Concept Mini Hub

[Sagittarian]

Okay, so lots of great ideas have been put forward by Dolers on my last thread about a small space we were interested in expanding into.

This is an idea we have so let me know what you think.

We have a two room space - one includes a sink and will fit a table and some shelves. The other is about 3 x 3. There is a sliding door between them and a window (which can be covered).

The smaller room may be ideal for regular visiting alternative health specialists: massage, chiro, etc as well as maybe a behaviourist. Each could have a regular day and we would book clients for them.

The larger space will be set up with all of our supplements, natural therapies products, natural coat care products and specialist foods - anything that is related to natural and healing. Maybe even the thundershirts, magnetic beds and so on.

It would be a natural pet health hub inside the store.

Is this something that would interest you? Being able to step into one part of a shop and have everything for natural healing/living etc in one spot, plus the opportunity to access specialists that otherwise may not be in the area?

Would love some feedback.

Sags

:)

[Scottsmum]

Possibly ... I expect that it would take a while to build up clients - but I also imagine you'd have a business model to deal with that.

I'm always nervous about going into separate /exclusive areas in shops - I'm wary of being 'trapped' and given the hard sell and I wonder if I'm missing other products which are similar for a lower price on the "not exclusive" shelves. Plus I always wonder about what is "natural".

What is natural coat care? I taught green cleaning classes for a local eco hub for years - one of our primary exercises was to pick up a "nautral" cleaner and compare the ingredients to a well known brand of spray and wipe - the ingredients were almost identical.

Would consolidating these products in one space allow you to free up space in the rest of the shop to add other product lines?

Do you think you could sell enough "natural" product often enough to really make it viable. like if I bought a magnetic bed or a henry hotty - that's pretty much a one off thing. But if I bought some conditioning equipment - maybe a peanut I'd be back to buy more and more as a built a little home doggy gym

[Sagittarian]

Possibly ... I expect that it would take a while to build up clients - but I also imagine you'd have a business model to deal with that.

I'm always nervous about going into separate /exclusive areas in shops - I'm wary of being 'trapped' and given the hard sell and I wonder if I'm missing other products which are similar for a lower price on the "not exclusive" shelves. Plus I always wonder about what is "natural".

What is natural coat care? I taught green cleaning classes for a local eco hub for years - one of our primary exercises was to pick up a "nautral" cleaner and compare the ingredients to a well known brand of spray and wipe - the ingredients were almost identical.

Would consolidating these products in one space allow you to free up space in the rest of the shop to add other product lines?

Do you think you could sell enough "natural" product often enough to really make it viable. like if I bought a magnetic bed or a henry hotty - that's pretty much a one off thing. But if I bought some conditioning equipment - maybe a peanut I'd be back to buy more and more as a built a little home doggy gym

Good questions.

Should have clarified that bigger room would be opened up so that there are no walls. It will be part of the shop but we'd use colour and different flooring to create the natural feel.

Our experience (11 years plus in this industry) is that there is a huge demand for holistic and natural products, particularly food but certainly shampoos etc where many still have additives that aren't pretty. We already have a larger than normal range of products produced without hard preservatives and so on and it is a case of showcasing them together that might help shoppers.

Certainly getting supplements like Rose-Hip Vital and Sasha's Blend alongside (for example) a rinse based on Apple Cider Vinegar, might assist those who are looking for quality alternatives.

That's the concept, anyway.

:D

[Chequeredblackdog]

Sounds great! Wish I had something similar near me!

[Christina]

Not my kind of thing but I would imagine you are on a winner. People love alternative/natural etc & it is all so well advertised with everything human & animal already.

Good idea. Good luck.