What's a business that exists that you don't understand can make money?

farmingquestion · 01-03-2023 1:16pm #1

I'll start with those magazines you see near the tills at the likes of Lidl.

There's so many different ones, mostly relating to showbiz and the likes. But then there's even more niche ones I don't know how they sell enough to cover costs/make a profit. There was some one related to only running, something like Runners Monthly or similar.

01-03-2023 1:55pm

Donut shops. How many donut shops does a city need? What Dublin needs is more places selling pizza by the slice.

odyssey06 · 01-03-2023 2:14pm

Boards.ie - but long may it continue :)

thomil · 01-03-2023 2:23pm

A lot of the Irish "corner stores", especially those seemingly just built into the ground floor of a 1960s-era semi-detached or terrace house in a council estate, with hand-painted signs, faded ad signs for the likes of Coca Cola or HB, rusted window-frames and equally rusted metal grates in front of the windows. Seriously, how do they make any money? They look about as trustworthy as a white van with "Free Candy!" scrawled all over the sides...

freshpopcorn · 01-03-2023 2:24pm

Places in shopping centers that sell a small amount of clothes, Jewellery, cosmetics, etc. They are often expensive and other shops in the center selling the stuff cheaper.

odyssey06 · 02-03-2023 8:26am

A fishing gear shop in Temple Bar..

https://mobile.twitter.com/dublin_damo/status/1630996767155146754

Hungry Burger · 02-03-2023 8:37am

Ditto on the magazines especially the really niche ones like “Naval Warfare Monthly” and the likes.

some random drunk · 02-03-2023 8:43am

Marks and Spencer (in Ireland post Brexit)

niallpatrick · 02-03-2023 3:26pm

I used to work as a yardman for wholesale newspaper and magazine distributors, the excess niche magazines they couldn't sell were given back to the suppliers as for the junk that came with the magazines I got to tip it into the compactor. Junk such as mini teapot collections, tons of build a scale model whatever and classic mini libraries. Actual mini books of classic literature, each book roughly 2 inches in height.

The build a scale model series were a joke, I bought a motorbike 1st edition just to see what parts I got, the central spring for a super sports suspension. But hey I bought the magazine, only another 180 editions to complete the full model. £2.99 per 1st edition then retail price after £4.99 for something worth £12-15 if you bought it as an Tamiya kit or equivilent. They do sell but I doubt many buy the complete series, actually pretty smart if they only publish 100 full editions of each series. Keep bringing out, build a scale titanic/sr71 blackbird/mig 29. Junk sells as long as a market exists but it's still over priced junk.

What you'd spend on the full series you could buy a home quality 3d printer and template for your own snap out models.

freshpopcorn · 02-03-2023 3:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304306#Comment_120304306

Iceland is another one.

I think they sold their Irish stores/operations lately.

eviltimeban · 02-03-2023 3:48pm

Alias Tom in Dublin. Really expensive and is nearly always empty when I go by it. But it's been around, what, 20 odd years now?

zg3409 · 02-03-2023 3:53pm

Nail bars, painting nails. A massive trend, full late on Friday evenings, multiple per town.

In the past they did not exist beyond a beauty counter in big stores, now a separate busy business. Similar to doughnuts it's a fad that will be copied until they go bust.

Mad_maxx · 02-03-2023 3:55pm

subway, there are so many

BattleCorp · 02-03-2023 4:10pm

Only Fans.

There's the world of free porn out there, no matter what sick fcuked up tastes you have. Why pay for it? Surely there's free stuff out there that's good enough for you to get your rocks off to.

walterking · 02-03-2023 4:13pm

Vape shops

Either the margins are enormous or there's another aspect to it.

yourdeadwright · 02-03-2023 4:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306222#Comment_120306222

I thought the same as yourself i didn't quite understand it ,

Then i realised after talking to younger lads i play football with that for the younger lads late teen to 30 lets the interest was because there was a lot of local girls who they would know on it, I guess the girls see it as easy money & don't mind the stigma of doing it because if a lad slogged them over it they could just say well you paid to see it ,

Boardnashea · 02-03-2023 4:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304269#Comment_120304269

A great shop that has a very loyal customer following. I have a bag of my late father's fishing gear that I am hoping to find a home for shortly, and I'm sure most of it came from Rory's.

