[Temptation]

ive just come back from holiday in the uk and saw some wicked done up minis. i now have my heart set on a mini but not sure because they're not that big in aus and i really want to get one and get it done up e.g. body kit, stereo, etc. so i was wondering if anyone knew much about the types of products for minis in aus
thanx

xxx

[minigolf]

Pretty much everything you saw overseas you will be able to do here. It's just that it will probably cost you more money and require more patience.

Either there will be suppliers/retailers already in Australia that will have the gear you want, if not you can import it yourself. Just keep in mind any "good deals" from importing yourself may come undone by the time you pay for freight and import/customs duties if required.

[85NIXMIN]

It sucks that these parts/accessories aren't as accesable as what they are as say in the UK.... hehe
It's hard to come across them...

[Temptation]

thanks,
also is there any car like resrictions for modifications with the mini doors in aus? as i know aus has some resrictions like u cant drive with neon lights (which sucks), have to have a certain type of connection for baby seats etc.

[TOJO]

Quote: Originally Posted by 85NIXMIN (original)

It sucks that these parts/accessories aren't as accesable as what they are as say in the UK.... hehe
It's hard to come across them...

Looks like a goldmine of a business opportunity to me. Jump in now and get your first container of stuff on to a ship. You would make buckets of money selling Lambo doors, undercar lighting, huge flare kits etc. I don't understand why it hasn't been done before. Sucks that......
ps if you can get one of those tachos that mounts on the outside, I want one. That way I can hide behind it for the speed cameras. This means I need one about a foot and a half in diameter. Let me know how you go.

[85NIXMIN]

Yeh I'm surprised that there aren't more MINI websites/places based in Australia...imagine the money they would make??!!!

[OZChris]

Quote: Originally Posted by 85NIXMIN (original)

Yeh I'm surprised that there aren't more MINI websites/places based in Australia...imagine the money they would make??!!!

Hmmm, I am sure it's not as easy as you think

[Temptation]

well new minis are a niche market and in australia they are not well known as they are in the uk. so probably the main reason why no one has done this is because the market here just isnt big enough.
a container full of stuff would prob take at least 6 months to offload onto customers - this adds more costs to it (storage, products becoming dated etc).
also the general target market for modifying cars is the younger males and most can't afford a cooper s and they would rather buy a cheaper sporty type car and do that one up.
and lastly the cost of the products in the uk are quite expensive and thats before exchanging it into AUD, so not many customers would be willing to pay those prices and you have all those legal issues e.g. australian standards, trade practices act etc.

if the niche market expanded and the price of minis and mini products deceased (very unlikely), then this untapped market would be gold but once it catches on there would be a lot more direct competition and unless you penetrate the market first then you'll lose out.

[Guran]

Temptation is right. There is nowhere near enough market in Australia for a specialist in MINI products to make a decent living out of it. It's a matter of demand ...

Commodore and Falcon have been around a lifetime and currently sell 56,500 and 42,500 cars each year (respectively). Those figures are also way down on what they used to sell in the past. Compare that with ~5 years of MINIs currently selling 2,000 each year. That's a factor of 20-30X more new Commodores and Falcons alone, not even thinking about the used car market ... which helps explain why there is so much aftermarket stuff for those cars in this country.

The US and UK are much bigger markets for MINI ... about ten times the number of cars that are sold here. That's enough to justify a small OEM market. In Australia, we just have to make do with importing stuff for our MINIs ... unless a local manages to invent a niche product that no-one else is doing.

[OZChris]

Please don't get me wrong, I agree with you both.

My response was rather tongue-in-cheek as several people have tried what you have suggested and due to limited market have not managed to grow to be like MINI shops seen overseas.

I am sure there are pockets of excess stock in people's garages

[Temptation]

thanks Guran
no MiM, i agree with u, i was just pointing out the problems to this business idea.
thats the problem when u do a degree in business u see everything from a business side. i sometimes annoy my friends with it whenever we out and i see a poorly runned business.

[poki]

Quote: Originally Posted by Temptation (original)

thanks Guran
no MiM, i agree with u, i was just pointing out the problems to this business idea.
thats the problem when u do a degree in business u see everything from a business side. i sometimes annoy my friends with it whenever we out and i see a poorly runned business.

You have a degree in business?

[MickyD]

Grammar was obviously an elective.

[GOGADGET]

Quote: Originally Posted by MickyD (original)

Grammar was obviously an elective.

GOLD !

ROFPMSL

[Temptation]

yes i do actually! i didnt know this forum was all proper. if i was writing a paper or doing an exam i would be more careful with grammar, spelling etc. but im not so i really cant be bothered. im sure if i went through all your previous post i could easily pick up on your bad english but tell ya the truth im not that sad. ive got more important things to do instead of picking on the new kid. honestly its like being back in primary school (im guessing thats prob your highest education anyway!).

so carry on, its very sad.

honestly do u have 2 be an ass 2 own a mini in Aus? must be as ive had none of this bull while in the uk. they are very friendly over there!

[minigolf]

Keep on digging.

[Temptation]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf (original)

Keep on digging.

will do lol

[GOGADGET]

Quote: Originally Posted by Temptation (original)

............... ive had none of this bull while in the uk. they are very friendly over there!

I feel confident that if you go back there and start slagging off their respected MINI modification parts suppliers you will get a similar reaction, ..............go on try it!.... you know we want you to.

PS a tip from a Brit please show some respect and us capital letters when you write 'UK'. Amazing seeing as how you have the Union Flag with "PRIDE" written across it as you Avatar.

[poki]

Quote: Originally Posted by Temptation (original)

yes i do actually! i didnt know this forum was all proper. if i was writing a paper or doing an exam i would be more careful with grammar, spelling etc. but im not so i really cant be bothered. im sure if i went through all your previous post i could easily pick up on your bad english but tell ya the truth im not that sad. ive got more important things to do instead of picking on the new kid. honestly its like being back in primary school (im guessing thats prob your highest education anyway!).

so carry on, its very sad.

honestly do u have 2 be an ass 2 own a mini in Aus? must be as ive had none of this bull while in the uk. they are very friendly over there!

Not picking on your spelling and grammar here but I have to say, you are mighty hard to understand. You have expressed that you cannot be bothered to correspond with us in English. Why should we make any effort to bother with you? (Is your shift key broken? It makes your posts read like the ramblings of a total nutjob. The txtspk just makes you look 12).

As for the ass comment - over the past few years we have welcomed all idiots and pyschos from far and wide into our little community. Our tolerance of their antics has worn a little bit thin in recent times and we have now developed basic intellegence and personality standards, which your posts indicate that you do not meet.

Give up honey. Your attempts at trouble making have gotten you nowhere and now you just look silly.

[TOJO]

Thank you poki for these words. If I had writed them, I would have gotten all mean, which is not nice.
Now it is is dinner time here in warm and sunny Melbourne. I will adjourn to an eatery and plan my BOV for the supercharger. Maybe ITB's as well. ( I think these are mods?)