BBQ Accessories
Barbeques tend to be seasonal which may create some issues if this is a full
time business, but as a side business is less of a problem and may actually
create some positives. In any business you need to work hard, but with a seasonal
business you can plan ahead and make sure that you know when to focus your
efforts, this in turn gives you more time to spend with your family, or on
other activities during the off season.
BBQ Accessories are a little more straight-forward than selling whole BBQ sets.
With a BBQ business you will probably also need to stock charcoal and other
flammables, which may cause issues for your contents insurer. BBQs may also
be bulky and this can limit the number of units you can store between seasons.
In terms of sourcing your accessories, forks, tongs, fish braziers, aprons etc. there is plenty of choice and stock is cheap. The key here will be planning ahead, and marketing. We suggest the following approaches: -
Use a party planner approach
Provide to other retail businesses
Sell online via EBAY
Set up and promote a website
BBQ Accessories are an impulse buy. They tend to be bought because a BBQ is
planned, or because the weather is nice and they are conveniently available
to buy. This is important as it limits the options for marketing this product,
it will also limit your competition. Think about where you bought your last
BBQ tools from, I bet it was the Supermarket or the Garden Centre, or possible
a large home wares store like Ikea. Most of the time people are also unhappy
with the quality, which is where your opportunity for personal service and
high quality goods comes in.
I like the party planner approach. You can read about this in more detail on the finding customer pages on our website. Essentially we are talking about holding parties (in this case Barbecues) where you will demonstrate and sell (or take orders for) your products. If you plan ahead you can probably hold your first parties in late spring as opposed to early summer. Even if the weather is bad you will manage and people will start thinking about when the weather picks up.
It is important that you let people know there is a purpose to the BBQ (to show off your new range of products) so that they don't leave feeling "scammed". Let your guests play with your samples and of course feed them; they should leave feeling good about the whole experience. If you have a cheap flyer or brochure to distribute make sure everyone leaves with some to hand out to their friends, and if not then ensure you have plenty of business cards to go around. Once you have held a couple of these for your friends it is time to start looking for other people to host your parties. There needs to be something in it for them, either you pay for the food/drink or provide a cut of your profits.
Many small businesses such as garden centres and hardware stores sell Barbequeues and accessories. If you go to talk with them in the early spring they may well consider stocking your items. If you can afford to then allow them to take stock on a sale or return basis. Emphasise the quality of your stock and make sure you have samples to show them. You may also want to run some promotional "cook ups" at their premises, give away a few sausages or burgers in order to show customers your tools, aprons, etc. This is good for their business as well as yours. Note that you are unlikely to get a foot in the door at the large chain stores such as Wal-Mart, Ikea, B&Q etc. It is the locally owned and run businesses that you should focus on.
EBAY is a goldmine and we will keep on recommending it as a starter business tool, and as a channel for existing businesses. It can help you to build brand and your customers will search for you. Read our section on selling online to get some tips on how to do this. Remember that your business is seasonal, but online you may be able to attract buyers from the opposite hemisphere and extend your season all year round.
For a little more work and effort you can have an online store of your own. Web page templates are easy to get for free online these days and there is a range of hosting options from free hosting to professional wideband hosting packages. Even if my primary business model was selling through other retail outlets, or party planning I would still look at having a website and using my off line activities to promote the site. Get the URL on business cards and flyers and mention it when you speak with people about your accessories.
You will be looking for cheap suppliers, but do not go for their cheapest range. Remember what we said above about buying from supermarkets etc. and then being disappointed with the quality of your tools. Make sure that you get samples and try to use them all. Understand the limitations and order only from ranges that you would be happy buying.
You are most likely to find cheap, quality supplies in India or China but you may find some surprising bargains if you look in Vietnam, Thailand or Indonesia.
Easy sources include: -
www.Alibaba.com - search for BBQ accessories or kitchen accessories to find
a number of sources in China.
www.Google.com -search for BBQ accessories or kitchen accessories and the countries
listed above.
Dealing with Suppliers
When you find a supplier that carries what you are looking for you can make
contact and ask the following questions: -
Minimum order size? Whether this is per style or can be made up of mixed styles?
Whether they can handle Shipping and export procedures?
What quality control is in place?
Can you return unsatisfactory goods, if so under what circumstances?
Prices and bulk order discounts available?
You must be able to get samples for this business. If they will not supply
you with samples to test then walk away.
When you get the first quote from the supplier do not bother haggling. Get a number of quotes from different suppliers if possible. Once you establish that you have a market and want to go ahead then you can play the suppliers off against each other to get better terms. You will soon realise that there are numerous suppliers and some will be more flexible than others.
This is a people business. Whether you are hosting cook-outs at local garden centres or running a successful party planning business you will need to have that happy face on, lots of smiles and don¡¦t be afraid to talk to people. This will not suit everyone.
Do not buy masses of stock, you can always order more, and if you host your first parties early enough there is plenty of time for additional orders before the end of the Summer.
Don't be afraid to hold stock for next year. Providing it is well packaged, clean and dry your customers do not need to know. BBQ accessories are not fashion items whatever you father in law would have you believe about his new apron!