Biz in a Box
The Signal: You may have heard Sam and Shaan talk about the Irish Pub Concept, a company that has generated ~$2B shipping units of their Irish "Pub in a Box" to 50+ countries.
*Source: Keywords Everywhere
The pubs are delivered complete with everything from furniture to authentic Irish knickknacks (they'll even do the setup for you).
In this Signal, we'll dive into what makes this business so successful, and highlight other opportunities that lend themselves to the "Biz in a Box" model.
The Big Picture: The Irish Pub Concept's secret lies in both product profitability and standardization.
Authentic Irish pubs are highly distinctive, with decor and atmospheres that have remained largely unchanged over the years---lending themselves to templatization.
The Irish pub is also a money-minting machine.
Guests are typically immersed in a world of warmth, festivity, and "craic": what the Irish call real fun. This level of authenticity creates a premium environment feel for patrons, encouraging them to indulge --- leading to impressive margins.
Combine this with decor that stands the test of time (lowering capex needs), and ye have yourself the foundation of a solid business model.
*Source: The Irish Pub Concept
The Opportunity: Profitable businesses that can be templatized present attractive Biz in a Box opportunities.
Foreign cuisine and dining experiences are a great way to leverage the concept. Take Thai restaurants, the number of which tripled worldwide between 2001-19 thanks to a Thai-government-backed program offering pre-designed restaurant "packages" to Thais living abroad.
Partnering with popular brands with licensed IPs is another route. Entrepreneurs could create complete solutions for, e.g., Disney-themed diners or Instagram-worthy gamer cafes --- marketed to existing establishments in need of a revamp.
Hotel in a Box: As we pointed out in our rewilding Signal, interest in outdoor experiences is soaring. Trendster Nathan Resnick is currently leveraging the opportunity with his startup Bubble Hotels (check out his story here).
Airstreams provide a great opportunity: They can be delivered with everything needed to start welcoming guests. And they're trending --- TikTok's #airstream has already garnered 58m+ views.
Site visits to AutoCamp, provider of luxury Airstream suites at US national parks, have more than doubled since January to reach 170k visits/month, per Similarweb.
Entrepreneurs could offer landowners complete, prepackaged designs via outright purchase or rental/revenue sharing options.
Leaning into the vintage trend could boost margins: Outdoorsy reports that their vintage Airstreams go for premium rates and have lower upkeep costs (~$1k/year).
Box in a Box: CrossFit gyms are known as "boxes" for a reason: They're plain, square warehouse-style buildings without the usual gym paraphernalia (no saunas, treadmills, pools, or mirror-lined walls). Demand for CrossFit is making a post-pandemic comeback.
You could deliver an entire gym to prospective owners (and set it up in a matter of hours). Interest in niche gyms, particularly CrossFit, is rising.
*Source: Keywords Everywhere
Acquiring distressed gym assets post-pandemic is another option. While demand for CrossFit is rebounding, gyms have had it rough: 96% of affiliate boxes in the US were closed for a period of time (or permanently) due to COVID.
A quick browse of business sale listings shows just how many CrossFit gyms are likely in the red. Entrepreneurs could combine acquiring equipment and/or client bases from distressed boxes with the Biz in a Box model.
Trendster Codie Sanchez discussed the untapped opportunities of a revenue-sharing model with struggling gyms on a recent My First Million episode.
Shipping container gyms for home or professional use are another great niche. Google searches for "container gym" rose ~200% YoY from last March, Keywords Everywhere shows.
They're durable, easily shippable, and will provide boutique hotels, clubs, businesses, etc. with affordable gym options.
There is essentially no limit to the number of concepts you could package up into a shipping container --- mini spas (complete with a sauna), toolshed/hobby rooms, garden home office, etc.
