Good or bad idea? free storespace

Hello all!

I have been sitting on an idea for a while now, and am curious about oppinions.

I am working on a building wich probably can house 6 to 12 large rooms, that I want to make into storespace.
My idea is not to rent storespace out, malls are for that.
When I started, it was hard to get things going in the beginning. So my idea is this:

Starting content creators that have no store or landspace.
Give them for a surten time (I was thinking 3 months) a spot in my building
I want:

- only original creators, no business in a box, resale or affiliate vendors.
- Give them 50 to 100 prim (not sure yet)
- Can stay there untill have mainstore themself and for max of 3 months, then spot opens for new person.

Now, is this a good idea? Or am I getting myself into drama and issues here?
The whole idea is to give beginning content creators a little boost to start off.

Anything I overlooked?
Should I do this or not?
All comments and input it welcome.

Ben

Hi Ben

personally I think it is a great idea to give something back to the community. When we first started in business we were very lucky to have someone like you give us that first start. And as a result we now offer something very similar, although our spaces are not time restricted. To me, we had so many spare prims and free space at our main store it seemed a waste to have them sitting there doing nothing, when they could be helping those either new to business or running small businesses with very little exposure. I've made some great friends through doing this. And since most of them put us in their picks it is free advertising for us all as well. You may well find some very good candidates for your spaces in the "Advice on Sales" thread. And, I have to say, so far we have had no drama from this at all, and it has worked so well for those with spaces we have recently added a second floor to our free spaces.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do
Rhia xx

I'm currently managing a small free mall space for NCI right now. We supply kiosks for 6 prims per seller, a copy of Eatavend's single panel vendor, and permission to rez an XstreetSL magic box. (^_^)

The overall rule is that the free space is intended for avatars 120 days or younger, but, until the mall fills up anyone is welcome to join. Once the mall is full, sub-120 day accounts will take priority. (^_^)y

I was lucky enough to win land on the same terms once, the sim was divided into 16ths so there were 16 of us living and working there for free. For me it was where I started to learn how to content create.

I was there so long I was made an Estate Manager, so to the next part of your question, yes it can the a real pain, people can be 'just not nice', residents expected things all the time, do this, do that, for god sake the land was completely free didn't cost them a penny. We had a 1 month turn around that depended on something similar to a voting system, the three with the least votes got booted off and three more joined. 1 month in my opinion wasn't enough, it should have been two, 3 for what your offering seems fair. However, at the end of the month there was either crying, screaming, or suicide attempts when we inform those who had to leave.

BUT, do I think it was a great idea, yes absolutely, I also met some of the nicest people I know in SL there and quite a few went on to become very competent content creators.

Of course it doesn't mean you will have the same trauma, so if your thick skinned, go for it.

"And the winner of the 'largest advert in a sig" award this year is . . . "

Pep (with really ugly models too)

My reason for a fixed time period is to give others a chance too.
I am thinking after that period, if they have a store location, to place a single prim sign in the hallways with a LM giver. Something like that, so that their customers can find them.

I agree with the others that it's an excellent idea. One thing that may cause it to fail is traffic (visitors). It's ok giving someone a place to sell their stuff for free, to give them a helping start, but if people don't visit the place, it's not going to help them to get a start.

There are a couple of ways of doing it though. One is to promote the whole place and the other is to cut individual parcels for the stores, and provide information to the tenants on how to promote their stores.

I have a few people who sell their own creations from my store for free, and mostly for the same reason - as a help in getting started. My store already gets visitors, and the tenants do sell stuff but, without the store's visitors they wouldn't sell anything there. There is no time limit, and none of them have moved on (no surprise there ), but it costs me nothing so it doesn't matter.

I think it's an excellent idea, Benski. I'm a grateful recipient of Rhia's generosity and my store in Primal Art is really what got me started.

