A good business to start in Adelaide? (consignment, how much)
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My family lives in Alaska, but we are thinking about moving to Adelaide in a few years. We've done a fair amount of research and Adelaide seems to have what we're looking for.
I am also a grad student right now working on a hypothetical business plan for Australia. Since we're interested in Adelaide, I'd love to do my project with that city in mind because the research will help my family in this decision.
I need to come up with a business or product to bring to Australia for this project. What is a business that is lacking or that would do well in Adelaide if an entrepreneur were to take it on?
What Australia mostly lacks is Proper Discount Department Stores
There are two dominate chains here....Woolworths and Coles Supermarkets
But their quite expensive by world standards
Think Aldi or even Walmart
There is Aldi in the Eastern states in small numbers
But certainly No stores like that in Adelaide
Are second-hand or consignment stores available or popular in Australia? We have a couple franchised ones up here that do really well.
One is for kids clothing/equipment and another for teens. They will buy "gently used" items for a pittance from folks who are happy to get rid of outgrown stuff and then sell it for 1/2 of new.
Adelaide is incredibly difficult to break into if you're doing anything remotely inventive or 'different'. I'd go with a franchise...maybe Aldi as Hairy suggested. But bear in mind it isn't an affluent place, people there do not like parting with their $$$. Sorry to be a dampener, but when you've tried everything and nothing works, it can get a tad discouraging. It probably depends a lot on the industry, but parts of it look like a battle zone, with so many empty store-fronts. So many businesses opened and closed while we were there, it was mind-boggling.
Consignment might work, if the prices are low enough. I'd just make sure I have an 'escape clause' of some kind, a back-up plan in case it falls through.
Are you sure you have to move to Adelaide? I think Melbourne would be a lot more open to new businesses, and definitely a nicer place to live. Just sayin'.
We aren't thinking of moving there and starting a business. If we move there, it will be a normal migration, after we had secure jobs, housing, etc.
The inquiry on what type of business would do well is hypothetical for a school project. But the research that will be required will be helpful for us in our process.
We have no plans to move to Sydney or Melbourne because we like smaller, less metropolitan. And of course, we would never move without taking at least one or more trips over to check out different locations.
Back to the business... the sky is really the limit, but since I have to write it up, it'd be nice to have something grounded in reality.
I thought perhaps there is a niche that could be filled but no one has done it...?
I will check into the available research for discount stores and see if I can do anything with that.
I also considered a Group Travel business. Escorted tours to Alaska? Any demand for that sort of thing? That might be easier to write up since I'm familiar with part of it.
I know of people who have opened restos with success in Adelaide. One runs an upscale cafe on Melbourne Street in North Adelaide and its been doing quite well. Another has had an Indian resto for about 10 years and that has done well as well. But they both had their niches when they opened up...
Tours for Alaska may not be a big market unless your plan is to target it to all of Oz (but based in ADL). The things I missed from North America: real bagels, Jewish comfort food, real mexican food, upscale consignment shops, 24 hour diners, etc. (hey what about a 24 hour diner?), stores like TJMaxx...
There is money there and if the idea is good, people will spend.
What not to open: coffee shop (unless you have a certain item that is not available). A bar. Restaurant (again, unless you have something different and new). A tour company for touring around south australia. A winery. Any wine marketing type business. I would say no to all of these due to existing compeition.
I decided to go with the tour company and target all of Australia. I figured it would be the easiest to write since I could include the Alaska Railroad and other companies I have already worked with.
Plus, I know my way around tourism.
Thanks for your help!
Although, if we do get to move there, we are entrepreneurial in spirit, so who knows? Maybe we'd quit our day jobs and start up an American comfort foods store.
Our local grocery store here has an amazing fresh nut butter bar. Picture 10 grinders filled with an assortment of nuts...honey glazed, dry roasted, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. and you can just grind your own fresh, or add things like honey or chocolate. Yum!
We could also try to stock Mountain Dew and twinkies... or whatever. Hahaha day-dreaming over here.
Although, if we do get to move there, we are entrepreneurial in spirit, so who knows? Maybe we'd quit our day jobs and start up an American comfort foods store.
Our local grocery store here has an amazing fresh nut butter bar. Picture 10 grinders filled with an assortment of nuts...honey glazed, dry roasted, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. and you can just grind your own fresh, or add things like honey or chocolate. Yum!
We could also try to stock Mountain Dew and twinkies... or whatever. Hahaha day-dreaming over here.
Do it! If I'm still living here, I'll camp out on your doorstep. If you could find it in your heart to sell Dr Pepper cheaper than it sells for here, I'll buy it in bulk and use an IV drip.
Do it! If I'm still living here, I'll camp out on your doorstep. If you could find it in your heart to sell Dr Pepper cheaper than it sells for here, I'll buy it in bulk and use an IV drip.
An American type diner would have been nice to have, esp. if they had American junk food (e.g., Reese's Peanut Butter cups)..
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