Dear Friends,
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin; I wanna tell you a story.
When Bill Shipton died, I thought it would be the end of all things 'Splosh'! However along came a beautiful angel in the form of Sammy-Jane, who organised the cleaning of the studio and took over the running of the studio. I was introduced to the landlord company representative and I took on the quarterly rent payments until the place could pay for itself by hosting 'private sessions', new sploshing stories and all of the other activities which Bill used to organise there.
However, there seems to have been little in the way of money-making activities so far but the landlord company still require payment four times a year. I still have my own domestic expenses and it is becoming more & more difficult to explain to my partner why I should send money to some anonimious person in Hastings when I am hard pressed to pay household expenses!
Can anyone suggest what I (or anyone else) should do? I will never drop Sammy in the proverbial!!! but I am at my wits end.
Richard (aka Sotonude).
Splosh studio's future.
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by muckypup » 08 Mar 2014, 22:38
Hmm, that's not good 
I think Bill struggled even doing it full time. Not too helpful I know, but keep us up to date with goings on.
I think Bill struggled even doing it full time. Not too helpful I know, but keep us up to date with goings on.-
muckypup - Posts: 1691 [ View ]
- Joined: 24 Apr 2006, 21:22
- Location: Cheshire, UK
- Fetlife: muckipup
- UMD: muckypup
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by andy250 » 09 Mar 2014, 11:29
It could be caused by a numerous factors Rich, We've just been through one of the worst winters on the south coast in history, that won't have helped. Winter is quiet for messy fun anyway, due to the air temp being to cold.
I would suggest that all the investor's get together on a one to one basis, and have a discussion on what direction they want the studio to go, formulate a business plan, that will move everybody forward. Plan some kind of time frame for Richard on his investment, that would give Richard piece of mind on the financial side of things.
It's the day to day turnover of the business that will be the difficult part in the first two/three years. You need to build that up, to be able to return on the investment. Tha'ts where your discussion on a one to one basis, on a regular occurrence, needs to take place.
Basically you've got a blank canvas, it all depends on how creative you are all are, and what you want to do with it.
Hope it all works out for everybody.
regards
Andy and the team.
I would suggest that all the investor's get together on a one to one basis, and have a discussion on what direction they want the studio to go, formulate a business plan, that will move everybody forward. Plan some kind of time frame for Richard on his investment, that would give Richard piece of mind on the financial side of things.
It's the day to day turnover of the business that will be the difficult part in the first two/three years. You need to build that up, to be able to return on the investment. Tha'ts where your discussion on a one to one basis, on a regular occurrence, needs to take place.
Basically you've got a blank canvas, it all depends on how creative you are all are, and what you want to do with it.
Hope it all works out for everybody.
regards
Andy and the team.
Last edited by andy250 on 09 Mar 2014, 12:23, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by SimonW » 09 Mar 2014, 12:11
Sorry to hear of those problems, I work in financial services and I'm afraid that most people and many small businesses are struggling with basic expenses these days, even before having much to spare for leisure and fun activities (and our wonderful politicians haven't a clue, most of them having never done an ordinary day's work in their lives, but enjoying expense allowances more than most of us earn in a year...but that's another story!).
As Andy says, the bad winter has definitely affected lots of businesses, but you do need a business plan as to what, realistically, can be done, and particularly remembering that "throwing money at a problem" only postpones the inevitable if the underlieing business isn't viable in the long term. In the end some business plans, however well intentioned and even working "flat out", just don't work, and it's better to face up to that before money and effort is wasted.....if sufficient demand for a business's goods or services just isn't there, best to bite the bullet sooner rather than later.
Sorry if I seem pessimistic, but I've seen it so many times in my work.
To be a bit more encouraging, can the video sales side be developed at all...buying a dvd or download is much more affordable for someone than a private session? And are there any other producers who could "go in" with you on using the studio or distributing their videos ?
As Andy says, the bad winter has definitely affected lots of businesses, but you do need a business plan as to what, realistically, can be done, and particularly remembering that "throwing money at a problem" only postpones the inevitable if the underlieing business isn't viable in the long term. In the end some business plans, however well intentioned and even working "flat out", just don't work, and it's better to face up to that before money and effort is wasted.....if sufficient demand for a business's goods or services just isn't there, best to bite the bullet sooner rather than later.
Sorry if I seem pessimistic, but I've seen it so many times in my work.
