The Irish Wizard

[Razor]

I was wondering ,,,there is nowhere for the hobbyist to go in Ireland if they want to buy some of the stuff we talk about here on this site. Receivers, dishes, cards, programmers, meters, and all the specialist stuff those of you in GB take for granted. Any time I have bought stuff I had to get it from England ( Wizard Satellite ), they normally do a two page spread in What Satellite MAG.

So, with 1.5mil people in and around Dublin, would a brave man who opened a sat shop make a living.

How hard would it be to get off the ground.

How would he go about getting suppliers.

How much might he pay for a one page add in What Satellite MAG.

How would he convince his wife to let him use his redundancy lump sum in this mad venture.

There is a seed growing in the back of my mind, please somebody kick me, hit me, or give me some bad news, stop this seed before it takes root.

 

[jimbo]

With Ireland's position in the EU I would have thought you would get good backing Razor. Maybe you wouldn't have to plough everything in. Eircom seem to have done v.well in the comms market. I'll look out for you next year in O'Connell Street. :-righton

 

[Channel Hopper]

Look for the market in Dublin and surrounding first. Check what locals want on top of the local cable network and dodgy Sky box supplies

Go round the neighbouhood and log all dish sizes you can spot, and roughly where they are pointing (ask if you feel like knocking on doors)

Then check the forums for the best suppliers of trade equipment - start here first

Try EVERYTHING first yourself, if you know its pitfalls then you can beat anyone, even if they speak with fork tongue

Get to know a couple of installers that are reputable and have their own marked vehicles, qualifications/organisation membership is not as important as trust and reputation

Then buy some 1.8/2.4/3.7m dishes for Sirius (I know someone can sell you some),smaller stuff for Hispasat and others, some decent UCAS receivers and maybe some card/programmers

No need for a shop front to start with, if its a success then build a shed

Store any equipment in different places, lockups, attic, and houses of family

Check local trading laws and company insurance quotes, as well as opening trading as bank accounts

Think of a good catchy company name

 

[Razor]

Dublin is fairly tied up with cable (NTL) and skyD.

The only market left to chase is the hobby market. I would say that out of 1.5mil people only 10 would know what a patched receiver is. We are not up to speed like you guys over in GB. I myself have never seen any shop that sales Sat equipment.

Keep the ideas coming.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Then check out the possible competition that is already doing similar business in the area. If they are making money then so should you , unless your presence in the market saturates the potential business

 

[rolfw]

Have a look in your local trades directory, yellow pages or equivalent. I bet there are more than you're aware of, look under satellite and aerial and aerial.

 

[Doodler]

http://www.sat-2000.com/ is an Irish company. Also Electroplus in Beaumont Dublin provide some stuff but are really concentrated on Sky.

 

[Razor]

I have come across the two companies you mension Doodler,sat-2000 is net only. They have only 2 boxes on the site, not what I would call a large selection.
Electroplus are mostly SkyD and top end TVs, but wil sell sat systems. I call them once, last year sometime, I was looking for a hummy, the guy said that they don't realy do sat stuff.

 

[Razor]

OK…who did it, whooooo did it.

Adds splashed all over the papers,,, Get your MR here,,,,Get your CAS Interface here.

Adult cards, fun cards,,,,Full range of recivers, Full range of Channel Master dishes.

I rang up this new shop to price a dish and an English guy answered the phone. So which one of you guys was I talking to?

 

[jimbo]

It wasn't me Razor but when you find out I suggest you hold out for 15%. Mind you, you could have gone for it......was it down to not having the bread?

 

[Razor]

Don't finish my job for a few weeks, so no lump sum yet.

And after 20 odd years in the same firm I was looking forward to something new. It was just one of the thoughts in my head.

 

[jimbo]

Don't finish my job for a few weeks, so no lump sum yet.

And after 20 odd years in the same firm I was looking forward to something new. It was just one of the thoughts in my head.

Ok mate...sorry wasn't being nosey, the bread bit was a pun

 

[Razor]

Bought a motor here...Shop doing very well.

I feel SICK.

 

[waverider]

'He who dares Rodders' .....i think is a saying you need to listen to razor......14 years ago i was employed at a VW Audi main dealer....same old routine an stuff!....so i had a good talk to the missus and discussed the matter of going it alone!.......the wife came up with a good idea...and that was to stay employed but work some evenings and weekends on P.J's. to build up a customer base....i did this for about six months on my drive!....my next big leap was to rent a workshop and pack in my job!.....i started my business with £800.00 capital which was 1 week in hand wages and holiday money from my employment!....Today i am an established and a very well known VW Audi specialist in my area and i have never looked back....so really razor if you are prepared at first to put yourself out and work hard, i feel any business within reason can be got off the ground and be a success.......waverider

 

[jimbo]

Good on you waverider. I used to own beetles and was a member of the London & Thames Valley VW Club. Went to Stonor Park every year.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Jimbo - know anything about these ?

Sitting in my lock up, in red, with Wolfrace slots, a BX19 engine and rear suspension unit

Needs a bit of a tidy up and linkage for the gearshift but all there

 

[waverider]

I take it you prefered the flatscreen jimbo or where you a 1303 man?....yep know the old beast's well used to rebuild their engines quite a lot too.......Essex Vw owners club know of me quite well........shame about Peter Nelson though he was a dear friend of mine....i bet you were quite a regular at bug jams jimbo!........waverider

 

[waverider]

well i can tell you it aint a vdub hopper..LOL ....but it's mid engined and probably has a V10 stuffed in it lol........waverider

 

[waverider]

did you receive my last post's hopper & jimbo?.....funny i just posted them and they ain't come up!!!!......waverider

 

[jimbo]

@CH I will get you the info on that over the w/end.

@ waverider .. flatscreens loved 'em. Liked all the meets, still a member of L&TVVWOC but don't own a bug of my own anymore.