Malt costs :shock:

[crowds]

John Steed and Emma Peel are probably staking out your mysterious HBS right now

I was thinking more like sapphire and steel.

[WishboneBrewery]

I also have tried the "micronized" Flaked maize and its nayh problem prrrew preeeww must try the "micronized" Barley......and their off.

ha ha ha ha

It will be my first use of Flaked Barley tomorrow in a stout.

[crowds]

Let us know how it turns out !
Googling around I see there are loads of things available "Micronized" and at amazing prices.

There has to be some catch ?

[Trefoyl]

I was thinking more like sapphire and steel.

I've never heard of them
Maybe BBC 7 Radio will repeat the radio plays.

[mshergold]

I must admit I buy online more than I buy from homebrew shops, but that's more to do with the distance I have to travel than anything. If I need something quickly I will go to my nearest shop and If I happen to pass one anywhere I'll usually buy something. One important thing to remember when looking at prices is that shop space costs more than warehousing/garage space (I'm not sure how business rates work, but this may also be a factor). Other things like public liability insurance also need to be considered. Also, don't forget that if you live close to a shop and it's very well stocked that it's convenient.

If you're running a small shop properly, it has to be staffed throughout the day regardless of how many customers come through the door. Whereas if you're a small internet-based business, you can 'close up' for a few hours if you want or need to and won't miss an order. That said, the shops I've used most don't open on Sundays which to my mind is ridiculous. Selling online also gives you a much bigger customer base. The UK is your oyster and if you're an internet seller based at Lands End, it will cost a customer in John O'Groats the same to buy 500g of spray malt as someone in Lands End. If you have a hombrew shop in Lands End, you'd probably only attract customers as far north as Truro which is an hour away. The more expensive fuel is, the less distance people are willing to travel. More customers should mean more sales which means more turnover. More turnover means bigger orders from suppliers which means a bigger line of credit and more discount which means cheaper prices for customers (and/or more profit).

I don't think internet-based companies are immune from over-pricing or erratic pricing either. There are times when I've found, say, hops at a very cheap price on one site and spray malt at an inflated price and another site selling the same products with very cheap spray malt and expensive hops.

Only my opinion, mind you. The above may be complete b*ll*c^s.

[mysterio]

Whereas if you're a small internet-based business, you can 'close up' for a few hours if you want or need to and won't miss an order.

I have given thought to opening a LHBS when I graduate, I don't really want to follow the conventional path and would much rather be involved with beer somehow

Although having an internet only business would be far easier I wouldn't consider not having a shop-front, I think part of having a LHBS should be somewhere where you can have a look around, talk to the (hopefully knowledgeable) owner, pick up emergency packets of yeast and impulse buy now and again.

That said the overheads must be terrible like you say, and if you were internet only you could start out small and even do it in your spare time initially

[crowds]

It was a cult Sci-Fi from the late 70's TV. And continued on radio some years later.
An absolute blinder of a show. Creepy as hell for a kid (think I was 6 at the time).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Z3FdAXVsw

Sapphire and Steel are two of many interdimensional agents. Each made from their name sake element and in the guise of humans are sent to investigate strange events. Normally it's time (being a malevolent force) messing things up in some rather twisted ways. David McCallum (as Steel) and Joanna Lumley (as sapphire) are great in their role and it's a shame more were not made

[crowds]

@ mshergold
Yeah internet only shops must cut down on overheads, that said if I travel a bit further to the next nearest shop the stock malts at the same price as I can get online.

I wouldn't consider not having a shop-front, I think part of having a LHBS should be somewhere where you can have a look around, talk to the (hopefully knowledgeable) owner, pick up emergency packets of yeast and impulse buy now and again.

Absolutely, and while shopping online has lots of benefits. You can't beat being able to see something in the flesh, as it were, before parting with your money.

[mshergold]

You'd certainly need to do a lot of research and maybe even be prepared to move far from home if there's not much business in your area. If you got a good reputation people will travel even to the middle of nowhere. Combining a shop front with an online store would (hopefully) ensure sales when the shop's closed. You also need to find a way to be a bit different a get a higher profile rather than just waiting for people to come through the door. Things like demonstrations for newbies and masterclasses for the more experienced. You (or whoever you got to do things like that) would have to be really on the ball though as things like that in most hobbies attract the sort of person who's determined to catch you out.

I'd say if it was something you really want to do you should ask people here what they'd like from a homebrew shop they only had to travel 10 minutes to reach. Remember that outside of this forum any market research you do of the 'would you use this shop' kind will probably result in a high percentage of your target audience saying 'yes' but when it comes down to it only a small percentage of those who said 'yes' actually mean 'yes'.

From my time in retail (years ago), the advice I'd give is:

-Always make your customers feel they're the most important person.
-Try to learn your regulars names and throw in the odd freebie to make them feel valued.
-Admit you don't know the answer but find it and get back to them.
-Try to sell them something with a higher profit margin than they want or something you've overstocked on, but don't push your luck or you'll get a bad reputation.
-Loss leaders can mean more profit in the long run.
-Run competitions.
-Occasionally run something like a 'first X customers through the door on Yday get Z at half price' promotion.
-People like to think they're getting something for nothing.

I accept no responsibility for success/failure of the above!

[boingy]

I've got another tip. Forget having a high street presence. The rent and rates are real killers for a niche business like home brewing.
Get yourself a tiny industrial unit or even a "lock up" and then promote the hell out of it. Brewers will be prepared to make a special trip to visit so it's fine if you are not in the town centre. Aim to generate some internet business too. This will help you turn over your stock faster so your stuff will be fresher. My previous LHBS was run by a guy in his double garage in a really out of the way place near Peterborough. You'd never find it by accident but google "homebrew peterborough" and it's the top 4 hits! I've no idea how much profit he makes but he sells a great selection of grain and hops and they are always fresh.

[6470zzy]

Does the LHBS staff uniform include a mask by any chance?

Not the uniform no, but there's a mask by the door as you go in.
The room is white and other than the mask completely bare.
It is lit by a single halogen lamp with such intensity that it's hard to make out the door on the far side.
Then a heavily vocoded disembodied voice speaks..
"It puts on the mask and takes three steps forward"
"Sorry I'm just after so..." I start to say.
"It puts on the mask and takes three steps forward"
I do as it says and things get a bit foggy from there...
I come to on the street 30 minutes later, all my money has gone and I have a bag of malts.
Looking behind me I see a launderette, the LHBS is gone.... but it will return.. it always does..

I'm surprised that you didn't wake up in the middle of a crop circle

[mshergold]

Unfortunately I think Boingy's right. A combination of people buying on price rather than quality or level of service, ruthless landlords and big corporations are killing the British high street. I think in the US it's known as the Walmart Phenomenon. A big store will set up shop on the outskirts of town and attract everyone with low prices, the town centre dies, prices at the superstore go up and service goes down. A certain bus and train company have allegedly done the same thing in the UK.

[crowds]

I'm surprised that you didn't wake up in the middle of a crop circle

^ Don't get me started