To be a bit more encouraging, can the video sales side be developed at all...buying a dvd or download is much more affordable for someone than a private session? And are there any other producers who could "go in" with you on using the studio or distributing their videos ?
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by happysplosher » 09 Mar 2014, 13:50
Sorry to learn about this. I note from Richard's post that, "there seems to have been little in the way of money-making activities". May I ask, have you advertised sufficiently, outside of the Splosh website, to attract customers? Is there a "sammy-jane sploshing sessions" website? If not, I think you should consider it. Perhaps existing "sessions" websites can help if you need some ideas. But it seems to me you have the most important item for sploshing and that is somewhere to perform your sessions, with clean-up facilites etc - pictures would help to sell this, as well as pictures of past sessions (edited where necessary to preserve customer confidentiality, of course). I believe Splosh-a-Girl is on hold at the moment because they have yet to find new suitable premises to continue offering private sessions. But to get the business, you must advertise, advertise, advertise - and be updating the website regularly to keep it fresh and interesting.
Hope that's of some help. I wish you, Richard, and Sammy-Jane, and anyone else involved, the very best of luck.
Hope that's of some help. I wish you, Richard, and Sammy-Jane, and anyone else involved, the very best of luck.
- happysplosher
- Posts: 14 [ View ]
- Joined: 28 Aug 2006, 11:52
- Location: Northamptonshire
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by SammyJaneSplosh » 09 Mar 2014, 17:32
Hi
I feel as if i'm not only letting Richard down but Bills memory as well
I would love to have a web site but it costs money, i would love to do films for down load site but it cost money,i would love to have loads of local girls available but none have got back to me.....
I have the very lovely Kacie James coming to the studio on the 21st of this month i have had lots guys making bookings but no deposits as yet.... i cant expect Kacie to travel all this way and then have no one turn up and i cant afford to buy food ect out of my own pocket being as i'm a single mum.
I have been in contact with a few guys that have there own web sites and work some deals out with them as to use of studio and i hope they will be able to use it soon.
Miss T still hasn't got in touch with me.. !!
Now going to sob in a corner
Sammy Jane xx
I feel as if i'm not only letting Richard down but Bills memory as well
I would love to have a web site but it costs money, i would love to do films for down load site but it cost money,i would love to have loads of local girls available but none have got back to me.....
I have the very lovely Kacie James coming to the studio on the 21st of this month i have had lots guys making bookings but no deposits as yet.... i cant expect Kacie to travel all this way and then have no one turn up and i cant afford to buy food ect out of my own pocket being as i'm a single mum.
I have been in contact with a few guys that have there own web sites and work some deals out with them as to use of studio and i hope they will be able to use it soon.
Miss T still hasn't got in touch with me.. !!
Now going to sob in a corner
Sammy Jane
xx- SammyJaneSplosh
- Posts: 9 [ View ]
- Joined: 02 Oct 2013, 21:30
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by Squelch » 09 Mar 2014, 19:26
You certainly shouldn't feel that way about it Sammy Jane! By the sound of it you did a fantastic job to sort the premises out after Bill died. He would be very proud of you 
And from the tone of Richard's post it appears like it's the cost of these premises that is a big part of the problem? Sounds like you need to pull up two chairs (preferably with a strawberry cheesecake on each) sit down and be realistic about the 'business' of sploshing and the need for these premises. Sadly I've not visited Splosh Towers so apologies for any incorrect assumptions made, but you need to ask yourselves if the property is right for the type of thing you want to do. Is the rent right? Could smaller premises at lower rent be better? All difficult decisions, but better to take them now than when a big debt has built up.
Chin up
Squelch
And from the tone of Richard's post it appears like it's the cost of these premises that is a big part of the problem? Sounds like you need to pull up two chairs (preferably with a strawberry cheesecake on each) sit down and be realistic about the 'business' of sploshing and the need for these premises. Sadly I've not visited Splosh Towers so apologies for any incorrect assumptions made, but you need to ask yourselves if the property is right for the type of thing you want to do. Is the rent right? Could smaller premises at lower rent be better? All difficult decisions, but better to take them now than when a big debt has built up.
Chin up
Squelch
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by Leena » 09 Mar 2014, 20:17
Sammy, with the greatest of respect, but a website whilst costing money is probably the most important tool you have. You have to remember that your market is a very niche/fetish market, specialist advertising will dwarf any costs affiliated with a website. I'll be brutally honest here, but if you've not got one of the most fundamental tools for online advertising in place, you are in the wrong industry.
