Market Survey for Display Cone

[Mystech]

Hi,
I'm thinking of getting in some display cones in to rent. They range from 2-4 meters tall and glows and I can put on your logo and text. Would you guys be interested in that and what are you willing to pay for it? Its primarily targeted as a rental business but i can help bring in a few more if anyone want to buy it for their shop.

[xoxoxo]

any sample pics to share?

[meinteel]

Get in display racks. There are lots of fleas and events going on, tons of people looking for racks but to no avail. Just look at this forum.

[Mystech]

xoxoxo, something like this.

mein, I can bring it in, easy, but the problem is transport cost. How much are you gonna want to rent one rack for? and If I charge a cost of SGD$30.00 per trip, would anyone want it? Even if you do pickup, that would mean A deposit of say, $100 per piece in case of damage. If I'm lucky, I get several pax per flea, but i'll have to plan for just one pax per flea in my costing. If I get several fleas, that would mean hiring people to deliver cause everyone would want it at the same time. and collecting at the same time. So the cost becomes prohibitive at this point for most renters.

How many here would want to pay a deposit + transport fee + actual fee for the rental? If there are, i can bring in some, no problem. Just let me know which type you prefer.

[xoxoxo]

Thanks for the pic. Given the shape and the glow effect, IMHO, it is only appropriate for selective products. Otherwise, as a display piece, it is quite attractive.

As for display racks, agree with Mystech. Cost will be an issue, not forgetting storage may also add to the cost burden. Deposit may be reduced if you bring in less expensive racks but once you compromise the quality, well, you know what you get... racks that can be binned after < 10 users. Unless you are in this retail fixtures and fitting business, bringing in a few racks just for rental purposes may not be a viable business. My 2 cents worth

[Rob82lim]

Hi Mystech, nice to see you again take care

[Mystech]

xoxoxo, I'm actually in the exhibition events line. So these are more for those exhibitions. I've also gotten enquires for it for weddings. It's mainly there to draw attention, etc etc. Well, I guess that it might be more appropriate for the agencies and such. Else with the booth rental, it might be really hard to recoup back.

Rob, yeah, glad to see you again, and glad to hear that you are doing not bad.

[meinteel]

S$100 deposit is outrages haha bare in mind that one can buy 3ft (width) by 7ft (height) for S$30. I need about 8 pieces for my expo event. If I were to purchase, it would be S$240. As it is above $200, the supplier would delivery to the "shop" for free.

I don't seem to find SG suppliers, but overseas like Malaysia, they charge between S$10-S$15 per rack, depending on the type and size. Delivery are usually free when rental is above a certain amount. Otherwise, independent deliveryman would costs between S$30-S$40 per trip.

Think about it, if rental of equipment costs me about the same as purchase, why not just buy it? Most people opt for rental because of storage. They do not need it for long-term use. Flea/event "chasers" usually attend these events once a month.

It is a viable business, especially if you have good place for storage and a nice little van. Like all business, the starting would be hard but I'm sure it will pick up.

[Mystech]

meinteel, that is the purpose in the 1st place. to make people think twice about forfitting the deposit. Alright, I'll play around with your numbers.

Lets say I charge a re-fundable deposit of $30 a piece on return or collection of item. So say taking your number of 8 racks, that would be $240. Add to that would be the rental cost, lets say, SGD12. which would be $96. meaning that even before the client starts making money, he/she needs to fork out 336, of which 96 is already gone. So the client needs to be sure of making back that $96 even before anything else. Thats one cost. Second cost would be delivery. Like you said, 1 trip is 40, which is market price. So there and back would be 80. So, thats 96 + 80 (176) already gone before setup. I'll do the maths for non delivery later. Generally, a bazzar ends Sun night. And if the business demands return on monday business hours, most people are sunk. Which I believe that would include most *flea chasers*. Thats the maths for 8 pcs. If they rent only 1 piece, it would become 12+80. And if for personal pickup, it would be 12 only. for one piece. Except that you need to return on a monday. During office hours.. which, I believe, would turn most people off. And thats just purely from a clients point of view, not even a business. Like I said, If you wish to rent from me, I work something out with you, no problem.

[meinteel]

Putting up refundable deposits is not a huge problem for most flea and event goers, but it will be a huge turn off about the lack of trust from the supplier especially for your "loyal" customers.

You can always make them sign "loan forms" which demands the client to purchase the equipment at market prices (which should be stated in the form, say this rack costs S$30.00) should they damage it due to unacceptable/improper (i.e. over-loading, intentional bending, using adhesives/corrosives) use.

As for the returning, we're in the retail line. Even huge companies like "Nets" operate 7 days a week - yes, saturdays sundays and public holidays.

I'm not saying that it will be a easy route and there is a guaranteed profit but this is business. There are risks involved, there is need to build up image and relationships. These take a few years to build, but after that things will become smoother.

The problem about people of our generation is that they don't want to take risks, want to see quick results and want to have "freedom" to manage their time. True businessman don't have freedom to manage their time. We have free time only when there is no business - Simply as that.

I would go into this supplying line if my funds aren't tied up in my newly started retail line.

You should probably rent a warehouse for your office and storage. As for delivery, get their friends/relative to help or liaise with small delivery companies for a start rather than hiring a deliveryman.