Shopping in Discount Stores

Rubiee

I'm in the process of stocking a new Discount Store and was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for items they would like to see in a discount store or items they have looked for but couldn't find. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
(Mods - I'm not sure I have this posted in the correct forum - couldn't see one for shopping- please move if it is in the wrong place - thanks!)

dudara

This isn't really a Consumer Issue in the strict sense, but I can't think of any other forum, so I'm happy to leave it here.

dudara

Rubiee

Thanks:)

Danno

Discount groceries or other stuff?

IrishTonyO

Rubiee wrote: »

I'm in the process of stocking a new Discount Store and was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for items they would like to see in a discount store or items they have looked for but couldn't find. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
(Mods - I'm not sure I have this posted in the correct forum - couldn't see one for shopping- please move if it is in the wrong place - thanks!)

What type of discount store?

Rubiee

Mainly stocking small hardware items, stationery and accessories but am open to any suggestions!

smelltheglove

Whereabouts is your store, I guess it would depend on neighbouring businesses, you want to be able to compete, offering cheaper versions of what they stock. As a general rule of thumb most discount stores supply cleaning products, small diy items, partyware but some also supply home decor items, kids school things.

Mr Trade In

Cheap Computer Games and Dvds,non sports titles always sell.

jor el

Have a look in any Euro2 shop. That's the kind of stuff you should have in a discount store.

Rubiee

Thanks for all the replies. Re looking in a Euro 2 store I was thinking more along the lines of anything not stocked in that type of shop that you would like to see in a store of this kind.

rubadub

€2 shops get special bars intended for the UK market, I reckon they must source from wholesalers up north. You could get peanut butter kitkats there before properly released here. In the snacks forum people are often looking for odd sweets, like US ones and the legendary fizzle sticks. I would be searching forums seeing what people want. There are also items you could get from dealextreme, they have lots of cheap tat, and kids without access to credit cards would want that tat, like mario stuff, or nintendo DS accessories, there are many online shops like DX.

If you got the name of the shop going by word of mouth around a school kids would flock to the shop, though they might fleece it!

Definitely US foods, I have heard of people paying stupid money like €8 for a small box of lucky charms in fallon & byrne.

The other thing I would have a personal interest in is buying & selling weight plates -they do not "go off" or go obsolete, they have more than doubled in price since I got mine ~4-5 year ago, and steel will probably continue to go up. It is not like they can break so its not like buying second hand electronics, or even sturdy stuff like second hand furniture, and customers do not care much if they are any way worn - you could also invest in paint to resurface bad ones. Just look on adverts and you will see loads of people trying to sell them, loads of lads get weight sets and never use them. I would only bother with metal ones, the vinyl/cement/plastic ones can degrade. They go for €2 per kilo new usually, and have a pretty good resale value. I did go to a gym and got used ones before from a member here who runs a gym in town. If I knew of a shop with a varied selection it would be far more useful, since I would like a few different styles. Word would get around gyms or online of such a shop.

txt_mess

I would have to agree there are thing the 2euro stores ( and other discount places ) do well like washing powder and capri sun don't think I have ever bought those from any supermarket.

I would agree with what people have said cheap electronic add ons are always a winner like DS cases , usb keys even an optic mouse or two.

You have to have the food bit as suggested UK food from up north cans of vimto and stuff like that , if you can get the US foods great.

Go seasonal get try and get the items the others don't have like haven't seen cool pops for sale yet at halloween and xmas get stuff the other stores don't have and don't charge an arm and a leg and you won't be left with the stock.

And I do think it's obligatory to have some tat if nothing else the cheap bag of soldiers type toys will bring the youger kids in with the mother and father in tow who will reach into the pocket for 2 euro and then might spend more when there.

lindtee

I think things like pet items always go down well in these sort of shops, especially things like raw-hide treats which can be expensive in a normal shop. (not the high coloured stuff that discount shops usually sell)
Batteries, blank media-cds,dvds etc, cables and wires for stuff! I got some nice ornaments in a discount shop (angels, and scary pot smoking pixies!) once for €2 each:o but they never got similar in again. think its regency who makes them Same shop also had lovely chimes for €2 but they sold out and never got a decent selection in again. I, would def be interested in them. Decent incense like nag champa as its usually only the crappy stuff they sell.
Actually take a look at the big offers website for some more ideas, loads of stuff suitable for a discount store.

looksee

Crafts are becoming big again, knitting wool, knitting needles and crochet hooks, all the stuff for card making - the cheaper stuff is often just as nice as the expensive versions sold in specialist shops.
Have a look at where you are near, odd things like A2 manilla folders for art classes are almost impossible to get near me, only one shop in town sells them, but they are readily available from wholesale suppliers.

