Ideas for a small business?

General chat topics, anything and everything you want or need to discuss
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23420
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5450 times
Been thanked: 13086 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by weeksy »

Well the answer is of course "what interests you"

I know what interests me, but i'm not seeing a way of even breaking even running a MTB DH team... or even just spannering MTBs (i probably could though)...

So what's something that jumps out at you that you could spend 8-10 hours a day doing day in day out.
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23420
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5450 times
Been thanked: 13086 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by weeksy »

Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:53 am
weeksy wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:45 am
So what's something that jumps out at you that you could spend 8-10 hours a day doing day in day out.
That's the thing, I like doing loads of things but not sure I'd want to do it 8hrs a day, five days a week.
There's your answer :)
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mr Moofo »

Erm - what does the village need?
What are the surrounding activities?
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4376
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7817 times
Been thanked: 2527 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Rockburner »

Deal with the general public???


Are you f*cking kidding me? I'd rather spend my day up to my neck in fertiliser.
non quod, sed quomodo
User avatar
DefTrap
Posts: 4495
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
Has thanked: 2260 times
Been thanked: 2191 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by DefTrap »

Mr Moofo wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:05 am Erm - what does the village need?
What are the surrounding activities?
Someone in our village (population about 2000) decided that it needed a nail bar. We already have one, two doors away. You'd think everyone in the village would need their nails bejazzled (hand AND feet) to support two nail bars.
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13946
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15952 times
Been thanked: 10243 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Taipan »

Our local towns seem to fill their empty shops with Turkish barbers and nail bars. A few chairs rented out whilst you cream off the top sounds good. Something more interesting that is popular round here are farm shops/markets. They’re are basically more expensive corner shops with a few artisan products scattered within. Likewise, The farmers markets are more fast food outlets, than produce, where the impoverished spend more on food than they need to, or could do, elsewhere. I can’t believe how many of my colleagues buy over priced grub at this place every week. https://www.lfm.org.uk/markets/bloomsbury/
Greenman
Posts: 1740
Joined: Fri May 01, 2020 10:05 pm
Has thanked: 209 times
Been thanked: 403 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Greenman »

Rockburner wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:19 am Deal with the general public???


Are you f*cking kidding me? I'd rather spend my day up to my neck in fertiliser.
:lol:

I met a mate of a mate last week and he told me we works as a paramedic in ambulances. I gave him a bit of respect via a fist bump as i have a lot of respect for people who do that job helping people on a daily basis, he came back to me with "nah mate, it's crap, everyone is a wanker now, i hate it" which was probably accurate but a bit disappointing!
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11551
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6188 times
Been thanked: 5087 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Horse »

Greenman wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:56 am
Rockburner wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:19 am Deal with the general public???


Are you f*cking kidding me? I'd rather spend my day up to my neck in fertiliser.
:lol:

I met a mate of a mate last week and he told me we works as a paramedic in ambulances. I gave him a bit of respect via a fist bump as i have a lot of respect for people who do that job helping people on a daily basis, he came back to me with "nah mate, it's crap, everyone is a wanker now, i hate it" which was probably accurate but a bit disappointing!
I've not encountered it yet but I've heard that, post-covid, public attitudes have deteriorated. A greater 'I want' attitude. Filly is seeing it from parents in schools too.
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11551
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6188 times
Been thanked: 5087 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Horse »

Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:53 am
weeksy wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:45 am
So what's something that jumps out at you that you could spend 8-10 hours a day doing day in day out.
That's the thing, I like doing loads of things but not sure I'd want to do it 8hrs a day, five days a week.
Choose one. Do it one day a week, see how it develops. If well, expand it. If not, can it. If 'ok', do another.

Or, if the money is irrelevant, volunteer your expertise.

Or volunteer out of your comfort zone, make it a challenge too.
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4376
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7817 times
Been thanked: 2527 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Rockburner »

Horse wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:20 am
Greenman wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:56 am
Rockburner wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:19 am Deal with the general public???


Are you f*cking kidding me? I'd rather spend my day up to my neck in fertiliser.
:lol:

I met a mate of a mate last week and he told me we works as a paramedic in ambulances. I gave him a bit of respect via a fist bump as i have a lot of respect for people who do that job helping people on a daily basis, he came back to me with "nah mate, it's crap, everyone is a wanker now, i hate it" which was probably accurate but a bit disappointing!
I've not encountered it yet but I've heard that, post-covid, public attitudes have deteriorated. A greater 'I want' attitude. Filly is seeing it from parents in schools too.
It's that kind of attitude that "drives" the poor standards of driving that have been reported on regularly since the Covid lockdowns.
non quod, sed quomodo
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13946
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15952 times
Been thanked: 10243 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Taipan »

Greenman wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:56 am
Rockburner wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:19 am Deal with the general public???


