An All Vegan Store in SF?

[Guest guest]

Hi Bay Area vegans & vegetarians!

 

I'm working on getting some information together to help with determining

whether or not San Francisco needs (and can support)

an all-vegan store. I've created a short survey and I'd be very appreciative if

you would help out by taking a few minutes to give

us your input. Also, if you've got other email lists, web pages, or associated

networks of Bay Area veg*ns, I'd be grateful if you'd forward and/or repost the

link.

 

Here's the link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VVTD8HZ

 

And feel free to email me off-list if you have thoughts, info, or ideas you'd

like to share.

 

Thanks so much,

Chris

[Guest guest]

Hi all

 

In my opinion, the trick for any business with a vegan focus is that you need the support of the non-veg community to survive and thrive. There's simply not a large enough veg population to rely solely on veg people.

 

Two vegan stores come to my mind ...

 

1) Micio Mambo was a boutique store, all vegan, with shoes, purses, belts, etc. They just closed down their retail store in Oakland's Lake Merritt last month. Perhaps Urusla (the owner) would be willing to share any of her key learnings with you.

 

2) Otsu in SF sold vegan shoes -- I don't think selling the vegan shoes was profitable enough for them to keep selling them, as they refocused the store to what it sells currently, stationary products.

 

Perhaps you can reach out to them for advice. Both have websites, and Otsu is listed in the 2nd link below.

 

We maintain a list of local groups/resources on our website that you may wish to use as a starting point

http://bayareaveg.org/resources.htm

 

As well as a list of businesses offering veg food, or businessed owned by veg people

http://bayareaveg.org/ug

 

Cheers,

Tammy

 

Say it your way .. with an Ultimate Guide Review

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

 

Thanks for taking the time to provide your thoughts. I agree it will be a tough

go if we only have vegans for customers. We certainly want to be attractive and

open to the larger community and will work on developing specific ways to bring

them through the doors. One thing we're getting lots of feedback about is not

using the word vegan in our name, so as not to alienate folks and keep them from

coming in.

 

I am reaching out to other vegan store owners. However, while both Micio Mambo

and Otsu's experiences would provide some insight, I'm really hoping to get some

input and help from other vegan food sellers, since that will be our main focus

and it's a totally different market.

 

Thanks for providing links to your resource and veg biz lists, I will look at

them right now.

 

As a vegan living in SF, I would really love for this store to exist so I could

shop there. But, as a person struggling through these trying economic times, I'm

not sure opening a new niche business right now is the smartest move. I'm

working hard to figure that out though. Please feel free to get in touch with

any other thoughts or suggestions you might have.

 

Thanks again! ~ Chris

[Guest guest]

Hello Chris,

 

Opening a storefront involves a significant investment and serious recurring

overhead expenses, like rent, that you have to work and sell to pay before you

get to pocket a single dime. Consider less riskier alternatives to getting

started, such as farmer's markets, or a " mobile store in a van " so you can bring

your goods right to your customers' neighborhoods (say, using Twitter to tell

folks where you're going to be).

 

Chuck

VeganBusinessOwner.com

 

 

, " beetsnotmeats " <marcleton wrote:

>

> Hi Bay Area vegans & vegetarians!

>

> I'm working on getting some information together to help with determining

whether or not San Francisco needs (and can support)

> an all-vegan store. I've created a short survey and I'd be very appreciative

if you would help out by taking a few minutes to give

> us your input. Also, if you've got other email lists, web pages, or associated

networks of Bay Area veg*ns, I'd be grateful if you'd forward and/or repost the

link.

>

> Here's the link:

> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VVTD8HZ

>

> And feel free to email me off-list if you have thoughts, info, or ideas you'd

like to share.

>

> Thanks so much,

> Chris

>