Hello everyone!
I would like to start a supermarket shopping service for the community in which I live (a regional city, of about 85,000 people).
Currently there is a home-delivered grocery service for each of the two major supermarkets, but I would like to offer a service that allows shoppers to choose where I buy their groceries from, instead of feeling beholden to buy from just one supermarket.
I am not sure how to find out just how popular a service such as mine would be, and I am also unsure about how to decide on a price. I *could* undercut the price that the major supermarkets pay, but I want to make this venture feasible - I don't mind putting in the hard yards to set it up, but I don't want to be ripped off down the track.
Does anyone have any advice for me?

Yes, you could undercut the price of the major supermarkets - most people would just call that being competitive. If you are doing exactly what your compentition does, then your price would need to be competitive. If this means that the venture is not feasible for you, then you go out of business. That's just how markets operate. Right?

So, you should think outside the box and look at what else your area needs. Like BizResearcher said, how about doing an errand business? So, you can pick up groceries, medication, drop off mail, pick up take out, pick up the dry cleaning, take people to the doctor, etc. By adding additional services which you can certainly do while you're out anyway, you can actually charge more money so this venture can be feasible.

In terms figuring out how popular this service would be, well, you need to figure out your targer market. Who needs such services? The elderly would be my first guess. In terms of how much to charge, knowing how much your competition charges for similar services is a great start. Start with what the grocery stores charge and then go from there. Consider your time, gas, and all the other expenses you'll have.

Then, put a website, make some flyers, and contanct your local retirement communities to see whether they can hand out your flyers or allow you to do some other form of advertising.

Best of luck!

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