u/welovesmallbusiness

I just looked up a favorite coffee bean roaster. I would like to buy from them direct. They have two locations on their website. I clicked on both and see the addresses. If this storefront owner changed that web page to include 'next to' it would really help anyone to visualize where they are without having to open up maps, get directions, or another search. If it read, 'next to Canadian Tire', or 'same block as Canadian Tire', or 'between Canadian Tire and Home Depot', it would fast track the reader. I think this is a great idea for storefront owners and don't really understand why more websites don't include these landmark details.

Sidekicks aren't showing at profile, and it's a bummer. Will that change soon? Just a headshot now. Very sad.

Owning a physical storefront comes with some real perks. Those one-off on your own accord, or collaborative evening events is one of many. I've personally attended several and been a co-host. These events don't need to feel like a 'candle-party' where there is a perceiced pressure to buy either. If we have another space we pay for, outside of our home (I.e. mortgage, rent, etc) why not maximize opportunities. I don't think that calling these invitations 'networking events' necessarily fits either. Networking is somewhat stigmatized, I've noticed anyway. I've made a lot of friends, collaborated with great people, learned about stuff. I'm all for them, if bylaws allow for it. Thinking that maybe not enough physical owners are utilizing the space after business hours. Might be a missed opportunity in storefront business to try new things. Storefront owners, if they don't own the space or building, are paying daily for that square footage. Make sense right? To use it post 5 pm. I think so! Do others make use of their leased storefront after typical business hours?

What was one regrettable expensive mistake you made in your small business, i.e. mid-self-employment career that taught you a valuable lesson with spending? A mistake that almost was too hard to financially recover from.

Does a vendor consignment model work well for a physical storefront? A golf supply manufacturer places their golf supplies into your physical storefront, and unsold stock is returned. Or, a consignment model where physical storefront founder keeps ownership of the items until the sale, and the storefront founder takes a percentage. The items are all brand new.

Are these models helping tremendously to keep physical storefront owners on site? Attractive to the physical storefront as there are no initial purchase outlay but their storefront is stocked with lots to view.

Hey everyone! I'm u/welovesmallbusiness, a founding moderator of r/StorefrontFounders. Welcome to the space for physical retail owners, boutique founders, cafe creators, local service hubs, pop-up builders; all those of you with physical storefront.

​Whether you've been running a local storefront for a while, just signed your first lease, mulling over a rental agreement, or are planning your transition from an online brand to a physical one, or a fusion of both; this community was built for you.

​Unlike general business forums that focus heavily on software or e-commerce, r/StorefrontFounders is 100% dedicated to the unique real-world hustle of physical, brick-and-mortar operations.

We're excited to have you join us!

Post Outline

Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about operating in a building, in a shopping mall, in the ground level of a condo, leased space in a hotel, rental space in a 15-minute city, small storefront building and any physical space out there! Maybe you share with someone.

Community Vibe

We're all about being friendly, constructive, and inclusive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing and connecting.

How to Hang With Us

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.

2. Post something such as a simple question can spark a great conversation.

3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

4. Keep the vibe about going to a storefront space. You can operate online, too, but you must have a storefront.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave.

Together, let's make r/StorefrontFounders amazing, useful and informative to those of unlocking the door on the daily.

I have renewed domains for years. Been at this for 20 years, I am not a newbie buyer of domains or domain suppliers.The costs go up a few times a year despite any domain bulk offers. I accumulated them based on book titles (unwritten) and small business ideas (not started). There must be over 100 domains now. Some have an estimated value and whilst that may make someone feel 'good' it means nothing, I think.

I have about 6 coming due in two days. My question is this: Is this a complete waste of money now?

1. Things have changed since I started doing this years ago, thinking of book names and buying the domain, etc.

2. There are more and more domain extensions than ever before, a person could choose another one day.

Example:

-You own robineggblue.com and .ca, and you let both go.

-Later on you buy Robineggblue.co or .net one day in future. What's the difference ...? Yes. .net is pricey, this is just an example.

I just am getting to the point where I think this is becoming a complete waste of money and I would like to use the money elsewhere even. I can afford them, but if this is making no sense I am making bad decisions with money to keep them.

In summary, because of the extensions widening for buyers, I am losing the plot in keeping them and seeking feedback please. Thanks.

