Business idea - what to do

[Hedgie]

About 12-18 months ago I had a business idea which I decided to shelve at the time as I didn't have the respources to carry it through. I had been thinking about it last week and then all of a sudden listeneing to the radio this morning and a company in Liverpool is now offering the very service I was going to do !!

Should I ditch the idea or push on anyway but with a unique angle.

 

[GenOneClaire]

Competition proves there is a market for your idea, after all....

 

[cjd]

Depends whether there's a working business model behind the 'idea'.

Oh, how I hate that word.

 

[Hedgie]

There is very much a working business model in place

I have just taken a look at the competitors website and to be honest it looks awful.

 

[mobyme]

You have to run with it. My dad used to say if you want to guarantee customers in a shoe shop, open up next to an existing shoe shop. Any other logic would mean there would only be one garage, supermarket etc. It's one of the problems with good ideas they usually occur to several people at the same time because we are all subjected to the same stimuli each day. The idea is the easiest thing, now all you have to do is apply your expertise with the benefit of being able to see what is happening to the Guinea pig. Lets face it, most of us wouldn't want to be first across a minefield would we?

 

[carmenes]

As the previous poster has said, another company trying to fill a niche is a good sign that there is demand for your product/service. Assuming you can do it better (better web site, customer service, pricing, etc.), why not go for it? If you want to provide some more details of what you are planning via PM, I'd be happy to advise further.