[Perfect Solution]

I'm planning on moving to Florida but i want to open a boutique type business..actually a prototype of a dog friendly place to socialize both people and their pets. It would include doggy day care and much more, what area is most conducive to bring in business? I am toying with Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood, Sarasota, New Tampa, Pt St Lucie/Stuart or Orlando.
I am seeking a bohemian type neighborhood where there is a lot of foot traffic, and plenty of singles with pets.
Elise

[CrowGirl]

Originally Posted by Perfect Solution

I am seeking a bohemian type neighborhood where there is a lot of foot traffic, and plenty of singles with pets.

I'm not as sure about the other places, but if this is what you are looking for I don't think PSL/Stuart or New Tampa meet this description.

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

Trying to be positive for you I first would want to look around the towns that have successful long running dog grooming, dog care/sitting, etc places.

People will always spend money on their dogs and you have to find the area that has the highest success rate of dog related businesses and of course expendable income to do so.

I met a person a few years ago who said he has a dog grooming business and a overnight camp for dogs when people go on vacation and he makes a living doing so. He said he just purchased an early home and wanted to fill the rooms with antique furniture and was here on vacation visiting family and brought a trailer with him.

He did not have any problem dropping several thousands of dollars ( at least 7k that I was aware of) on antique furniture.

He was from the Fort Myers area.

You might want to add in an internet cafe and coffee shop to bring in customers to one side of your store that normally would not come in.

Just a thought.

[kyle19125]

Check out downtown Hollywood, around Young Circle. Very much the demographic you're looking for.

[Juleysis1990]

Nowhere

an overnight stay and/or grooming place for cats and dogs would have a better market

[Coconut1]

Try the Downtown Miami area. With all the highrise buildings there, people could really use a doggy day care. Before work they could drop them off and then pick them up after work, or dinner. Over in Brickell by Mary Brickell Village would really be a good spot. You could get a store front there that has green space as well.

You could do a doggie social where dogs are encouraged to bring their people with them and set it up as sort of a speed date type situation. There are plenty of people looking to date but don't want to do the bar scene. Having a common element with their pet might be a success.

Good luck to you wherever you go

[Jtsour]

I would look into St. Pete. We have 3-4 dog parks and there is plenty of retail space downtown with the foot traffic you're looking for.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Perfect Solution

I'm planning on moving to Florida but i want to open a boutique type business..actually a prototype of a dog friendly place to socialize both people and their pets. It would include doggy day care and much more, what area is most conducive to bring in business? I am toying with Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood, Sarasota, New Tampa, Pt St Lucie/Stuart or Orlando.
I am seeking a bohemian type neighborhood where there is a lot of foot traffic, and plenty of singles with pets.
Elise

I won't tell you to do it or don't do it you will go broke. I will tell you you can't escape demographics. You need to do a real study just like the big businesses do before selecting a location. My dad used to say "Don't open a car wash in a town with no cars". I used to have some retail space on Hollywood blvd. in Hollywood Florida. I have to be honest. People would rent to open some kind of business and you would watch them working away getting the place all set up and in many cases they were the only ones who didn't know in their enthusiasm that what they were doing would fail. Then 6 months later they are moving out and I let them out of their lease or I end up with all the fixtures.

It is not they were stupid or even had a bad business plan but they didn't do their research. You could maybe move the business to the corner, no more then a few hundred yards, where there is a light to stop cars and they look right in your window and be a success. Where In the case of my building, even though it seems like a prime location it is not for all business. It was located between the two circles and cars just flew by never even looking to either side. The only place that really did well in my building was a car parts place. This was because there is nothing impulse about buying a car part. The customer comes there looking for what they want. A dress shop would go broke quickly though even in such of what seems like a good location.
You have a lot to think about.