Opening & Operating a Retail Store / Boutique (Brick & Mortar or On-Line)

[kimberwyn]

^Oh okay, that makes a lot more sense to me now! Im still curious as to what her line is.

BetteT, thanks for the encouraging reply....
I'm already on my way to starting my business plan. I've already done one in the past so it's not much of a problem for me.
The degree was definitely helpful. However, it is still not an assurance that we will succeed. Businesses are after all like gambling but with a lower risk.

kymberwyn, I too knew little about fashion and style but I would like to enter the industry. Maybe because I just like it and also have a passion for fashion like you guys have ever since I was little. I am just not that serious about it until now. Also, though we can say that fashion is art, at the end of the day it still is a business. Even if I am the most talented designer out there, I still need to have some knowledge about running a business venture. I somehow relate to the designers, stylist etc. out there since I'm also an artist... though I'm only an amateur.

ITA that fashion is a business, through and through. Some people in the GD area of this board get quite annoyed with me saying that And anytime people ask me on my blog or interviews what they should do to break into the industry, the first things I tell them are "take business classes, management classes AND some fashion classes as well", so I definitely agree with you!

I wasn't try to put down people who didn't know about the industry, not at all! To me fashion just seems like a weird industry for people who don't love clothes already.

 

[BetteT]

No ... I understand that you weren't putting anyone down ... I know it was ust curiosity.

I won't share the name of the line publically, because she's very private in her dealings ... so she'd have a cow if it got out that I was talking about how she does business. With no name ... it's just generic advice.

I guess my point is that if you are a great business person, you don't have to "know fashion", nor even have a huge interest in it, to succeed. Although I think it helps to love your product and the more you know about it, the better you will be able to manage the people under you. I agree totatlly .with you .. and I say the same thing all the time, too ... take business courses ... don't rely just on just fashion skills or you will fail.

 

[Nayna]

Do you think a person could run a boutique online and also work another job at the same time? Or is the boutique itself a full-time job? I'm asking b/c I want to start a boutique but have a pretty good job right now. I don't want to quit my day job, just yet anyway.

 

[go_extreme]

run a boutiuqe while working full time

Do you think a person could run a boutique online and also work another job at the same time? Or is the boutique itself a full-time job? I'm asking b/c I want to start a boutique but have a pretty good job right now. I don't want to quit my day job, just yet anyway.

You can do it, but make sure you get you research done before hand on how to drive traffic to your website.
This way you can respond to emails and ship your orders when you get home and only take time off work for your buying trips.

 

[go_extreme]

Hi...i hope someone can help me with this question....
Me and my mom wanna open our own shoes store, especially branded shoes i.e Louboutin, Blahnik, Miu2, pedro garcia, etc.
I just wondering how can get those all shoes?
should i go to the store?and just buy a bunch of those shoes?
Or should i go to the trade fair?

Sorry for this silly question.
I hope someone can help me.

Check out InfoMat for all the tradeshows related to shoes. Then start scheduling your appoitments. Good Luck!

 

[go_extreme]

Good question kimberwyn, I'm curious about that too. Anyone know?

Also, is anyone else going to the MAGIC Marketplace in Vegas in February? I submitted my registration form; I hope I get to go!

Yes, I will be there. Make sure you check out Pool, Project and Curve as well.

 

[gius]

^ If you guys have some time , it would be great to hear your thoughts^ in this other thread also.

Trade shows around the world
http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/trade-shows-around-world-73359.html

 

[adore dior]

How To Start A High End Online Store Like: Tobi & luisaviaroma

hi.
i was thinking about starting a web store kinda like http://www.tobi.com/, http://www.farfetch.com/ and, http://www.matchesfashion.com/ . of course i wouldn't start off with that big of an invatory but i wanted to start selling a few designer stuff.
i was wondering how do i get high end designer clothes and accessories to sell on a web site? who should i contact. would i have to pay full price for each item to sell or would i get a a retailers discount?

desingers i was looking into were Martin Margiela, Rick Owens, and so on.

i wasn;t thinking of selling current collection items but maybe items maybe 1 or 2 seasons old. i am not looking to be a seller of vintage but to get into resale of clothes. i guess it would be like Marshalls or TJmax but high end and online.

i actually contacted a ebay seller whom was always finding a tone of high end designes to sell, she told me that she had a supplier she contacted from time to time and ordered things from them. she wouldn;t share her info with me but maybe one of you guys can tell me how to do the same.

i hope i mad enough sence

 

[malaychic]

This thread is very helpful as I am planning on opening a boutique soon!