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by glove-n-pie » 09 Mar 2014, 20:49
Hi, as a thought could you let the space out for general photographic use, or BDSM use while your building upto getting the pies flying in all directions?
-
glove-n-pie - Posts: 146 [ View ]
- Joined: 03 Aug 2006, 15:05
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by sol84 » 10 Mar 2014, 09:18
Not been on as much lately, so apologies in advance if I have missed some crucial info on this.
As someone posted earlier, there is a duality to the studio - the thing/ activities itself and the memory of Bill. It is very easy to put too much into the memorial side and accidentially end up with something that is stale or otherwise doesn't honour the memory in the way intended. So firstly thanks to Richard and S-J for their effort thus far.
Ongoing payment/ paying of way is a business question and the first step there is for those already involved in terms of what they wish to do. If individually it is too onerous, then immediate thoughts are to look at some form of Trust or even a Limited Company in which people can invest to a greater or lessor amount - but the elephant in the room with such things is always day to day management.
In the interim and to give space to think things out, would it be possible to open a member category on the forum - for which people ( if they wish ) can subscribe. Not talking of elitism or dividing the forum.
As someone posted earlier, there is a duality to the studio - the thing/ activities itself and the memory of Bill. It is very easy to put too much into the memorial side and accidentially end up with something that is stale or otherwise doesn't honour the memory in the way intended. So firstly thanks to Richard and S-J for their effort thus far.
Ongoing payment/ paying of way is a business question and the first step there is for those already involved in terms of what they wish to do. If individually it is too onerous, then immediate thoughts are to look at some form of Trust or even a Limited Company in which people can invest to a greater or lessor amount - but the elephant in the room with such things is always day to day management.
In the interim and to give space to think things out, would it be possible to open a member category on the forum - for which people ( if they wish ) can subscribe. Not talking of elitism or dividing the forum.
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by andy250 » 10 Mar 2014, 11:15
Right had a think, time to reply to some of Sammi's initial problems.
Website issue: Don't need one, you already have one it's called Splosh, ask Pup nicely he'll probably do everything for you, to do with it being a top chap, and all that. Ask Pup/Candie to help out with the domain name renewal and running costs of the site if possible.
Video problem's: Where's Bill's camera or camera's also the lighting from the studio, whether it be soft boxes, or standard tripod lights (grr hate those!!) Memory card for the camera. Get some Tesco shaving foam at .26p a can get 10 £2.60, get some kids paint from Tesco's that' about £1.70 each get 3 different colours. Get ready to do a tiswas scene, with yourself in it.... Total cost of items for scene £7.70. Your time and labour will have to be free, several buckets of water..... Mess yourself up, film it and then we'll worry about editing it and selling it....
Girls: Go onto AIR (Adult Industry Resources.) open an account, fill in your profile add pics, place an advert explaining to models from the South of London (to start) that your are looking to film / do session's. You'll get a ton of reply's. I have at least 10 girls from London who have modelled or want to model, messy shoot's, who would have a day out to St. Len's. This does require some working capital available.
Business: Stop thinking about sploshing session's as the returns for the business alone, that needs to be about 10% of the returns for the location. You need to start getting other revenue streams going. (Have you still got your portolio's we talked about, 5 yrs ago!!!) If so go through them for contact's and start seeing who's about and what they could/ would use.
Go onto clips4sale..com, or any other relevant fetish download supplier and go through the list of downloads available, do a list of what you would be happy filming and selling, then you start have some idea of what direction you could go in...
Other Producer's: Dont' worry about what other producer's say and then do, or don't. Focuses on what you need to do. With your business.
Location: This is my only real bug bear, I personally feel it's, in the wrong place, your right at the bottom of the country on the Sea East Coast, that makes travelling a slight issue. You'd need to push the coming to see yourself angle, ie use yourself as an asset. You would most likely get more turnover if it was in a major city location.
Download's are not effected by location at all. As there loaded to into a server and distributed using the internet.
If you feel that all of the above it do-able, after breaking it down into section's then there is the opportunity for a business there. You'll have to build it from the ground upwards. If you feel that everything I've talked about is a problem, or will be a problem. Then you need to think about what Leena said, is it for you???? If it's is for you, then start a fresh and start building YOUR business.
regards
Andy and the team.