Are you f*cking kidding me? I'd rather spend my day up to my neck in fertiliser.
:lol:

I met a mate of a mate last week and he told me we works as a paramedic in ambulances. I gave him a bit of respect via a fist bump as i have a lot of respect for people who do that job helping people on a daily basis, he came back to me with "nah mate, it's crap, everyone is a wanker now, i hate it" which was probably accurate but a bit disappointing!
Mates son is a paramedic. The stories he tells me makes me wonder why anyone does the job. He gets attacked, spat at, abused and even his time wasted by lonely people. Junkies are his biggest source of annoyance !
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23420
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5450 times
Been thanked: 13086 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by weeksy »

Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:01 pm Maybe I'll set up a drop in/drop out centre for wasters :lol:
I already did.
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16736
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10263 times
Been thanked: 6886 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Yorick »

weeksy wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:04 pm
Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:01 pm Maybe I'll set up a drop in/drop out centre for wasters :lol:
I already did.
Not like you to be funny :obscene-birdiedoublered: :obscene-birdiedoublered: :obscene-birdiedoublered: :obscene-birdiedoublered: :obscene-birdiedoublered:
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11551
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6188 times
Been thanked: 5087 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Horse »

Taipan wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:39 am Mates son is a paramedic. The stories he tells me makes me wonder why anyone does the job. He gets attacked, spat at, abused and even his time wasted by lonely people. Junkies are his biggest source of annoyance !
I'm sheltered from much of that. I mainly get despatched to category 1 & 2 calls, with some 3.

I don't go to RTCs, suicides or assaults.

The only time I've been assaulted (so far*) was a thump around the ear from an old chap who was lashing out.

* During training (Nov 22), we were told that no CFRs had been assaulted until that year. Back to the original point.
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13946
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15952 times
Been thanked: 10243 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Taipan »

Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:01 pm
Taipan wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:39 am Junkies are his biggest source of annoyance !
I used to have zero sympathy, but now I really sympathise, the world is a tough place and sometimes people can't cope and escape on drugs, unfortunately sometimes they stay messed up and struggle to come back from it.

I did some charity work a while ago and met some really nice people with horrendous stories, they were stuck in a horrible cycle of drug use, it was a shame, they don't want to be messed up, but they are.

Personally I've got little sympathy for people that get high on alcohol and cause trouble every weekend, I feel like they've got a lot less of an excuse to be a pain in the arse.

Maybe I'll set up a drop in/drop out centre for wasters :lol:
Drunks and drink related incidents (fights, falling over etc) are his second biggest source of annoyance. I thought h e was harsh about lonely people wasting his time but as he said, people die because of it! Because of demand they are always late and rarely met with politeness, he understands this of course, but it really does sound like a thankless, stressful job at times, but obviously massively rewarding as well. His good stories are incredibly moving though and I guess that’s why he sticks it out.
User avatar
Yambo
Posts: 2470
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:08 pm
Location: Self Isolating
Has thanked: 598 times
Been thanked: 1647 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Yambo »

weeksy wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:03 am
Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:53 am
weeksy wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:45 am
So what's something that jumps out at you that you could spend 8-10 hours a day doing day in day out.
That's the thing, I like doing loads of things but not sure I'd want to do it 8hrs a day, five days a week.
There's your answer :)

Just my twopennyworth . . .

I don't think you want to run a business Iccy and certainly not one on the main road.

I think you want a hobby that can maybe return a bit of the time and effort in cash.

I'm in much the same boat and in the next day or so there'll be a post on the local facebook page with an example of my work. People already know that I like to make things (usually in wood) and have many times asked me to make or repair things. I've turned down 3 requests recently to make kayaks - I don't want to do it for work, I don't have a workshop for a start and of course, if you're making boats for other, paying, people I can't get away with a 10' boat*; they're going to have to be fucking perfect! I've also been asked to sell astro photos and I'm looking for people who can print them the best way - on metal. That probably won't be cheap but actually producing the images is all paid for, just my time really and printing costs.

But I'm quite handy and like/need to fill my time so if there's a bit of cash to be made then why not.

* A 10' boat is one that looks pretty good from 10' away. Don't get too close! :D
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mr Moofo »

DefTrap wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:20 am
Mr Moofo wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:05 am Erm - what does the village need?
What are the surrounding activities?
Someone in our village (population about 2000) decided that it needed a nail bar. We already have one, two doors away. You'd think everyone in the village would need their nails bejazzled (hand AND feet) to support two nail bars.
We are a small town - blessed with two nail bars, 4 Turkish barbers, 5 hairdressers, two Co-Op stores. 7 coffee shops , two bakeries
I find it amazing that new business do not scope out what the locality needs.
We have one guy here who has been dealing vinyl for 10 years. Someone else has decided to open a second hand vinyl store on the high street.
It's not like we are all DJs ...
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13938
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2551 times
Been thanked: 6244 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

There are two framing stores near me, 3 shops apart :lol: One has been there basically forever, the other just opened and sells all kinds of cheesy pop art type stuff too.
User avatar
Mr Moofo
Posts: 4620
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
Location: Brightonish
Has thanked: 1829 times
Been thanked: 1469 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mr Moofo »

Potter wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:01 pm
Taipan wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:39 am Junkies are his biggest source of annoyance !
I used to have zero sympathy, but now I really sympathise, the world is a tough place and sometimes people can't cope and escape on drugs, unfortunately sometimes they stay messed up and struggle to come back from it.

But the issue with that is that smack turns people into nasty, vicious , aggressive people - the craving completely over-rules any human decency. The homeless issue is Brighton is mainly smack related - they cannot go into hostels as they refuse to stop using, or they are violent, or they will not abide by conditions.
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11551
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6188 times
Been thanked: 5087 times

Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Horse »

Yambo wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:58 pm I'm looking for people who can print them the best way - on metal. That probably won't be cheap but actually producing the images is all paid for, just my time really and printing costs.
If you can find laces where they can be ordered online, manufactured and delivered, the world opens up. Otherwise, there's the Etsy type sites.
Even bland can be a type of character :wave: