Getting Started In The Business

[SaintPendulous]

I'm still new really new to the game i know, but my goals are these

1.Start selling hookah supplies (coals, Shisha, Hoses, other accessories, Maybe even Hookahs Themselves) out of my apartment, start locally but still ship to friends abroad
2. Maybe get a bigger place, 2 bedroom apartment to house more supply, and maybe run my own smoking lounge in the second room
3. Have a clientelle big enough to start my own store
4. Starting my own Hookah Bar and Supply shop

its gonna take years i know, BUT its something I'm definately passionate about and enjoy and want to share with people

theres still ALOT i dont know, and can get better at when it comes to hookah so i just wanna start out selling small time around here and to friends in the country


does anybody else do this too? (other than Hookah John, Ive messaged him and awaiting his reply lol hes a busy man so im being patient)
Ne help or advice u can offer me??

Thanks folks!!

[jorlyfish]

http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/11575-so-you-want-to-start-a-hookah-lounge-updated/

[SaintPendulous]

COOOOOOL!

[Chreees]

Are you wanting to start a lounge or an online business selling hookahs and supplies? I'd definitely try to focus on just one, especially starting out... Either way, if you do the online business route, be looking for a bigger place, like a house.

Do you know how to write up a business plan? That'll help you greatly.

And ya, Mush's thread is full of win.

[SaintPendulous]

starting out i want to just sell the hookah supplies from my apartment, maybe have a MFl acount so people i know from elsewhere can buy from me as well, i mostly wanna start local becuse once i get my business going from my apartment i wanna move to bigger stuff, like having an actual store, then having a hookah bar/ store

[Chreees]

MF is good and all, but be aware that if the find out you're using it for transactions involving tobacco, they'll suspend your account. Even any mention of hookah will do it.

I have the same dream as you, to run my own store/lounge. But I doubt I'll ever do it. Fulfill the dream, brotha.

[SaintPendulous]

i cant say MF?

[SaintPendulous]

well man Agun1231 and i talk alot nowadays and hes doin the same thing

you totally should man, get it goin, im still spitballin the idea and throwin it around im im like 98% sure im gonna do it

[Chreees]

When you spell it out, it automatically filters it to MF.... Since they don't allow tobacco/hookah transactions, HF does not want MF to be found in a google search on here.

I've considered it, I really have. But I think I may have better luck with a business that not so many people have a problem with (my gf, family, politicians, the ignorant public in general...lol).

[SaintPendulous]

sure man its gonna be a struggle BUT there is a hookah bar in omaha, which is right across the river

i can talk to people and alot of people have the wrong idea about it but if their educated on it i think itll go over well.....somebody hasta be on the front lines lol

my family knows about it and the only reason they dont like it is their closed minded when it comes to smoking "SMOKING!!??! BAAAH BLAAAH BLAAH BAAAAD BLAAAH BLAAH GRANDPA DIED FROM BLAAH BLAH!!"

but once i explain that it doesnt mess you up even close to as bad as cigs, doesnt have tar, is filtered through more than cotton....their like OH....well ok than

[Chreees]

I just don't feel like fighting the ignorance, I guess.

[SaintPendulous]

I like to argue if i know im right and can open peoples minds a bit lol

[ih303]

Good luck, man. As far as becoming an online retailer you'll probably have to go directly to the manufacturers/importers for your products since most wholesalers have online store fronts, and I seriously doubt they'd sell to you just to have you turn around and use their product to compete with them. The problem is most manufacturers/importers won't take you seriously and may even refuse to do business with you until you can order from them by the pallet.

There are already plenty of lounges and online retailers out there. And on the retail side of things, I see more saturation than opportunity. Unless you have something fresh to bring to the table (think John - bowls, hoses, and coals; Mahir - hoses and soon something else; Santino - custom glass; Eric - tobacco, bowls), then I don't see anything but struggle for you in the future. The market is not kind to newcomers; without a hook or a reputation, chances for success are slim.

If you're serious about this, I'd recommend changing your angle of approach. Try to think outside the box when it comes to what kinds of products and/or services you'd offer. Maybe look into doing a "mobile lounge" type thing where you contract with local bars, clubs, restaurants, event coordinators, etc. to bring the gear, set, and help to provide hookahs wherever needed. Or maybe think about designing a hookah table that doesn't suck. There are already plenty of bowls, hoses, and coals on the market, but what about bases? Introduce new shapes, colors, and styles to a market of red, blue, green, and gold bells and you could be a hero.

There's lots of stuff you can do, man. You just have to have the juevos to do something different than everyone else. Just look at all the guys I listed above. And while I'm pretty sure none of them live in muilti-million dollar homes and drive Bugatti's, they have made names for themselves in the industry.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but there it is.

[ih303]

By the way, what movie is that gif from on your sig?

[Chreees]

[quote name='ih303' timestamp='1291672644' post='490516']
By the way, what movie is that gif from on your sig?
[/quote]

Boondock Saints.

[agunn1231]

[quote name='SaintPendulous' timestamp='1291163849' post='489881']
well man Agun1231 and i talk alot nowadays and hes doin the same thing

you totally should man, get it goin, im still spitballin the idea and throwin it around im im like 98% sure im gonna do it
[/quote]

dude, i am behind you on this one....i will get you that business plan i have too....just so you have an idea of some stuff, but like IH said, try something different, maybe what you were tellin me the other night. Keep me updated...and figure out how to get your foot in the door with this stuff....like, last night, G (the guy that Hallie and I work for) told us that if we stick with it for a year, thats longer than everyone else has, and don't just give up, that he'll leave us in charge when he's on vacation...so that for me is a step. Just keep on workin toward your goal, don't let stuff get in your way, i mean J and SHaggy, they never gave up, they made a name for themselves, stayin up all night at Kinkos for months making flyers and stuff.....the book J has, he keeps emphasizing that you can't give up, even if that means not sleeping for weeks just to get promotional stuff out to people and spread the word.

[Dr. B]

I'm willing to bet that the plan to have people paying to come in and out of your apartment to smoke is not legal in your area. Just sayin...

[ih303]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' timestamp='1291674284' post='490517']
[quote name='ih303' timestamp='1291672644' post='490516']
By the way, what movie is that gif from on your sig?
[/quote]

Boondock Saints.
[/quote]


Really? Man, I guess it's been a while since I've seen that movie.

[hookah hippie]

Good luck give it a shot, I had a small bar running for awhile until this ass drove it into the ground. I let him buy me out and then he had to close cause he has no business sense.