How to Start a Baby Boutique
Baby products are one of the most lucrative niches in the American marketplace. For this reason, starting a Baby Boutique can be a profitable and fulfilling business plan, provided it is well-thought out to begin with. This guide will help those who may be interested in opening a Baby Boutique to begin taking advantage of the high consumer demand for quality baby products.
The First Steps
The first place to begin for any new business, whether it is a tire store or a Baby Boutique, is to draw up a business plan. Talk with others in the Baby Boutique business. Study the market and find out what profit margins are likely to be. Determine the type of business that most interests you, an internet-based business or a regular store. There are both pluses and minuses for either type of business. Finally, draw up a business plan and submit it to a financial institution to obtain a small business loan. If that fails, present the business plan to a local Small Business Association. The Federal government gives out millions of dollars a year for the start-up of small businesses, investigate this avenue as well. If more capital is needed, discuss the opportunity with friends and family if they may be potential investors, or look for investors known as angel investors. Angel investors are looking for a serious return on their investment, and the business plan must be sound enough that they will consider it a good investment risk. Presenting a solid business plan is the key to obtaining any type of financing.
Investigate the Market
While visiting boutique owners in your area, take a moment and make a list of the types and brands of products they carry in their stores. It may not be in the best interest of the new business to carry the same brands as are offered by other retailers, but it will at least provide some manufacturing contacts when first starting out. Contact manufacturers, discuss the new business, and see what kind of costs and relationships may be developed with them. Some of the more specialized manufacturers may offer protected territories, so do a bit of research to find one that suits your Boutique.
Starting the Boutique
Contact the Franchise Board in your state and acquire a resale tax number. This will grant access to the trade shows in the state, where a new owner can not only find products for the boutique but begin making contacts for a lifetime of good business relationships. Research twenty separate avenues of advertisement and find out which methods work best. Don’t be afraid to try new ideas and methods when it comes to getting the word out about your Boutique. An novel idea that it seems no one else has tried may bring the Boutique more attention and potential customers. Successful businesses perhaps rely more on calculated risk than any other principal. Find an affordable and delightful location for the boutique if the new business is to be a regular store instead of an internet based business, and decorate it in a fashion that will draw the most customers. Finally, talk to customers how you can meet their needs and expectations.