As far as traffic, from my experience it really doesn't matter where a store is, including high in the sky *IF* it is well-promoted. The first store I had was a small satellite but I honestly knew nothing about promoting it, so left. Then I began reading/participating in the "Advice on Sales" thread as well as going to Jojogirl Bailey's classes on getting started/promoting a business. When I apply what I've learned, I get sales, when I don't, I don't get as many, but still some because I must have some built up customer recognition now as well as listing my products on XStreet SL.

As far as drama, I think it depends on the mix of people. I think all of us in Rhia's location came from the "Advice on Sales" thread, so we were actively seeking to learn.

Having seen people do exactly this dozens of times, one comment above rings true.

People you are giving the free stuff to, will feel *entitled* like you can't ever possibly imagine.

If I had to put it in terms of degree, it would be this:



1) reasonable thing at reasonable price:

lowest customer expectation, usually no major demands (always a few)


2) super premium thing at high price

modest customer expectation, usually reasonable demands, maybe 1 nut per 1000 transactions


3) free thing no matter how good or bad

half of all 'customers' will attempt to make ridiculous demands


I think the psychology behind this is that they are somehow seeing themselves as 'providing a service' to you. Either with the time they spend, or their attention or creativity and so forth. Otherwise you wouldn't be soliciting for their presence, right? Or so the thinking goes.

Be prepared to have a really thick skin and you'll be fine. Not everyone is this way, but unbelievably many in the 'freebie culture' are. Some will even take pride in how far they can get by, on someone else's money. Just sayin'.

Hmmmm.... Maaaaybe THAT'S why I was picked to manage the free mall. (O.o)

=^-^=

I think its a great idea, but with new folks you have to be prepared to offer alot of support....you would be amazed at the number of people who rent space on my sims and then ask me how to put a texture on a box or set something for sale. They appreciate the help, but free makes it even more tempting for new folks who really may not be serious about using the space well to jump in over their heads. Some will take the info and run with it, others will just have a mostly empty store that they never did anything with.

My advice would be to make sure you have clearcut rules....in addition to what kinds of things they can sell and not sell. things like...they have to be set up in a certain timeframe, cant have laggy scripts running, no greeters in chat over a certain distance or whatever else is important to you. And DO have a thick skin...mine is pretty good, but ive had renters drive me crazy with their drama and then argue about the rules down to the inth degree.

Let us know what you decide to do....we might be able to refer some folks to you as well.

I also think it's a noble goal, but it has its drawbacks.

In the past we have offered free vendor space to people that fit with our concept and "theme" of our sims - we had no takers, for whatever reason. So the old "build it and then will come" thing doesn't necessarily follow. I think Desmond's warning is very apt as well - the "freebie culture" that goes on in SL amazes me - how many people over on XStreetSL slam a free product?

And yes, you are going to have to promote somehow, in order to get traffic (and customers) is going to be vital, otherwise they're just not going to build any sort of customer base. You will have to make it obvious, also, that they are going to need to promote themselves at the location - you're not going to foot the bill for paid commercials for them.

Asking for advice is great.. but at the end of the day you alone have factors that will make this work or fail. Location, attitude, etc are the deciders. Your attitude is already in a good place wanting to help new people. Just go for it. If it does not get the result you want back to the drawing board.

Thank you all for replying. I am going through with this idea and taking some pointers to see how to set it up.
Indeed if it fails, so what, no risk, got the space already.

With new content creators it doesn't necesairly mean Newbies, since a lot start building after a while exploring SL. If someone is going to demand all kinds of stuff, it is Byebyes, spot goes to someone else who appreceate it more.

But I am going to set some kind of guide or rules up, I surtenly will have some things down on a notecard, conditions or rules.

I think it's quite the noble idea but could present more headaches if not planned well. I'd agree clear and concise guidelines would have to be put in place and perhaps interviewing folks to ensure there is no misunderstanding of the terms of your agreement. Perhaps something a little less work but on the same philanthropical vein is to offer people the ability to store their Xstreet boxes in your space which is only one prim and you don't have to worry about spammy greeters, laggy vendor scripts etc.

