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Moorf
Future NZ Guru
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 705
Location: West Sussex, UK
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:17 am Post subject: Buying A Business |
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(Blame Timbo for this one - he found me a bookshop for sale!!)
I wonder if anyone can comment - my dream has been to own my own secondhand book shop. I was planning to do this in NZ once hubby had got a job and we both had visas etc.
However, how would I stand buying a bookshop and getting in via this route? Whilst I have never run a bookshop before I have run websites with services, and run our own consultancy for years..... I am a marketing consultant and I am doing journalist/feature writing courses - could I scrape through on these skills to get in via buying a bookshop (existing business with existing stock etc). Is there any way that "expanding" the bookshop services to, say, internet cafe etc would sway it?
Is this a Jamie question?!
Moorf |
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Timbo
Thoroughly Good Egg
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: Epsom England
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:27 am Post subject: |
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You may already know, but books are an expensive commodity in Nz. We saw plenty of secondhand bookshops on our visit, and they all seem to do a fair trade, mainly because new books are soooo dear.
I reckon you may be able to swing it if you started selling online.
Having said all that, if hubby already has a work permit and job, I cant see whats to stop you buying an existing bus. or indeed starting from scratch.
Jamie is the man for this one realy though.
I hope you manage to live that dream one day. |
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sesame
Valued Member
Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 123
Location: southwestern usa
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, Moorf!!
whoo-hoo!! and (i'm dreaming) i'll bake the pies and cakes and muffins for your cafe!! and i make killer burritos and enchiladas and tapas and oh, you name it!!!  
...ahhhhh ..... i remember the days working in a bookstore .... fabulous!! 
good luck to you!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!
PS: WHERE is the bookshop located??  |
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sesame
Valued Member
Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 123
Location: southwestern usa
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Moorf - a book store is SOOO you!!! what a fab idea - i totally support you !! |
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karltsmith
Moderator
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Posts: 570
Location: North Shore, Auckland since March 2004
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Moorf,
I'm thinking...a cross between an Olde Worlde book store...with the "Freinds" coffee shop theme where the buyers could also just sit down for a nice read before deciding to buy....you'll find me in the right hand corner in the big red leather armchair drinking a mug of filter and nosing through Terry Pratchett  and Tolkein  !
Tell you what though...great idea....you could also import new ones from the UK. The Works bookstores and their like would blow the competition out of the water over here!
Where's the bookstore?...or is it a shhhhhh secret? 
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michelle
Valued Member
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 208
Location: Leeds
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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As everyone else has said books are so expensive so sure it will be a good idea.
I have an idea for a business but as with everything with me it will stay an idea never have the confidence to put that idea into action. Go for it you obviously have the background to help you get started.
Michelle
Where do cucumbers fit into this ? |
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Timbo
Thoroughly Good Egg
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: Epsom England
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Pleeeeease, no more cucumbers. Iam starting to have nightmares about them. |
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Jamie Smith
Valued Member
Joined: 18 Jan 2004
Posts: 104
Location: Auckland and Melbourne
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: Buying A Business |
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Hi Moorf
As long as you can show ownership or Gm control over finance, marketing, operations and HR, then the issue is to argue transferable skills and show the research done into the industry.
Careful though, as the business must expand significantly. Best way might be to set up a new one, in which case research into local competition incl libraries, customer reading habits and book consumption will be needed.
Have to show that you know differences in book taste between NZ and overseas. Added value services like internet and cafe are good ideas, but make sure the business is reliant on your main personal skills.
cheers
| Moorf wrote: | (Blame Timbo for this one - he found me a bookshop for sale!!)
I wonder if anyone can comment - my dream has been to own my own secondhand book shop. I was planning to do this in NZ once hubby had got a job and we both had visas etc.
However, how would I stand buying a bookshop and getting in via this route? Whilst I have never run a bookshop before I have run websites with services, and run our own consultancy for years..... I am a marketing consultant and I am doing journalist/feature writing courses - could I scrape through on these skills to get in via buying a bookshop (existing business with existing stock etc). Is there any way that "expanding" the bookshop services to, say, internet cafe etc would sway it?
Is this a Jamie question?!
Moorf |
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Moorf
Future NZ Guru
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 705
Location: West Sussex, UK
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Jamie - I think I'll wait until we are there before I start this - we have so much on our plate at the moment that I would only be adding to it!!
It can be my "project" when I get there |
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