Push Cart at Icon Village - Page 1

DarleneZ

Hi,
Need advice from seniors here. I m considering to rent a pushcart at Icon Village. Anybody can give opinion on the crowd as well as the location whether it's feasible to give it a try?
Honestly speaking, this is the 2nd time that I am giving it a try as my first pushcart was a failure. I was at Orchard Cineleisure and the rental was high until I was not able to cover cost for the pushcart and staffs. Now, I'm a bit careful so I thought of giving Icon Village a try since the rental is consider low. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

dardar2007

Hi Darlenz,

I am not a senior here but i'll say my piece here.

2 worst things a business can have is i)High Rental/High Operating Costs, ii)No crowd.

You had encountered the first point in your stint in Orchard Cineleisure.
You are likely to encounter the second point at Icon Village.

It will be best you take a look at the crowd for one day at the location that you want.

What is your target group for your product?
At icon village, mainly of working class. Weekend is almost a "dead" area for business.

I myself am setting up camp opposite your intended area (Tanjong Pagar Plaza). We are also taking a rather high risk in camping there. We have conisdered our options and strategies thus the decision was made.


All the best to you in your business.


Regards,
Dardar2007

DarleneZ

Hi Dardar,
Thanks for your advice and thoughts. Really appreciate your sharing. I have actually went down to take a look at the pushcart 2 weeks ago. I agree that it is mainly lunch time crowd but whether they are a buying crowd or not, only time will tell if I eventually take up the booth at Icon Village. Since the rental is only $1200 per month, I thought of giving it a try but a small part of me is still a little sceptical since I have a bad experience before.
I was told that some of the vendors at Icon Village has been there since Dec last year and they are still operating there. Does that mean that they are making profit and that's why they continue on with the pushcart business. Just my childlike thinking and analysing......By the way, I am selling kids clothing

xoxoxo

Icon Village? Do your maths before jumping in. If you think rent is only $1200, then work out how many pieces must you sell and at what selling price to tag in order to breakeven. Ya, just breakeven even before you think about making a profit. 5 work days a week, 4weeks a month, about 20days to cover $1200+transport+cost of goods sold+salary/meals....

tinytiny

My friend also thinking to take up also..but similarly skeptical of crowd....
Best way is to share pushcart with another vendor if both are willing to give that location a go...at least overheads is cut down by 50% (rental/labour)...

dingdong5770

Darlene,
Just to share my opinion. The area at Icon Village is mainly lunch time crowd and you might get some customers after office hours as it is near to the MRT station. Although the timing is short but if your product can sell, you can still make profit.
Look at Chevron House where the pushcart rental is at least $120 per day. There are a lot of people taking up the pushcart every month. Some are the regular ones also. In my opinion, if you can decorate your booth and make it really unique and outstanding, there is always a chance for you to make profit.
If you look around most pushcart who can stay long in a certain place, either their booth sells very unique products or they know how to keep their customers coming back.
Back to Icon Village, I do feel that there is a good chance for you to sell kids wear as there are a lot of mothers working at that place. The pushcart at Icon Village comes with a side table. You can practically put a lot of products at your pushcart.
Do remember.....your pushcart should look outstanding so that from far away, customers would want to go near to your pushcart. A lot of people forget this point and do not put much effort in decorating their pushcart and at the end of the day, say that sales is bad.
One last advice, you mention that you have been to Icon Village before and there are some vendors who have been there for some time. Go and find out and observe why they can sell and stay there for long. Good Luck!