Advice on location

[zakabby]

Hi,

I'm new on the forum and I'd appreciate all the help I can get.

I'm starting a small kiosk/cart selling handbags, in a mall. I will also be selling lamps and laundry baskets.

I've been offered a choice of 2 locations:

a. In the circle, near the stairway where there's a lot of passing traffic. It's a small space and there will be other kiosks around, though they'll be selling cosmetics.

Advantage: Lots of foot traffic
Disadvantage:small space, and I need to pay an extra 500€ to rent a table.

b. Next to a Chinese restaurant which is fairly popular. The advantage here is that there's much more space, if I wanted to add more products.

Advantage: Space for more products, table is thrown in and so I save 500€

Disadvantage: Not as much foot traffic as option 'a'


Which would be the better option and why?

[myfayt]

Either space will give you about the same amount of traffic. However let me tell you about a risk.

I worked a seasonal job in a mall and was near a handbag/purse kiosk, I witnessed twice in a week someone going on the opposite side of it, grabbing an item and put it in their shopping bag and walk away.

When you leave to go to the bathroom, you are going to get stolen from. You either need two people working at once, or someone who can relieve you. Also walk around and view all sides and greet people when they walk up.

[bizdev]

Handbags, lamps and laundry baskets? Seems like too wide of a range of products that have nothing in common. I would think your display would be rather odd looking.

[LingerieLady]

There are some good points given by the previous posters..

I agree that handbags, laundry baskets, and lamps may be a bit random.. :S (sorry)

Out of your location options, and assuming handbags are your main retail item.. I would probably choose the one closer to the makeup counters.

Women will be your main shoppers (i'm assuming.. lol).
And I know that when i am shopping for apparel and cosmetics, i am more likely to grab perhaps a pair of shoes or a new handbag to go with my new look. Rather than when i'm just hurrying to pick up my lunch before rushing back to work..

Also, if i'm at a mall, and i know that i have to find a new purse, i will go to the apparel related areas first, as that is where i expect to find something cute.
I will have most-likely have found and bought my bag, before i get to the foodcourt or restaurant for some lunch.

Even in a smaller space, you can display your bags in a very neat way. If you wanted to create an extra layer, perhaps use some clear lucite "cubbywhole boxes" of some sort, you could put a bag in the center and one up top with each one...
With some creativity even a small kiosk can look very pretty and uncluttered compared to some of the kiosks you see that just have purses stacked all over on top of each other and stuff.. (way too confusing.. and kind of looks like a bargain bin..lol)

If you really want to sell lamps and laundry baskets aswell, perhaps you could bring a catalogue that people can order from, and have them delivered to their house Unless of course they exceptionally super cute

Sorry for the crazy long reply!! Just my opinions on stuff

[zakabby]

Myfat, that's sound advice, thanks. Btw,how was business for the handbag seller you mentioned?

LingerieLady, thank you for the detailed reply. I especially liked the 'lunch after shopping' bit.

Bizdev, I agree. Bags, lamps and laundry baskets will look quite odd.
However, the one thing all these items have in common, and something I should have mentioned at the beginning, is the fact that they're all handmade.
I have a lot of variety when it comes to the bags, but just 2 varieties of lamps and laundry baskets. I figure it won't distract from the bags, but I don't know. Any suggestions?

Anyone?

[bizdev]

Kiosks are normally very small on space. I'd be afraid of the laundry baskets taking up too much valuable table or floor space. I could maybe see the lamps interspersed among the handbags. That might look decorative. But laundry baskets?? You don't want to end up looking like a flea market booth.

[inle]

The objective of you doing this is to sell your wares..
The best location will be the one with the larger traffic of your targetted customer groups every seconds of your time there..
Visibility & Sellability are the keys..

The size of the table is secondary..
If the rent justified the factors above that contributed to greater potential sales. then go for it..

I will suggest that you go down one day and check on the exact traffic at different time of the day, at weekdays and weekends..

Hope this has helped you..

[jake_russell]

One thing you may want to think about is called the butt-brush effect. I first read about it in a book titled "the science of shopping". The idea is that shoppers, especially women, do not like to shop in a high foot traffic area because of the "butt brush" of people walking close behind them. I like the idea of being near kiosks related to your industry. Maybe you could use the laundry baskets to creat "safe" shopping corners that shoppers could almost step into and be clear of passing foot traffic.

just my thoughts

[BusinessAdviser]

Foot traffic. If you need more space, you can move.