| Author |
Message |
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 15 March, 2006 - 10:20 pm: | |
A nice looking florists - hope this business has more luck its predecessors. At least it's a good use of of the limited space. I think a common mistake of the less successful shops in the area is appearing never to be open. In fact I get the impression that we've recently seen a few very inexperienced people setting up shop in FH which is a shame - for them and us. There are a couple of notable exceptions of course. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 15 March, 2006 - 11:56 pm: | |
HOW TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS IN FOREST HILL
1) Pick a site in a slightly off-centre location. Hey, it'll be cheaper! As if this place isn't already way off centre, duh!!
2) Fit the place out, but only spend as much as you have to. Any more is a waste and who knows, the no effort rinky dink look may catch on! After all, these people have only had chicken shops, internet 'n' phone home centres and nail bars up to now anyway, so they'll not notice!
3) It will lend an air of naive charm if you have no idea what you are doing, which can only be enhanced by looking as if you don't care either! With reference to this and the previous point, avoid at all costs the so-called "professional approach" supposedly found in more established areas - this is YOUR chance to do it YOUR way and shine! And again, what better place than Forest Hill to learn?
4) Hedge your bets by making your business some sort of strange, wholly original hybrid. You can decide exactly what it is that your business does later on - can't people work it out for themselves anyway?! Got to keep your options open!
5) Experience serious cashflow problems. Close business. Go back to East Dulwich. Have brainwave about cracking Penge. |
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 01:30 am: | |
The problem is that a new business needs time to build and it might take a couple of years to break even, let alone actually make money. The fact that a couple of businesses have given up so soon suggests they either didn't seek advice or were given bad advice in the first place. It would be great if someone would open a cafe with comfortable chairs to sit on - I'm sure it would do well if it tried to attract the mother and baby crowd. Plenty of young mums around in the daytime in FH - just check out the Horniman cafe. Of course it would also be nice for those without sprogs to have somewhere tranquil to go to read a paper and linger over a coffee but I'll carry on dreaming.
The point is that wannabe entrepeneurs need to do their research and decide on the kind of crowd they're trying to attract. It can be done...we've got a few successes already. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 07:15 am: | |
I note that neighbouring East Dulwich have a Cafe Nero being built.
They certainly are going up market |
Domc
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 08:02 am: | |
I think the florists is one that has moved from down near Peckham Rye Park, they have note in window saying moving to Forest Hill.
So just a relocation. |
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 10:12 am: | |
So where is the new florists then?
I noticed that Aceri was shut when I went past at about 8ish last night - has it shut down altogether then? Notwithstanding any comments I could make about their business approach there are four words that could change the fortune of any new bsinesses on that particular site - MOVE THE BUS STOP. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 11:06 am: | |
Really? I always like to dine somewhere with a contingent of burger-chomping Penge-and-Catford bound group of hooded youths milling round outside. Ramsay himself would be jealous and eager to adopt the concept for his own establishments, I'm sure.
How about DON'T OPEN A RESTAURANT IN AN AIRCRAFT HANGAR?
80, 100 covers or whatever a little ambitious for FH I would think. |
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 11:07 am: | |
Not sure what's happening at Aceri - it still looks like Latitude inside - part of the problem I think. They need to stamp their own identity on the place. And now it's shut I can say what a shame it was that the owner of Latitude let the food and service deteriorate so much. That was the real reason it shut. It started off well then went into a slow but marked decline. If something is good and well thought out then the locals will support it. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 11:16 am: | |
cf The Orchard - does what it does well and has been going since God was in short pants |
Simon
Joined 18-07-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 11:51 am: | |
Had an AWFUL meal at The Orchard last year. An experience not enhanced by the Sybil Fawlty wannabe (I assume the owner) wondering around shouting at customers. Maybe just an off night...
Sadly, the Dartmouth remains the only decent place to eat in FH. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 12:19 pm: | |
Is it just me but I have lost the thread of these postings often does not refer at all to previous postings. Suggest people might like to use new headings sometimes. But maybe no one else is confused.
For Hill Top G refers to Hooded clientelle from the gentryfied areas of Catford eating in an aircraft hanger when the previous person was refering , I think , to florists. |
Simon
Joined 18-07-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 12:25 pm: | |
The original post also mentions poorly run/performing local businesses which I think got us started down this path. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 01:22 pm: | |
OK Simon but was are the hooded gentry doing in the florist looking like an aircraft hanger. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 02:18 pm: | |
You are confused Brian. Have a lie down. We are talking about new businesses in the area, and the associated do's and don't's. |
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 05:05 pm: | |
I agree with Simon's original post ( at the risk of the webmaster deleting it) I think even some established businesses round here need a few basic lessons in how to be civil to customers.
So a few more dos and don'ts for budding businesses:
1)If you're open then LOOK open.
2)Don't openly sneer at customers who order from the cheaper set menu.
3) Try and provide chairs your customers are able to sit in for more than 5 minutes without developing a knawing ache in the lower back. At least long enough to order from the menu.
4) Please serve coffee hot, not tepid and tasteless.
As far as I can tell any cafe following these rules has at least a chance of establishing themselves and keeping the punters coming back. |
