Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Any thoughts on this - A business idea
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Zulu |
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Zulu |
Introducing NICE RACK. A local company intent on meeting all your roof top carrying needs. Let us handle your Rack! Our hands on technicians are gentle yet firm. These guys have been passionate about racks since adolescence. Gals too! We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all who admire a nice rack and want to get their hands on them! Don’t be Boob and go to Crack Attack, that other rack company. Their sales are flat and their customer base is sagging. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay abreast of all that’s happening at NICE RACK! scat, I would run it by a Human Resources professional on the off chance someone might find the company name offensive. You never know these days. Good luck! If I was young again I would hop onboard! I’ve always liked looking at Nice Racks! |
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scat |
And I could start small. I don't see it taking a huge initial investment. All you need is a garage and a handful of tools and I'm fairly handy having been in the trades and in construction all my life. |
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butthead |
butthead PS: Could be my SE WI location, up here there would be a lot of competition. bh |
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scat |
I hear ya on working on cars. I hate cars, and I’m sure as heck not busting up my knuckles and getting grease under my fingernails. I think Nice Rack is a viable business idea and I’m going to start working on it now that I have my regular sitch figured out. And you will be getting a T shirt haha. |
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deerfoot |
I have used Yakima racks for maybe 40 yrs and after you understand a few principles common to their installation doing it yourself isn't too hard. As previously suggested, you will really need to get the word out there regarding your services. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. |
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missmolly |
Launching a business is like launching a battleship at Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. The sky is filled with steel and fire and the water is rife with oil and torpedoes, but damn those torpedoes! Full speed ahead! |
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scat |
Rackattack was busy, they had a lot going on when I was there, bunch of salespeople, customers. Not sure how much inventory I would need to carry. I could order the parts per job just like you did, at the start. Appreciate the input. You can't rain on my parade!, I have a rainsuit too haha. This is gonna fly man. Definitely going to give it a good look see. |
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prettypaddle |
Also I don't know if you're serious about the name, but consider the share of the market which might be put off by it. As a woman I would think twice about going to your shop for help. It's hard enough navigating the world as it is. Ever been groped when helping a blind guy cross the street? Yeah, didn't think so. Would I go to a shop where their judgement of my body is right on the sign? I'll pass, thank you. |
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ockycamper |
I have owned many businesses, the current one for 23 years. The key to sucess frankly comes right out of the Bible. . . .treat others as you would like to be treated. If somone (probably several in this case) would be offended by the name, you need to step back and ask why you are willing to lose sales for the sake of being edgy? At the end of the day, there comes a time when we are no longer 19 and are called on to run businesses like professionals. Just my two cents. |
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Northwoodsman |
1) Supply chain issues. 2) Becoming an authorized Yakima dealer - you would have to negotiate with Yakima, they probably have geographical restrictions to protect dealers. 3) Cost of inventory - substantial. There are so many different parts, kits, and combinations that you would need to carry. 4) Competing against on-line stores that can ship nation-wide from one location in a matter of days. 5) The beauty of the Yakima and Thule type of systems is that they are perfect for DIY's. Once you select the correct combination of parts you are 90% there. I know with my system I install it and remove it every time I use it so installation to me would not be a benefit. I purchased mine at REI. All the parts were in stock except the specific clips which took only 3 days to get. I read the instructions, watched a quick video and had it installed in 30 minutes on my truck. I took a Sharpie and placed a dot inside my doors where the front and back bars should go and placed a corresponding dot on the mounts to align them. I did the same thing with the cross bars since I have a couple different styles that I use. 6) For the most part it's a one time deal. Once you buy a rack you are done except for a few add-ons which are easy on-line purchases. Again, once it's installed there are no more installations. From that point most people can figure it out for themselves. There isn't a huge market for these, probably not enough to sustain a business limited to one brand, one specialty. You would need to offer more brands, and more items to be profitable. Like butthead mentioned most bike shops, REI, ski, and paddle shops sell Yakima and Thule. Many offer installation. One reason that it may be tough to find installers when searching is that they are designed to be DIY. Why do people take them off and not leave them on all the time? Noise, fuel efficiency, don't fit in garage, appearance, theft, wear and tear, can't go through car wash. |
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scat |
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butthead |
butthead |
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Saberboys |
While some may take offense to the name, many others will not. It is a play on words meant to grab attention. Think Big Johnson surfboard apparel for instance- they don't actually sell surf boards, just shirts! Anyway, I would be a little more subtle with the logo, let it be inferred. Waves can take many shapes for example.. Just a thought! |
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butthead |
Been thru a bunch of racks in my lifetime. All sources from places like Rutabaga and Wheel & Sprocket. Just never had fear of drilling if needed. Installed the Yakima Gutter plates to 4 of my vehicles, 2 were a week old (after new order delivery). The point on liability is also very important. butthead |
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prettypaddle |
If you could truly emphasize the "nice" (in both advertising and employee attitude), I could see the appeal. The name still might make me think twice though. |
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Northwoodsman |
How could you differentiate? Perhaps offer a mobile service. Have a van and do mobile installs at customers location that way you could even set it up and adjust it for the actual load. Also, work with other dealers who sell the systems but don't do the installs. Do demo's at dealers who sell the systems to get people to buy them from them, then do follow up clinics on self-installation (get them to buy more upgrades while your at it). Buy and sell used systems, take in trades. Think outside the box, do what others don't. Sometimes it's either to forge a new path than try to navigate rush hour traffic. Saberboys - you and I were typing at the same time! Great idea. |
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gravelroad |
The only part of the installation job I passed off to a co-worker was the Thule Hullavator. I was happy to let her collect all the tips she could make doing it. Every other piece of Thule or Yakima equipment can be installed by someone who can read the diagrams and knows which end of an Allen wrench to grab. I think you might make a living in Palm Springs or Aspen, but otherwise the competition will eat your lunch. |
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andym |
Rack em Up with the slogan, “we get you ready for fun.” If you have a shop you could even have a table for people to play on while waiting for the install to get done. Also agree with doing trailer hitches. In addition to other uses, there are a lot of trailer hitch bike racks these days. The only time I used a rack store around here was to install a hitch. If the hitch is going to be used for towing then the install needs to also do wiring for the trailer lights. I’ve installed my racks myself and am pretty handy. However, I haven’t done one that required drilling into my car’s roof. That might drive me to use a specialist. I wonder if there is any room in that business for selling Spring Creek racks. That would separate you from other businesses. Good luck! |
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nooneuno |
scat: "That's fair, and I suppose is a consideration. I realize there is a bit of innuendo there, but thought it might be a plus. My gf actually came up with it. The logo she came up with has a kinda buggy type SUV like my Isuzu Trooper with a rack on top, nothing to do with a woman's body, more playing to the Nice part of the name. But I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you." This may be sexist but I would guess more men than women would attempt to mount their own racks so as previously stated women are not a segment of the population you would want to risk offending. In regards to working from a garage, if it is residential one nearby Karen could but the kabash on the venture with a complaint to zoning. Going to the Yakima website under dealers would reveal their dealers an who offers installs I would venture there are probably many more than your search revealed. Almost all truck accessory companies that do toppers, ladder racks, and aftermarket rims do racks as well. Years ago I had a friend who was a first mate on a group charter boat out of Key West he thought it would be cute to wear a T shirt that said “ master baiter” he said the amount of unforeseen complaints they received was crazy, never wore it again after the first two weeks. |
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TrailZen |
TZ |
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scat |
As always, Cheers, scat |
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scat |
Kinda got behind you guys, what I meant by garage is rent a place, just like a small car repair place, simple office with an overhead door in back to roll the vehicle in to. Nothing fancy, but Nice. The mobile idea would even eliminate that and might be convenient to the customers, hmmm... Appreciate all the thoughts. Thanks a million. |
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Northwoodsman |
Rack On! Rack 'Em Up! The Rackateer! |
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scat |
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scat |
When I had my Yakima rack put on my car there was only one place to get it done, an outfit called Rackattack in Skokie, an hour drive south. The next nearest Rackattack is in Minneapolis. So, with the boom in interest in kayaking, biking and all things outdoors, I'm thinking there is a void for a supplier and huge market for a competitor. The north shore of Chicago has so much money they don't know what to do with it. I'm going to call it Nice Rack, a counter to the aggressive logo and make your own assumptions from there. Outdoors people are nice people - Nice Rack - I like it! Going to invest some time and energy into this. I think it could really work, could start small and go from there. Marketing will be huge, and then the execution, of course, with a lot of hard work it could all fall into place. Now don't go stealing my idea, was thinking someone might want to partner up but I'm not so sure about that. Me and my gf talked about partnering up, but just staying together is hard enough. And wait till you see my model at the trade shows sporting a Nice Rack t-shirt! (Just kidding.) Just throwing it out here. Anybody have any thoughts? I'd like to hear them. Thanks, scat |
