Would You...

[BuffalosGandalf]

patronize a small shop dedicated to geocaching if it were in your local area? In my hometown we have urbans, day hikes and all other types amounting to well over 1000 caches in the city limits. I have and idea but wonder with the sport so young and small would it work....

 

thanx for any or all input.

 

BG

[+xpunkx & Julez]

patronize a small shop dedicated to geocaching if it were in your local area? In my hometown we have urbans, day hikes and all other types amounting to well over 1000 caches in the city limits. I have and idea but wonder with the sport so young and small would it work....

 

thanx for any or all input.

 

BG

 

i would go but i dont know how well it would survive

[+CM-14]

I would visit if it were conveniently located and had better prices than most internet retailers of geochache stuff.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Hard to see how such a business model would survive!

 

Retail across the nation is struggling to stay alive, and specialty shops most of all.

 

When anyone can open a shop online for a couple hundred bucks, with an instant international customer base, advertise products from any vendor, maintain no inventory (receive order online, place order with vendor, vendor drop-ships to customer, transaction handled with PayPal) online stores have almost zero overhead and almost run themselves.

 

With the Groundseak Store and numerous other stores already selling geocaching-related goods online I wouldn't even consider an online store unless I had an exclusive product line or some competitive hook the existing competition does not have.

 

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

Ed

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

Hard to see how such a business model would survive!

 

Retail across the nation is struggling to stay alive, and specialty shops most of all.

 

When anyone can open a shop online for a couple hundred bucks, with an instant international customer base, advertise products from any vendor, maintain no inventory (receive order online, place order with vendor, vendor drop-ships to customer, transaction handled with PayPal) online stores have almost zero overhead and almost run themselves.

 

With the Groundseak Store and numerous other stores already selling geocaching-related goods online I wouldn't even consider an online store unless I had an exclusive product line or some competitive hook the existing competition does not have.

 

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

Ed

I agree with Ed. And, there are already over 350 online shops selling only geocaching supplies or selling primarily geocaching supplies. Unless you also were operating concomitantly an online shop -- and a high-volume online shop at that -- to help pay the bills, I suspect that your brick-and-mortar store would never be able to even bring in enough income to even pay the rent on the shop. The sport is very small, and specialty stores in general have a tough time; it is even harder if you are operating a specialty store catering to adherents of a very small sport.

[+tozainamboku]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

[BuffalosGandalf]

that's was what i was thinking...but i am in a tourist destination and moitoring the cahes that are local to where i would place the store I see alot of out of towners hitting these. I've seen 2 or 3 posts where people want to get a few things but have to wait 2 or 3 days to get them via online stores, I also was thinking how when i was seriously into MTN Biking where did i hang out? the bike shops...I don't know it was just and idea....maybe someday if this thing takes off...

 

thanx for all the input.

 

Scott

[+pghlooking]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

And here we thought we were the only onles to have a Krispy Kreme close up their doors.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

 

Well, there you go, then! If one of the most successful franchise operations in the country can't survive it does not bode well for a niche-market startup!

 

My little business started by accident and rode the PC wave, I would hate to think I had to start a business in today's environment.

[+budd-rdc]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

I recall the main office did some "sugarcoating" for their finances, so they no longer had the $ to market the franchise nationally, like they should have. Doesn't help when people are trying to change their dietary habits, with things like United for Diabetes TBs.

 

Few years ago, I'd have said Quizno's. Now, try Panera Bread, if you want to start a franchise. As for Geocaching related retail store, I suspect there isn't enough volume to pay for the overhead, so you might have to do it as a side business along with something else.

[+briansnat]

Only if they sold ammo boxes cheap.

[gulfscuba]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

 

The one here in Clearwater,l FL went belly up as well.

[+nekom]

I would certainly suppot such a business, but like others have said it might have a hard time making it. Now if you combined it into a general outdoors shop, maybe. A place that sold mountain bikes, kayaks, camping gear AND geocaching items, now that might work.

[CoyoteRed]

Unless you don't need to work and have free retail space, operate it out of the trunk of your car and at events.

[+Big Max]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

And here we thought we were the only onles to have a Krispy Kreme close up their doors.

 

Had one in a town near us close. Ours is still in business though. Personally I feel like I am just eating icing, no body to the donut.

[+A,J&BG]

We have a Radio Shack that carries geocaching stuff... But I couldn't see a shop making it if they were nothing but a geo store.

[+Allen_L]

that's was what i was thinking...but i am in a tourist destination and moitoring the cahes that are local to where i would place the store I see alot of out of towners hitting these. I've seen 2 or 3 posts where people want to get a few things but have to wait 2 or 3 days to get them via online stores, I also was thinking how when i was seriously into MTN Biking where did i hang out? the bike shops...I don't know it was just and idea....maybe someday if this thing takes off...

 

thanx for all the input.

 

Scott

Doesn't hurt to keep thinking. After all how many people thought that a store selling coffee for $4 and up, could make it, much less expand into 37 countries and have over 8,000 stores.

[+OHMIKY]

I'm figuring if you were to run a store selling general goodies useful to tourists in the area - surf equipment - or whatever is big in your neck of the woods, a small section devoted to caching would, maybe, be ok - so long as it did not take space away from the stuff that pays the rent.

[+Team GPSaxophone]

Wal-Mart already sells everything you need to create geocaches, plus there's already a geocache in front of each store. What would a "geocaching store" bring to the marketplace that isn't already there?

[+Cornerstone4]

Wal-Mart already sells everything you need to create geocaches, plus there's already a geocache in front of each store. What would a "geocaching store" bring to the marketplace that isn't already there?

 

The personal touch would be what you are selling. However, caching doesn't have the numbers yet to support a shop like this IMO.

 

My example of the "Personal Touch" aspect is from my experience in our little area with a fishing shop, and a dive shop. We have several Wal Marts, a couple of Sports Authorites, Big 5, a Sports Chalet, etc. All of them offer fishing tackle and supplies, two of the chains offer full scuba gear and certification. However, in our "Old Town" section, which is filled with antique stores, there is a small fish and tackle store, and a dive store as well. Both seem to be doing well with all of the competition in the area. Granted, both have a much wider customer base due to their popularity, but the personal touch is what makes them successful.

[+pghlooking]

Wal-Mart already sells everything you need to create geocaches, plus there's already a geocache in front of each store. What would a "geocaching store" bring to the marketplace that isn't already there?

They don't sell ammo cans!

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

The suggestion somewhere above about selling out of the trunk of your car at events reminded me of CRAKE sitting under a tent fly trying to sell coins at GW4.

 

I really have no idea how well he did, but just looking at him all alone waiting on a geocacher to come buy a coin was kinda sad.

 

Like I said, he mighta got rich that weekend, I dunno, but it didn't look like a very promising business model!

[+mgbmusic]

patronize a small shop dedicated to geocaching if it were in your local area? In my hometown we have urbans, day hikes and all other types amounting to well over 1000 caches in the city limits. I have and idea but wonder with the sport so young and small would it work....

 

thanx for any or all input.

 

BG

 

As stated several times in this thread, I don't see it happening. Honestly, I got into this sprot because it was cheap and you didn't have to buy a lot of stuff. If you were to put together a lot o custom rigs - vests with a lot of pockets, a universal wrist strap to hold GPSr's, and the like, you might have a chance, but only until Walmart started selling them cheaper and faster.

 

I've always wanted to see a walking stick that unfolds into a tripod with a laser pointer on it. I'd buy two so I could trangulate a cache's position...but then, I'm a geek, so....

 

--MGb

[Mr.Yuck]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

And here we thought we were the only onles to have a Krispy Kreme close up their doors.

 

Had one in a town near us close. Ours is still in business though. Personally I feel like I am just eating icing, no body to the donut.

 

The fall of Krispy Kreme nationally, on a whole, is such old news, I can't even find a current article. But I can get y'all a great deal on their stock. Trust me

[+TrailGators]

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

They closed several of the stores around here because they weren't doing enough business.

And here we thought we were the only onles to have a Krispy Kreme close up their doors.

Had one in a town near us close. Ours is still in business though. Personally I feel like I am just eating icing, no body to the donut.

The fall of Krispy Kreme nationally, on a whole, is such old news, I can't even find a current article. But I can get y'all a great deal on their stock. Trust me

We looked at possibly opening A Krispy Kreme one in one of my MBA classes 6 years ago but came to the conclusion that it wouldn't fly in California. I guess we were right. I haven't studied the gecaching store idea but I know there aren't enough local cachers to make it fly. Plus most cachers are pretty frugal based on the typical cache you find out here. I think this business is better off online because you really don't need to look at what you are buying anyhow. Anyhow, Starbucks was the business to get into out here!

