Idea for small business - opinions please!

[jamcorrosion]

Looking for some opinions if you think this is something you would use or would be used in general…my friend is looking to start a business. There’s no major need for massive profit and it’s more for her to have something that’s just for her and be something other than ‘mummy’. But just after some opinions if it’s a gap in the market and if it’s something you or anyone you know would consider using:

The general idea is to be a sort of ‘personal shopper’ but for gift giving. Give some basic info about the person, the event, the budget etc and she will source the gift. Or there will be things like hampers she can either source bespoke gifts to fill OR there would also be some ready made sort of ‘off the shelf’ type hampers or gift sets for those who want delivery more quickly or can’t be bothered providing info. She would charge 20% of the final gift value.

Opinions all welcome good or bad!

Thanks

Yeah there’s lots of options to use instead of - but what you say about taking the good out of it knowing someone else has done the thinking, is that not the same when you ask on here for recommendations?

Also if for example he’s usually awful and gifts and then doing this means it’s lots better, would that not help?

Are they I’ve honestly not seen anything like that in my area.

Again, it’s not really to make money

That’s also a really good suggestion! You get a voucher to treat yourself and they do the legwork. Good idea Thankyou!

OMG, that's a genius idea! It's the only voucher I'd actually use.

I know isn’t it just! Very impressed haha

I wonder if she could try and test the waters with ‘hypothetical’ customers - get a group of people to pose as customers and she sources hypothetical gifts and they then give honest feedback

I wouldn't bother doing that. Just get some pretend customers to be case studies, find them some lovely things, build a website/social media presence.

There's no real upfront cost for her, so she could just get on with it. (As it's basically a hobby, not a matter of paying the mortgage.)

I recommend this book for her. Don't be put off by the "seven figure business" stuff, it's great for ways to just get on with doing your thing. In the actual doing of it, you begin to get the feedback you need.

Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Million-Dollar-Weekend-Surprisingly-7-Figure/dp/059353977X

Is she very glamorous, with a large social media following? If so, then maybe this could work if people want to ‘buy into’ her image. If not, I think it would be very difficult to get off the ground.

When she found the gift, what would she do, just send a link? What if the client didn’t like it? What if it didn’t turn up?

So, the voucher aspect of her business could be a real grower, and a real attention grabber.

Could be called different things for different markets/sexes/ages etc.

When you say pretend customers for case studies do you mean do it initially for free to build?

Thanks will pass the book onto her!

Why doesn’t she just get a job in an upmarket gift shop? All the upside, no downside.

Not large in comparison to well known influencers but not tiny either.

No she would source the gift or gifts if putting together say a hamper. Or find a few options then confirm with the client before it goes any further. Then she orders based on client preference either direct to them or to her first to put together.

I thought there could a potential for partnerships with other small businesses or similar where she uses their products and earns a small commission

Yeah I like this idea too - there’s been so many times where I’ve had something I want in mind but have no idea where to start. Even something as simple as skincare or perfume cause I’m not a shopper and I don’t keep up with that sort of stuff it doesn’t interest me but then when I want to buy I don’t know where to start

She’s a SAHM as mentioned before and has some health issues so doesn’t want that - it’s something that’s for her. Getting a job defeats the object really

Helpful, not.

What I meant was, you need clients to get clients. You need clients to build your website and SM (social media) up.

So, she does some free shopping for family and friends. Writes it up. Does posts.

It's chicken and egg, but there's literally nothing to stop her just starting.

Also, the whole concept of finding lovely gifts, opens up a lot of SM possibilities. She could build a real following, which brings sponsorship and - clients!!

There is a market for this, there are UHNW people who pay for these services - but finding them isn't easy. People in the market for these services aren't looking on Facebook to find someone, they're getting personal recommendations or meeting the service providers in a 'natural' way. To find these types of clients you need to be where they are - as a SAHM is she likely to be able to do that?

