Looking for volunteers

[ricksegers]

I'm taking a business course next semester and according to the syllabus I have to write a business plan. Needlless t say my business will be bbq centered. For market research could you email me what would make your perfect bbq supply store. Think out of the box as to what you would want. Brick and mortar...click and mortar. My idea for the store is more than a Wally World but not as high end as 10K dollar and up outdoor kitchens. A few quality mid to upper mid level brands of grills and cooker, assorted woods, good charcoal, many sauces, spices and rubs, books, videos, tools, toys etc. How about a butcher shiop in the back? You tell me.
You can email me your thoughts so as not to tie up the board.
ricksegers@yahoo.com

Rick

[willkat98]

I'll give it some thought, but you might want to do what a successfully sausage company does here (yep, in Chicago)

You said butcher in back, put him in front, more foot traffic.

Bobaks Sausage Company has a full line of sausage. Make the sausage in the back building, supermarket in front to sell the whole line along with polish breads and everything else in a grocery store, then attached next door is Bobaks Restuarant which has a full polish menu. Its a one stop shop.

So a butcher/bbq grocer, a bbq store, and a bbq restaurant all in one location. Oh yeah, catering too.

You said out of the box.

www.bobak.com

[parrothead]

Fark the PMs. This sounds like a fun topic.

[Bigmista]

Hmmm...

How about instead of a wine selection you have a sauce selection? A whole wall of different sauces.

Instead of having grills and smokers in the store, how about having them setup on a patio in the back? And cook something in each different brand so people can see them in action.

It's a start.

Mista

[kcquer]

Fark the PMs. This sounds like a fun topic.

I agree.

For spices The Brethren Supply Store should carry Watkins spices. The McCormick hickory salt I used to buy at wal-mart was $3.00 for 5.25 oz, my local Watkins dealer sells it for $4.00 per pound. I now buy nearly all my rub ingredients there.

[parrothead]

Since you have that patio set up out back. Your store might as well sponser a team or two. Maybe a club of sorts where the guys all get together once a month to do some BBQ. Have classes on the weekends to teach people what the fark they are doing. Show them that they need a temp probe or two and they are gonna buy one before they walk out the door. Charge for attending the class and thast includes the food and sodas they are gona drink while there. Maybe a t-shirt or something also. Give a gift certificate to attend the class for free with the purchase of a grill or smoker over $300. The t-shirts become free advertising down the road.

Have a sauce of the week club. With a punch card to keep track of customer loyalty. After 10 punches they get a free jar of sauce. Have the sauce of the week onsale 10 % off.

[kcquer]

Greg, that sounds a lot like the only specialty Q shop in the area here. They do the classes and you get them free with smoker/grill purchase.

These folks even preach a coorelation between wood selection and rub selection so if you buy one they can get an add on sale of the other.

[ricksegers]

Thanks for the input guys....I really appreciate the help.


Rick