Jacksonville plunges in small-biz vitality

[danem]

To answer your question though, I've been looking into motorcycle parts/accessories retail with the possibility of a small repair shop doing basic maintenance and repairs. The problem is there are so many shops already open in Jacksonville, so I would have to reach out to a section of the city that has few and far between shops (considered the "Urban Core"). Regardless online sales continue to grow while retail store front continues to decline. If I were to open a shop I would have a very small store front and concentrate most of my sales online.

That's interesting, I'm actually helping out with a motorcycle-related business which is south of here. They found a need within that particular niche and developed a product line that filled it. So far they've sold at motorcycle shows as well as bike week.

I think the challenges with businesses here is differentiation and marketing. It's true for every type of restaurant or shop there may be a dozen others who are similiar. I'd love to see a study of the actual success stories and examine what they do that's so different.

[mtraininjax]

If I were to open a shop I would have a very small store front and concentrate most of my sales online.

I believe that a retail shop for product is a mistake. Focus on the service, lease some space to start with to test and see if you can make it work and see how it goes. Conserve as much cash in the beginning, and work like heck to sell the service. The best and most successful are not the biggest, but those who offer personal service. Get some business cards with your personal cell phone to call you, the personal side will win you more opportunities and lifelong customers.

My auto mechanic does this and he thrives with so much business he has had to expand twice. He does not keep any parts in stock since there are many parts warehouses that can deliver items same or next day. You have found a great business that would seem to only grow as gas gets up to 5 bucks a gallon. The motorcycle people say more and more people are buying the bikes and scooters to save for running up to the pharmacy or grocery store. Great business, I wish you all the best!

[jerry cornwell]

If I were to open a shop I would have a very small store front and concentrate most of my sales online.

I believe that a retail shop for product is a mistake. Focus on the service, lease some space to start with to test and see if you can make it work and see how it goes. Conserve as much cash in the beginning, and work like heck to sell the service. The best and most successful are not the biggest, but those who offer personal service. Get some business cards with your personal cell phone to call you, the personal side will win you more opportunities and lifelong customers.

My auto mechanic does this and he thrives with so much business he has had to expand twice. He does not keep any parts in stock since there are many parts warehouses that can deliver items same or next day. You have found a great business that would seem to only grow as gas gets up to 5 bucks a gallon. The motorcycle people say more and more people are buying the bikes and scooters to save for running up to the pharmacy or grocery store. Great business, I wish you all the best!

Thats truth, Mtrain.......
The keys are what you said
1) find a niche, a service, you alone can provide
2) work locally
3) start slowly (this is the hardest point when mouths have to be fed, but persistence is the key
4) Have a business card, cell phone #, and consider a website, Gmail blogspot costs me nothing
Be openmined.... My niche is fine art screen printing. My closed mindedness thought it was obselete,
but i discovered my niche was so in demand ive done work strictly with local artists. Like you said, i havent made much money, but its working great! And in meeting the greatest people.
Feel free to check my blogspot where my portfolio is displayed
http://georgecornwellserigraphs.blogspot.com/
Yes things are bad, but using patience, things are good. And they are good in Jacksonville!

[904Scars]

Mtrain, I agree with you about store front and that's why IF I decided to go through with plans I would be joining up with someone who already has store front they'd be willing to share. The person I speak of, I will leave unnamed however he has enough room in his current shop for me to have my own SMALL store front, mainly to allow customers a chance to come in see a few products in person, try on helmets, put their hands on handlebars etc. but mainly for special orders and to grow a customer base. He also has room in the back (if zoning would permit) to make a decent sized shop to wrench on bikes. This is only something we've discussed and in all reality I'm in no rush, as rushing things in the small business world is the worst thing you can do.

[mtraininjax]

Mtrain, I agree with you about store front and that's why IF I decided to go through with plans I would be joining up with someone who already has store front they'd be willing to share. The person I speak of, I will leave unnamed however he has enough room in his current shop for me to have my own SMALL store front, mainly to allow customers a chance to come in see a few products in person, try on helmets, put their hands on handlebars etc. but mainly for special orders and to grow a customer base. He also has room in the back (if zoning would permit) to make a decent sized shop to wrench on bikes. This is only something we've discussed and in all reality I'm in no rush, as rushing things in the small business world is the worst thing you can do.

