Thinking About Opening a Car Accessories Shop in Kildare

bazb411

Hi All
As above seriously considering opening a Accessories/Styling/Tuning shop have a shop organised very low rent just looking for advice on if you think it will be worth it and if anyone has any contacts in the industry i would greatly appreciate.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Personally I don't think it will be worth it. The modified cars industry is dying a horrible death. And I can't see it improving any time soon. With people spending less and less on their cars at the moment, the people who are willing to keep spending money on their cars will stay with the same companies they have used and know

bazb411

I Know where you are coming from but the shop would also stock Oil Filters, Oil, Brake pads/disks
It would be a motor factor in a way aswel

omb0wyn5ehpij9

bazb411 wrote: »

I Know where you are coming from but the shop would also stock Oil Filters, Oil, Brake pads/disks
It would be a motor factor in a way aswel

I don't know Kildare well at all, but are there any motor factors around?

bazb411

There is a local one in the town but is very poorly stocked and over priced the next closest would be in Newbridge maybe 20 mins away

mullingar

If there is a decent local population within 5 mins, then it may be a winner.

I would seriously consider including a DIY service with lifts so you can flog service kits too.

bazb411

I would not have the space to operate lifts as the shop is on a roadfront but as u said i could sell the service kits for the customers to service their own vehicles.

mullingar

Is there decent parking outside the shop?

If not, forget it. IMO 90+% of people going to factors are on a mission to buy something specific, not browse for accessories, although they might buy accessories once they are in the shop.

Personally I never go to any factors that has no parking, I always go to the ones with parking as I dont fancy not finding easy parking simply because I dont want to drag a set of discs/oil back to a separate car park.

colm_mcm

I would have thought it would be more likely for a motor factors to branch out into performance parts, rather than the other way around

In order to be a motor factors you need to stock an immense amount of stock.

Not saying it's impossible but with the likes of Bradshaws on your doorstep, you'd have a job winning over any tradesmen, and with the likes of halfords 10 mins up the road just off the naas south exit, you won't compete on the stuff they sell.

I'm all for entrepreneurs but the days of lads in civics and starlets paying over the odds for strut braces and fibreglass bumpers are gone. The Internet has completely changed the way people buy performance parts, the economy and people's circumstances has completely changed how big that Market is.

bazb411

Yes there is parking outside the shop. I know what you are saying about the internet i no the prices on there are very hard to beat but it still could be possible I still believe that there is still a market out there for it i no not as much as years ago but still something there if you where to see the trade planet auto is still doing would actually shock you

colm_mcm

Suppose you had your shop, what would be on display?

just to get a feel for the place

Also, what sort of capital have you? Thousands or tens of thousands?

Also, do you think you can undercut the existing motor factors, carry more stock and still make money?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Have you got any contacts yet? Can you get your parts at good prices? Do you have enough start up capital to stock the shop from day 1? Do you have enough experience with cars or within the industry to be able to answer any questions that could be thrown at you and to know exactly what you should stock?

bazb411

there would be a range of oils, wipers, after market steering wheels, seat covers, stereos, speakers, air fresheners, car cleaning products eg wax, polish. mud flaps, car mats etc general car accessories

colm_mcm

I see. Doesn't sound much different to any other small town accessory shop to me.

Personally I'd drive up to halfords rather than shop there, no offence.

245

bazb411 wrote: »

There is a local one in the town but is very poorly stocked and over priced the next closest would be in Newbridge maybe 20 mins away

Are there not two? One on Station Rd and one in the old Black & Decker factory (that one is backed by PR Reilly). There's a very small market within Kildare town itself so you're also competing with Newbridge and beyond on one side and Portlaoise on the other (Bradshaws again). It'll be very hard to compete with Bradshaw's and Fergal Allen in terms of spares & paint. There's a modified specialist in the Courtyard shopping centre in Newbridge as well which has a loyal following.

Curlz24

You have missed the boat,
A new store just open literally 2 weeks ago,Stocked to the rafters and very keenly priced,
Should you need more info PM me!

colm_mcm

In Kildare Town?

Why keep it secret if it's already open?

Gary ITR

bazb411 wrote: »

There is a local one in the town but is very poorly stocked and over priced the next closest would be in Newbridge maybe 20 mins away

What makes you think you can beat his prices? Any Motor Factor that's cheap is only cheap because they are buying and selling huge volumes. I'm about to launch a web shop that will stock all sorts of parts and tbh it's very hard to get trade accounts open at the moment. I was lucky in that I already had the contacts but this wouldn't be a business I'd go into.

You're going to have to invest in premises, shelving, computer system, staff etc etc. Any auto factor I know is struggling, the reason I'm going with it is I will be sole distributor for some popular after market parts so i have that niche

crossy

Ok there is definitly no market there for a motor factors as no one in the county can compete with Bradshaw on stock on price.

I do think there is a market for good quality Modified parts that are rare. I know you say there is a modified shop in Newbridge. Planet auto is the most mickey mouse set up I have ever seen. Take a trip to Kells to MCG autostyling to see the kind of gear they sell. Its all top quality.

You need to sell rare stuff. For example. There is currently no password Jdm, rota and j's racing gear coming into the country as no one has the time for it. That gear is rare. Planet auto sells stuff that halfords could sort you out with.

Also I think you are wasting your time opening a shop as online sales is the way to go. No shop needed, no staff needed only a store for your parts and a laptop.


Sorry thats so long. hope it helps