walkermamaof4 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We run a huge kids consignment sale twice a year. We lost our space. No one will rent a space short term these days. So we will lose our business unless we find a new space. So we found one that isn't great but we can make it work except it costs $70000 per year more than we make from the sale. Can you think of something we can do to earn that much money over the other ten months of the year in the space? It is 40,000 sf. Ideas anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 $7000 or $70000? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 70,000 over the ten months it would be vacant or on average 7000 per month. So if you had free access to use a warehouse for ten months, how could you best make money through its use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Do you have county fairgrounds? They usually have warehouse space and tend to rent short-term Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 The fairgrounds is used by the other large consignment sale in our area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tshirtyogapantmama Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Where I am most consignment sales are done at church's...a lot of times they pay the church a fee for the space or/and give a portion to missions/youth. Another idea is look for vacant space, one big cosigner does this 4 times a year, she rents out old grocery store/vacant buildings for a month at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Would it be cheaper to rent a small store in a strip shopping center? When my kids were younger, I shopped at a few that were open year round, and they were always busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Um_2_4 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 sub lease the space for others if the lease allows?? (book sales, etc) If insurance would allow, run a indoor play area for kids?? But that is rather a full time job.... There are several around here that do drop off baby sitting for like $15/hour or a set per day fee and week long camps during public school breaks. They have those big inflatable bouncers, tables et up with arts and crafts kids can do, kind of like an indoor fair, but a bit more organized. The other thing (depends on size of warehouse) would be short term storage for large loads. I worked in one job where we sometimes needed to store a piece of large equipment for 2 weeks till it could betaken to port or the like. But I would probably look for a community center that would rent a couple rooms. Even our library has a large conference hall (holds like 250) for rent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 We need 40000 feet so we have outgrown the churches. We held it in one for years. No vacant stores in our area rent short-term. We've called them all and have a commercial realtor as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We need 40000 feet so we have outgrown the churches. We held it in one for years. No vacant stores in our area rent short-term. We've called them all and have a commercial realtor as well. If you were open year round, could you do with a smaller space, since the merchandise would rotate in and out more quickly? The shop I used took 90 day consignments, so if that person's items didn't sell in 90 days, they were picked up. Then they gave a credit (or cash) to use for items in the store. I would get what I needed (at great prices) then take the rest in cash. They only took high quality items, priced them reasonably, and since they were open years (I lived in the area four years), I assume they were supporting themselves (or one of their incomes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Not without making it a more than full time job. I wouldn't sign onto figures like that. Maybe downsize the sale a bit and have it 3-4 times a year rather than 2 so you still fit in smaller spaces you can get short term or specialize the sale to only include certain items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Have you considered sporting or convention venues, possibly on a college campus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Rent it to seasonal vendors? Haunted houses or Halloween stores are. Ery common here for Sept to Oct. Christmas bazaars or spring outdoor shows? What about a temporary tent site like the fireworks stands use for your sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Wowza. You must make a whole lot of money to even remotely consider that deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I don't think you can feasibly expect to earn $70K in 10 months with this warehouse space, unless you turn it into something that's going to require a whole lot more in overhead expenses. Any kind of business that would bring in that kind of money each month is going to require staff support, increased insurance on the space, etc. In other words, you'll have to spend more money in order to make that money (and even then, it's not guaranteed). If I was in your shoes, I would look into the large tent rental (as was suggested by a previous poster). Or possibly consider moving your events to the next town, if you have a town/city within a 30 min. drive that would have that kind of space for rent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 Wowza. You must make a whole lot of money to even remotely consider that deal. Ha. No. But we are desperate to not lose what little income we have. And all other spaces we have seen are four to 8 times this cost per month. I can't believe how much space costs!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Um_2_4 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I don't know what area you are in, but with that cost, I would look at purchasing an empty lot (maybe on the outskirts) and make sure you could get a permit to run a "fair" there. Then do it 2-3 times a year and rent tents to hold the sale and maybe lease booths to vendors. We have some fairs here that are held once a year and they rent those HUGE tents (at least 40 feet wide by about 100 feet long) and rent out booths. Also they have some charity sales in a couple of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Check local historic sites that may have unrented meeting halls, masonic lodges, private schools, hotels, and museums may also rent space. Maybe check your local chamber of commerce and see if they have any ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RanchGirl Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I would contact Halloween and Christmas seasonal store vendors in your area and ask if they would sublease from you since they are often in the same boat you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 What caused you to lose your previous space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I wouldn't commit to that level of financial obligation just so you can use the space a few times a year, unless you can comfortably afford to pay the entire annual lease amount on your own, without having to count on people to sublet space from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 It was sold to new owners who are changing its purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 It was sold to new owners who are changing its purpose. What a nuisance. :glare: Are there any large convention centers in your area that might work for you as a short-term rental? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 The fairgrounds is used by the other large consignment sale in our area. So use it during opposing seasons. The public likes that sort of predictability and if the cost is reasonable it would be MUCH less hassle than maintaining a property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inmyopinion Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 How about renting a hotel conference center? Sorry if you already said that would not work. One of the charities here also rent empty warehouse space. It is not pretty, but they make a decent amount of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 How about renting some huge tents for a "Big Tent Sale"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 The local Halloween pumpkin patches and Christmas tree sale lots just rent open space from the city and put up tents for the season. I was wondering if that would be an option for you. Also, how about the local community college? The company that I work for holds their "All Hands" meeting at the local community college where they rent empty conference rooms for very reasonable fees - so please call your local community colleges or universities to see if it is an option. Another thought I had was if you are near a big city, they have large convention centers for rent in the big hotels. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Wow, I don't have any answers for you, but we have a lot of big, empty buildings in town that I would think would love to have you in there, for even two months! Sorry that's not working out where you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbpaulie Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Haven't read other posts, but I'm thinking about the Halloween stores that pop up for a couple months in the fall. Maybe these locations (although they are store fronts) would be interested in having their space used other times during the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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