When you're in business, you're constantly thinking about your small business. It's there in your mind everywhere you go. What about the elevator speech. Also known as an up to one to two minute mini-speech. Do you have one? Ready to go?

You're in an elevator and have very little time.

A) "I work at a book store every day. It's downtown. Been there for a while I guess. I like it. I love books though so makes sense I'd have a cool book store. Do you read?"

or

B) I'm the owner of Peekaboo Books on Stanley Street near Shell Gas. Peekaboo Books is for all ages, but mostly adults and open daily 8-5. All our books are online, too. Do you read?"

Curious how interested small biz owners are in creating an AI Clone of themselves for videos, and equally curious if the services of solely creating AI clones for small business owners is a niche market of some kind.

Or, do 'most' people want to largely stay clear from that and keep it real only?

I've been lightly researching AI clones and simply on the fence about it all.

I am not for it, nor am I against it.

BACK SIDE OF THE REEF - WHERE ONTARIO MEETS DALLAS ROAD. (THE REEF - 21 ERIE STREET)

CORNER OF CROFT AND SIMCOE IN JAMES BAY - HERON ROCK BISTRO AND THRIFTY'S TO THE LEFT

LIME e-bike share - It's here

So far, I've located two areas where the e-bikes will be. Costs: $3.00 for 20 minutes. Ride for 5 minutes and it's $1.50. $9.00 an hour? Download an app, enter your credit card number, and use a shared helmet.

Will Lime Canada,'s e-bikes, selected by the City of Victoria, help small businesses?

If I find a bike that I can rent sitting at a location (former parking spots), pay for it and then check the app to leave the bike at a location downtown--will that location be full after I pedal there?

Will it be able to accomodate my arrival to support small businesses?

When I'm ready to leave, will there be a bike ready for me to return?

I've done some research and was informed Lime is not for adults who commute, Lime is not for people who run errands. Lime is not for people 55+ and aging, and Lime is not for anyone with mobility concerns.

Via my research, I was made aware that Lime is for tourists, students, young riders and for a casual trip somewhere with absolutely no need to rely on any kind of certainty. No need to rely on availability or assuredness of pickup or drop-off locations in Victoria.

The two locations I found are 1) on Ontario Street & Dallas Road, the back side of The Reef, right where Ontario meets Dallas. Two parking spots removed and ready for the lime green bikes; and 2) another two parking spots removed at the corner of Croft & Simcoe; just outside the Heron Rock Bistro.

BACK SIDE OF THE REEF - WHERE ONTARIO MEETS DALLAS ROAD. (THE REEF - 21 ERIE STREET)

BACK SIDE OF THE REEF - WHERE ONTARIO MEETS DALLAS ROAD. (THE REEF - 21 ERIE STREET)

BACK SIDE OF THE REEF - WHERE ONTARIO MEETS DALLAS ROAD. (THE REEF - 21 ERIE STREET)

CORNER OF CROFT AND SIMCOE IN JAMES BAY - HERON ROCK BISTRO AND THRIFTY'S TO THE LEFT

CORNER OF CROFT AND SIMCOE IN JAMES BAY - HERON ROCK BISTRO AND THRIFTY'S TO THE LEFT

CORNER OF CROFT AND SIMCOE IN JAMES BAY - HERON ROCK BISTRO AND THRIFTY'S TO THE LEFT

Recently, I was somewhere and purchased something. No need to call out the small business, but the experience has me thinking.

If I see a business card at a small business, I reach over and take one! Collecting business cards for a variety of reasons is fun for me. In this particular situation, the business card was of the 'Buy 8, Get 1 Free' variety. I took one card, dropped it in my bag, paid, and left the scene.

I forgot to ask for the card to be stamped, and there was no mention of the card at the time of purchase by the small business peeps. The business card now sits at home with me... and now what?

Do we need business cards anymore? Do small businesses truly want to utilize these cards? With social media so prevalent, does the public still like and/or use a business card? A small paper business card—especially one like the 'Buy 8, Get 1 Free' card—is timeless.

Maybe it's just my Gen X showing and I'm putting too much value on them. If I'm running stats, (actually, I am) it's me who reaches for the card in this paperless, this receiptless society. I'm thinking they may be gathering a lot more dust at the register than they need to. Going the way of the dinosaurs—something we'll just remember and find in an old Rubbermaid container somewhere.

I hope not, 'cause I'm gonna collect them for as long as I can.