|
Author: Charlie Taylor Article source: http://www.miniguides.info/. Used with author's permission.
The old tale about a bride and groom receiving half a dozen toasters from well-meaning relatives on their wedding day has passed into 70s history. But, what to buy the modern couple? It's a question that is guaranteed to drive their guests to near insanity.
Toasters, bed linen, TVs, pots, pans and all the rest of the boring household necessities are fine but... let's face it, they aren't fun to buy, they aren't fun to receive and they certainly aren't going to increase in value! So, why not think of the unconventional?
I've been involved in various businesses in Scotland over the years: weddings, restaurants, photography, writing, letting property are just a few. And this modern, multi-streaming lifestyle led me eventually to the simple world of buying and selling.
We had a problem. We owned a small Highlands restaurant which could not possibly bring in enough money even if we worked every hour available and filled the place to bursting point night after night. So we thought: let's sell things as well. We already had a good customer base, and so the challenge was to sell things to them in addition to the good quality food. We needed to 'add value' to their dining experience, and charge them for it.
These were the criteria we set:
1 We refused to load profit onto the wine. We knew the profit margins on wine and knew that it was a common tactic of restaurants to charge customers through the nose for drink. And we knew how customers felt about this. They simply don't like being ripped off! Neither do we.
2 The retail items would need to add to and improve the general ambience of the restaurant so 'tat' was out.
3 The items would have to sell themselves. We wouldn't have the time to give customers the 'hard sell' while preparing and serving food and, besides, hard sell is not our style. We don't feel comfortable with it.
4 The things would have to look good, feel good and be intrinsically interesting.
5 They would have to be accessible to customers, not locked away in drawers or cupboards.
6 They would be the type of thing that would encourage a dinner party atmosphere between diners rather than put up communication barriers. In short, they would encourage conversation.
7 There would need to be a range of items, from the cheap to the expensive so we could not rely on one supplier.
8 We needed a regular and reliable supply of these items.
9 They needed to be cheap to buy and yet give us a healthy profit margin.
10 And finally, they needed to be things that we liked. How could we live with things we hated and how could we sell them to others? Unthinkable!
And the answer to our problem after weeks and months of thinking? Second-hand books, antiques and collectables!
We lined the restaurant with bookshelves and filled them with hard back literature. We filled every nook and cranny with curios. We hung things from walls and from beams and from every spare vertical surface. We even cleared out an old shed and packed it to the gunnels with interesting things. And all of them carried a price tag.
And the result? Success beyond our wildest dreams! The customers loved it, they bought it by the barrowload (we sold barrows as well!) and we made handsome profits. And it was great fun.
So, where did we buy all these items? At local auctions, that's where. And we still go to them. They are addictive. And we still deal now and again even though we sold our restaurant last year. It's on a smaller scale than before, admittedly, but that means we can be more selective. Silver and glassware, jewellery and genuine antiques - they are all there to be had as potential wedding presents. Monart glass, silver napkin rings, antique silver-topped wine and vinegar bottles are much more fun than a toaster and, if you buy wisely, you will be giving the lucky couple something that is both beautiful and a sound financial investment.
Think valuable, think collectable! Don't think toaster! Charlie Taylor is one of the founders of Highland Country Weddings Ltd, a Scottish weddings agency with an international dimension. Visit http://www.highlandcountryweddings.co.uk/gifts.htm for a free discussion about your wedding in Scotland including free, no-obligation quote.
Stay Inspired
Two years ago I was in a wheelchair and told I would be paralyzed for life. Today I can jog on a treadmill. How did this happen? Well, I can't tell you how it h...
Build Your Own Online Network
Many online business owners and marketers use a variety of tools to make their business successful. Good strategies include maintaining a web site, publishing ...
What Does Success Look Like?
While we are well into the 21st century too many are still thinking about their business as they did in the 1990's. The face of business has changed and the In...
Does Drug Advertising Lead to Unnecesary Presciptions
This article humorously describes the subtle manipulation used in televised pharmaceutical advertising. Lipitor ads are used for an example and the reader is l...
A Question of Time and Memory
Is time what we think it is? Or are we just like the people who believed the world was flat?
Sell Yourself First...Your Key To More Sales
Selling on the internet is a challenge. There is no
way to come "face to face" with your potential buyer.
That visitor is unlikely to buy from you on the fi...
Resume Writing Tips
Want a new job? Plan a career builder strategy and work towards a new life.
Identity Theft is a Major Problem: Whose Responsibility is It to Protect the Consumer?
Recent reports confirm that personal information continues to fall into the wrong hands, consumers have become increasingly concerned about how companies handle...
NFL Notebook (Week 10)
Now that the NFL has a 17-week schedule with teams playing 16 games and each getting one bye week, there is no official mid-point of the season. However, throug...
How to Put Some Sizzle in Your Summer Parties: 5 Ways to be a Gracious Host and a Great Guest
Now that the hot weather is finally here, we are looking forward to long, lazy days on the beach and hot summer nights that heat up after dark. Here are a few ...
Gardening Tips for Early - Mid July
Now we are fast approaching the hottest time of the year, there are still some things that can be done in the garden. Below are a few gardening tips for those ...
Will This Be Your First How-to Report?
You've got to start somewhere, but once you've created your very first How-To report and learned to develop your own research tactics - life will never be the s...
How to Make a Simple Gemstone Necklace
Step by step instructions on how to string a gem bead necklace.
Your Focus is the KEY to YOUR Success
Each leads group, association, trade organization you belong to has it's own focus. Everything you do with that group must match their focus if you want to succ...
Vacation Villas in Orlando Florida - What are They?
What are vacation villas?
Actual Achievement Part 1
What do you actually focus on to achieve your objectives? Do you focus on the outcome of what you want to achieve, or the process to get there? Understanding t...
Gallica Roses
If you want roses with fragrance and a sense of history, then look no further than the Gallicas.
Finding The Intangible
The Bible speaks of people with eyes that don't see and ears that don't hear. It is referring to those who refuse to accept the truth. Sometimes we see but don'...
Replacement Windows and Double Glazing - Essential Buyers Tips
Welcome to my essential tips for replacemnent windows and double glazing buyers. Apart from the first tip (which I consider most important) the tips are not in ...
Baby Speech Development - Lost for Words
As children are growing from todddlerhood to childhood parents are very aware and concerned about their child's development. One of the most grieved about conce...
Think Twice Before Selling ROI
511 words. Abstract: Lots has been written about using return on investment calculations as a sales aid, but a common flaw can push your buyers straight into t...
FREE Classifieds-Advertising: Your Online Work From Home Business
If you are on a shoestring budget and need to find cheap advertising on the internet there is nothing cheaper than FREE classifieds and they are literally every...
Thyme: The Herb of Courage
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the featured herb in this article. Especially good in recipes that call for long, slow cooking, thyme is often used in fatty foods t...
Top Five FAQs About Nail Fungus
Nail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, is an organism which digests the keratin found in your fingernails and toenails.
|
Print this page