When and If you decide to go to the next level, look at the US Small Business Administration for a low interest loan, they have a great 504 program that allows you to put down 10%, US SBA puts down 40% and a local bank (of your choice) puts down 50%. Our company did this recently and it worked out very well. We were able to purchase a 2.2 million dollar building and have cash to use for build-out and enhancements.

Again, I wish you the best and look forward to reading about your success in the Times Union and Business Journal!

[hillary supporter]

]

When and If you decide to go to the next level, look at the US Small Business Administration for a low interest loan, they have a great 504 program that allows you to put down 10%, US SBA puts down 40% and a local bank (of your choice) puts down 50%. Our company did this recently and it worked out very well. We were able to purchase a 2.2 million dollar building and have cash to use for build-out and enhancements.

Again, I wish you the best and look forward to reading about your success in the Times Union and Business Journal!

These are very advantageous terms for a new small business. will (did) they survive the house 2011 budget?
SBA is from the federal government. And they re here to help!

[Jdog]

There are lots of us current residents who are looking to start an independent business and wouldn't even consider doing it in Jacksonville. Too many factors working against you that aren't an issue in other, more vibrant areas. There's a mindset among would-be entrepeneurs this year about Jacksonville that wasn't there in more optimistic years past.

Can you be more specific about the factors working against small business in Jax?

Sure. Note that I'm speaking for myself, my wife, and a handful of friends.
1) The attitude of locals seems geared towards chains from out of town that are already well established elsewhere.
2) Commercial landlords seem to think their property is worth a heck of a lot more than it really is, based on the Jacksonville market.
3) For a little while there, it looked like downtown was on the upswing - now it's definitely headed in the other direction.
4) The city's sign ordinances don't help matters. How'm I supposed to let people on the street know my business is there?
5) General quality of life - yeah, it's fairly cheap to live here, but for young adults looking for an interesting and vibrant urban environment, Jax just doesn't cut it. The entrepreneurial young person wants to be someplace with more going on.

Just my view. I'm sure there are other factors keeping would-be entrepreneurs from starting up locally. I'd love to hear contrasting points from anybody who thinks it'd be a good idea to start a business here.

And Garden Guy - my dad has also been self employed most of his adult life, as an artist. But much of his work is from Ponte Vedra, St Johns County, and other non-metro Jacksonville areas. He's thought several times of opening a gallery in town and ultimately decided against it. He's told me time and again that one of his biggest mistakes was not leaving town.

I also think the infrastructure might not help.  Personally, and unfortunately I admit, I'll tend to hit national chains when I'm in the car.  Who wants to pull into an unknown establishment, then park, possibly decide to leave, go back into traffic, and "browse" the street for something else?  Give me a walkable street, a TOD, let me window shop, walk 15 steps to look at a menu or the wares, and then locally owned, establishment names I haven't heard of, pull me in (in fact, I'll seek out locally owned establishments...I know I don't do that in a spread out, car oriented environment). 

 

[danem]

I also think the infrastructure might not help.  Personally, and unfortunately I admit, I'll tend to hit national chains when I'm in the car.  Who wants to pull into an unknown establishment, then park, possibly decide to leave, go back into traffic, and "browse" the street for something else?  Give me a walkable street, a TOD, let me window shop, walk 15 steps to look at a menu or the wares, and then locally owned, establishment names I haven't heard of, pull me in (in fact, I'll seek out locally owned establishments...I know I don't do that in a spread out, car oriented environment).   

You said what I was trying to come up with words for. For some reason if I'm walking around some area with shops and restaurants all close together, I want to check out all of them. If I'm in my car going 45mph with five cars tailgating me and I want lunch, I'm looking for the signs with the redhead or the golden arches...and usually they're the only ones with big enough signs.

[Bativac]

We're all self employed these days, no matter how many sources the paycheck comes from.

Not one to argue but how do you firgure?

On the same topic but another note... I've considered opening a small business for a couple years now but Jacksonville just doesn't feel like the right place.

Basically the old days of being dependent on one employer for most of your life for your salary, benefits, and even retirement are mostly over. For most, that one employer can now drop you without warning for any reason, and even if that doesn't happen, chances are you will seek other employers when personal and professional growth becomes stagnant. OR...you start doing your own thing.

