thanks again guys
vivelesalpes - thanks for the suggestions and insight. Yup we're in similar situations I think, lets hope we both realise our dreams. Thanks for the storage suggestion, won't follow it exactly but that has given me an idea.
mattsccm - free advertising is good, I had considered the local doing an article. I think that once awareness has been raised word of mouth will soon be circulating enough for me to ease of advertising. Posters is a good idea, the walls aren't all that. When I worked in a bike shop the reps were always falling over themselves to give us stuff....
TGR - no you're right I need to build at a pace I can manage so was planning to lay fairly low for the first 2 - 4 weeks whilst I get the place in some sort of order, hopefully having the opportunity to deal with at least a few customers and find my feet. Hmm, long and thin is pretty much the opposite of what I resemble, if my unit was like me then I'd be working from an igloo :shock:
cchris2lou - the place has changed a bit now. I have the left hand gate door to add a sign (both sides so you can see it when it is open) I also have the possibility of putting something where the West Street Scooters sign is, I'll look into a banner perhaps. I'm also okay to put a sign directly on the door and at the end of the building to be seen from the main road. Bikes on the roof would be cool but I'm sure would not be very popular with the neighbours...
Midlife - yes you (and chris) are right the workshop should be at the back so that customers have to come into the shop which may encourage them to buy something they didn't realise they needed. Also for sheer appearance, etc. My thinking was that to get the bike from the front of the shop means wheeling a dirty old bike past all my nice stuff in such a tight area.
So a fairly minor point; what type of flooring? Carpet for the shop area? Gives a warmer feel but obviously will get dirtier quicker than tiled, etc. Cheap though and I may not even stay in that unit for a whole year.
I'm thinking about the signs to have at the moment. For the end to be seen from the road I'm thiking just -
Stallion Cycles
Trafalgar Court, Queenborough
and then surround it with logo's from the big brands; Shimano, Campag, Mavic, reynolds, etc so that it will be recognisable to cyclists?
On the gate something like:
Stallion Cycles
(www.stallioncycles.co.uk)
Cycles, Spares, Repairs
07825 955058
Can't decide on colours yet!
For the door just - Stallion Cycles.
Any opinions?
vivelesalpes - thanks for the suggestions and insight. Yup we're in similar situations I think, lets hope we both realise our dreams. Thanks for the storage suggestion, won't follow it exactly but that has given me an idea.
mattsccm - free advertising is good, I had considered the local doing an article. I think that once awareness has been raised word of mouth will soon be circulating enough for me to ease of advertising. Posters is a good idea, the walls aren't all that. When I worked in a bike shop the reps were always falling over themselves to give us stuff....
TGR - no you're right I need to build at a pace I can manage so was planning to lay fairly low for the first 2 - 4 weeks whilst I get the place in some sort of order, hopefully having the opportunity to deal with at least a few customers and find my feet. Hmm, long and thin is pretty much the opposite of what I resemble, if my unit was like me then I'd be working from an igloo :shock:
cchris2lou - the place has changed a bit now. I have the left hand gate door to add a sign (both sides so you can see it when it is open) I also have the possibility of putting something where the West Street Scooters sign is, I'll look into a banner perhaps. I'm also okay to put a sign directly on the door and at the end of the building to be seen from the main road. Bikes on the roof would be cool but I'm sure would not be very popular with the neighbours...
Midlife - yes you (and chris) are right the workshop should be at the back so that customers have to come into the shop which may encourage them to buy something they didn't realise they needed. Also for sheer appearance, etc. My thinking was that to get the bike from the front of the shop means wheeling a dirty old bike past all my nice stuff in such a tight area.
So a fairly minor point; what type of flooring? Carpet for the shop area? Gives a warmer feel but obviously will get dirtier quicker than tiled, etc. Cheap though and I may not even stay in that unit for a whole year.
I'm thinking about the signs to have at the moment. For the end to be seen from the road I'm thiking just -
Stallion Cycles
Trafalgar Court, Queenborough
and then surround it with logo's from the big brands; Shimano, Campag, Mavic, reynolds, etc so that it will be recognisable to cyclists?
On the gate something like:
Stallion Cycles
(www.stallioncycles.co.uk)
Cycles, Spares, Repairs
07825 955058
Can't decide on colours yet!
For the door just - Stallion Cycles.
Any opinions?