Advice on this small idea at my university

**CharlieB** · 10-28-2010 05:46 PM

I'm trying to import yoga mats from china to help solve a problem at my university. The problem is that the mattresses on the beds keep slipping off the beds when you sleep on them, due to a lack of your friction. My solution is to put a grip mat or yoga mat under the mattress to provide friction. From what i've heard other people have the same problem and no one currently has this solution. However i've just seen that you can buy yoga mats for £6.95 at the local supermarket, so my question is just because i've found a new use for a product will people buy it if they can get it at the supermarket or will they buy it if I market it differently?

How do i best turn this opportunity into a money making opportunity?

Thanks

Charlie

**Mega B** · 10-28-2010 08:07 PM

Has it got any mention of the word yoga on the mat if not when advertising them you could mention that they have multiple uses ie for beds and yoga and possIbly other uses.

**guidemesingapore** · 10-29-2010 03:12 AM

If it is a problem at your university, you could actually sell one on one rather than going via a supermarket. You will be able to explain the USP to them much better personally. Buyers checking out yoga mats at the supermarket wont have the bed friction problem in mind.

**hotwind** · 10-29-2010 03:35 AM

If yoga is very hot at your university, I think this is a good opportunity for you. It is a wise choice if you import these things from China because they are sold with very low prices there. You may have a try. Maybe you can also consider about the Yoga clothes, because clothes in China are also very cheap. :P

**The Stealthy One** · 10-30-2010 05:47 PM

Charlie,

Two things you need to consider:

1. Where do people who currently purchase yoga mats purchase them? Who's the big player here?
2. Sounds like you're just trying to market an anti-slip mat - instead of investing in product development, you've identified an existing product whose use can be extended. That's awesome. But who currently markets anti-slip pads for mattresses? Does this category even currently exist?

That's what I would focus on. Answering those questions should give you a bit of clarity on how to move forward.

**CharlieB** · 10-30-2010 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by The Stealthy One

Charlie,

Two things you need to consider:

1. Where do people who currently purchase yoga mats purchase them? Who's the big player here?
2. Sounds like you're just trying to market an anti-slip mat - instead of investing in product development, you've identified an existing product whose use can be extended. That's awesome. But who currently markets anti-slip pads for mattresses? Does this category even currently exist?

That's what I would focus on. Answering those questions should give you a bit of clarity on how to move forward.

Well at the moment no one at the university does. The problem I now have is finding a supplier with low shipping costs so I can import them. I had planned to sell them for about £4 each but with high shipping cost it looks like i'll have to sell them at at least £10. I feel with a low price students will find it hard to not pay for a product that solves a problem.

The competition would be from the local supermarket which sells them at £6.95, and i'm not sure they even have them in stock at this branch. Does anyone know how I can reduce shipping costs? I have tried looking for UK suppliers but the unit price is too high.

**Will** · 10-30-2010 08:59 PM

Why do it with a yoga mat? You would be better off importing a few big rolls of non-slip sheeting (like very thin version of a yoga mat), and selling that in sizes that are about the same size as their mattresses. It only needs a thin layer, so I think a yoga mat would be overkill.

This way, you will be paying a lot less, and if you sold it for 5 GBP you would be making a nice profit, and it will be easy to post if needed.

**CharlieB** · 10-31-2010 07:52 PM

thanks for the advice thats exactly what i'm looking at. The supplier i've found has had no feedback at all. I can pay via escrow so does this mean that its still safe or is it best to avoid them?

**nabors** · 11-03-2010 01:49 AM

I would suggest using velcrow tape

**CharlieB** · 11-03-2010 08:17 AM

thanks for the replies, Should this idea be successful I was thinking of having a uni-based business selling household essentials to students cheaper than the local supermarket, eg cheap toothpaste, toilet roll, washing up liquid etc. But someone else has beaten me to it. Is it worth competing and marginally undercutting their products or should I specialise (if so what do you think are good ideas for specialisation?)

Thanks

**nabors** · 11-03-2010 09:41 AM

Find a niche.

**tom-knox** · 11-04-2010 08:20 PM

You can do it yoga mat style if you can bring the prices down, if you could rebrand the product so people don't think it's a yoga mat, they'll keep buying from you. But if people find it's a yoga mat, they'll be some place selling them super cheap.

As for your other idea, students will buy what it is they want to buy at the lowest price available, if you can undercut, consider it.