Chreees Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 So I'm taking an Entrepreneurship class this semester because I've always had thoughts about opening my own business someday. My professor has been saying what will determine whether you make it or break it will be what sets you apart from the competition. We have to write up a business plan later on in the class. Many ideas came to mind- Video production company, editing house, movie theatre... and hookah lounge. Out of those, the hookah lounge is the ONLY one I can think of ways to set myself apart from the competition. I guess it's because I know so much about it, thanks to you guys here. So it looks like I'll be writing up my own business plan for my own lounge. Now, as much as I would LOVE to actually open my own, I fear doing so because of all the anti-smoking laws and such. Even though Tennessee is in the clear for now (Indoor smoking laws are already established), it could change in the future. That alone makes me want to stay faaaar away. But it's the only business idea I can actually come up with good ideas for. This of course is if I ever even open my own business. What a dilemma... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blakefox Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Shiazo steam stones. Only last an hour or two. Taste amazing. Re-usable. Same smoking laws with e-cigs, it should be allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Chrees you know where to reach me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotsi95 Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Like I told michael I know everything that you need to know and most of the prices as well so let me know if you need my help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Yeah, here were my ideas to set myself apart from the other lounges in the area (the whole state of Tennessee, from as far as I know): -Different brands. All the lounges I've been to here only offer ONE brand. One. That's it. One here in Murfreesboro has Al Fakher, the other one has Starbuzz. If I offer many different brands, and advertise that fact, it should appeal to people more. -Non-tobacco: I would offer a non-tobacco alternative as well as the regular tobacco brands. Shiazo Steam Stones came to mind, definitely, and I was thinking about maybe Salloum. I'd have to try it first, though, to determine whether I think it's good enough to serve to customers. No other lounges in the state do this from what I know. I believe it could bring in those who don't want to smoke tobacco, or could maybe bring in more people by the way of say a few people out of a group of friends don't smoke tobacco. They would just sit there and not smoke with their group of friends. With offering a non-tobacco alternative, they can choose to smoke as well instead of sitting there. That way I make money off of them and they're not just taking up space (not sure how I would charge people in this situation regardless). -Special events nights. If I opened it here in Murfreesboro, I'd have special events such as where I'd allow the MTSU film guild to show their latest student-made film at my lounge. This could bring in extra people on certain nights. Obviously I'd have to have things arranged to where everyone would be able to see a large screen TV or probably a projector. Also, I was thinking about showing movies on certain nights. I know Eric of Tangiers does this. I could advertise it that a certain day of the week is movie night or something. Only problem with this is I'm not sure about the public display copyright laws regarding it. I'd have to look into it. The two lounges here in Murfreesboro don't do this. One is just a bunch of pillows on the floor type of deal with rap music, and the other is a Middle Eastern restaurant that serves hookah in a special indoor section and then also outdoor on a patio. I wouldn't want loud music nor would I want a DJ or live music I don't think. Acoustic gigs, maybe. But definitely nothing loud so people can't hear each other. -I'd have a membership club for regulars so they could receive some sort of incentive for coming frequently. Not sure what or how I'd do it, though. There was some other stuff I thought of, but didn't write it down... I'll probably add more later. EDIT: Thanks guys, I will definitely hit up both of you for info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Oh! I remembered one thing... natural coals. The other lounges here use Three Kings or Goldens, not sure. Either way, they're quicklights. I'd use naturals, definitely. Probably Cocomazaya or something like that. Depends on what price I could get them at. But I definitely would have to use a good coal no matter what. I believe a lot of lounges use crappy coals just to try and save cost. I'd be willing to spend a bit more to get customers the best for their money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 And I of course would advertise that I carry Tangiers. As for hookahs used, I think I'd go with KMs and use Nammors/Razans or *maybe* something like the Nu-hose. Might even just make my own washable hoses. Either way, I'd want the hoses to be nice and easy to clean, yet flow well... aesthetically. Nammors/Razans probably then, haha. I dunno, what would you guys like to see used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blakefox Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 To be honest, that all sounds way better than what I'm used to. Most places around me offer al fakher and starbuzz as a basic/premium deal. But I'm lucky to just get a bowl that's properly made. I do like in particular one that has movie nights an the offer tons of different ales and microbrews. First time ever hearing about chocovino( Dutch chocolate and wine). I also like how another has one of those outside gazebo tents Thats halfway closed by curtains and has strung up lights inside. Good when I go with like a group of 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satou Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Some people would like the option of sitting outdoors as well, especially if it is nice out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blakefox Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Something about straight tangiers mint on a cold night.