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Shop vs Unit / Business Advice Please?
Hi guys its come to that point where i have outgrown my current space. I have a couple of large office’s in a office block and i’m looking to move to a bigger space as i can’t move with all the tables, printers ect. I have been looking at 3 options with the basic pro’s and con’s :
1 = staying where i am and taking another office in my block. pros : cheap rent , cons : not much passing trade as i’m on a small industrial site and in a office block.
2 = local high street shop. pro :ideal for my current jobs and lots of passing trade. cons : no space for me to expand to installing vehicle graphics in the future.
3= unit pros : loads of space, can start offering vehicle graphics when i’m ready to do so. cons : no passing trade.
most of my work is banners, stickers , signboards and business cards ect with all work sourced from word of mouth and some online, which i’m currently trying to get the website ranked better with SEO ect.
Also not to be nosey but how does most of your work come via passing trade or online ?
Sorry for all the questions but i’m only just over a year in and looking to get the next step right.
Many thanks
Danny -
7 Replies
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We had a shop moved to a unit. 1 con of the shop you missed is timewasters. You’ll be in the middle of a job and little Tim’s mother wants a full explanation about his birthday banner, and sit looking over you shoulder whilst you design it.
We get mostly word of mouth referrals.
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Thanks David for replying , thats something i did not consider.
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To add to what David has said, rent is likely to be much higher for a shop than an industrial unit plus rates will be more unless you are able to get the category changed.
Parking for customers is often a problem for shops but generally not such a problem with industrial units. You have already mentioned vehicle livery, I wouldn’t be looking for premises I couldn’t get a decent size van into.I only work part time now but when I was working full time found that I got enough work via word of mouth to keep me busy, good thing about working that way is that the people who are coming to see you have already seen your work & as long as your prices are fair you have the job, no tyre kickers as such. Also use to keep some stickers in the car & if I was up the High Street would put a sticker on the door of any empty shops I passed. Did do a bit of Networking but not to the extent of joining any of the franchised business groups.
My website was only ever used as an online portfolio of work I had done with some general info on different types of sign that could be bought so if a customer wanted more detail they could get all or most of the info they needed from the website rather than spending a lot of time talking to me. -
IMHO a unit means you are missing out on passing advertising. Yes with a main road shop you get customers wanting one offs or small jobs. We take these, but if it’s not in your business module, then a couple of simple questions when they enter your premises, soon sorts them out. A unit would proberly require more effort put into marketing or a rep hiring.
We are on a busy Main Street, 1000’s of vehicles pass every hour. For us that’s a great advert potential.
Our first shop had an alleyway where we lettered vehicles, we didn’t have a great deal of room tbh.
Our present shop, was on the same road, had three times the room, a small roller shutter door and a parking space at the rear. But it was not perfect, we are still pushed for room.
Our yet to move into shop, again on a busy main road, it has so much space we’ve split it and will rent a bit out, it has a 15 car carpark, we’ve lowered a floor and installed a large roller shutter door for high top vans.
Ok, there is alittle property development ink going on here, but we love a main road shop. You just need to find the right shop or unit that suits your needs.
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Hi thanks Martin and Denise for replying , two different point of views seems like i have some more thinking to on my next step. the passing trade is great bonus for being seen but i guess you pay for that with less space and extra rates ect.
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My thruppence, just moved one year ago from 9000 sq ft on high street to 6000 sq ft in industrial estate, turnover up, dont miss the times wasters, now we only get business customers
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Yes with a main road shop you get customers wanting one offs or small jobs. We take these, but if it’s not in your business module, then a couple of simple questions when they enter your premises, soon sorts them out.
??? please tell me the magic questions, I have people taking up my time most days and i can’t seem to be rude and get rid of them, hours are spent as you say with customers asking for everything with 8 colours and 6 different layouts only to never be seen again. Im on an industrial estate and still get time wasters
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