Push Carts

[ksl]

I just thought I would post this for all the other push cart fanatics.

Before you throw what savings you have got, into the push cart market, do some solid research on your products.

I say this simply because i have been monitoring a couple of the push carts in Bugis and Seiyu Food junction area, for those that read my posts, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, how I didn't believe that selling badges down in Seiyu food junction could possibly work, even with all the traffic down there. 150$ a day rental is alot of badges to sell each day.

Anyway, it is now a dead duck finished, probably lasted two and half month, and i should imagine its used up all there savings/or loan. So be aware and take more time on market research of product and area. If you need any tips you are welcome to pm me.

Business is hard enough to do for those that do know about business, and there are many old hands on this forum, that can give someone some good free advice, that can help minimise the risks out there.

[meeoows]

Just wondering, do we need to take up the push cart for a contract period of time? or can we just try out for a month?

how's the rate like per month at the various locations?

[svc]

Hi KSL,

Are you a reporter?

Regards,
Darren

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hi KSL,

Are you a reporter?

Regards,
Darren

ksl? sorry.....

[ksl]

Hi KSL,

Are you a reporter?

Regards,
Darren

ksl? sorry.....

Yes Darren, I am a reporter! I guess i was promoted, on the grounds of chattering. So I'll take my 5 minutes of stardom before i get demoted

[gracelynn]

I am in the midst of planning to rent a retail space/pushcart and would love to hear your perceptions on the pushcart biz, esp in terms of ladies' apparels/accesories catering to the bigger size women.

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

Your PM function doesn't activate until you have made five posts. Your current post count is 6 so it should be working by now. In the meantime I would advise you to remove your email address before you become the target of some of our lurking trolls (there are a few or so we've been told).

sms

[ksl]

I am in the midst of planning to rent a retail space/pushcart and would love to hear your perceptions on the pushcart biz, esp in terms of ladies' apparels/accesories catering to the bigger size women.

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

Hi Grace,

I think it's a very good idea to cater for the larger size market, although chose your location carefully! There is a need in the market, and probably your research may direct you, more to the expatriate locations!

It is very important to have an area, or screen, whereby customers can quickly try, the items on, they don't really trust push carts so much, here today gone tomorrow!

So it's important to give very good customer service, If you have a vehicle, you may also wish to do home delivery, include a surcharge, whereby expats can try on your clothes, in the comfort of there own home! This would be kind of unique. But saves embarassment for many over sized people! Word soon gets around, although don't expect to turn profitable so quickly, it takes time to build a good customer base!

[tammyt]

This is something I have always been curious about as well. Those pushcarts in Bugis are bloody expensive, nothing less than $3k a month I think, and they are selling 3 for $10, 2 for $5 earrings. Really makes me wonder how they can even break even. And they hire some $5-6/hour sales personnel who looks like you are disturbing their resting time or too busy chit chatting with their friends to entertain you when you walk closer to browse at their items.

Gracelynn, maybe you could also approach those expat clubs/associations like American Club, British Club. They do have newsletter that they send to their members. Perhaps you could advertise with them or even take part in their fairs? They do have bazaars where they invite vendors to sell items to their members. Or you could perhaps volunteer to give talk to their members, e.g. on how to dress to look better, colour coordination etc, then promote your items to the members at the end of the talk, something like that. Call up the clubs & talk to them, perhaps they can offer some suggestions too. Good luck in your biz

[AdamC]

I am in the midst of planning to rent a retail space/pushcart and would love to hear your perceptions on the pushcart biz, esp in terms of ladies' apparels/accesories catering to the bigger size women.

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

2 cents
Psychology plays a part. Bigger size ladies tend to be more inferior when it comes to fashion or choosing of clothes. so in term of push cart... hmm..

a close door concept might sound better

[madlysane]

I am in the midst of planning to rent a retail space/pushcart and would love to hear your perceptions on the pushcart biz, esp in terms of ladies' apparels/accesories catering to the bigger size women.

