111 replies to this topic

[stevepearman]

Someone should approach Dress Circle with these ideas!

[DanielWhit]

To be honest, if they haven't thought of things like that themselves (when they know they've been at a metaphorical death's door for a year now) - there is little help.

[Zippy]

I wouldn't have any faith in the current DC team to implement these ideas. They've had a year to do so and failed. It needs a new, fresh management team with the necessary vision and passion and a smart investor with the cash to invest. I think it would do really well with the right team in place.

[craftymiss]

Why don't we all club together and run it as a co-operative? I could get my mum to bake some cakes; SITR lemon drizzle cake, Miserables Muffins, Chicago cupcakes, Rock 'cakes' of Ages, Phantom phlans, Saigon cream slices etc, we could take it in turns a day or two per month to run it, I'm sure there is a wealth of MT knowledge amongst us to do this.  We could arrange for CD signings to happen, many MT performers enjoy getting cakes at SD from their fans, so we could offer them tea & cake to perform; maybe naming a cake after them (suggestions welcome).  A quick rummage through my garage could provide signed posters & programs to adorn the walls, possibly with a few other bits of memoribilia (still have my Aspects of Love T-Shirt ).  I think this is a goer, I see myself as the Mrs Lovatt of Covent Garden .  Any others up for this?

[Zippy]

I am definitely up for this. If any investors are reading this (you never know!) London is desperately in need of a musical theatre retail haven. The gap in the market is there and you have a ready availability of very loyal customers. There's already the potential for an amazing team just on these boards alone. We already have me to manage it (would be my dream job!) and craftymiss and her mum to bake the cakes (imagine the demand for musical theatre based cupcakes!!). I can think of many twitterati who would make amazing staff. Zero tolerance on disapproving looks and bitching.
It would be a goldmine. The people are there, just needs a smart investor. Maybe that woman who won the Euromillions is a MT fan?

[craftymiss]

Or we could get Mulberry Teacup to provide the cakes; theyre based in Carnaby Street & run by David Shannon's sister-in-law, very stagey.  We could also get the music academies to offer up potential singers, i feel sure Mountview & GSMD students are alsways looking to showcase their talents; jazz hands and kick ball changes anyone?  Then we only need Mark Shenton to pop in for a few buns, write a fab review about the tea/coffe/cake/MT fusion and bingo we're on a roll. I'm desperate to chuck in my current career so with a bit of financial backing we could have this sussed Zippy.  I'm off to put a quid on the lottery! (sorry I've hijacked this and made it slightly off topic, but I'm finding it entertaining what we are all saying/suggesting)

[Zippy]

Despite it all sounding pie (or Les Mis cup cakes!) in the sky, the thing is that this is a real possibility, the only (big) barrier is that we have no money. But with an investor on board it could actually really happen!
We've already just written a very basic business plan here! We all have the passion and we all have different skill sets (management experience, financial expertise, marketing skills, customer service skills, cake making skills.....) that can be applied to make it work.

[stevepearman]

Wouldn't it be amazing if something came of this? I'd love to be of help, but I don't have money and I live in Northants! I wonder how much it would take to get going? After all, the existing tenant still has the lease I believe. They talk of still running the online business. From where - the shop?

[Zippy]

Who knows where they're running it from but I can see it going down the same direction as the shop. I really believe that a group of committed individuals (with no association with DC) with a shared passion and varied skill sets can really achieve this. It would obviously require an investor but we've already shown how if done correctly it can really work and an investor could easily recoup their investment!

[Matthew Winn]

Zippy, on 15 August 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

But with an investor on board it could actually really happen!

Now all you need to do is write up a proper business plan and raise money on the Internet. It could actually happen if you capture enough interest. I was recently a contributor to a Kickstarter project that ended up with five times as much money as it aimed for.