What quirky local business do you wish you thought of?

[Potter10]

Shameless attempt to harvest ideas for a new business venture but here goes.
What local (as in NOT multimillion/store) business have you seen that made you think "I wish I'd have thought of that".
I went to a place in a city recently that was fantastic and think it would do really well in my town but there isn't the right space and lots of other factors.
So with a small amount saved to invest and plenty of time on my hands coming up (youngest child is starting full time soon!) I'm looking for a new business venture.
Any ideas welcome! Kids activities, food outlets, adult activities. Whatever, throw them at me please!!

A bookstore just for children's books, with daily story time

There was a lovely independent bookstore for children in my home town, an absolutely beautiful place with a little cafe, they had a downstairs room which they used for story sessions and other things. It closed a couple of years ago after 7 years trading. Which is a shame.

A salon that offers lots of all natural products, treatments and hair dyes. That has one side dedicated to silent service, no awkward hairdresser chat.

Going by the one in my town, a community cafe that excludes anybody who can't pay a fiver for a coffee. Gets shitloads of council money, doesn't seem to incur any penalties from not paying staff after the first month, constantly begging for donations and bailout funds 'we'll close at the end of the month if we don't receive x thousand in donations', has funded wanky sports cars, a literal mansion, two adults and three children in the time it's been open and an overseas holiday home - but still drops paying wages as soon as the staff have no other job and are dependent upon him paying what he promises will be in 'next week, just hold on and I'll find the money, I promise'.

Except I'm not a scamming, grifting arsehole who went to private school with the people in the council that keep giving him money (probably on the pretext that it's to pay the staff wages).

A women's private members club with a female only gym.

There isn't one where I live but I keep hoping 🤞

What kind of things are you interested in OP? As well as the financial aspect, you have to consider your drive and passion for something. As someone who has a little quirky business on the side of my regular job, and therefore have regular contact with other creatives at markets, it's not as easy as just having an idea. You need a real passion for something. You need to be there when things are shit as well as when things are going great. Else you just end up going through the motions and it's rarely a successful venture.

I'd like to have a cosy little pie/coffee/book shop. And we'd have seasonal pies. Pumpkin pie, cherry pie, sweet pies, savory pies, treacle tarts. I can't bake though and I know I'd eventually hate working in catering again.

There’s a cute coffee van near me. Has a spot in a lay-by but also is available for hire and does sports days, spot in the parks etc. it’s retro looking and just sells lattes etc and cakes so no big cooking space needed.

We have a soft play cafe locally which is always full but spotless. They limit the number of children; and the ages, under 9 only I think. They hire out for parties, and also host party sessions themselves where they get an entertainer.

There’s also This which is a great space. I think they’re keen to expand the brand so you could always contact them.

We have a shop like this near us and its an eco shop (take your own containers) but its way more expensive than buying the same thing packaged

A shop selling guaranteed non-UPF foods.

Surely it’s mainly about what people will actually spend money on. PP upthread said they’d like a childrens bookshop but no independent bookshop is going to be able to match Amazon prices so there’s just no point. If people can buy a book online for £3.99 they’re not going to pay £7.99 to buy it from you.

Things that people seem to be willing to spend money on are “experiences” and stuff that it’s hard to buy online. For example people round here seem to spend a lot on coffee, cake, wanky bread etc. Food trucks also seem to do well, people are always spending on food at things like markets or local festivals etc.

Similarly kids activities and childrens parties - stuff like entertainers or sleepover parties where they hire teepees and little kits. Local farm also charges a small fortune for “pumpkin picking” (which as far as I can see is £15 to wander round a field and take some photos for social media and then take home a pumpkin you’ve chosen that would cost £1-2 at the supermarket) as well as Santa/Christmas/Halloween type experiences or activities.

Basically, anything that involves paying for “goods” other than food and drink is doomed to fail IME as people can always get cheaper online. It’s got to be stuff that people can only get locally or actual experiences (I’m obviously cynical though and think people will only spend money on stuff they can post pics of on social media). There’s also got to be an air of luxury or exclusivity to it to get people to actually spend.