[Mr.Yuck]

Hard to see how such a business model would survive!

 

Retail across the nation is struggling to stay alive, and specialty shops most of all.

 

When anyone can open a shop online for a couple hundred bucks, with an instant international customer base, advertise products from any vendor, maintain no inventory (receive order online, place order with vendor, vendor drop-ships to customer, transaction handled with PayPal) online stores have almost zero overhead and almost run themselves.

 

With the Groundseak Store and numerous other stores already selling geocaching-related goods online I wouldn't even consider an online store unless I had an exclusive product line or some competitive hook the existing competition does not have.

 

If you want to make money in local retail buy a KrispyKreme donut franchise!

 

Ed

I agree with Ed. And, there are already over 350 online shops selling only geocaching supplies or selling primarily geocaching supplies. Unless you also were operating concomitantly an online shop -- and a high-volume online shop at that -- to help pay the bills, I suspect that your brick-and-mortar store would never be able to even bring in enough income to even pay the rent on the shop. The sport is very small, and specialty stores in general have a tough time; it is even harder if you are operating a specialty store catering to adherents of a very small sport.

 

Don't know if I can add anything to this, other than I agree!! I'm not seeing a brick and mortar geocaching store working anywhere. Maybe if it was primarily an online store with a decent website, and also listing stuff on Ebay. If you make enough $ to rent some retail space, I'll bet you'd spend 99% of your time there shipping out orders from internet sales!

 

I'd be interested to hear if there is, or has ever been, a dedicated brick and mortar geocaching store anywhere. I'd tend doubt it.

[+OHMIKY]

Wal-Mart already sells everything you need to create geocaches, plus there's already a geocache in front of each store. What would a "geocaching store" bring to the marketplace that isn't already there?

 

I won't set foot in any Mall-Wart, much less give them any of my money. OTOH, I have never had any particular problem locating exactly what I want in the way of geocaching goodies - thanks to the internet, you can buy nearly anything you may want without leaving the comfort of your home.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Aside from all the other reasons above, look how many geocachers won't even pay $3 to get all the benefits of PM! That should give you an indication that even if you could sell to us we'd hold your profit margin so close to the bone that you would never make any money!

[+Cache_advance]

Ok, so I might have to agree with the others, but I would also throw this idea into the ring. You need to realize that (like everyone else has said) everything you need for geocaching is so easily accessible at the big mart stores or online... BUT If you can market something other than the hard goods of caching, you might be able to build a hook.

 

For example... your "shop" might have a small cafe where cachers can trade stories, ideas, inspirations and all the other aspects that make a geocaching picnic an interesting event. You could have a few computers hooked to the net, so people in the area could pop in for a quick check (download cables installed of course). Computers would need a variety of GPS software (DeLorme and such). You could have some equipment for manufacturing customized GeoCoins. How about ammo boxes. You could offer "guide service" meaning that you could help give clues to desparate cachers. Of course, you'd have to carry all the Geocaching.com swag, and all that tuff, but you need to realize that you need to offer "service" that sets you apart. Merchandise is available all over the place, but your service is unique.

 

Just a thought...

 

Cache Advance

[+CanSolo]

Cache, a slight twist on your idea..

 

How about an outdoors equipment/army disposal store, with an internet cafe???

 

Obviously the core of the business is the outdoors gear, but a specialised area for caching wouldn't take away from the business (Most outdoors stores have ammo cans!!)

 

The internet cafe would allow ALL kinds of outdoor enthusiasts to log their travels.

Placed in the right spot, it would attract many a visitor. (Even dual frontage on a corner, where the cafe could be competely seperate to the rest of the store)

 

My $0.02 worth anyway

Edited December 17, 2006 by CanClan

[+mamajan]

patronize a small shop dedicated to geocaching if it were in your local area? In my hometown we have urbans, day hikes and all other types amounting to well over 1000 caches in the city limits. I have and idea but wonder with the sport so young and small would it work....

 

thanx for any or all input.

 

BG

 

I would if it was convenient. I'm not sure if there would be enough business to keep it afloat.