Potential buisnesses in Sosua

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eralc777

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Aug 6, 2005
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Me and my friend are moving to Sosua in July/August and my friend is looking at starting a buisness.

She is a qualified hairdresser and wants to know if an English hairdresser would be successful...anyone know of anyone who would be interested?

Also, she is looking at starting a party bus for the resorts, going around Sosua and Cabarete, maybe to Mangu in Playa Dorada. Anyone know how successful this idea could be? And how much it could cost to set up? Also, how difficult it would be to actually set up?

Thanks for any advice!
 
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eralc777

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Sorry for not being more specific. Was talking on the phone and typing at the same time.

A party bus is what we have named it while we planned how we would go about it. We thought of organising an excursion from resorts, taking people on a night out into Sosua and Cabarete. We stay at Breezes a lot and we get so many people asking us where we go on a night out and if they can come with us because they are bored of the disco in the resort. We thought we could charge to take a group of people out, where they are looked after and transported safely and we could have a fun night out. We thought it would prove to be successful as people tend to be a bit cautious about leaving the hotel, but if they knew they could go in a group with English people running it, then they might want to go and experience Dominican night life.

I have heard that there is one running already, but we have been there quite a lot and have never seen anything of it. We would want to make ours really popular and well known to all the resorts.
 
Tamborista

Tamborista

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Apr 4, 2005
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A Party Bus is not a bad idea, but The Taxi Unions are very strong and do not view competition lightly. It is not uncommon to have "Bad Things" done to your vehicle as a friendly warning to get out of the business.

You are not only taking fare's away from the local driver's they also make a commission from most local bars by bringing in the gringo!

I would think about this one carefully.
 
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AnnaC

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Jan 2, 2002
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Same to you Tambo ;)


Hairdressing;

you need to decide what the target market will be. Is it tourist or locals

The locals have many choices where to get their hair done and you would have to compete with local prices. If it's tourist or ex pats you need to ask the ex pats where they get their hair done now and would they prefer an English speaking parlor.
 
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BushBaby

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There WAS a party bus tour once, run by a Dominican & a POWERFUL Dominican too - it failed!! The sindico are NOT in favour of competition during the day & RELUCTANTLY let the excursion companies through because they HAVE to now by law! Before the law changed, they would take baseball clubs to the vehicles AND the drivers/tour guides that operated the tour!

As far as the excursion companies are concerned, all guests going out AFTER 6.00 pm are the 'game' reserved for Taxi companies!

For hairdressing information, check with Ramona in the Spa boutique next time you stay at Breezes. She speaks excellent English (she was taught for a period by an English woman & was engaged to & lived with a Scot who couldn't learn Spanish). I am sure she will be helpful especially if she sees a position for herself there! Personally, I don't see it working as there is plenty of Dominican competition around & LOADS of these girls speak very good English. This is NOT "Burnt Out Old Foggy" comment, it is seriously considered experience! ~ Grahame.
 
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eralc777

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Well ita good to hear these comments now before moving over there to set the buisness up only to be disappointed, and from what you say here, maybe put in danger.

We thought it would be a harmless idea, taking a small group (maybe 6-10 people at the most) out for a drink and a dance. We thought of asking a couple of taxi drivers if they would want a regular job working with us and then they would have a guaranteed income each week. Maybe not so much a good idea. We wouldnt want to offend any locals.

We have a friend who works in Breezes who said she would be so happy if an English hairdresser opened a salon as they seem better at doing colours and cuts and whatever....so thats what put the idea in our heads. I think my friend would be aiming at non Domincan clients as we have seen there are many Dominican hairdressers.

Any other ingenious buisness ventures that could potentially take off on the North Coast??
 
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BushBaby

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Working WITH the Taxi drivers is a good idea & could be followed through with sensible planning & costings. Don't chuck that out just yet - I was advising against setting up a BUS as competition to the Taxis!!

My best advice re starting a business over here would be .............
Come here & look around for at least 6 months. Consider ALL ideas, evaluate them as business propositions & then investigate much closer the ones with most potential. Be VERY aware that what you are told by Dominicans now, may well change drastically once you try to put them into practice. Dominicans are very optimistic people & will tend to tell you what you WANT to hear!

Good Luck & keep lots of pencils & RUBBERS around whilst you do your thinking/planning! ~ Grahame.
 
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eralc777

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If you want to invest Shad, we will gladly take your money and work for a wage....a good wage that is!!!

I keep saying 'we' but I have got a job sorted...its my friend that is searching for ideas. I think she should be a rep. If the party tour idea does go ahead, I will be working for her for a few nights....arent I a good friend!!

We dont want to get a bus, that is why we thought we would stick to a taxi (preferably one of those bigger taxis that seats about 6 people....then we could use 2 of them for a night out) We thought that we would need to get reps involved to advertise the nightout......what is the best way of getting to know the reps, ask around at mangu on a Tuesday? go to the resorts to talk to them? Hang around the airport? Would we need to give the reps any money to advertise for us?
 
Tamborista

Tamborista

hasta la tambora
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Where do you fit into this equation?
The Taxi gets paid, the bar pays the taxi commission, the resort gets a kickback. Why do tourists need you to get into a cab and go off the resort?

Unless you are adding value $$$$$$$$$$ to the big picture, you are lucky to break even on this after expenses.

Have you thought about selling a LoJack device to prevent the theft of Egyptian Cotton Percale sheets from the resorts? There seems to be demand for this!

Tambo'
 
Hillbilly

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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If you go about it inthe proper manner, that is, get the government tourism ministry seal of approval, you might make a go of it....the party bus.

However, you need to be here and making friends before you can make that happen...

Good luck...

HB
 
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shadInToronto

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Nov 16, 2003
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eralc777 said:
...... Would we need to give the reps any money to advertise for us?
Click to expand...
You could convert the reps to Hare Krishna followers then send them out to collect donations for your tours ... Charitable for profit business. :glasses:
 
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eralc777

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The whole point of us being there is that lots of guests seem to be afraid of leaving the resort as they are told it is dangerous....yet a lot of people do want to go out and have a good time. So we thought if me and my friend take a group of people to a few places and look after them (for a small price) then they get a great night out, piece of mind at being escorted around and a chance to leave the resort.

We had so many people asking us if they could come out with us as they didnt know where to go when we were staying at Breezes. My friend has worked out that it could be profitable, especially if we sorted a deal with a few of the bars. Im sure they would welcome a guaranteed income each week, as would the taxi drivers.
 
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