How long it will remain?? It will be there as long as people want to get sound advise, or be able to spend some time chatting with likeminded people, when they are spending hard earned cash on a craft that they love.

Strumms · 02-03-2023 4:40pm

In Temple Bar there is an international fashion and ‘lifestyle’ retailer. (UO) They used to have excellent clothing ranges, fashionable stuff, French Connection, Barbour, Armani, Fred Perry, Lacoste, Timberland, Diesel etc…

‘Ethical’ and ‘sustainable’ repurposed no name shîte seems to have taken over, spending a couple of hundred in there now enables you to look like your uncle Gerry circle 1987… who had as much fashion sense as Mr. Magoo.

I don’t mind non known brands but can you not try compete with second hand shops ? Tramp chic isn’t cool exactly and sometimes people like to look well, fashionable and have comfortable, hard wearing, and attractive clothing… as opposed to a step up from rags.

SuperBowserWorld · 02-03-2023 4:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304269#Comment_120304269

That is probably the only interesting thing now in temple bar.

retalivity · 02-03-2023 5:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306147#Comment_120306147

A lot are money laundering fronts, cash only and/or staffed by people who are either ineligible to work in Ireland or getting paid a pittance.

Larbre34 · 02-03-2023 5:49pm

Barbers.

600,000 guys in Dublin.

599,999 Barbers. Quiet Tuesday to Friday.

Fathom · 02-03-2023 7:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058286396/whats-a-business-that-exists-that-you-dont-understand-can-make-money

Compulsive buying at checkout. Sells red tops with Lizard People headlines and small bags and bars of candy.

markpb · 02-03-2023 7:29pm

The entire top floor of the Stephen’s Green shopping centre.

Jellybaby_1 · 02-03-2023 7:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306137#Comment_120306137

I am of an age to remember when Alias Tom started in the 1970's. I think it was situated in the Grafton Arcade at first, but I might be wrong about that. Definitely a lot longer than 20 years! Must be doing something right!

Flinty997 · 02-03-2023 8:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304269#Comment_120304269

I would have thought there's a lot of catfishing around Temple Bar...

Furze99 · 02-03-2023 8:24pm

AIB? They write off 90% of the money they loaned to a heap of people.

farmingquestion · 02-03-2023 8:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306222#Comment_120306222

It's the knowing YOU are getting an exclusive or YOU are being shown specifically.

It's like people who send dick pics. Fellas don't send dick pics to try and get women to ride them or think they find it attractive. They send dick pics because they get turned on knowing the woman saw their dick

farmingquestion · 02-03-2023 8:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306551#Comment_120306551

Price of haircuts now though. I can see it costing the same for men as it does women some day! 22 or 25 euro for a haircut.

Larbre34 · 02-03-2023 9:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307109#Comment_120307109

You should probably read up on the effects of bad debt on a balance sheet before wondering how they made money from making settlements.

They had no choice in order to rebuild the business.

Cluedo Monopoly · 02-03-2023 9:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304269#Comment_120304269

Legendary shop. I hope it never closes.

artanevilla · 02-03-2023 9:27pm

There's a Chinese restaurant in every town in Ireland. Always empty.

Count Dracula · 02-03-2023 9:43pm

The high street has changed and will never be the same. I can only imagine that most stores in prime shopping districts are more a form of advanced brand advertisement as opposed to functioning profitable income streams? Take LEGO for example or DISNEY or say SONY or PHILLIPS. It seems to me that they are situated in certain high streets to emphasise their existence globally. I am calling it Brand Exposure, I am confident that marketeers have their own terminology for this form business development

I am so delighted that certain traditional products such as a BOOK, has survived the internets game changing influence on the global retail economy. You simply can't warm the pages of a smart pad or Tindle, it is beautiful to see people exhibiting this preference. If we lose the option of reading and being influenced by strangers writing, without a global agenda we are phucked totally. I am so happy that .com entrepreneurs lost that one.

