Small business idea

[Delly]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping some of you would be able to answer a few questions for me regarding my small business idea. I am considering starting a Veg, Fruit and Salad box scheme in the East Midlands and would like to get some feedback on the following...

1. Is an Organic Veg, Fruit and Salad box/bag something you would be interested in buying?
2. Do you think you would be likely to place an order every week, every 2 weeks or once a month?
3. How many people would the box/bag need to cater for? – Please state how many adults and children (if any)
4. What is the maximum you would be willing to pay for a veg, fruit and salad box/bag?
5. Would you prefer a set box of seasonal products each week or the option to choose your own?
6. What kind of items would you like to see in your box?
7. If you like the idea of a set box, would you like the option to opt out of certain items you may not be fond of?
8. Would you purchase products such as Eggs, Bread and local Cheeses if they were available to you?
9. Would you be happy with imported produce if this meant more variety in your box/bag or more options to choose from?
10. Would an entirely organic box/bag be best?
11. Would you be happy with a box/bag being left on your doorstep? Or would you prefer produce to be delivered to a more convenient place (e.g work) in the event that you will not be at home on your day of delivery?
12. Do you think a call or text message an hour before arrival would help prevent missed deliveries and would you opt to have this service?
13. Would you find weekly recipe ideas useful?
14. Would you like a monthly newsletter to be sent with your box/bag or would updates be better on the website?
15. Would you favour a recyclable box or a recyclable bag?
16. Would you be happy to recycle the box/bag yourself or would it be more convenient for us to collect it when dropping off your next delivery?
17. What would you expect from your supplier?

If you do not wish to supply your answers here, you may email me directly.


I would appreciate any suggestions/feedback you may have - Many thanks

Adele

 

[RyanPromotions]

Hi Adele, it sounds good. I believe it would be best for you to appeal to the health and nutrition market. I for one would enjoy having something like this as a nutritious, energy gaining snack before going to exercise, going to the gym, etc.
Here are some answers to your questions-:

1) yes, as a ready made, grab and go snack.
2) every week
3) one person, about half a normal meal size. But could sell in multipack portions.
4) £7 per week.
5) option to choose own.
6) high energy products, sweet over savoury. Bananas, peaches, oranges, dried fruits.
7) yes, but this leans over to choose own products again.
8) probably not, part of a normal weekly shop anyway so wouldn't need them.
9) yes
10) mostly organic would be great, but a few non-organic products here and there would not lose my custom.
11) best to be given a choice of place of delivery/collection, depending on the day.
12) Text on the morning of delivery or night before, giving an hour window for delivery.
13) possibly, best to have them as an opt in/out e-newsletter
14) again would be good as an opt in/out newsletter in case I changed my mind each month.
15) any packaging is fine, as long as it keeps the food fresh for a few hours without needing a fridge.
16) would be happy to recycle myself, but collecting empty packages is also very convenient.
17) trustworthy, deliver on time, product is high quality, and stays the same throughout the service, not constantly changing in price or quantity of product.

Hope this helps!
Ryan.

 

[Delly]

Excellent! Thank you very much for the reply Ryan. It didn't even cross my mind to have an opt/in out newsletter!! Brilliant idea Thanks again, Adele

 

[Christine Hough]

I have done this with a couple of companies, but it never worked too well and the veg went off quite quickly. In the end I preferred to see what I was buying. But if it could be made to work I would like to support local producers and farmers.

1. Is an Organic Veg, Fruit and Salad box/bag something you would be interested in buying?

potentially yes, but it would have to work with fresh veg that last. Size and shape can vary a lot and that's fine, just freshness is really important

2. Do you think you would be likely to place an order every week, every 2 weeks or once a month?

if it works weekly or even 2x week ( how long will the veg last? )

3. How many people would the box/bag need to cater for? - Please state how many adults and children (if any)

3 adults

4. What is the maximum you would be willing to pay for a veg, fruit and salad box/bag?

probably £10 for just veg

5.Would you prefer a set box of seasonal products each week or the option to choose your own?

set box is okay as long as I could opt out and into some items - a bit like graze box

6.What kind of items would you like to see in your box?

local items (not imported) traceable items (which farm or area) seasonal and a good variety. not just filled up with variations on lettuce leaves

7.If you like the idea of a set box, would you like the option to opt out of certain items you may not be fond of?

yes

8.Would you purchase products such as Eggs, Bread and local Cheeses if they were available to you?

probably, but especially locally produced meat which I would pay a bit more for. This worked well when I used this service before, but the company went out of business.