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

2 cents
Psychology plays a part. Bigger size ladies tend to be more inferior when it comes to fashion or choosing of clothes. so in term of push cart... hmm..

a close door concept might sound better

i m not agreeing or disagreeing totally.. but i think there r big women who r absolutely cool n confident of themselves..

at the same time, there r some who r so shy tt they dare not openly shop.

thats why, all u need may be just a new website ( or u can call it online shop or e-retail ) that helps u sell better. coupled with creative internet marketing plans n strategies, i m certain that this is a much better way to go than setting up a physical retail that is a liability w a fix cost. just to work out some figures for discussion, say, only 5% of passer-by will notice your shop. now, how many of these ppl r u expecting to be big women? out of that, only 5% will be interested in your products, and only 5% will actually buy from u...??? then again, wat is the catchment rate in bugis / seiyu?.. w the website, your e-retail is open to keen shoppers in the world 24-7!!

i m an internet professional. let me know if u wanna chat further.

cheerio!
mad.

[gracelynn]

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

Your PM function doesn't activate until you have made five posts. Your current post count is 6 so it should be working by now. In the meantime I would advise you to remove your email address before you become the target of some of our lurking trolls (there are a few or so we've been told).

sms

thanks for your advice.

[gracelynn]

I am in the midst of planning to rent a retail space/pushcart and would love to hear your perceptions on the pushcart biz, esp in terms of ladies' apparels/accesories catering to the bigger size women.

kindly email me at gracelyn_(at)hotmail.com, it seems that i can't PM you.

Thanks

Hi Grace,

I think it's a very good idea to cater for the larger size market, although chose your location carefully! There is a need in the market, and probably your research may direct you, more to the expatriate locations!

It is very important to have an area, or screen, whereby customers can quickly try, the items on, they don't really trust push carts so much, here today gone tomorrow!

So it's important to give very good customer service, If you have a vehicle, you may also wish to do home delivery, include a surcharge, whereby expats can try on your clothes, in the comfort of there own home! This would be kind of unique. But saves embarassment for many over sized people! Word soon gets around, although don't expect to turn profitable so quickly, it takes time to build a good customer base!

-------------
that's a good idea to do home delivery, unfortunately i do not drive nor have a vehicle at my disposal, so that's out for the moment.

well the pushcart may not be such a good idea as fundamentally...there is no point in having a retail space where there is no fitting room. plus of course pushcarts tend to be in the thourough fare where the more conscious BBW may not want to be exposed to prying eyes.

on a side point, I went down to the icon @ bugis (opp macdonalds) and am wondering how the retailers survive. rental there is like $1200 - $1400 for a 50sq ft space and there is no one there except for the sales assistants.

any one can recommend of any other places where rentals is not sky high?

[gracelynn]

Psychology plays a part. Bigger size ladies tend to be more inferior when it comes to fashion or choosing of clothes. so in term of push cart... hmm..

a close door concept might sound better

well true...but how do one get word out for a close door concept...the idea of a pushcart is that it's usually in busy areas where there are more 'eyes'. a close door concept would mean advertising...and where do one advertise?

the mainstream papers are too expensive for a small biz, there are expats mags..but which are the ones that is most widely read? not to mention cost.

of course, the alternative is to stand is MRT stations in orchard area and distribute flyers - then there is manpower as well as printing costs.

[madlysane]

Psychology plays a part. Bigger size ladies tend to be more inferior when it comes to fashion or choosing of clothes. so in term of push cart... hmm..

a close door concept might sound better

well true...but how do one get word out for a close door concept...the idea of a pushcart is that it's usually in busy areas where there are more 'eyes'. a close door concept would mean advertising...and where do one advertise?

the mainstream papers are too expensive for a small biz, there are expats mags..but which are the ones that is most widely read? not to mention cost.

of course, the alternative is to stand is MRT stations in orchard area and distribute flyers - then there is manpower as well as printing costs.

Having so much discussions, u r still back to square one. In my opinion, paid advertisements and traditional marketings are out, unless u have the exce$$ $$ to burn.

Pls try to understand the mentality of your targeted customer groups. For certain groups, u can learn to exploit the Internet and technology, and use methods of viral marketing.

Very importantly, get down to try / do it instead of hanging on and hesitating. Approach someone if u must.