Pubs as a culture are going to struggle, we need to learn that if we give non-smoking purist borefests an inch, they will rape us socially and intellectually for miles. Non Smokers are idiots, they haven't a clue.

gmisk · 02-03-2023 9:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304269#Comment_120304269

I think the guy had the foresight to buy the building (in late 80s/early 90s) rather than rent it. He said he had big offers from pub chains etc. Fair play to him.

gmisk · 02-03-2023 9:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307409#Comment_120307409

Non smokers are idiots?! Have you seen the sh1te that is in cigarettes and the effect it has on your body? Working in that environment was a fecking nightmare as well.

The smoking ban came in on coming up 20 years ago and yet there are still plenty of pubs...

AMKC · 02-03-2023 10:11pm

Tattoo shops. Surely everyone who wants a tattoo has one by now. Personally I think they are vile horrible things putting poison on your skin. Will not find me doing it.

Count Dracula · 02-03-2023 10:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307457#Comment_120307457

Yeah but no one is arsed drinking in them anymore?

Why would they? The whole concept of a Public house is to unwind and enjoy some downtime, it is good for your mortal soul. Non smoking drinkers are a waste of time, 2-3 pints and out the door to the gym... or to molly coddle their dull partners..... who have them wrapped around their bolleeecks they are so mindlessly pliable?

The scenario of non smoking bores.... inhabiting such ancient spaces of enjoyment, craic and depravity, is quite frankly a phucking travesty and an insult to our past?

They are destroying the world.

02-03-2023 10:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307457#Comment_120307457

One of my inspirations to eventually giving up smoking in 1995 was a visit in 1993 to Singapore, where it was forbidden to smoke anywhere but in private indoor space. I was addicted to nicotine, but I thought to myself “what if I had to live here or if these rules were in Ireland, with my addiction I would really have to overcome it as it would be such a pain in the @rse to continue as I were.” That sentiment (“such a pain in the ass to smoke”) in mind I gave up in 1995.

Trondheim · 02-03-2023 11:18pm

The cinema in my local town. 7 screens and whenever i go in there, there might be 5 other people in the screen. I really don't know how they turn a profit. Obviously the popcorn etc. has a huge markup, but there must be a lot of electricity and staff costs and it is hard to see how they make it back.

Larbre34 · 02-03-2023 11:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307343#Comment_120307343

But not of heat lamps and mary jane plants in the back.

Hellrazer · 02-03-2023 11:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307556#Comment_120307556

And yet there are artists out there making €100,000 a year so there must be a market for them. Last year Id say I probably put a €1000 into my sleeve. This year Im probably going to spend a bit more than that.

AMKC · 03-03-2023 12:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307878#Comment_120307878

You enjoy nitting so. Good for you. Must be expensive threads you use.

GSBellew · 03-03-2023 1:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307590#Comment_120307590

I thought it was only teenagers back in the 90's that thought smoking made them cool & interesting, amusing you have maintained that delusion.

gmisk · 03-03-2023 7:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307590#Comment_120307590

If no one is arsed drinking in them...how do they still exist and turn a profit?

I think you are what's called...projecting...with the rest of that....but if it makes you feel better rant away.

I

artanevilla · 03-03-2023 8:35am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307590#Comment_120307590

Tell me your wife ran off with a non-smoker without telling me your wife ran off with a non-smoker...

Count Dracula · 03-03-2023 8:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308226#Comment_120308226

All my wives are schmoking...... you betta baleeeeeve it mortals....

The DayDream · 03-03-2023 8:53pm

There's a shop in Brighton that only sells rubber ducks. Nothing else. The shopkeepers must own the building, it's in a prime city centre location and Brighton rents are nearly as dear as London.