9. Would you be happy with imported produce if this meant more variety in your box/bag or more options to choose from?

not so keen on this, In past experience they are not very fresh when bough this way.

10.Would an entirely organic box/bag be best?

depends on price

11.Would you be happy with a box/bag being left on your doorstep? Or would you prefer produce to be delivered to a more convenient place (e.g work) in the event that you will not be at home on your day of delivery?

Usually there is someone home here

12.Do you think a call or text message an hour before arrival would help prevent missed deliveries and would you opt to have this service?

text message could be useful, but maybe the night before not just an hour before

13.Would you find weekly recipe ideas useful?

no, a bit irritating

14.Would you like a monthly newsletter to be sent with your box/bag or would updates be better on the website?

I get enough paper through the door, so would prefer an email

15. Would you favour a recyclable box or a recyclable bag?

yes

16. Would you be happy to recycle the box/bag yourself or would it be more convenient for us to collect it when dropping off your next delivery?

would like you to collect it so it can be reused as is, not recycled by puling it down

17. What would you expect from your supplier?

consistency, freshness, connection to local suppliers so I know where food comes from. friendliness.

Hope this helps

 

[KeithP]

Hi Adele

As your market is going to be quite localised, I would be far more inclined to post your survey on websites and forums that your potential customer base are more likely to read. Perhaps you could set-up a Facebook page and use that to garner more opinions from your target group of potential customers?

Local markets can differ greatly - you could take the same business model and apply it to 10 differnet towns in the UK and you'll get different results in each of them.

Also, the trouble is with consumer polls/surveys on this forum is that it's sometimes difficult to remove your 'business hat' and put on your 'consumer hat', so you may get answers from people that are subconsciously viewing the questions from a business perspective rather than as a consumer.

Best of luck.

 

[Multi-store]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping some of you would be able to answer a few questions for me regarding my small business idea. I am considering starting a Veg, Fruit and Salad box scheme in the East Midlands and would like to get some feedback on the following...

1. Is an Organic Veg, Fruit and Salad box/bag something you would be interested in buying?
Unsure

2. Do you think you would be likely to place an order every week, every 2 weeks or once a month?

Again not sure, i currently have a Graze box every 2 weeks

3. How many people would the box/bag need to cater for? – Please state how many adults and children (if any)
One

4. What is the maximum you would be willing to pay for a veg, fruit and salad box/bag?
Unsure, currently pay £3.75 for Graze

5. Would you prefer a set box of seasonal products each week or the option to choose your own?
Either or really
6. What kind of items would you like to see in your box?
Something different, i wouldnt pay you for a bit of chopped carrot or apple.
7. If you like the idea of a set box, would you like the option to opt out of certain items you may not be fond of?
Yes
8. Would you purchase products such as Eggs, Bread and local Cheeses if they were available to you?
Maybe, if the cost is right. I still have milk deliverd the old fashioned way and they advertise these kind of products too
9. Would you be happy with imported produce if this meant more variety in your box/bag or more options to choose from? Yes
10. Would an entirely organic box/bag be best? not bothered either way
11. Would you be happy with a box/bag being left on your doorstep? Or would you prefer produce to be delivered to a more convenient place (e.g work) in the event that you will not be at home on your day of delivery? It should be postable, like graze
12. Do you think a call or text message an hour before arrival would help prevent missed deliveries and would you opt to have this service? yeh why not, if it was free
13. Would you find weekly recipe ideas useful? YES
14. Would you like a monthly newsletter to be sent with your box/bag or would updates be better on the website? EMAIL
15. Would you favour a recyclable box or a recyclable bag? BAG, MORE LIKELY TO RE-USE A BAG
16. Would you be happy to recycle the box/bag yourself or would it be more convenient for us to collect it when dropping off your next delivery? I CAN RECYLCE
17. What would you expect from your supplier? GOOD VALUE, GOOD FOOD, GOOD OFFERS,

If you do not wish to supply your answers here, you may email me directly.


