nice gifts
Or interiors, good quality and very stylish but reasonably priced then people will travel out specially

@Murtaghjames a gift shop

If there’s currently no butcher, that would seem like a good shout. Ethical, locally sourced meat, plus prepared products — sausage rolls, scotch eggs, pies etc.

But if you haven’t got a background in butchery it likely isn’t a goer.

@sproutsnbacon,never thought of that

@LadyCounterblast,the village is really missing the butchers but yes it's too far of a stretch.

If you are on friendly terms with the butcher, you could ask him how trade was. Ideally, you'd like to see the books, but little chance of that. Although it surprises me that he didn't sell it on as a going concern. As you might not have the capital to invest in paying for 2-3 butcher staff, perhaps you could go half-way with a deli shop that does stocks fresh, local farm produce and does Christmas Turkey orders .

Florist