 

[leiwen]

Hello everyone

I am bit lazy today, so I haven't managed to go through the whole thread yet
I am a one woman shop here in Luxembourg and I opened my shop almost 2 years ago

So if anyone has any questions or comments you know that you can contact me whenever you want. Maybe I will be able to help some of you out there

 

[Chanel_Ivan]

hi.
i was thinking about starting a web store kinda like http://www.tobi.com/, http://www.farfetch.com/ and, http://www.matchesfashion.com/ . of course i wouldn't start off with that big of an invatory but i wanted to start selling a few designer stuff.
i was wondering how do i get high end designer clothes and accessories to sell on a web site? who should i contact. would i have to pay full price for each item to sell or would i get a a retailers discount?

desingers i was looking into were Martin Margiela, Rick Owens, and so on.

i wasn;t thinking of selling current collection items but maybe items maybe 1 or 2 seasons old. i am not looking to be a seller of vintage but to get into resale of clothes. i guess it would be like Marshalls or TJmax but high end and online.

i actually contacted a ebay seller whom was always finding a tone of high end designes to sell, she told me that she had a supplier she contacted from time to time and ordered things from them. she wouldn;t share her info with me but maybe one of you guys can tell me how to do the same.

i hope i mad enough sence

Were you able to get any information on this? I am interested in something like this as well.

 

[adorevintage]

You can do it, but make sure you get you research done before hand on how to drive traffic to your website.
This way you can respond to emails and ship your orders when you get home and only take time off work for your buying trips.

It is possible but you can get very stressed. When I opened up my online vintage boutique I was also working at a real estate office and juggling both got a bit difficult.

I still run AV part time (as I'm a wife/mom) but I work 5 days a week about 5-10 hrs a day (depending on the family schedule). You can't let it take over, but that's just my preference, family first, work second.

Just be really organized and take deep breaths LOL!

 

[Menace]

I'll be opening a store some time in the future (not so much designer brands, but more trendy and affordable) and I was just wondering where in the world gojane.com got their shoes... does anyone know? They have amazing knockoffs for like 18-24 dollars!
Really curious where they bought their shoes because I would love to implement some trendy shoes in my store as well...

Hope someone replies

 

[Nicolerichienews]

Funds for an online store

I'll tell my little story & then i would really appreciate some help!

I want to open my own online fashion store, selling brands not high fashion just American brands such as Lauren Moshi etc, which are not widely available in England. I see that there is a market for this type of store in England.

I now have contacts who want to sell brands to me which is excellent.

BUT i just dont know how to get the funds together to buy my merchandise.
I understand to be an online store i will need to quite alot of products to start with, which will mean spending alot to buy it all.

I do have a credit card but it does not have that high of an amount to buy a good amount of items for my store.
I dont think i can apply for a personal loan as i am still a student in university and i am constantly living in my overdraft. So i know the bank will probably deny me.
With the current economic climate i doubt i would be eligable for a business loan, especially since this is my first business venture.

I just need to know HOW do people start their own online stores?
Where can i get a large amount of funding?

Thanks

 

[couturecouture]

I really want to open an online boutique next summer or early fall (I always thought a boutique would be fun but my local economy is horrible and 2 clothing stores have closed this year so it's not the right time for that) but I am kind of confused about how to start. I've taken business/management classes and quite a few fashion classes as I used to be a fashion major, but I still feel like I haven't the slightest idea how to go about starting. Is it too early to start contacting brand reps? How difficult is it to get a brand in your store (especially online) when you're brand new?

