whahaha... i was thinking if i win the lotery i would really like to have an anime cafe... drink coffee, watch anime, read manga like library, rent dvds or manga, surf in the internet and lots more in my business plan....>> in my mind.... the design of my shop is also been laid out... again in my mind...god, let me win....hahahahha
Blue Lotus Anime Cafe opening September 15th
- Thread starter blue lotus
- Start date
blue lotus
Completely Average High School Student
THANKS
Well I can't believe the response I got for all my hard work..............4 people turned up....it just goes to show why there are no others in the country apart from in London, and there is'nt one here now........ I am disgusted I mean Blackpool is about 7 miles away and buses and trams go directly from Blackpool to right round the corner from me I am a fan of the genre and can't believe that no one would support such a unique place what a wasted investment thanks guys anyway guess you will be happy sat in front of your computers instead of socialising god forbid, Paul thankyou for your support on the forum guess I over estimated the value of trying to help the anime community thanks again!
Well I can't believe the response I got for all my hard work..............4 people turned up....it just goes to show why there are no others in the country apart from in London, and there is'nt one here now........ I am disgusted I mean Blackpool is about 7 miles away and buses and trams go directly from Blackpool to right round the corner from me I am a fan of the genre and can't believe that no one would support such a unique place what a wasted investment thanks guys anyway guess you will be happy sat in front of your computers instead of socialising god forbid, Paul thankyou for your support on the forum guess I over estimated the value of trying to help the anime community thanks again!
No need to be so insulting. I have other commitments at this time of year and can't actually afford to go running up there just for that. I'm sure a lot of people on here are the same. Plus to the fact that i'm sure that more people will have being already planning to go out to the Midlands Expo. Just seems like bad timing on your part to me but then again maybe it just wasn't meant to be.
Ryo beat me to it.
Ryo beat me to it.
Sorry to hear it wasn’t a success but I too think you’re being a bit harsh by generally lashing out at the users of this forum.
I’m sure you did plenty of research but I’ve got to say I’d be surprised if such a venture would survive in Manchester city centre, let alone seven miles out of Blackpool. I’ve seen a few niche market shops and cafes rapidly bite the dust in and around my home town of Stockport.
Just for the record, I’d have had to make a three hour round trip to visit but I was away on a stag-do anyway and if I hadn’t been on that I’d have been doing a fell race.
I’m sure you did plenty of research but I’ve got to say I’d be surprised if such a venture would survive in Manchester city centre, let alone seven miles out of Blackpool. I’ve seen a few niche market shops and cafes rapidly bite the dust in and around my home town of Stockport.
Just for the record, I’d have had to make a three hour round trip to visit but I was away on a stag-do anyway and if I hadn’t been on that I’d have been doing a fell race.
fullmetalrose
Brigade Leader
Again, sad to see the event was not much of a success ...but also you lashing out on users here is a tad bit rude and offensive. Not all of us lived anywhere near Blackpool to begin with!
There just isn't a market and people don't really need to go anywhere to see anything because of the internet. Not because people aren't social, they just aren't willing to travel that long (more likely due to expense). Is this the only place you advertised on? Because there aren't alot of people here and even less that live near Blackpool.
That really is a shame, I hope that this experience doesn't put you off doing anything similar in the future though. =/
http://www.freewebs.com/lunarentertainment/index.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/lunarentertainment/index.htm
blue lotus, you could have done more to advertise the opening. For example, there are at least five other UK anime forums that would be worth registering with. If you had put together a formal press release, you may have even gained a mention on "mega" sites like Anime News Network and Anime on DVD, and I'm sure the likes of ADV would be more than happy to help you.
Also, just in case you didn't try - it would be worth contacting a number of anime and manga fan clubs in and around your local area. The people that go to these societies and fan clubs are specifically looking for places to socialize with and meet other anime fans; I'm sure they'd love some where like your shop to hold their meets.
It's not a case of there being no market for such a place, you're just not tapping into the right audience. One of our members, Fellistowe, is an important part of the Nottingham Anime and Manga Society and generally knows a lot about the social side of UK anime fandom. I'm sure he can offer several pearls of wisdom.
