Question to Canadian Members (Please help)

[cnshockey]

As some of you know, I am going off to college next year. I am going to be majoring in business and I have decided to go to UBC. If I get in this year, then I will be there and I will be happy but if not I plan on going to a junior college then reapplying/transferring in. I'm going to be majoring in business with hopes of one day owning my own business. I don't know what kind of business to open but the thought has run through my head countless times about opening a card shop.

My question to you Canadians is: In what town/area is a shop needed? I'm not looking for a town with a small amount of people where no one collects. Does anyone know a town with a good sized amount of collectors lacking a good LCS? I ask this because if I do decide to venture into the card business, I'd like to know some places that would need a shop. Input would be appriceated.

PS. I don't need the whole "running your own business is hard work" speech. My cousin owns a business, her aunt owns one too, and so do other family friends. I am very close with my cousin and I know how much work a business is and I am very dedicated in everything I do. Also, don't need the whole "it's expensive to start a business". I know.

thanks!

[CSSports]

Running your own busi......oh sorry.....just remember it's expensive to....oh you know that too....

[mikecole141]

As some of you know, I am going off to college next year. I am going to be majoring in business and I have decided to go to UBC. If I get in this year, then I will be there and I will be happy but if not I plan on going to a junior college then reapplying/transferring in. I'm going to be majoring in business with hopes of one day owning my own business. I don't know what kind of business to open but the thought has run through my head countless times about opening a card shop.

My question to you Canadians is: In what town/area is a shop needed? I'm not looking for a town with a small amount of people where no one collects. Does anyone know a town with a good sized amount of collectors lacking a good LCS? I ask this because if I do decide to venture into the card business, I'd like to know some places that would need a shop. Input would be appriceated.

PS. I don't need the whole "running your own business is hard work" speech. My cousin owns a business, her aunt owns one too, and so do other family friends. I am very close with my cousin and I know how much work a business is and I am very dedicated in everything I do. Also, don't need the whole "it's expensive to start a business". I know.

thanks!

While you definitely need to make sure that the market is not over saturated with card shops, most cities in Canada have at least one hobby shop if not more. However, the right owner can make a go of it anywhere. It takes a solid business plan that has to have a focus on the customer service aspect. Cards and other collectables, like comics tend to have a buy it and forget you bought it here aspect to it. the really sucessful shops are the owners who take care of their customers. Whether that is guiding you through the process, getting you contact information, handling the process for you, or giving a refund; will depend on the product in question. But how you handle it will dictate alot about what kind of store you will run. A store in the busiest mall may not have to worry about this because of constant foot traffic. A store in a mid size city in a little strip mall will care a lot more if they want to survive.

In my opinion is the main thing you want to look at.

[HammerHawks]

+1, good luck Andy!

[30ranfordfan]

Good luck with it Andy (I'll just say "you'll need it" rather than one of those speaches).

I can tell you this.... Cambridge, Ontario does not have a card shop; and we've got well over 100,000 people. How much demand is there for it? I don't know. Used to be 3 here (10 years ago) and they all went under. Closest ones are in Guelph, Kitchener, or Waterloo..... depending on where you live in Cambridge, that'd take 30+ minutes to get to via car.... so not exactly close by.

If you open it, I promise you'll get at least one customer :)

[cnshockey]

While you definitely need to make sure that the market is not over saturated with card shops, most cities in Canada have at least one hobby shop if not more. However, the right owner can make a go of it anywhere. It takes a solid business plan that has to have a focus on the customer service aspect. Cards and other collectables, like comics tend to have a buy it and forget you bought it here aspect to it. the really sucessful shops are the owners who take care of their customers. Whether that is guiding you through the process, getting you contact information, handling the process for you, or giving a refund; will depend on the product in question. But how you handle it will dictate alot about what kind of store you will run. A store in the busiest mall may not have to worry about this because of constant foot traffic. A store in a mid size city in a little strip mall will care a lot more if they want to survive.

In my opinion is the main thing you want to look at.

I worked at my cousin's business (baskin robbins - US ice cream store. I don't believe they are in Canada) and it was in a very poor town. Point is that I have had experience working with people who complain a LOT! and have been able to dissolve situations relatively easily. I have also worked in an office building and I'm only 17 so I feel I have good people skills and a hard work ethic. The problem is just the location to me. I'm just trying to see if there truly is a hole in the market somewhere to capitalize on. If not, I'd probably end up targeting the Vancouver area as that is my favorite city on Earth. Thanks for the tips here and keep them coming!

[bidds55]

I'll throw this out there:

Toronto's hobby market is underserviced. One of the two most rabid hockey hobby markets in the world (The other being Montreal), but with only a few shops, and none that I've been to yet that is in the upper echelon of "Great Hobby Shops". If I were opening a shop, I'd do some research into where exactly in Toronto there are shops, and then go from there, but I think this is your best bet from a business perspective.

Beyond the physical location, your online presence will probably be the biggest aspect of opening a new shop going forward.

[cnshockey]

Good luck with it Andy (I'll just say "you'll need it" rather than one of those speaches).

I can tell you this.... Cambridge, Ontario does not have a card shop; and we've got well over 100,000 people. How much demand is there for it? I don't know. Used to be 3 here (10 years ago) and they all went under. Closest ones are in Guelph, Kitchener, or Waterloo..... depending on where you live in Cambridge, that'd take 30+ minutes to get to via car.... so not exactly close by.

If you open it, I promise you'll get at least one customer :)

thanks sean! This is one of the things I was looking for. Do you by chance know why those shops closed? Was it a lack of business? High real estate prices? No demand? you'd think in a city of over 100,000 there would be at least one shop.

And what IS the real estate like there? Is it an expensive city?

As for the one customer thing, I think I've made enough friends to get a few customers - plus I could use this site to gain more!

More advice please

[Jaso1199]

Id say go for one in London where i live. London has only one real card shop, and even it is not very spectacular. Its ok, but everything is overpriced. It is also almost on the edge of the city, so not many people would go across town. If you ever start thinking of where to own one, try in Westmount Mall. The mall is undergoing a massive overhaul of all the stores. They are opening up some kind of medical office upstairs to help clean the blood for the liver for people who have liver failure (cant remember ther name) It also has a brand new movie theatre, underground parking (Only mall in London that has one) Its right in the middle of the residential part of London (Southwest corner) And London has over 350,000 people. Our store market needs a little more choice (Kind of like UD, HEHE)

[cnshockey]

Thanks for all the great info guys!

Also please remember that this is at the earlier occurring in 4 years time so don't expect me to be coming to your town any time soon ;)

Anyone got any info on the Vancouver shop situation? I had heard it was weak but I wasn't sure about that.