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Original poster

Would this business idea work?

41 replies

stayathomegardener · 11/12/2019 23:23

Posting here for traffic, happy to be told it's unreasonable or maybe not.

We have a large commercial barn 100ft x 50ft set in 10 acres adjoining a very touristy forest in Cheshire.

It's currently virtually unused and I need to either find a creative use or sell/rent it out.

I remember as a kid a brilliant 50/50 shop.

You took in your unwanted items and received 50% of the sale price. Our parents let us keep the money and it became quite addictive. (Understatement, nothing was safe)

I've been reading on Mumsnet more and more recently about schools needing to self fund and wondered if I could promote it via them. Parents could either take their 50% or donate all/ a percentage of it to the school.

I could just open for weekends and offer coffee/woodfired pizzas quite easily. I think people would come for the free parking and access to the forest initially.

I appreciate this idea currently appears a bit half baked but I only just started thinking about this yesterday
And ask Mumsnet seemed like a good plan.

OP posts:
DeathStare · 11/12/2019 23:32

It wouldn't do it for me to be honest. As a customer it's not the sort of thing I'd travel to and make an occasion of - and it sounds as though from your location that would be necessary.

I also think you could easily end up with a load of shit that just doesn't sell.

Aquamarine1029 · 11/12/2019 23:38

Is it a wood barn or an ugly metal one?

tigerbear · 11/12/2019 23:39

I think it sounds like a nice idea, but a lot of work for a low return.
I think you’d be best off setting up a kind of play barn - soft play, mini go karts and tractors etc, and also to the pizza/coffee too.
You could make loads in doing kids parties too?

AtrociousCircumstance · 11/12/2019 23:41

Hire it out for events?

HanginWithMyGnomies · 11/12/2019 23:44

I really like the idea op and I’d travel to it. Helps the community, recycles, the kids can get involved. I can drag the dog along.. win win!

ProfShillyShally · 11/12/2019 23:46

Weddings

SachaStark · 11/12/2019 23:46

I don’t really get your business model. Like, is it a shop, or a cafe, or a pizza restaurant, or a charity shop for a school? And it’s also a car park for a forest?

I think you just need to choose one thing, to be honest. I once went to an escape room facility that, upon arrival, also turned out to be a coffee shop, posh restaurant, and second hand bookshop all at once. None of us patrons had a fucking clue what we were all doing, tbh!

EveHolt · 11/12/2019 23:48

I'm confused, how do you make money? By selling random stuff kids bring in? Isn't that a charity shop?

EveHolt · 11/12/2019 23:49

Or you could make it a combined kids' soft play, brasserie and wellness clinic Wink

Original poster
stayathomegardener · 11/12/2019 23:52

Hmmmm interesting.

We've discounted
Horses/event yard. Set up too expensive.

Dog care. Too much local competition.

Underground Hobbit Houses. Loved this but was a change of use on the land as opposed to using the barn so pre planning was not supportive.

Nursery or play barn set up costs are very high.

Weddings are a definite possibility...

It's a completely hideous modern barn in a beautiful setting.

I'll see if I can find an image.

OP posts:
Original poster
stayathomegardener · 11/12/2019 23:53

@HanginWithMyGnomies sounds like we would get on.

OP posts:
Original poster
stayathomegardener · 12/12/2019 00:12

Barn

Would this business idea work?
OP posts:
MarilynMorose · 12/12/2019 00:22

Turn the barn to ultimate luxury glamp?

HanginWithMyGnomies · 12/12/2019 00:23

Looks ideal @stayathomegardener love the dog shot too 😉

IWorkAtTheCheesecakeFactory · 12/12/2019 00:28

Turn it into storage units.

Napmum · 12/12/2019 00:28

I would make it a wedding venue with something like a Shepard's hut nearby for the wedding party to get ready in and for the couple to stay in for their first night after. If you put glamping wedding or similar in Google you should get plenty of ideas

Napmum · 12/12/2019 00:32

If you wanted to you could have other events like a charity craft fair and have a stall similar to you idea at that.

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/12/2019 00:38

Does it have water and sewage attached or close by.

What about doing craft fairs/indoor car boot type stalls without the car where you rent tables out.

If there is electrics, water and a few portaloos you could sell hot drinks, sandwiches, cups of soup, cakes and biscuits type fare

FagashJackie · 12/12/2019 00:42

Arthouse cinema nights?

ffswhatnext · 12/12/2019 00:43

I wouldn’t want to go all the way out there for a pizza. Would prefer something more rustic.

I would set it up now as a cafe type place if your thinking about holding parties. It will help to generate income, a rep and facilities that you will need including equipment.

Whilst waiting for permits to hold weddings etc, you could get ones for some themed events that would finish earlier.

I wouldn’t sell it. I’d want control over what happens to the land.

Of course there is a third option and rent the land out

Anoni · 12/12/2019 00:50

The whole point of a business is to be profitable and i just can't see how you would be profitable. What are you going for, a community based shop, car park, pizza place? How would you advertise, come pay to park and get a pizza where we keep the profits but also shop where we don't keep the profits?

You need to have a sit down and think of two things. 1. What would i enjoy dedicating a significant portion of my time to? 2. What would be profitable and provide us either a boost in income or a wage to live on?

Your big selling point is you're close to a touristy forest, so what kind of people does that attract? Holiday makers, caravanners, dog walkers etc.
So what kind of stuff could pull them in?
Are you close to chester? So what kind of people live and visit there? What would pull them in?

You've a big barn, is there caravan sites nearby? Could you maybe do indoor caravan storage, if you could fit 20 caravans lets say (probably quite a few more) and charged 250 a year for indoor storage that would be 5 grand for example in revenue but then you need to take away costs such as insurance etc. But fit 40 in that's 10 grand in revenue. You could look into this, a quick google search shows the average price people pay and it can be quite a bit more then £250.

The barn again, you could do as an event space, weddings, parties, corporate meetings, but only if the venue meets the high standards they desire.

You could simply rent it out to someone as you suggested, this is hands off, doesn't require a lot of work on your behalf but probably wouldn't return as much money.

TheBlessedCheesemaker · 12/12/2019 00:53

Turkeys (if you Also own land around it), luxury car winter storage (they charge a fortune), or lease it out.

lifecouldbeadream · 12/12/2019 05:09

OP, I think I know (roughly) where you are. There are plenty of eateries in the area doing well.... think large farm shop, well known pub. I can’t see any reason that a family friendly non-chain wood fired pizza place wouldn’t do well. Paint the barn a sold colour (black?) and large white letters as a name on the side... it could be a winner. Or, paint the barn black, make a wooden and tented entrance and hire venue for weddings. It’s a fab location- you’ll do well I’m sure. Was trying to find a picture of a similar thing near Bracknell, will come back and link if I can find it!

lifecouldbeadream · 12/12/2019 05:20

If you do a google image search for Heaton House Farm, they do weddings and (one of) the buildings is quite industrial..... and it’s tented inside.

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