 

[Anjo]

@Nicolerichienews, the traditional sources of funding for this kind of venture are small business loans (which you think you couldn't get), personal capital, ie your savings (which don't exist) and friends/family who might be willing to loan you funds. It sounds, though, like you should get some experience in retail before you try this.

 

[Sea Of Love]

^^^^^ most people start with a small business loan from their bank. Unfortunately because of your bank history this isn't really an option at the moment (you could still try and see though).
Wht you need to do is get an investor in your business and to do that it is going to be HARD. What you need to do is write up a detailed business plan specifying every minor detail, how you expect to make a profit, what periods you clothing changeover is, balance sheets, prepare income statements, get together accurate figures made up by an accountant. It is really hard in any economic climate but it is doable if you don't mind having to share the profits with the investor(s).

It is all about networking and you might find investment by contacting horizontal businesses (in allignment with you so other clothing shops etc). Perhaps you could get initial investment from the actual clothing design companies you are selling?

Good luck, investment in businesses is how people become rich.

 

[kimberwyn]

I miss this thread, glad it got bumped. I'm moving my online store into a brick and mortar space in a couple of weeks, so excited! And a lot of the stuff posted here helped when I was opening last year.

I really want to open an online boutique next summer or early fall (I always thought a boutique would be fun but my local economy is horrible and 2 clothing stores have closed this year so it's not the right time for that) but I am kind of confused about how to start. I've taken business/management classes and quite a few fashion classes as I used to be a fashion major, but I still feel like I haven't the slightest idea how to go about starting. Is it too early to start contacting brand reps? How difficult is it to get a brand in your store (especially online) when you're brand new?

The spring markets are happening right now (the one in LA was this past weekend) which means they'll start showing Summer soon and then Fall will show at MAGIC in February. It's recommended that you start with Fall though, since you'll have back to school and back friday right off the bat.

It may or may not be hard to get lines, it really just depends on what type of lines you're interested in. Which lines are you looking at? A lot of lines are going to want info about your store, such as where it's located and possibly square footage. You'll also need your business license and wholesale license (and you'll probably need other things like zoning and fictitious business name, etc) to buy so those are things to definitely start working on now.

 

[kimberwyn]

I'll tell my little story & then i would really appreciate some help!

I want to open my own online fashion store, selling brands not high fashion just American brands such as Lauren Moshi etc, which are not widely available in England. I see that there is a market for this type of store in England.

I now have contacts who want to sell brands to me which is excellent.

BUT i just dont know how to get the funds together to buy my merchandise.
I understand to be an online store i will need to quite alot of products to start with, which will mean spending alot to buy it all.

I do have a credit card but it does not have that high of an amount to buy a good amount of items for my store.
I dont think i can apply for a personal loan as i am still a student in university and i am constantly living in my overdraft. So i know the bank will probably deny me.
With the current economic climate i doubt i would be eligable for a business loan, especially since this is my first business venture.

I just need to know HOW do people start their own online stores?
Where can i get a large amount of funding?

Thanks

I didn't start with a lot of merchandise. You certainly dont HAVE to start with a lot when you're online, even more so than brick and mortar because you won't have empty space, you know what I mean? It's always best to start small and not over extend yourself. Keep in mind that when you're online you won't have walk in traffic so it's not garaunteed that people will even see your things. It's a bit harder to sell online then people think.

Your best bet would be to save up as much money as you can and use that, and use credit as well. Or get an investor or have a friend/family loan you some money.

 

[couturecouture]

^ Thanks for the info. Are you still going to have the online store when you open up the brick and mortar one?

The brands I'm looking into to start with are BB Dakota, Melie Bianco, Love Quotes, Dogeared, a.v max, Charlotte Tarantola, Velvet, LA Made, Splendid and possibly a shoe and denim line. I've only contacted one rep so far though since I haven't yet filed for my licenses/tax id/etc.