Also, just in case you didn't try - it would be worth contacting a number of anime and manga fan clubs in and around your local area. The people that go to these societies and fan clubs are specifically looking for places to socialize with and meet other anime fans; I'm sure they'd love some where like your shop to hold their meets.
It's not a case of there being no market for such a place, you're just not tapping into the right audience. One of our members, Fellistowe, is an important part of the Nottingham Anime and Manga Society and generally knows a lot about the social side of UK anime fandom. I'm sure he can offer several pearls of wisdom.
To be perfectly honest I think what might have put people off is how you've presented the idea. Appearance is everything when you are promoting something and seeing the information about it on a cheaply put together freewebs site doesn't help your cause. On top of that the photos of the place don't make it look all that great I mean sure it's only the front and one photo of inside but it doesn't look like a place where I would want to shell out the amount of money you're asking to get into.
I'm curious as to why you picked the 15th to decide to do this grand opening as well because it seems like the worst time to do it if you want people to travel to it. With all the schools starting back, college and leaving for uni that's most of your target age range gone already and with it being on the same day as the Midlands Expo... well lets face it people are going to opt for that rather than a relatively small shop in comparison. To be perfectly frank I don't think you thought this through properly.
Manga and anime is still a niche, it may be growing in popularity but not enough to hope for a successful business opportunity in the location you are in. A lot of people still see it as this nerdy subculture and the prospect of seeing people over 10 years old playing Yu-Gi-Oh card games doesn't exactly deny that.
A manga cafe is a good idea on paper but I think you went about it all wrong and didn't think it out well at all. Seems like your own poor planning and execution killed it more than anything. There, I was honest.
I'm curious as to why you picked the 15th to decide to do this grand opening as well because it seems like the worst time to do it if you want people to travel to it. With all the schools starting back, college and leaving for uni that's most of your target age range gone already and with it being on the same day as the Midlands Expo... well lets face it people are going to opt for that rather than a relatively small shop in comparison. To be perfectly frank I don't think you thought this through properly.
Manga and anime is still a niche, it may be growing in popularity but not enough to hope for a successful business opportunity in the location you are in. A lot of people still see it as this nerdy subculture and the prospect of seeing people over 10 years old playing Yu-Gi-Oh card games doesn't exactly deny that.
A manga cafe is a good idea on paper but I think you went about it all wrong and didn't think it out well at all. Seems like your own poor planning and execution killed it more than anything. There, I was honest.
Sy said:
Agree with most of it.
Except it really wasn't good on paper there is no niche in the market for these types of stores.
Anime still isn't popular in the uk at the moment it has rising about appeal but one of these cafes?Seriously were you high at the time.
The fact you got 4 people there you should be thankful for that many.
Then your attitude to everyone just put the finishing blow in your cafe.
Now if your gonna save this cafe get 5 blondes get em in maids outfits and stick one outside then maybe you'll get business.
Otherwise recall that deposit on that shop.
blue lotus
Completely Average High School Student
Paul said:
Thanks Paul, this is good advice. Unfortunately, we did in fact try all of that. The other forums all refused to let us promote ourselves there, and our press release was all but ignored. The only person who did respond was Gemma Cox from Neo who promised to do an article on the website, and it never materialized. Also the local papers said they would put it in, and decided to put it in the day before, giving it no time. As for people traveling, it is a little silly to assume that we are talking about people from miles and miles away. Also, the advice we are getting after the fact is great, from Sy, for instance saying that it looks a good idea on paper, but it has all come after the fact. People wonder why I am annoyed, try having a reservation list which was fairly full, and only four of them bother to turn up to it! Considering that, is it a surprise at all how upset I am? And Ryo, your comment about getting you a job, well, if this anime cafe had worked and been supported, perhaps there might have been a prospect for you, but such is life. It seems like I have struck a nerve with you guys, it's just a real shame that a service was provided that could have set a trend, and it was ignored. ok, thanks everyone, bye!
Fellistowe
Kiznaiver
Guess I'd better chip in seeing as my name popped up.
