Essential British goods

[You fly oui drive]

Any would be willing to starta service to and from France delivering those much needed British goods that ex-pats miss so much and travelling back to the u.k any items for delivery fotr what ever reason.Please could anyone let me know if this would be a good idea or if there is any interest out there

[Gunner]

We go back and forward quite a lot, where exactly do you live ?

[Teamedup]

There are quite a lot of registered companies doing this already, ie EpicierieAnglaise, can't think of any other for the time being,but they can get anything anyone wants.

[You fly oui drive]

are you saying there isnt room for another one to do this service

[Nick Trollope]

Market research is all very well, but do you actually consider what others are telling you? (I'd refer you to the replies to your other posting about car deliveries).

A Forum (any forum) isn't a good place to research - the folks here aren't representative; Firstly, they are internet-connected & can find what they want, by asking (someone). You are only likely to get the negatives - human nature, plus your potential competitors are unlikely to give you a straight answer. Then there the people who will tell you exactly what you want to hear, this is inevitable if you ask enough times...

To misquote a famous RR cliché; "If you have to ask, you probably can't afford (to do) it".

Sorry.

 

[Dick Smith]

I think I completely agree with Nick plus our local in-the-sticks supermarket has a small but effective English shelf, or if not some goods are sold by the fortnightly fish-and-chip van. Just as we can get a wide range of French goods in the UK we can now get English goods in France, and there are at least two specialist companies which can deliver.

I think you need to find an area without such services and do your market research there.

[Teamedup]

If you live here and are running a business here then you will have to register here. And that I'm afraid will cost you. The fuel costs, the ferry costs, will only be a part of the amounts you have to cough up. I don't know how much insurance will be to use your van for professional use either. To make a living you will have to have 'interesting' prices as places like the Epicerie Anglaise have, but there again, if we want the stuff, then we have to pay for them. And some things we buy and some we go without.

 

 

[Linnorton]

I don't think we were talking about the odd packet of teabags or grocery item; my suggestion was a regular run for bulkier items with a designated pick-up point.  The idea may or may not have any merit but it could be worth exploring, if the only cost is the posters time.  That is market research, albeit in a limited fashion, and market research is "listening to what people tell you."

Personally, if I was doing MR for myself I'd be looking at the possibility of back loads as well.  A friend has just saved £2,500 moving his stuff to France by having a Bulgarian tramper wagon deliver from Hull to Normandy on their way back home. 

Similarly, I know of an English antique dealer who does regular runs from the UK empty, returning from France with architectural salvage.  He is always open to offers from people who want to shift stuff from UK to France.

You'll never know what peoples' needs are unless you ask the questions and all credit to the original poster  for exploring his potential marketplace.

[You fly oui drive]

Thanks very much for everyones advice on this subject,I am aware of the difference between reality and a pipe dream but all I was originally trying to do at the outset was to see if there is a market out there for this kind of service,I still beleive there is but like Linerton replied maybe in specialised goods and not in tea bags.Linerton I am still interested in your delivery for some experience if your still want it done that is