I would appreciate any suggestions/feedback you may have - Many thanks

Hi Adele, Ive mentioned "graze" a few times in my answers. Id assume you already know lots about them, but if you don't then i suggest you sign up and have a few boxes from them. They are good at what they do, but not perfect. Their foods could be improved but there packaging is excellent, costs are reasonable 7 i like the little letter they send out with it.

Adele

 

[Ste B]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping some of you would be able to answer a few questions for me regarding my small business idea. I am considering starting a Veg, Fruit and Salad box scheme in the East Midlands and would like to get some feedback on the following...

1. Is an Organic Veg, Fruit and Salad box/bag something you would be interested in buying?
2. Do you think you would be likely to place an order every week, every 2 weeks or once a month?
3. How many people would the box/bag need to cater for? – Please state how many adults and children (if any)
4. What is the maximum you would be willing to pay for a veg, fruit and salad box/bag?
5. Would you prefer a set box of seasonal products each week or the option to choose your own?
6. What kind of items would you like to see in your box?
7. If you like the idea of a set box, would you like the option to opt out of certain items you may not be fond of?
8. Would you purchase products such as Eggs, Bread and local Cheeses if they were available to you?
9. Would you be happy with imported produce if this meant more variety in your box/bag or more options to choose from?
10. Would an entirely organic box/bag be best?
11. Would you be happy with a box/bag being left on your doorstep? Or would you prefer produce to be delivered to a more convenient place (e.g work) in the event that you will not be at home on your day of delivery?
12. Do you think a call or text message an hour before arrival would help prevent missed deliveries and would you opt to have this service?
13. Would you find weekly recipe ideas useful?
14. Would you like a monthly newsletter to be sent with your box/bag or would updates be better on the website?
15. Would you favour a recyclable box or a recyclable bag?
16. Would you be happy to recycle the box/bag yourself or would it be more convenient for us to collect it when dropping off your next delivery?
17. What would you expect from your supplier?

If you do not wish to supply your answers here, you may email me directly.


I would appreciate any suggestions/feedback you may have - Many thanks

Adele

Where abouts in the east midlands are you?

I'm from the east mids so could be a potential customer!

 

[ZedS]

Sounds great but I think you need to be more specific about what would be included in each pack i.e. what type of fruits/veg? Will you have a range of packs? How big are they?
What about a mix and match pack, which customers can re-order over and over again?
Will customers be able to opt-in and opt-out whenever they want? Will their preferences be saved? What about having one for health-conscious people, another for general snacks etc?

Hope that didn't throw you off, just thought it might help you to brainstorm your ideas Check out Graze.com, they do something very similar. They are brilliant and very appealing, except I find their prices are a bit steep considering the "portion" sizes.

 

[Delly]

Thank you Christine!

 

[Delly]

Thanks for replying multi-store! I will definitely order a graze box to see what they are like - I have seen them pop up on Groupon a couple of times so will keep an eye out I like the idea of a graze box and it sort of ties in with what Ryan said above. Thank you for taking time out to answer my questions - Much appreciated. Adele

 

[Delly]

Hi Ste B. How exciting! I'm based In Nottingham and would like to start by delivering to postcodes quite close to me and then expand - Where abouts in the East Mids are you?

 

[Delly]

Thank you ZedS - Nope didn't throw me off at all! I really appreciate all the feedback that's been given and you are not the first to mention graze boxes! I'm going to look into that in a bit more detail and see what Graze.com have to offer. You have definitely given me a few things to think about here - which is exactly what I was hoping for! Thanks again

 

[Delly]

Oops - I thought I was replying to each of your posts directly but it doesn't look that way to me! :| I hope you all get to read my responses... Thanks once again everyone - Adele