8 replies to this topic

[stevon]

Hi guys,
My first post, so please excuse me if it is in the wrong section, etc

I'll keep it short and sweet...
I'm looking at opening an arcade/amusement centre. Are there many, if any, arcade owners in here? I've been speaking to a few suppliers and I worked as a business development manager in a huge arcade also.

I'm looking for some advice and contacts... Ideas even.

Obviously I'm aware that location is key, however, I'd love to hear from the people I'm hoping to attract to my arcades.

Thank you,
Stephen

[Darienne]

Speak to NAILS -- He has recently set up his own arcade, he may go through a few things with you as I dont expect it would be easy to do.

[ForYouToEnvy]

truth be told mate now is not the best time to open an arcade, it will be hard to attract people as most aint got any spare money what with soaring intrest rates, petrol and food prices....i work for a firm with a few arcades in the southeast and trade is down in all of them:bigeyes06:

[Guitar]

I'd have to agree about now not being the right time.

[np85]

Sorry to reiterate, but as would I. Spare income is something that is hard to come by at the mo, penny pinching etc. I also assume there r relatively large startup costs for an arcade?

Ur money is best placed in ur bank, or on property right now. Remember, ppl always need a place to live. Whilst they will not buy, they may also rent..... buy to rent my friend.

[stevon]

Economic hardship tends to see an increase in gambling, drinking, drug abuse, etc. because people get depressed/desperate. So it could be argued that arcades/amusements will benefit. Although there are obviously the disadvantages of losing more "casual" players, I admit.

Plus I'm looking at launching early 2009... I reckon the credit crunch should be over in about 12-18 months. It's a long-term investment, not a short-term money maker.

That's another topic altogether though!

[spa]

Sorry to reiterate, but as would I. Spare income is something that is hard to come by at the mo, penny pinching etc. I also assume there r relatively large startup costs for an arcade?

Ur money is best placed in ur bank, or on property right now. Remember, ppl always need a place to live. Whilst they will not buy, they may also rent..... buy to rent my friend.

I wouldn't put a penny into property right now. Property is fallen at something by 8% since Xmas and is likely to keep going til it's fallen 30% in total.

When the gap between renting and morgage payments are closer the market will boom again. Right now, it's about 3 years off!

[stevon]

I wouldn't put a penny into property right now. Property is fallen at something by 8% since Xmas and is likely to keep going til it's fallen 30% in total.

When the gap between renting and morgage payments are closer the market will boom again. Right now, it's about 3 years off!

Three years is a bit pessimistic?! But entirely possible. Property has fallen 30% already in the past 12 months and it's set to trough in the next year at some point; sooner, rather than later I'd hope.

[spa]

Three years is a bit pessimistic?! But entirely possible. Property has fallen 30% already in the past 12 months and it's set to trough in the next year at some point; sooner, rather than later I'd hope.

Are you sure it's 30%? I guess it might be in certain areas. Property was rising til the credit crunch, that is now getting sorted but house prices are tumbling.

Who in thier right mind would want to end up with negative equity, anyone who buys a house right now is going too

I build houses for Taylor Wimpy, since Xmas they have laid off over 600 staff (overall) and sold about 8 houses on the site I work on. Thank god for social houses!

Share prices in the company have gone form £5+ too 40p or so! Something like that.