Website issue: Don't need one, you already have one it's called Splosh, ask Pup nicely he'll probably do everything for you, to do with it being a top chap, and all that. Ask Pup/Candie to help out with the domain name renewal and running costs of the site if possible.
Video problem's: Where's Bill's camera or camera's also the lighting from the studio, whether it be soft boxes, or standard tripod lights (grr hate those!!) Memory card for the camera. Get some Tesco shaving foam at .26p a can get 10 £2.60, get some kids paint from Tesco's that' about £1.70 each get 3 different colours. Get ready to do a tiswas scene, with yourself in it.... Total cost of items for scene £7.70. Your time and labour will have to be free, several buckets of water..... Mess yourself up, film it and then we'll worry about editing it and selling it....
Girls: Go onto AIR (Adult Industry Resources.) open an account, fill in your profile add pics, place an advert explaining to models from the South of London (to start) that your are looking to film / do session's. You'll get a ton of reply's. I have at least 10 girls from London who have modelled or want to model, messy shoot's, who would have a day out to St. Len's. This does require some working capital available.
Business: Stop thinking about sploshing session's as the returns for the business alone, that needs to be about 10% of the returns for the location. You need to start getting other revenue streams going. (Have you still got your portolio's we talked about, 5 yrs ago!!!) If so go through them for contact's and start seeing who's about and what they could/ would use.
Go onto clips4sale..com, or any other relevant fetish download supplier and go through the list of downloads available, do a list of what you would be happy filming and selling, then you start have some idea of what direction you could go in...
Other Producer's: Dont' worry about what other producer's say and then do, or don't. Focuses on what you need to do. With your business.
Location: This is my only real bug bear, I personally feel it's, in the wrong place, your right at the bottom of the country on the Sea East Coast, that makes travelling a slight issue. You'd need to push the coming to see yourself angle, ie use yourself as an asset. You would most likely get more turnover if it was in a major city location.
Download's are not effected by location at all. As there loaded to into a server and distributed using the internet.
If you feel that all of the above it do-able, after breaking it down into section's then there is the opportunity for a business there. You'll have to build it from the ground upwards. If you feel that everything I've talked about is a problem, or will be a problem. Then you need to think about what Leena said, is it for you???? If it's is for you, then start a fresh and start building YOUR business.
regards
Andy and the team.
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by orangey » 10 Mar 2014, 17:12
I think sol84 and andy make some great points. Bill was fantastic (having had 2 great visits to St Ls) he managed to keep the studio running over many yrs but now is now and for the studio to survive it will be an effort. But theres ALOT of people here who want it to succeed and with SploshAGirl closed at the moment you have an opportunity for clearing up session wise in the South of England and to be successful.
But you need to be very clear its a business & a professional service, at the moment the info that needs to be readily clearly available online..
Who are the girls, rough 'sessions starting from...' prices maybe, weekdays or weekends opening?, clothed/underwear/nude models, supplies provided or BYO, facilites available - chairs, pool, backgrounds, room sets, showering etc, can you take photos/film, custom work undertaken, recent sessions/photos/free sample vids. There are loads of available free platforms to showcase recent photos/sessions - twitter/tumblr/facebook etc. It doesn't have to cost loads of money just make sploshers aware you are available and they will come. I would love to book another session if i knew which lovely ladies were available!
Good luck, we all loved what Bill did and hope his studio and company progress into more amazing things and continue to grow..
But you need to be very clear its a business & a professional service, at the moment the info that needs to be readily clearly available online..
Who are the girls, rough 'sessions starting from...' prices maybe, weekdays or weekends opening?, clothed/underwear/nude models, supplies provided or BYO, facilites available - chairs, pool, backgrounds, room sets, showering etc, can you take photos/film, custom work undertaken, recent sessions/photos/free sample vids. There are loads of available free platforms to showcase recent photos/sessions - twitter/tumblr/facebook etc. It doesn't have to cost loads of money just make sploshers aware you are available and they will come. I would love to book another session if i knew which lovely ladies were available!
Good luck, we all loved what Bill did and hope his studio and company progress into more amazing things and continue to grow..
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by SimonW » 10 Mar 2014, 19:12
orangey wrote:I think sol84 and andy make some great points. Bill was fantastic (having had 2 great visits to St Ls) he managed to keep the studio running over many yrs but now is now and for the studio to survive it will be an effort. But theres ALOT of people here who want it to succeed and with SploshAGirl closed at the moment you have an opportunity for clearing up session wise in the South of England and to be successful.
