How to Open a Children's Clothing Store & Boutique
Children's clothing boutiques come in many varieties. The first question to ask is "to which demographic do I wish to sell?" For example, used children's clothing stores in which people bring in items to sell on consignment do best in working class communities with lots of families. Some retailers sell hand-crafted and unique children's clothing. These stores are found around universities and college towns. Upscale, brand new children's clothing stores will fare best in upscale neighborhood shopping malls. Once you know what you want to sell, start the process of opening a children's clothing store.
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Instructions
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Scout out a good location in the area in which you would like to open your shop. For a children's clothing store, any big open space will do because you can bring in display racks and design the space. However, people often shop for kid's clothes with their children, so consider the need to have at least one bathroom available to the public that is large enough and equipped for changing diapers.
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Write out your business plan for at least the first year. Your business plan includes all of your expenses, both initial investments as well as ongoing, monthly expenses. Initial investments are things such as clothing racks, clothes hangars, wall displays and flooring. Ongoing, monthly expenses are bills such as rent and utilities. Your business plan also includes the ways in which you intend to make money, and realistic projections as to how much you will make in the first few years.
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Look into obtaining a small business loan, if necessary. The Small Business Administration is a federal government agency that specializes in helping small businesses get off the ground and thrive. It works with lenders to help you secure offer good terms and low interest rates on loans. In some instances, the SBA backs the loans. To qualify for a small business loan, you must have your business plan well thought out.
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Collect inventory and display items before your planned opening date. Give yourself time to plan the space, clean and decorate the space, then fill the space with children's clothing to sell.
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When you are ready to open, advertise. Plan an opening reception in which everybody gets ten percent off, or offer all children a free small toy for the first week. You want to get attention and encourage people to come in the first time. If you make a favorable impression, they are more likely to come back and keep you in business.
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