i used to quite enjoy a look around the shop at Oxford ( Kidlington ) friendly staff, etc, the trouble now, is the OTT gate security, wanting to know your grandparents date / place of birth, inside leg mesurements etc etc, I feel really sorry for the guys in the friendly shop, imprisoned within stalag oxford.

Not many security issues around Edinburgh but plenty of traffic wardens. Some would say they are of similar chemistry.

Perhaps the key factor is that there is very little a pilot needs in the cockpit - aside from some high value goods and those he will probably buy online.

The only in-cockpit stuff that keeps moving is charts and 99% of UK PPLs will only buy the one CAA chart for £14.

So the merchandise that keeps moving is mainly not in-cockpit stuff.

I wouldn't do it if I were you. I cannot believe that the market is big enough to justify a shop; and whatever market there is, it'll definitely be shrinking very quickly at the moment.

It'll surely be cheaper to have an empty shop except for the problem of rates. If you can't get anyone to rent it out, let them have it for free as long as they pay the overheads.

Hold onto your cash while everyone else is losing theirs.

I imagine there would be very little profit in charts but it might bring people in to look at what else would be on offer.
Ive always just bought my charts from whichever club Im flying from the day I notice its not current.
I know of some who are still using charts that are several issues out of date,tut tut:=.

I think the idea of providing what others are not, items which someone kindly suggested to me by PM would be a good idea combined with the usual books and stuff. Also the combination of the normal online and specialised shop front appeals to me.

Thanks for all the comments so far, I guess that some market research is in order followed by contact to suppliers to discuss options.

Its just an idea so I wouldn`t hold your breath for a shop opening soon if you live in the Edinburgh area but like IO540 pointed out, a rescession IS a good time to start, both Joe public and the suppliers are looking for opportunities to save or make money.

Yawning,

the rates are not an issue and as of April there will not be any. I am not bothered about renting it out. I want to use it for myself but at the moment cant deside what.