I work for a tour operator that services this type of client and they are extremely demanding. They expect the service to fit around thir schedule. The clients we have like a LOT of attention, to have their messages answered at all hours and to not have to think too much.

Once you've got those clients they are loyal and spend well but it's not for the feint hearted - she really needs to consider if she can offer that type of service.

She’s blocking the practicalities with a lovely fluffy smokescreen of online browsing all day.

In silk pyjamas.

How much money does her husband want to lose? That’s the key business question.

successful businesses require an initial USP (unique selling point) and then a means to maintain their long term competitive advantage.

How would she prevent people picking her brains for a few ideas then sourcing them themselves? Or when building up the business, get people to pay upfront?

Id also be very wary of building up a relationship with someone to provide a service which is essentially their own vanity project. My concern would be that the very time I needed something complicated from them, their priorities would be elsewhere.

She doesn’t need the money she is SAHM and her husband is a high earner, And she has health issues
IF I was aware of that as a 'customer' I'd avoid the company. I'd be concerned that its just a side line for fun for her, and would worry that her commitment wouldn't be there. No drive because she doesn't need the money and what happens is her health declines/flairs and my gift doesn't arrive?

How would the payments work? If she has spent time sourcing something and the client doesn't like any of the suggestions, does she get paid anything? Would people pay an upfront fee?

She might be better off having a hobby and IF she can sell any of that, it might be more profitable than this idea. A friend makes tiny things out of crochet and knitting. Strangely, they are very popular.

Wild but I actually know someone who kinda does this. Basically she's on SM and she 'gets an order' and reads it out then selects the gifts and shares it all. She also shares tips for luxury wrapping, handmade cards, thoughtful gifts for different types of life events. Anyway, she told us that when she started all her orders were made up which is why she just posting shopping videos. She would also buy luxury things, carefully wrap them then unwrap and return them.

She now does get real orders, mainly from her followers. However, the bulk of the money comes from posting on SM and brand deals of how x product makes the perfect present or how you can wrap an iconically shaped item or building a hamper around a product.

Don't know actually how much she earns, shes not on private jets etc but it is her only job. She is very pretty and bubbly though.

Ah yes sorry I see what you mean - another good idea! Thanks for your suggestions

Yes it would definitely be a certain type of person that uses it probably - like you say it’s finding the initial clients especially those willing to take a punt that will be hardest!

It’s not her husbands money is it as they are marked and a partnership.

Plus a business like this doesn’t require big start up costs

I know what a USP is - the thinking is the personal service would be her USP. Essentially herself.

Vanity project is a little harsh and she can only prove to customers that they’re a priority when that situation arises

I think it could be done but I think the key is to start more specific.

Could she, for example, start with very personalised hampers? I always find them disappointing or generic. If I asked someone for a hamper for me, I could ask for specifically expensive chocolate and Italian meat and she could source a collection of both.

This route would also be a good opportunity to add value. Lovely box/basket, coloured crepe paper, bows, hand written notes etc.

I usually don't spend Easter with family so we exchange postal gifts and getting something a bit different but beautifully packaged is generally what I go for. Most of the specific Easter gifts always sell out on Etsy, it might be a good place for her to start and get experience. She could batch source from abroad then resell in selections in the UK with shorter postal times then if people were buying the same thing from abroad.

I also agree with pp. She needs to cultivate an online 'vibe' tasteful lighting, elegant interiors etc to attract the high end market. Is she good as photography? That will be really important. Is she attractive? A lovely portrait of her professionally shot would help. Find some similar popular lifestyle influencer online and really study what they have done. A website some other online presence is vital.

I'm not in the rich group myself but I am a service provider for them so rub shoulders with lots of other providers in the industry as we don't ften end up working together. Interior designers, high end project managers, award winning landscape designers etc. There's quite a difference between the people doing that, and the people trying and failing. A lot of it is cultivating a confidence and 'authenticity' that is very hard to fake.