My polite cynicism once again emerges as realism. Rhombus surf shop on Brunswick St has closed. What were they thinking? Why do so many people think they can make money by displaying their hobby or self curated existence in a shop? If we don’t need it we won’t buy it and you won’t make any money.
As for the Penny Rose boutique nearby, which had been mostly open for nearly three years, sometimes sold moisturiser, sometimes second hand clothes and briefly served food (apparently without any of the requisite licenses), good riddance is all I can say. It looked like a couple of hippies had inherited grandma’s building and didn’t know what to do with it.
Max’s cafe opened about 18 months ago and seemed to struggle from the start. The generic cafe look did not work and at some stage it appeared to change owners and gain a Vietnamese aspect. The current sign offers the tasty combination of ‘Coffee, Vietnamese Meat Bread, Sushi’. Hmmm, meat bread. I assume they meant bánh mì. They never were strong on coherence, but no one noticed.
Why is it that people who are evidently so poorly suited to running small businesses are so drawn to doing so?
4 January 2012 at 12:44 am
Please don’t be so tough on them Brian – it’s a scary world out there in retail land and many shops of all types have closed, and will close in the next year or more. The rents are simply too high for many of us to succeed – and passion will only get you so far.
Like or Dislike:
7 
0
4 January 2012 at 11:57 am
Hi Nicole, I understand that doing business is difficult, but I don’t understand why so many businesses are started without any indication that they are needed or wanted by potential customers.
Opening a daggy cafe with no aesthetic qualities in an area where customers are fussy hipsters and middle class professionals can’t work. We want Slowpoke, not Max’s or Ta-Co’s choc shock cafe.
The general rule is that potential business owners must share the aesthetic sophistication of their potential customers. Failing to understand your customers inevitably leads to failure.
Like or Dislike:
4 
6
7 January 2012 at 6:38 pm
Whilst I agree Brian, not everyone sees these obvious truths: I’ve met many people who are wide-eyed and excited about going into business and “advice” like “do what you love and the money will follow” doesn’t help.
It’s not easy to succeed at business, there are many great books and courses but still many will go into it ill-prepared. Such a pity: the vast majority of small businesses will fail in the first three years, especially now that conditions are so tough.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
29 February 2012 at 5:56 pm
Hey mate,
why don’t you go out there & try to make a difference instead of sitting at your little computer, in your little apartment, using your little brain to spark so much criticism & hatred into the community. Alot of people in our community & coastal Vicco locations responded well to Rhombus & kept the business going due to the niche that we fit into…which you seem to have no fucken clue about whatsoever. Unfortunately, we don’t have an endless supply of money to inject into said venture during such hard times as these….not like someone I heard about that gets bought apartments in Fitzroy by their parents (Brian) & sits around jerkin’ off over his bullshit blog….your’e one of the biggest COCKSMOKIN’ HATERS iv’e ever come across…go back to Brighton…….
Like or Dislike:
8 
6
29 February 2012 at 6:07 pm
Don’t blame me for your business failing. Your assumptions about me are hilarious and completely wrong. I’ve never been to Brighton (Vic or UK) and bought my apartment with my own hard earned money.
Like or Dislike:
2 
8
29 February 2012 at 6:20 pm
Hey mate…I really don’t give a fuck….your’e Blog is shit….you should give up & join the Navy….if you want to talk further shit on my business, come down to our pop up at the old Gorker on the 17th & 18th of March, introduce yourself to me & say that shit to my face, instead of hiding behind your bullshit little blog….if you have the balls….
Like or Dislike:
7 
4
29 February 2012 at 7:07 pm
Ooh, is that reference to the navy a sly little example of homophobia? How tediously droll. Your use of apostrophes suggests you belong in Broadmeadows or Frankston or at least nowhere in zone 1. You also don’t appear to believe in freedom of speech. I therefore suggest, to be consistent with your beliefs, that you stop speaking now before you give me more amusement than I deserve.
Like or Dislike:
1 
8
29 February 2012 at 7:58 pm
Yeah, I’m intrigued by: “Why do so many people think they can make money by displaying their hobby or self curated existence in a shop?”
I like Nicole’s explanation that people are encouraged to follow their dream. Are people perpetually stuck in their teens and dreaming big? Or do they just have rubbish friends that don’t point out the obvious pitfalls?
I went past Rhombus often, never went in and thought that it was a really odd spot for a surf shop.
I remember Max’s cafe. I never went in because there was plenty of other better looking cafes within 100m.
I’m happy to provide these subjective opinions for free. Indolent Dandy appears to have more knowledge than my passing interest and does it for free. And whole businesses exist to provide business advice. Surely a start up should seek objective and professional advice?
Like or Dislike:
0 
5
1 March 2012 at 12:58 pm
How can you criticise people for not living the bourgeoise Fitzroy lifestyle and living somewhere like Frankston, when you yourself are from Perth?
Like or Dislike:
8 
0
1 March 2012 at 1:39 pm
Because I know how to use apostrophes. Apostrophes are cool.
Like or Dislike:
2 
6