But you need to be very clear its a business & a professional service, at the moment the info that needs to be readily clearly available online..
Who are the girls, rough 'sessions starting from...' prices maybe, weekdays or weekends opening?, clothed/underwear/nude models, supplies provided or BYO, facilites available - chairs, pool, backgrounds, room sets, showering etc, can you take photos/film, custom work undertaken, recent sessions/photos/free sample vids. There are loads of available free platforms to showcase recent photos/sessions - twitter/tumblr/facebook etc. It doesn't have to cost loads of money just make sploshers aware you are available and they will come. I would love to book another session if i knew which lovely ladies were available!
Good luck, we all loved what Bill did and hope his studio and company progress into more amazing things and continue to grow..
A lot of good advice in the various posts, and Orangey's thoughts above are, I think, particularly relevant.
We long-term enthusiasts havealways been aware of what Bill produced, and I have bought magazines and DVD's (and previously VHS tapes!) for many years, but the info on the sessions has generally been rather vague. I've "always" intended to book a session, but have never "got round to it", perhaps because of lack of the detailed information such as Orangey suggests above. It's a big decision and commitment to make a 500+ mile round trip, plus the cost of probably two nights hotel, and the extra details and pictures would probably give me and others the encouragement to make the move.
Despite my rather pessimistic first reply above, I do respect all that Bill did, but I think that you must now approach this is a new business in today's economic environment, and I'm sure that this is the best way to preserve Bill's memory and what he started. Good Luck!
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by SimonW » 10 Mar 2014, 23:21
Just seen the posting below on the UMD Forum by "Soundguy", the adminstrator of their online download store (marked as posted 2 hours ago):-
----------------------------------
soundguy
Seattle & Vegas
Admin
soundguy
Hey, just a heads up. I woke up to an email from an estate lawyer asking about the process to shut down all the stores owned by the late great Bill Shipton. I suspect this will happen in the next day or two, so if you've been putting off buying some clips from one of the following stores, now (and I mean RIGHT NOW) is definitely the time.
http://sploshdownloads.com
http://hits.sploshdownloads.com
http://wamprincess.sploshdownloads.com
At this point, I don't know what will be happening to the main Splosh site or forum, as they are hosted elsewhere.
-----------------------------------
----------------------------------
soundguy
Seattle & Vegas
Admin
soundguy
Hey, just a heads up. I woke up to an email from an estate lawyer asking about the process to shut down all the stores owned by the late great Bill Shipton. I suspect this will happen in the next day or two, so if you've been putting off buying some clips from one of the following stores, now (and I mean RIGHT NOW) is definitely the time.
http://sploshdownloads.com
http://hits.sploshdownloads.com
http://wamprincess.sploshdownloads.com
At this point, I don't know what will be happening to the main Splosh site or forum, as they are hosted elsewhere.
-----------------------------------
Re: Splosh studio's future.
by Richard » 11 Mar 2014, 00:22
I am very pleased to read the above three or four posts here. I had in mind the formation of a group, consortium, or just a few friends to take over the responsibility of the studio; I have been worrying about what the future might bring. The man you need to approach to take over the responsibility is called 'Tony Shield' of SHIELDS ESTATES
23 St HELENS DOWN
HASTINGS
EAST SUSSEX TN34 2BG
Telephone 01424 422796 Email:shieldsestates@msn.com
If you want to approach him, to take over the studio please send me a PM here and I'll let you know the reference number for the studio (with my grateful thanks). Always remember (as I will!!!) that the real heroine of the entire episode is Sammy-Jane!
It might be a good idea if I send a note to Tony Shield first to tell him what is happening so please let me know who is involved, as a sort of introduction for him, he will probably want to meet you in person.
Richard.
23 St HELENS DOWN
HASTINGS
EAST SUSSEX TN34 2BG
Telephone 01424 422796 Email:shieldsestates@msn.com
If you want to approach him, to take over the studio please send me a PM here and I'll let you know the reference number for the studio (with my grateful thanks). Always remember (as I will!!!) that the real heroine of the entire episode is Sammy-Jane!
It might be a good idea if I send a note to Tony Shield first to tell him what is happening so please let me know who is involved, as a sort of introduction for him, he will probably want to meet you in person.
Richard.
Bottoms Up!
39 posts
• Page 1 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests