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Forum nameBiz Ideas
Topic subjectDrive through for baby essentials
Topic URLhttps://www.businessownersideacafe.com/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=1179
1179, Drive through for baby essentials
Posted by megruss, Thu May-17-07 06:33 AM
As a mom it is such a pain when you run out of diapers or formula and you have to go to the store get the baby out of the seat and purchase the item. I just wish there were more drive through places. How about like a fast good chain a drive through for baby needs. Like you could even have different combinations of items as well. Such as: Diapers and formula as combo # 1. Baby food and formula for #2 and so on...
I just need to buy a place and make it into a drive through. I really think this would be a huge hit.
Thoughts on how I could get the money to do this?
1183, RE: Drive through for baby essentials
Posted by Pepperfire, Fri May-18-07 05:07 AM
I hate to break it to you, but I don't think so; not just for baby items... For groceries, etc. maybe, but it would have to be a call in the order and pick up kind of thing, and I might add... Most grocery stores already do that and for a small fee or even for free, they'll deliver any order over $25. (It doesn't take much to add a couple of somethings to a diaper order, to get it to hit $25.)

T


Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!
1185, RE: Drive through for baby essentials
Posted by megruss, Fri May-18-07 05:38 AM
So many moms here agree with me. Not as many moms are that organized to order foods. There are food delivery places around me too. I'll realize I'm out of diapers or formula when they are almost gone. I wish I could just run out and go through a drive-through to pick them up. Just a few quick items that are essential, like diapers and formula.
1215, RE: Drive through for baby essentials
Posted by Pepperfire, Wed May-23-07 06:55 AM
Well, it sounds to me like you have your answer, but don't know it.

How about shopping pooling... the members are given a specific day on which it is their turn to call all the other moms (or check emails) to see what the other moms need and on that date, she goes and picks up what all the other moms need and delivers them.

I really do not see a "drive in baby essentials" being big enough or substantial enough to be marketable without piggybacking on another product. As I suggested, general groceries or as the other poster suggested, pharmaceuticals.

I'm really sorry.

T

Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!
1188, RE: Drive through for baby essentials
Posted by bizdev, Sat May-19-07 10:44 AM
>>I just need to buy a place and make it into a drive through.
>I really think this would be a huge hit.
>Thoughts on how I could get the money to do this?

Well this is a bigger hurdle than you might think (finding a suitable location and finding funding). Before you can apply for funding you need to write a formal business plan. To do that you need to get good solid numbers. Would you need to build a new place or can you find an existing location that could be converted? Figure your costs for a build out. Find out about zoning issues for a drive through. Figure the start up costs:

building cost
racking/equipment
POS system (point of sale)
permits/licenses
professional services (lawyer; accountant)
marketing/advertising
signage
inventory
supplies

Then figure your ongoing expenses:

utilities
taxes
payroll
taxes
advertising
taxes
bank fees
taxes
inventory
taxes

I don't mean to be glib, but taxes are a killer (at least in the U.S.).

Once you see all those figures in black and white you will know if your idea is doable. Will your idea be profitable after all those expenses?