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scat |
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afromaniac |
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Kendis |
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butthead |
butthead |
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KawnipiKid |
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scat |
scats racks !!! Billy’s Rack Shack Rack it Up Buy my Rack or I will Starve LLC |
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jillpine |
(I think Rack On! is a great name). |
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Blatz |
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fadersup |
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Gunwhale |
Whaddaya think? |
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scat |
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bobbernumber3 |
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Blatz |
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KawnipiKid |
Gunwhale: "Doggone: KawnipiKid triggered a great idea; I'm gonna start installing trailer hitches and call the business " Hooking Up. " Good one, Gunwhale! At least you didn't go with "Hitches, *itches!" I actually think that "Gunwhales" would draw good business. |
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OCDave |
I bought my Yakima rack at REI due to the return policy. Price would have been the same at Rack Attack but... REI is where I buy most often. I have been to Rack Attack Minneapolis three times for lock cores, tower adapters, very small items not available at REI. Rack Attack seemed not very busy during the times I visited. Good Luck |
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scat |
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missmolly |
hard work + more hard work + making next to nothin' for a couple years = success sometimes |
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Stumpy |
fadersup: "I bought my first rack from Ralph Frese at his shop in Chicago. He didn't have a Yakima tower that would fit my "well loved" Impreza so I cleared him to drill and weld the rack directly to the car. It gave a me a charge. Knew Ralph My wife's dad knew him well My daughter and I were at his wake. Great guy. |
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DRob1992 |
scat: "Ok - let’s say Nice Rack might be too close to pushing the edge of the risk/reward type of thing. What’s next… I like scats racks the best of these options. |
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scat |
mm - you are in for the first run of Nice Rack tshirts . Pick your color. |
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smoke11 |
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analyzer |
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pamonster |
One other consideration & I do have my primary family living along the N shore so I'm familiar with the demographic. I'm also guilty of this next part myself...... An aftermarket rack has a certain appearance and in many cases give the vehicle a more "rugged" look. That certainly appeals to some. Others may not want their Acura adorned with Thule or Yakima. When I had my last roof rack installed it was the dealership who put on the OEM rack made specifically for my vehicle. Installed at the dealership, were any issues to arise I wanted that part covered. Point is...I want my FJ cruiser to give off the "rugged" look, but not the MKX, that should be more streamlined and discrete IMO. So it may be folks along the N shore are having OEM racks installed by their dealer. Everyone I'm related to up there does everything at the dealership....... |
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missmolly |
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scat |
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missmolly |
scat: "mm - You’re perfect! That is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time. Made me chuckle. Thanks for that." ;-) |
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fadersup |
scat: "So did I did I! Ralph Freese from Chicagoland Canoe Base. He was a classic dude. Put my first Yakima rack on a GMC Safari. Gotta love a guy like that, kinda quirky but a really nice guy." Yeah, Ralph was a dude for sure. "Sometimes, there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there." He dedicated his life to getting people excited about paddling. And Chicago's last operating blacksmith to boot! I love to see those signs along the North Branch that say "Ralph Frese Canoe Trail." What a dude. I made a visit to his shop looking for advice on buying my first canoe. He bought me lunch at the diner down the block and after I told him that I could only have one, he recommended a NC Prospector (with a nod to his Canadienne as a good option too if I could find one). My wife and I looked forward every year to the Happy Canoe Year paddle and we still try to enter the Des Plaines Marathon when we can. People like Ralph are a good reminder of how a life well lived can ripple positivity throughout a community. |
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scat |
Thanks a million for your input guys and gals. Have a great weekend! scat |
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schwartyman |
Possibly consider having an inventory of rentals, varying from different sports/needs. Friends and I took a road trip to CO to ski this winter. Rather than Spending $500+ on an enclosed ski carrier we found a person renting them on Facebook Marketplace. For 5 days of having his carrier, he charged us $70, which was very reasonable after we split that cost amongst us. He required that he installed/took it off, which makes sense. It went extremely smooth and was very convenient for us. |
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PaddlePretty |
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scat |
Cheers, scat |
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scat |
Saw this today, thought I’d share. Some aren’t so easily offended. Just sayin. |
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missmolly |
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