I'm curious, What kind of business were you thinking of?

Too true. Working for someone is just that: working for someone. Doing what they tell you when they tell you, and getting laid off if they decide they don't need you anymore.

I know you weren't asking me, but as far as the type of business, I'm working with a poet friend and other artists to self publish childrens books, comics, that type of stuff. We always have great success outside of town and zero luck selling stuff to anyone in Jax. We've done ArtWalk numerous times, other local festivals and reading events, and it's always other metro areas (DC and NYC for example) where we have good experiences.

Probably a different situation for restaurants or mechanics or something that locals need or want (car repairs and food)...

[904Scars]

Thanks mtraininjax I really appreciate that! I'll let all of you know when I make it big. Haha

[Timkin]

Good luck to you !!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I know you weren't asking me, but as far as the type of business, I'm working with a poet friend and other artists to self publish childrens books, comics, that type of stuff. We always have great success outside of town and zero luck selling stuff to anyone in Jax. We've done ArtWalk numerous times, other local festivals and reading events, and it's always other metro areas (DC and NYC for example) where we have good experiences.

I would assume you've tried, but didn't mention putting out a table at some of the local comic book stores or Chamblins or a Books-a-Million?  Maybe doing some read-a-longs during some of the children's summer camps that are hosted by different groups?  Directing the theme of a book or two to a specific group and then magnanimously offer to read that book to their group?  Just some spitballin'

[hillary supporter]

Thanks mtraininjax I really appreciate that! I'll let all of you know when I make it big. Haha

mtrains advice on a 504 SBA loan is very good. I tried it myself, but was a bit overwhelmed with the documentation. 904Scars, consider having a lawyer advise you along the way of your small business. The amount of info the right lawyer has can take alot of effort off your shoulders.

[Bativac]

I know you weren't asking me, but as far as the type of business, I'm working with a poet friend and other artists to self publish childrens books, comics, that type of stuff. We always have great success outside of town and zero luck selling stuff to anyone in Jax. We've done ArtWalk numerous times, other local festivals and reading events, and it's always other metro areas (DC and NYC for example) where we have good experiences.

I would assume you've tried, but didn't mention putting out a table at some of the local comic book stores or Chamblins or a Books-a-Million?  Maybe doing some read-a-longs during some of the children's summer camps that are hosted by different groups?  Directing the theme of a book or two to a specific group and then magnanimously offer to read that book to their group?  Just some spitballin'

Yeah, we tried that stuff. Did some readings at schools and the Head Start programs. Sold a handful of books. It's just hard to build momentum here in Jacksonville.

Now if we were starting a weekly Monster Truck Show or perhaps Lynyrd Skynyrd cover shows, we might be onto something.......

[peestandingup]

The city has gotten too big for it's britches and now we're paying for it..unsupported development by rich boys playing with our hometown. Until low income and middle income people start their own businesses and starting them without loans. Most small business fail due to debt. Start small and grow proportionately. It takes patience and perseverance.

There are lots of us current residents who are looking to start an independent business and wouldn't even consider doing it in Jacksonville. Too many factors working against you that aren't an issue in other, more vibrant areas. There's a mindset among would-be entrepeneurs this year about Jacksonville that wasn't there in more optimistic years past.

Yep. And the insanely overinflated rents from landlords who think their places are worth more than they really are aren't helping either (just ask Stephen from Jaded in Springfield). I've got ideas too & the money/equipment to make it happen, but I need realistic rents or else its just not going to work & I'd be out of business in a matter of months (how many times have you saw this here? Lots). Small businesses that are just starting out on a shoestring budget can't happen here. They end up with way too much overhead from these rents & the business just can't stay viable because of it. And a lot of these storefronts are in horrible shape, and they STILL want high rents. Its insane.

This is really where the city needs to step in. I don't know what they can do exactly, but I do know that stuff will never recover as long as landlords are able to jack up their rents to whatever crazy unrealistic prices they want in the core. Playing up to small businesses is really a key element in the growth of some of these areas. And thats just not happening. But the city obviously doesn't give a shit either, so I don't think it'll get better anytime soon. Hence why small businesses are sorta SOL in Jax.