Rubiee

Thanks for all the suggestions - much appreciated

Mountainsandh

I'm a teacher and I always get all my stationary in good pound shops : poster boards/sheets, fluorescent or coloured card, notebooks, felt pens, and other craft items I might not otherwise have thought of. I have spotted one or two well stocked shops, and every so often go and spend 40 euros there, keeps me going for a while ! I notice all my students get their copies/notebooks, and other stationary supplies from there too. A good stationary/craft department will definitely bring in the the teachers and students/parents if you have a school nearby
I use discount shops for household items too, mostly kitchenalia. Love finding cups and bowls in pound shops, and always buy most of my food storage boxes in there.

Nolimits

HDMI cables, Currys and their €80 monster cables when Amazon have others that work just as well for under £1 :mad:

Generally speaking, 90% of my purchases in discount stores are stationery supplies. Pens, pencils, refill pads, portfolios, etc.


I actually picked up a tub of 'LCD/Plasma screen wipes' last time I was in one. They're pretty good, too.

Cheap ass photo-frames always go down really well (no doubt there'll be a photography store near you selling photo frames for €50 and such. Joe Soaps like myself can't quite justify that). You could do well there.


Always stock cheap ass sweets. I remember a local discount store selling multipacks of Cheese Puffs crisps. They were soon to go off and were being sold at 50c each (ten packs in each multipack). They were flying out the door!


Don't stock memory sticks, hard drives or other computer specific stuff unless you can sell them at competitive prices. The people buying such things will habe the internet and most likely can buy online. Local discout shop has 1GB sticks for €15. They've been hanging there for months. If you can get them in cheap though, then by all means...


About this time of year i'd get the usual summer crap. Swimming Goggles seem to go down a treat with kids and grown-ups alike.

Erm.. Camera bags for point & shoot cameras are a good product to flog. Calendars at the end of the year is an obvious one.


There's a lot of crap you can get, but for me personally, cheapskate photoframes, stationery supplies and sweets are all I get from discount stores most of the time.


EDIT: as said above, HDMI leads on the cheap! In fact, I wouldn't be afraid to "order" most of my stock from eBay!

Electronic stores in Hong Kong will sell you stuff dirt cheap, and it's usually great quality. A mark up of 100% on most items and they'd still be priced better than most brick/mortar stores!



Here's a load of crap for example;


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WHOLESALE-JOBLOT-BANKRUPT-STOCK-COMPUTING-ELECTRONICS_W0QQitemZ120560024768QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_WSJL_Wholesale_GL?hash=item1c11effcc0



Would probably work out too expensive for a budget shop (that is if you're sticking to an "everything €1/€2/€5" type deal. Otherwise it'd be grand, I'd say.

dh0661

Birthday/Confirmation and communion cards - 2 for €3 in my local euro shop. Local newsagent or convenience store change €3.50 for one.

IMO the people who received the card are not looking at the quality of it, they are looking for the amount of €uro you put into it.

Rubiee

Thanks again for all the suggestions

Miaireland

I agree about craft items. I make my own jewellery and found it quite expensive at the start buying equipment. I didn't want to spend a bomb in case I didn't stick to it.

One thing I look for in Discount stores is storage items, like clothes rails shelves and things like that.

Grumpypants

I buy those halogen light bulbs usually around 4.50 in electrical stores i get 2 for 2euro in the D. store. Also condoms 3 for 2 euro !!

Greating cards are good you can get a box set of cards in the book club for 10 euro contains 40 cards of different mixtures birthday weddings ec that would be a good seller.

Rubiee

Great stuff! I really appreciate all the replies thanks for taking the time to do so