what do you spend your weekends doing now?

madonna123

Im conducting a little market research on what people are spending there weekend money on..

Iv got a few polls with questions in this area but if anyone had something interesting to offer please to let me know.

guildofevil

I voted 2, as that is the most common weekend for me. It's not really the money though, it's just that the pubs that sell the beers like seem to think that their weekend clientèle want music so loud that it drowns out all conversation. Maybe I'm weird, but I like to actually talk to my friends.

Dinner parties will feature more prominently in my future.

You did miss one obvious option though and it's one I do more weekends than the pub: restaurant.

madonna123

guildofevil wrote: »

I voted 2, as that is the most common weekend for me. It's not really the money though, it's just that the pubs that sell the beers like seem to think that their weekend clientèle want music so loud that it drowns out all conversation. Maybe I'm weird, but I like to actually talk to my friends.

Dinner parties will feature more prominently in my future.

You did miss one obvious option though and it's one I do more weekends than the pub: restaurant.

I left that one out on purpose because I have found that in recent times people are not eating out as much. well thats just in my area of the country. I live in a village about 60 miles from dublin and a €20 taxi drive to the nearest evening restaurant. I am considering opening a DVD/GAME rental store in my village. Many new residents have moved here from the capital and they are more frequently spending weeks in the village where as before they would return to Dublin to socialise with friends who still live there. Many of these people have young families so they dont go to the lacal pubs ( I work part time in 2 local pubs and only a very very small amount come in at weekends)
I know many might feel I am choosing the the worst time ever to embark on opening a new idea but while doing some research Iv discovered home movie/game rental has increased in recent times.
Probably due to a number of factors

1. Staying in at weekends
2. Cost of rental is cheaper than buying DVD and more importanly games
3. Gaming is a massive area but expensive so parents would be more willing to rent games for kids than but new ones (they play them for 2 weeks then its never used again)
4. Focusing on my local area I have ZERO competion for miles. Nearest rental store is 15 miles away in the next town. Not convent for younger people, too young to drive but still want enertainment.

What do you think people?:D Your feed back is golden.:p

BeerNut

I think video rental as an industry has no future. If your area has broadband you will have unbeatable competition which you just can't see.

madonna123

BeerNut wrote: »

I think video rental as an industry has no future. If your area has broadband you will have unbeatable competition which you just can't see.

Thanks for your in-put.
I did think of this but movie download its not an area Im really up to speed on. I know you can download movies now. Iv heard many do it for free. Would you personally choose to download over renting?

What about gaming? Is gaming download a popular area? Console games are the 4th highest shoplifted item so the cost is odviously an issue with many!!!!

Broadband is available in my area the past number of years so many would have quite alot of experience in using it.. all the feed back I can get is great. It really helps on the direction I will take my ideas.

BeerNut

madonna123 wrote: »

Would you personally choose to download over renting?

I don't really do either, but while I know lots of downloaders I haven't heard anyone talk about renting a DVD in ages.

madonna123 wrote: »

What about gaming? Is gaming download a popular area?

Not a clue. Details beyond what people drink and where, as per your survey, are really better put on a different forum.

oblivious

madonna123 wrote: »

Broadband is available in my area the past number of years so many would have quite alot of experience in using it.

If its anything like what generally available in the country, you will waiting a while :rolleyes:.

bionic.laura

The housing estate I live in has a shopping area and there was a movie/game rental place here. It has recently closed down. I would never use a movie or game rental place. I download what I want or I buy the DVD's on sale in a shop.

Most people I know download movies or use sky box office to watch them. There's also an itunes movie and tv show download thingy that I know a good few people use.

rubadub

guildofevil wrote: »

It's not really the money though, it's just that the pubs that sell the beers like seem to think that their weekend clientèle want music so loud that it drowns out all conversation. Maybe I'm weird, but I like to actually talk to my friends.

Would feel the same, and it would be the money too. The local is pretty empty these days too, so you are pretty much sitting in a "mates house" with loud music you do not like, drinking overpriced beers, and a woefully poor selection at that.

madonna123 wrote: »

I am considering opening a DVD/GAME rental store in my village.

I was going to pick 2, but I would not rent a video, sometimes would get a takeaway at the VERY end of the night. (I'm talking 3am).

madonna123 wrote: »

2. Cost of rental is cheaper than buying DVD and more importanly games

Games maybe, but I think people are mad to rent DVDs, most guys I know end up keeping them overdue half the time so end up paying what it would cost to buy new! Most people I know have either bought one they will watch again, or loan to people, or bold boys just get copies. In the 80's it took ages before videos went on sale to the public, so rental was a good choice, also back then rentals were far less costwise than buying the video.

What would interest me more is deliveries, and perhaps DVDs SOLD to people on a sale or return basis. That way there is no real late fees, sell them the DVD at a reasonable price, and allow them return it within a week or 2 (to not go out of "fashion"), maybe give a discount on another one or something, and obviously refuse it if damaged, or less money back if the box is damaged etc. People can be unsure if they like DVDs, this is why I buy in HMV who will accept no quibble returns. One place near me sold beer and rented videos. Others will deliver food and drink, one that delivered food, drink and DVDs would be great! even just cold packaged foods, crisps etc, at a reasonable price.

I buy a lot of music videos, you rarely see them in rental stores and many do not really age, and can be cheap. Often in a house we will just put on music videos, so you can still chat, it is not like sitting at the movies all quiet, but you also have the big screen going too.

mazza

BeerNut wrote: »

I think video rental as an industry has no future. If your area has broadband you will have unbeatable competition which you just can't see.

