Fresh Atlantic Seafood delivered to your door...would you be interested? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

CrazyCaper · 08-31-2009, 04:09 PM

Hello fellow CP'ers,

I'm looking at starting up a new venture and want to feel out if there would be a demand in Calgary and area.

I'm originally from Cape Breton(hense the username) and have a difficult time finding quality fresh seafood in this city. I've brokered a deal where I could supply next day delivery for all types of seafood. Lobster, crab, mussels, scallops, different varities of fresh fish, etc.

Before I begin to pour my heart and soul into this venture, I wanted to feel out CP to see if anyone would be comfortable buying their seafood online.

Any input you can offer would be appreciated.

CrazyCaper

jayswin · 08-31-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCaper

Hello fellow CP'ers,

I'm looking at starting up a new venture and want to feel out if there would be a demand in Calgary and area.

I'm originally from Cape Breton(hense the username) and have a difficult time finding quality fresh seafood in this city. I've brokered a deal where I could supply next day delivery for all types of seafood. Lobster, crab, mussels, scallops, different varities of fresh fish, etc.

Before I begin to pour my heart and soul into this venture, I wanted to feel out CP to see if anyone would be comfortable buying their seafood online.

Any input you can offer would be appreciated.

CrazyCaper

Nice, another Cape Bretoner! I'm sure my family would, depending on price of course.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 08-31-2009, 04:14 PM

I've bought lobster online before. As long as you're guaranteeing its freshness, I don't see the problem.

Mccree · 08-31-2009, 04:15 PM

Really depends on the Price and how you can guarantee the freshness. If both are reasonable then yes I would order online.

tigger777 · 08-31-2009, 04:20 PM

I just ordered lobsters online last week!!!

Rerun · 08-31-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccree

really depends on the price and how you can guarantee the freshness. If both are reasonable then yes i would order online.

ditto

Bring_Back_Shantz · 08-31-2009, 04:24 PM

Meh, I'm just gonna stick with the 100 large shrimp for $10 from the white van.

Sorry I don't have more to add, I don't really eat a lot of seafood, and I just wanted to make a joke about van sea-food.

AvsJerk · 08-31-2009, 04:24 PM

I know a lady that does something similar here in my town in Colorado. She has a shack about the size of a coffee cart and is only open on Fridays. She makes some pretty good change $$ as far as I know. If I ever move away from here, I plan on doing something similar. I think I'd stay away from the delivery part for a couple of reasons...1. your insurance will go up. 2. wear and tear & fuel on your vehicle. 3. timing deliveries. 4. would you be able to do it yourself or would you have to hire a driver?

FiftyBelow · 08-31-2009, 04:24 PM

As long as its competitive with whatever is offered at a grocery store or market I would consider ordering. For me... its not so much the method of securing fresh seafood but rather its quality and price. Heck I wouldn't mind driving a good distance as long as both requirements are met.

flylock shox · 08-31-2009, 04:27 PM

I don't know if I would trust an online company like this.

Sounds fishy...

Maritime Q-Scout · 08-31-2009, 04:34 PM

I guess I should premise by saying I don't live in Calgary so clearly I'm not in your target market.

I'm also going to follow up by saying I can't stand sea-food. It's it's from the sea, it's not for me. Fish/Lobster/Crab = GROSS

However, I am currently in Sydney (for the next few days anyway) and naturally want to see a fellow Cape Bretoner succeed at any venture they choose to embark upon, therefore if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

Personally I'd think that Calgary is big and rich enough to have a niche like this one do well. Then again I don't really know as I've never spent any considerable about of time in Calgary, nor do I like seafood so I don't know much about it's markets or economics.

moncton golden flames · 08-31-2009, 04:35 PM

being a maritimer myself, i would entertain the idea of ordering online, but the quality of product would have to be top notch and prices relatively low.

Jordan! · 08-31-2009, 04:36 PM

I'd just go to the Grocery Store personally.. Unless it's cooked, why order it? Chances are i'll need to go to the grocery store anyways for ingredients. Unless you also deliver said ingredients?

The Ditch · 08-31-2009, 04:42 PM

I could be into this, it's tough to get really fresh seafood out here.

Barnes · 08-31-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

I'd just go to the Grocery Store personally.. Unless it's cooked, why order it? Chances are i'll need to go to the grocery store anyways for ingredients. Unless you also deliver said ingredients?

See where Calgary is. See where ocean is.

And no I would not get it delivered to my door. I would get it delivered right into my mouth.

Cowboy89 · 08-31-2009, 05:11 PM

I love seafood, especially fresh seafood, and would definately be a customer of yours should you go into busienss and the product was fresh and not outlandishly expensive. The only problem is I eat so much seafood that I would probably only get the good fresh stuff for special occasions. So maybe order like 2-6 times a year.

BlackArcher101 · 08-31-2009, 05:16 PM

It would all depend on how much extra you charge over the existing seafood shops for being fresh and to-the-door.

I'd be willing to pay 10-15% extra TOPS.

transplant99 · 08-31-2009, 05:24 PM

Old business adage...

You can offer 2 of any of the following 3 and still do OK.

Price
Quality
Service

Price + Quality = It will be good stuff, but you have to come get it and no returns.

Price + Service = It's cheap and I will bring it to you, but it isnt the best stuff you can get.

Quality + Service = It will be really good and you will be happy with the delivery....but it is gonna cost you.

All that being said...I would be interested if I was in Calgary.

Pick any two, and things should be fine...beyond that you are staring problems right in the mug.

DOK · 08-31-2009, 05:26 PM

I'm surprised at the people who are saying they'd rather stick with grocery store seafood. In my opinion, it's not the same thing at all. Maritime lobster, muscles, scallops and the rest straight from the ocean is amazing. Even the fresh stuff here is no comparison.

My only issue is timeline. The best seafood has the shortest time from ocean to my plate. Obviously, the trip from the east to Calgary is a long way, making it delayed. That being said, the one thing that I would absolutely buy is lobster. They are caught, boxed and delivered fresh and alive.

You should talk to the guys at "The Catch". They specialize in west and east "fresh" seafood. Apparently they own their own plane, catch, box, fly, cook and serve in the same day. They could help to better understand the system.

Also there is Spoon fed Soups. They are an on line company that makes their own bottled soup from scratch and delivers it to the core of Calgary. It's a very small local company that does extremely well. You'd probably get good information there about the on line process.

I remember a meat guy that would come to our house once a month, he drove something like an ice cream truck and would deliver orders the 3 friday of the month, something like that. It was a good system back then.

Personally, I'd think the easiest way is to restrict what's available when. Orders only processed on thursdays or fridays, something like that. Because your product is so time sensitive it would be very hard to place orders all week long and keep track of what you need and when.

If you can't tell, I think it's a great venture to look at. Would be costly to get going, but has potential for sure.

4X4 · 08-31-2009, 05:36 PM

One of the things that really sucks about Alberta is it's proximity to salt water. All the seafood I used to eat in Italy turned me into a bit of a snob. It was only ever matched by the seafood I ate in Nova Scotia.

I would probably be a fairly regular customer if the prices were reasonable. Afterall, the great thing about Alberta is the beef.