Input needed for custom local butcher idea

Where are you considering? I buy quite a bit from Iverstine in BR and he is only a few miles from me. I buy more chickens than anything because a yard chicken is 100% different than a processed chicken from a grocer.

I find most butcher shops don’t carry enough product and try to stay too high end. I like to braise and like big inexpensive cuts that they rarely have or I have to tell them in advance.

Depends on the area. I know your just getting ppls feedback but be cautious. The ones that say that would be great and they would buy if u had something like that divide it by 2. Most ppl are all talk and when it’s time to pay a little extra and support local they shop where the best price is at even if quality isn’t all that. Good luck and continue to do your homework.

I would say there is a market for it, but it depends on where you are and what is already available in the area.

In BR, I buy from Iverstine’s Butcher occasionally (very fresh but somewhat expensive) and Cutrer’s Meat Market at the Red Stick Farmer’s Market whenever I can. Cutrer’s has good prices and will bring you whatever you want if you pre-order, but their meat is flash-frozen and some people don’t like that.

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Not to stomp on your dreams or anything but they have failed here in New Orleans. Would be fun to have one but.... 

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Shank does this and has been going strong for a while.

I wish I could use him more often, but being across town kind of makes it difficult these days.

I think Shank benefits from not getting too fancy and working his nuts off behind the counter every day.

Think a new one opened or is opening. Piece of Meat I think it’s called?

When I buy meat along these lines, I usually buy straight from the farmer. We have a weekly farmers market April-October that regularly has 3 or 4 farmers selling direct.

Thanks for the input so far. I cannot say much right now on the plans or what I am working on. What I can say is that everything is in the works for the things that have been brought up. I am also looking at a delivery service because the location is not necessarily in your backyard.

Yes, there will be many other things being sold and created here for purchase. To keep cost down need to be out of major metropolitan area.

Continue with the ideas or input it is much appreciated.

Location, location, location. Having to get out of metropolitan areas will hamper you greatly. The alternative to that is shipping or delivery like you said. But you have to be able to ship or deliver for cheap or free. The organic movement is getting bigger, but no where near large enough to sustain a business that is both more expensive and more difficult to deal with. Finding a niche is going to be key for you. Doing the same things that others do (ether that is Whole Foods, local butchers, etc) and being even remotely more expensive or hard to access is sure to crush your business. You have to provide a service, product, or have the quality that no one else does in order to survive if you won’t be able to rely on foot traffic for the majority of your sales.

Different industries, certainly, but there is a reason why bass pro and cabelas buy prime high dollar real estate right next to the interstate, even having a HUGE online presence. While I can understand you’re likely not looking for those types of returns and revenue, it’s something to consider.

Have you considered supplying only to restaurants instead, and not selling product out of your front door to the public?