+1

Just look at all the video rental chains going out of business and Xtravision doing specials like rent certain DVDs for one night for a euro etc. Bear in mind they have brand familiarity, economise of scale, advertising etc in their favour.

If you're not up to speed on film downloading or the value available when buying DVDs online, I'd strongly recommend you do some research on it before committing any money.

I guess there is some kind of background level of demand for renting from people without broadband or skills to download or maybe just for convenience purposes. But do you really want to be sitting waiting for them to arrive with all those expensive DVDs licensed 'for rental' purposes sitting gathering dust on the shelves?

Sorry, just my view, don't wish to rain on your parade and fair play for looking into the opportunity...

You should also check out the Biz / Business / Entrepeneurial & Business Management forum here on Boards for more specialised input.

Hope that helps

indenial

I downloaded my first film on the internet for free this week. It was downloaded in 4 hours and the quality was excellent. Based on this experience I can safely say I have rented my last DVD. It is a bit of hassle having to collect the DVD and then drop it back the following day.

Like previous posters I agree, the rental market is declining.

BeerNut

rubadub wrote: »

one that delivered food, drink and DVDs would be great!

It would. Though, of course, no drink after 10pm and payment in advance by credit/debit card.

oblivious

BeerNut wrote: »

and payment in advance by credit/debit card.

Is that then the legal way of home delivery/selling of alcohol?

BeerNut

oblivious wrote: »

Is that then the legal way of home delivery/selling of alcohol?

Yep. It's what the likes of RealBeers.ie do.

oblivious

BeerNut wrote: »

Yep. It's what the likes of RealBeers.ie do.

Well there is an interesting opportunity if some one was looking get into the DVD rental /entertainment

madonna123

BeerNut wrote: »

Yep. It's what the likes of RealBeers.ie do.

This is an amazing idea!! I checked out that website... its a great service.

I wonder if there is an off licencing issue here? would a standard off-licence be suffent?
I think a system of prior registration with passport ID to validate the customers age would make a home delivery system work.

Imagine a night in.. call the local store and get your DVD, popcorn, ice-cream and bottle of wine delivered to your door!!
sweet!

BeerNut

madonna123 wrote: »

I wonder if there is an off licencing issue here? would a standard off-licence be suffent?

Yes, I think so.

madonna123 wrote: »

I think a system of prior registration with passport ID to validate the customers age would make a home delivery system work.

I think as long as they're using a credit card that you can take it that they're 18, unless it's obvious at the doorstep that they're not. Remember that payment will have to be in advance by card: cash-on-delivery is illegal.

madonna123 wrote: »

call the local store and get your DVD, popcorn, ice-cream and bottle of wine delivered to your door!!

The flaw, IMO, is that such services depend heavily on impulse. Insisting that callers give you their credit card details will remove the convenient immediacy, as will the fact that you can't take drink orders after 10pm.

But it could work. You never know.

donaghs

BeerNut wrote: »

The flaw, IMO, is that such services depend heavily on impulse. Insisting that callers give you their credit card details will remove the convenient immediacy, as will the fact that you can't take drink orders after 10pm.

But it could work. You never know.

Most people I know with the internet rarely pay for movies anymore. This is more prevalent among younger people, but will get more common. You'd still have to pay for the booze, but home brewing is also on the rise;)

oblivious

donaghs wrote: »

but home brewing is also on the rise;)

Ah we still buy good beer:p

rubadub

The shop I mentioned before was the video cellar in deansgrange, offie and video rental, not sure if it is even still there.

I think another crowd in dublin already deliver food & booze. Any supermarket delivering does I suppose, but not late, and this was cooked food IIRC

www.letseatin.com have the good idea with lots of various pizza, chinese food etc, but no booze.

I have a mate that used to ring a taxi company who knew him, he would get the taxi man to get him smokes, booze and then go to abrakebabras, this meant he could do it at his own leisure, I'd say the taximan got a bite to eat himself so was well on for it.

Bill-e

I used to deliver pizzas and one or two of my regulars often got me to get them beer.

madonna123

Bill-e wrote: »

I used to deliver pizzas and one or two of my regulars often got me to get them beer.

Fair play!!!!...........I hope you got tipped pretty well....

BeerNut

madonna123 wrote: »

I hope you got tipped pretty well....

Tips like: selling alcohol outside of a licensed premises can get you up to €100,000 of a fine.

mayordenis

BeerNut wrote: »

Tips like: selling alcohol outside of a licensed premises can get you up to €100,000 of a fine.

I think there's a distinction between selling it and delivering it.

BeerNut

mayordenis wrote: »

I think there's a distinction between selling it and delivering it.

There is of course. As long as the taxi driver held an off licence and did the commercial transaction at their licensed premises, they can deliver where they want afterwards. But accepting cash on the doorstep is balls-out illegal.

0lddog

Not many options on the poll then............

How about :

Walk the dog
Do the veggie garden
Cut the grass

Reflect with the missus on the twist that life can take and how lucky we are

???????????????

oblivious

0lddog wrote: »

Not many options on the poll then............

How about :

Walk the dog
Do the veggie garden
Cut the grass

Reflect with the missus on the twist that life can take and how lucky we are

???????????????

The poll looks to be designed on getting information in stating up a DVD rental business