How to Start a Retail Clothing Business

Starting a retail clothing business or store requires both a love for fashion and some business knowledge. With proper preparation and plenty of hard work, you can start a retail clothing sore that makes you money and allows you to sell the clothes you enjoy. We all know that clothing business is one of those businesses which will survive as long as the earth remains.

It is the basic necessity of life and man cannot out run from this fact. Everyone needs clothing and everyone buys it. The problem is clothing stores are often expensive to open and complicated to run.  But knowing the costs of a retail clothing store in advance can help with the decision to start yours.  Since clothing is required, it can be a very enticing idea, for those that wish to work for themselves, to learn how to start a clothing business.

Thinking to  start a retail clothing store and apparel is the best thought of your life because this will change your whole future and you will be enjoying life, like any other tycoon. According to facts and figure wholesale clothing and apparel business has experienced 90 percent increase from year 1990 till now. This type of huge increase is never been seen in any business. Opening an clothing store is serious business.

                          Select the type of clothes you will specialize in

Regardless of whether you operate a commercial or retail clothing business you will have to decide what your specialization is. As a small clothing business, it is not realistic to start off with the idea that you are going to sell everything to everyone. Choose a specific group of people you want to target, babies, toddlers, teens, girls, boys, women, men, mothers to be, the elderly and focus on  finding clothing for them.

Do market research in your area (or online) to determine how you can gain an advantage over your competition when selling to your chosen  target. Ideally, you should choose something that interests you since starting your own clothing business takes a lot of hard work. Sell items exclusively created for your target market. Focus on standing out, being different and giving your customers what they can't find anywhere else.

Write a Business Plan - This should include your overall ideas , specific financial details, a description of your target market, your company, employee details, and advertising and marketing strategy. You may also include the challenges that you expect to meet in starting a retail clothing business, and the tactics you intend to use to tackle  them. 

 Calculate your business start-up costs - Business expenses can vary immensely. Costs will depend upon store size, location, types of products, etc. Starting a retail clothing store calls for an initial cost of  €50,000 to €200,000.

Your business plan should be you guide as to how much start-up money you will need. Add in the cost of the various equipment you need. Most clothing stores need a computer for handling inventory, display cases, pricing guns for creating price tags, cash registrar,  shelves and a host of other items.

Visit a clothing store and take a look at the items that are being used will really help. Write them down and price the items through a company that supplies them to clothing stores or you can find out their prices  online.

Select a location - Once you have decided what type of clothing business you are going to own and operate, you can begin searching your neighborhood or city for a location.

Stay away from locations that are filled with stores that sell clothes that are similar to yours.  Look for a spot with plenty of foot traffic and adequate parking to support your business. Try to find a location where the demographics match your intended market.

The right location is especially important in opening a retail clothing store since this can impact the number of customers walking through your door on a daily basis.

Apply for financing - Some entrepreneurs are able to self-finance their business out of savings or with help from family. If this isn't the case for you, you can apply for loans at your local bank .

Advertising - The bottom line is that no matter what you are advertising and marketing, you need to get the customer's attention and persuade them to act by visiting your shop and buying from you. A retail clothing store should aim more for mass marketing to its intended public. Think about your store's unique selling proposition and give people a reason to come see and buy  you.

Security - Decide what type you will need, a physical alarm system will be needed to protect the store from burglary. The size of the store should dictate what type of security system that is needed.