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If you had an imaginary shop, what would you sell?

115 replies

Foundress · 27/03/2026 19:19

I saw a sign in a vacant shop premises as I drove past today. The shop was to let for £100 per week. It’s obviously very difficult times at the moment to be setting up any business. It did get me thinking though what would I sell if I had a little shop (purely in my imagination).I remember the old fashioned haberdashers shops and would love one of those. So what would you sell in your shop ?

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 28/03/2026 04:44

I’d sell a nice sit down with a free coffee & cake
a pat on the back with a free cup of tea
a hug and a complimentry hot chocolate
a large dose of sympathy & a camomile tea

LindorDoubleChoc · 28/03/2026 05:03

Plants, flowers, planted up (by me) window boxes and planters for balconies and small gardens. It would be called The Window Box Shop.

DinoLil · 28/03/2026 05:43

I wouldn't sell anything but instead give away cures for every illness with a sticker that says 'I've been good in the shop today' and a sugar free lolly.

cafenoirbiscuit · 28/03/2026 06:52

Tiny things, miniatures and dolls house furniture.
I love a tiny thing.

OrdinaryGirl · 28/03/2026 06:55

Ribbons 🎀

MayaPinion · 28/03/2026 07:07

Lovely soft drinks in glass bottles. I’m sure this shop wouldn’t last 5 minutes, but I’d love to be able to buy the same sort of drinks the lemonade man would sell from his van on a Friday. Sweet, tart, limeade, pineappleade, cherryade, as well as all the Fevertrees, Cawston Press, Bottle Green and Belvoir cordials, Fanta, Coke, and 7 Up, and Lucozade. No (or very few) low sugar options.

RS1987 · 28/03/2026 07:30

Paperback books, tea and coffee

MrsTravelBug · 28/03/2026 07:33

Wedding dresses so I could try them all on ad swirl around.

firstofallimadelight · 28/03/2026 07:33

Books, coffee and cake. There would be an open fire in winter lots of comfy arm chairs and blankets.

firstofallimadelight · 28/03/2026 07:34

MayaPinion · 28/03/2026 07:07

Lovely soft drinks in glass bottles. I’m sure this shop wouldn’t last 5 minutes, but I’d love to be able to buy the same sort of drinks the lemonade man would sell from his van on a Friday. Sweet, tart, limeade, pineappleade, cherryade, as well as all the Fevertrees, Cawston Press, Bottle Green and Belvoir cordials, Fanta, Coke, and 7 Up, and Lucozade. No (or very few) low sugar options.

I would buy from your shop!

1000StrawberryLollies · 28/03/2026 07:43

I love this thread! It's interesting how many people are saying craft shops - shame they often don't do well in rl!

In reality I think I'd hate and be terrible at the business/financial side of running a shop. But I would love being in the shop, choosing what to stock, designing the layout and decor and talking to customers!

sashh · 28/03/2026 07:51

I already run an imaginary café.

I think a cooking / cook books shop.

It would have a kitchen with demonstrations and you could try out gadgets yourself. A bit like a miniature 'good food show'.

There would always be something for people to sample foodwise.

IAxolotlQuestions · 28/03/2026 07:58

MissyB1 · 27/03/2026 19:27

I would like to join @IAxolotlQuestions in her books and chocolate business, but I will add in a fancy stationery corner.

Oooo - yes. I like our joint enterprise.

ThursdayNext1 · 28/03/2026 07:59

Book shop. Husband would sell vinyl and we’d have a little cafe as part of it. You can come and read a book and listen to music.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/03/2026 09:19

YelramBob · 27/03/2026 21:14

Just cheese. Every single type of cheese 🧀

I'd have a cheese shop on a corner, people would come for miles around just to buy the amazing cheese.

This exists in Holmfirth. On a corner.

NFPorterkeeponkeepingonNsoul · 28/03/2026 09:32

Northern soul record shop and. cafe.

WednesdaysChild73 · 28/03/2026 09:37

NancyJoan · 27/03/2026 21:10

Just lovely clothes. Small to medium sized brands, mostly European. Really nice socks, mid price jewellery.

Why only small to medium?

topcat2014 · 28/03/2026 10:49

Anyone remember the Absolutely Fabulous sketch:

"I'm opening a shop, Pats"
"What are you going to sell"
"Just beautiful gorgeous things"

or something like that..

topcat2014 · 28/03/2026 10:55

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 27/03/2026 22:11

A pet shop but just for dogs and it would be mandatory to bring your dog with you.

There is literally that shop, four doors down from my art gallery! They sometimes give us free dog treats to give out to our doggy visitors

Cerialkiller · 28/03/2026 11:08

One of these ideas.

An afternoon tea cafe that didn't cost the earth per person. Scone, traybake of choice and sandwich selection as your basic tea for two. Then going up in price with a high tea if the same with a meat/cheese board added etc. the shop would also sell cakes to take away and delivery options for Easter/Christmas etc.

A keto restaurant. Canteen style so you can mix and match your protein to veg and there would be a salad bar and some simple desserts (e.g. strawberries and cream). Includes takeaway options and a catering service.

A local gallery/art/craft shop. The walls would be full of art (no white space) for a very small fee from the artist. The back half of the shop would be a communal crafting area with big tables where workshops can run or to be used for craft meetings. Walls lined with a rainbow of materials that can be bought for a members discount etc.

A design studio. Get student interns in for one year. The studio buys derelict buildings/plots and uses them as live projects, sells for profit.

A play/cafe. Big piece of land. Awesome bespoke playground. Big chunk undercover for rainey days. Water stream, sand, mini world play etc. there would be a sensory play corner with lights etc. The attached cafe wraps around the play area for full visibility but also sells actually decent food. Salads, home made stuff etc, not just beige stuff.

Tbh if I win the lottery and money was no object I'd quite like to do lots of these anyway with no expectation of making profit.

ginasevern · 28/03/2026 11:19

A cheese shop. Always wanted to run one. I love cheese and know a fair bit about it. I'd also sell all the chutneys, bread, biscuits etc to go with it and have a small cafe section serving cheese platters and wine pairings.

raisinglittlepeople12 · 28/03/2026 11:20

Curios, antiques and gifts, by the sea

ThatPeachLion · 28/03/2026 11:47

God I always think about this. A cafe with really stunning affordable food . That was fresh and was sourced locally and cheap so people can afford to enjoy. The wall would be lined with books , people could buy some but the proper dusty old crusty ones would just be for reading the cafe. There would be giant comfy wing backs . Art on the wall for sale that is again reasonably priced and not £300 for some randoms sea scape. ( I paint for the joy and think sometimes art becomes so inaccessible to buy) Id run affordable craft nights for mums and single parents and I'd put on live music.
Hopefully I get to side step into this .... The building would hopefully be old and have an open fire

topcat2014 · 28/03/2026 12:04

@Cerialkiller does this meet your definition of no white space?

If you had an imaginary shop, what would you sell?
Wishihadanalgorithm · 28/03/2026 12:18

Cheese.

I love cheese and people who also love cheese would come and buy it from me. We’d talk about cheese recipes all day long.