You’ve got a business idea and California is the business location where you want to make it a reality. Unless you have access to a large pot of investment capital, you’re going to want to get creative. In California, it’s all about location!
Establishing a Location is California Creativity at its Best
Californians have no shortage of creative solutions to everyday problems. From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, the state is a virtual powerhouse of innovative ideas. A lot of our creativity comes from making our dollars stretch in a (totally worth it!) state where it’s expensive to work, live, and play. Let’s face it, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. If it’s all about location, what does that really mean?
It’s All About Location Right?
On an obvious note, we hear it all the time in real estate: location, location, location. Location IS key. In California though, prime property – especially near the beach, is way beyond a small business startup budget.
Before you start your search, ask yourself the following questions:
Does My Business Location Matter?
If you need customers to come to you, then it does. But if money is tight, often you can get around this, freeing up capital to invest in other areas. Is your business structured as delivery only? Could you provide your service at your customer’s location rather than yours? Can you run your business out of your home? Be strategic and creative in your thinking.
Is A Prime Location Critical To Business Success?
How are you planning on getting customers? Will they be walk-in customers where location and convenience are paramount? Or will your business be a planned stop or work based on a salesforce? Perhaps your offices need to be professional, but not necessarily beachfront.
Savvy Business Location Examples
After having asked ourselves the basic questions, let’s spark your creativity. We’ve searched the state for examples of Californians who’ve stretched the limits of creativity when it comes to the property or structure they’ve chosen for their business.
No industry has embraced the spirit of California innovation, quite like the wine industry. From innovative mobile tasting rooms to RV rentals on the vineyard property, here are three examples to inspire only the savviest of ideas.
We hope they challenge you to dream big.
Malene Wines And Their Mobile Business Locations
www.malenewines.com/@malenewines
From a semi-permanent parking spot in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo, customers sample Malene Wines in their fully customized Airstream trailer tasting room named, of course, “Malene.”
The concept has become so popular that they’ve added “Mini Malene.” A fully mobile tasting room that travels the central coast of California, bringing Malene Wines to festivals and private events throughout the area.
Byron Blatty Wines
www.byronblatty.com/@byronblattywines
Mark and Jenny Blatty have contributed to the Los Angeles wine scene with an approach that breaks all of the traditional vineyard rules. They source all of their grapes from local LA vineyards instead of owning and running fields of their own.
A Harvest Hosts Location Is Amazing
www.harvesthosts.com/@harvesthosts
Maybe you’re one of the rare vineyards that have extra space, but no desire to create an elaborate “experience” for your customers. Simple is your style, but you’re still looking for extra revenue, and you’ll never turn down free marketing.
Sign up as a Harvest Host location (it’s free!), and you’ll have members of the Harvest Host network parking their RV on your land for a night. In return, the travelers sample and purchase your wine. Free advertising with virtually guaranteed sales makes a business owner happy.
Small Business Start-Up Series
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