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Maybe this can be merged with the thread I made last week? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 [quote name='Blakefox' timestamp='1314847326' post='522129'] To be honest, that all sounds way better than what I'm used to. Most places around me offer al fakher and starbuzz as a basic/premium deal. But I'm lucky to just get a bowl that's properly made. I do like in particular one that has movie nights an the offer tons of different ales and microbrews. First time ever hearing about chocovino( Dutch chocolate and wine). I also like how another has one of those outside gazebo tents Thats halfway closed by curtains and has strung up lights inside. Good when I go with like a group of 8. [/quote] Yep, it's sad most lounges are so... minimal. What's even sadder about it is it's mostly Middle Eastern guys running the places. They *should* know the most when it comes to hookah. Or at least you'd think... I would like to do alcohol if I could, but I'm sure that brings in a whole new element that I'm not too positive I wanna tackle in this business plan for my class... Now the gazebo tents sounds nice. [quote name='Satou' timestamp='1314849270' post='522134'] Some people would like the option of sitting outdoors as well, especially if it is nice out. [/quote] [quote name='Blakefox' timestamp='1314849542' post='522135'] Something about straight tangiers mint on a cold night.... [/quote] Oh yeah, there'd definitely have to be an outside section. One lounge here, the one that is mainly a Middle Eastern restaurant, House of Hummus, has the patio outside and they have a bunch of tables and chairs chained up outside. At night they unchain them and set them all up. I drive by and see everyone outside smoking. I wonder how they take care of the payment... Obviously beforehand. Main issue I see with that is randoms walking up and bothering the paying customers (a lot of people walk around the streets in that area, which is right down the road from my apartment). And yes, there is NOTHING better than Tangiers mint on a night, but I think I prefer a nice night, not necessarily cold, haha. I think I prefer it on warm summer nights. [quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1314858240' post='522155'] Maybe this can be merged with the thread I made last week? [/quote] Well, I would, but this is just to let you guys know where I'm going with my business plan and get ideas for it as well. I seriously doubt I ever do really open a lounge. So basically this is all fictional. I did think of another good idea for a business plan, related more with my TV Production degree. I could start my own video production company and go around and make commercials for local businesses in my home town and the whole West TN area. Why, you ask? CAUSE THE COMMERCIALS THERE SUCK! They suck baaaaaad. I already have a nice camera (Canon T2i) and a slew of lenses, a Macbook Pro and Final Cut Pro 7 to edit on, so it wouldn't be hard to get started I don't think. Also, it's something Brooke and I could do together as a team. Not to mention we could even go into photography as well. She's always wanted her own photography business, where she would do senior pictures and the such. I may take this idea and do a business plan for it as well. I think I wanna do business plans for both... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blakefox Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Well with liquor, I undertand what your saying. I always figured a bar and breakable hookahs dont mix well together. But when I found this local cigar bar, sorta changed changed things for me. Very high end, crocodile seats and menu covers, mouth wash in the bathrooms, $40 glasses of high end aged whiskey, and it's always pretty full too. They also hosts sports events in their like 8 large tvs. They even have private rooms with lock and key for monthly renting to store cigars and wine and to have meetings. Also, the place with the movies at night, watched waynes world there last, was a microbrewery I believe? So they only had exotic stuff. Also packed. The middle eastern place I go to sometimes does it right, but he only smokes straight tobacco, no foil himself. Thinks shisha is crap, just for the customer mainstream. So he smokes his own tobacco differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blakefox Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Liquor liscense an be pricey though, but just an idea. Maybe just wine? Or kava. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blakefox Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 And sorry, know nothin about photography Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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