I'm really sorry to hear it fell through for you guys at the Blue Lotus, and you really do have my sympathy on the matter because I can guess how hard its been for you.
Rather ironically about a month before you first posted on the AUKN forums (you know, that not so successful one) myself and a colleague had a similar idea to yours, so I've been spending a fair bit of time trying to make a business model for an "anime cafe" work.
It's a daunting prospect, and so far I haven't found a decent way of making it a self supporting business strategy (and that's even in a major city like Nottingham and having a society of 40 regular members backing it up!!).
I had hopes for you guys since you were able to piggy back the venture on your existing computer store business, as being supported by another more profitable business is the only way I can see something like an anime cafe working (A comic store or internet cafe being the most likely candidates for expansion).
Unfortunately, pretty much everything everyone else on this forum has said so far is true. As even Andrew @ Beez pointed out in his thread, the UK is still one generation behind with anime being mainstream.
The current catchment age range is the mid to late teens, and (no offence to the rest of you guys out there on the forum) its not an age group famed for its spending power. Give it 5 to 10 years and anime on TV going mainstream and it might stand a chance
As regarding getting little help from other forums etc, yeah, I'll say now it's a big problem with the anime community at the moment. The UK anime scene is still incredibly "cliquey" and closed to outsiders. Most people travel in small circles and are wary of people butting in on their turf. I'm even finding some quite strong rivalry between certain groups.
Regardless, some of us know this has to change and are working to that end, it's just a very long uphill struggle and its gonna take time.
gah, lunch breaks too short! Right final word; I hope you don't let this experience jade you too much about the anime scene, and please don't give up the idea of trying again. I still think it's possible to make it work somehow, just got to find out how
I'm really sorry to hear it fell through for you guys at the Blue Lotus, and you really do have my sympathy on the matter because I can guess how hard its been for you.
Rather ironically about a month before you first posted on the AUKN forums (you know, that not so successful one) myself and a colleague had a similar idea to yours, so I've been spending a fair bit of time trying to make a business model for an "anime cafe" work.
It's a daunting prospect, and so far I haven't found a decent way of making it a self supporting business strategy (and that's even in a major city like Nottingham and having a society of 40 regular members backing it up!!).
I had hopes for you guys since you were able to piggy back the venture on your existing computer store business, as being supported by another more profitable business is the only way I can see something like an anime cafe working (A comic store or internet cafe being the most likely candidates for expansion).
Unfortunately, pretty much everything everyone else on this forum has said so far is true. As even Andrew @ Beez pointed out in his thread, the UK is still one generation behind with anime being mainstream.
The current catchment age range is the mid to late teens, and (no offence to the rest of you guys out there on the forum) its not an age group famed for its spending power. Give it 5 to 10 years and anime on TV going mainstream and it might stand a chance
As regarding getting little help from other forums etc, yeah, I'll say now it's a big problem with the anime community at the moment. The UK anime scene is still incredibly "cliquey" and closed to outsiders. Most people travel in small circles and are wary of people butting in on their turf. I'm even finding some quite strong rivalry between certain groups.
Regardless, some of us know this has to change and are working to that end, it's just a very long uphill struggle and its gonna take time.
gah, lunch breaks too short! Right final word; I hope you don't let this experience jade you too much about the anime scene, and please don't give up the idea of trying again. I still think it's possible to make it work somehow, just got to find out how
I think this thread is dead now. Blue Lotus ain't coming back, since this was mainly a marketing strategy that failed.
Let's just leave this as a lesson to all enterpreneurs: There are businesses that will succeed and fail. Unfortunately for Lotus, it was the latter, due to what I'm getting as "jumping the gun."
Hopefully, it will get better. I wouldn't mind a Maid Cafe near me. At least I won't be grabbing places I shouldn't
Let's just leave this as a lesson to all enterpreneurs: There are businesses that will succeed and fail. Unfortunately for Lotus, it was the latter, due to what I'm getting as "jumping the gun."
Hopefully, it will get better. I wouldn't mind a Maid Cafe near me. At least I won't be grabbing places I shouldn't