NCI's guidelines are good and can be gotten from a little kiosk on the sidewalk in the mall area for new creators. It's off to the side of the Kuula NCI.

We thought about doing this at the Hangout, and one idea we considered was bringing some traffic to the area by holding a show-and-tell once every couple of weeks. Those attract new creators who haven't got vendor space yet, and there are never enough of these get-togethers ... the big one at .. oh, darn, the one Mystical Cookie advertises ... was always TOO jammed when I went.

If you get a few veteran creators and business owners to attend, they function as both cheerleaders and coaches.

Why would any veteran creators and business owners attend? Go to the show-and-tell I mentioned, they are really really fun.
.

Benski, I think it's a great idea.

People have mentioned a few possible issues, but I think that carefully writing up an agreement would perhaps iron many out, ie, length of tenure, prims available, some basic standards re mature content and originality (eg no BIAB perhaps?).

Anything to help new original creators get a leg-up is worthwhile.

I've been luckily involved with a similar arrangement with a generous person in sl. She does something akin to what you propose for the fashion industry, and I haven't seen much evidence of the problems people have brought up despite it being quite a lot of work. So I can tell you that it's do-able

i know you only posted that to get a reaction.
Also i dont know you as a person.. i only read what you post here. And i have always wondered what makes you tick...

Why? Because I dont understand the internet phenomena of poking someone with a sharp stick of words.
I cant claim to know what drives ppl to do this in RL either, but i can see that they get some of their satisfaction from the visible reaction of their victims.

But on the internet? One cant see the results of how one can trash a person's day... hell you wont even know if they are already having a really bad day/week/month/life and you are merely adding insult to injury. So where is the motivation? Is it some inward, solitary satisfaction gained by imagining how the other person will be crushed? Kind of like the woopsy feeling you get in your tummy when you squash a bug with a big piece of paper towel.. youre not sure if its dead or only suffering.. but some kind of crunchy damage is going on..?

Surely there are better and more constructive hobbies? And surely you aren't that bitter, jaded and thoroughly unhappy that you need to make others feel worse?

/amenherendethelesson

EDIT
PS.. sorry to the OP, i really think your idea is great, but i am also honestly curious about Pserendipity Daniels and thought i would ask before the forums go *poof*)

Why not do commission based spaces? No rent, but they use a split script to pay you 20-30% of each sale. It's a great way to give new creators a boost, but without the space being "free" and potentially creating feelings of entitlement.

I think its a very nice idea, I'm new and I enjoy making clothing, but I don't have anywhere to sell them due to not having enough funds to rent land or a shop. This is a brill idea and if you decide to do it, I'd be very interested in a shop.

I got a lot of good ideas out of here.

@ Desmond: Yes somehow seems that on free stuff, people get demanding. That is why I am going to write down what I offer, and what they can expect.

@ Nika: Do you mean a show and tell event and then pick people that can get a free store based on their work?

Yes I am going to write up some clear rules on timeframe, scripting, setup, content sold, no resale, no business in a box etc etc.

My intention was and is free. Offcourse I am not stupid, a donation box for those that feel like donating to this project will be set up.

Many of us here know, that starting off is hard to do, specially for people not able to bring real money into SL.

I am offering space and prims on land I pay for, and set up rules for those people that are very clear. I can be thick skinned towards people that demand above an already great deal. I am thinking 50 prim, 12 stores, and not talking small booths here, but decent size stores, in a 2 story building, average 15x20 meter storespace. A serious push in the back to get them started.

Also considering to get the link of the "sales" thread in a notecard to guide them to some excelent tips.

Keep the ideas comming

I already desided that I want to try this, am creating the building for it right now.

Keep an eye on this post

Fase 1 is completed, constructed a mall where 12 stores are housed over 2 floors.
They are not the usual 10x10 size in malls you pay for, but decent sized stores.

A preview:

Inside:



Outside:



I am now going to work on the conditions for free stores.

Ben

Nice building The individual spaces remind me a bit of the size of Rhia's store which work really well!