Turning your van into a mobile shop is a great way to minimise business overheads, and if your business includes delivery, it’s two in one! It’s a good idea to make sure that you know what you want to make sure that your business is a success. However, there a number of steps you will need to take to ensure that this idea is a success.
Fixtures and Fittings
There are a number of fixtures and fittings that you will need to have installed in your van in order to make it a suitable retail environment. First of all, you need some way for your customers to access your products. One way you could do this is by simply parking up and opening up the back of your van for people to browse inside at will, however, it may be a better idea to fit a hatch and some external displays. This way, you can also use your van for storage, and to keep any takings safe.
If you do use the inside of your van to store your inventory of products, you’ll need to fit some shelving units and storage boxes so you can keep things organised and easy to access, this includes a filing system for any documents you might need. You will need a till so that you can keep a digital record of takings, and a safe to secure them while you’re on the road. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your van, it may also be a good idea to invest in some fans and mini heaters.
Marketing
It is crucial that you use your van’s exterior to market your products. A van covered in branding is going to be eye-catching and people’s interest will be sparked when they see that it is in fact a pop-up shop. The brighter the better when it comes to branding, and make sure you include easy to read contact details so potential customers can get in touch with you. You could even follow in the footsteps of ice cream vendors and play a catchy tune to attract attention. How you display your products will impact how successfully you are able to entice customers, so make sure as many as possible are visible and being displayed in their best light. This is where those external shelves really come in handy.
Legalities
Just because you’re doing business in an original way, doesn’t mean you’re able to escape the usual protocols. You need to register your business and pay the associated fees; you need to take out business insurance and it’s recommended that you get a van insurance quote today too to make sure your vehicle and its contents are protected. You will need to look after your finances properly and fill out an annual self-employed tax return too.
Running a pop-up shop from your van is a fun way to make some additional income, or, if you do well, start a career being self-employed. This blog, theindependentcollective.net, is a great read if you’re looking for more ways to make money, or help to run your business, for example they give you some great ideas on ways to make money in your free time.
