I want to open a clothing store. Need help with a plan/contacts/possible partner. Any advice where to start?

What is the first step to opening a store? Is a franchise a good option? Should I hire someone to write a plan, or get a book from the library and try it myself? How do I determine how much fo borrow? How much inventory to start with? I also need advice on wholesalers/suppliers. I would love a clothing store owner to guide me in the right direction. Thanks for your time! CassieI want to open a clothing store. Need help with a plan/contacts/possible partner. Any advice where to start?
Write a detailed plan. Get a loan. Get a location. Get the store set with fixtures and inventory. Advertise like crazy. Open and sell like crazy. Put all the money back into it and keep going.I want to open a clothing store. Need help with a plan/contacts/possible partner. Any advice where to start?
I would strongly recommend that you talk to a business counselor before you do anything especially spend money. I'd call the local office of SCORE (go to http://www.score.org and input your zipcode to find the chapter nearest you), the advice is FREE.





There is also a series of handbooks by entrepreneur magazine that cover starting a business and there are several hundred in the series and they cover quite a few industries and several kinds of stores. You may be able to gain access to a copy through your local public library. Some score offices also carry them for research purposes.





The counselor at SCORE will most likely advise you to write a business plan which is very good advice because it will force you to dig out all of the start up details and the costs of starting your clothing store and force you to also understand all of the aspects of this business including the customers you'll concentrate on (your market ) and how you'll go after them. You'll have to run a financial analysis which will force you to determine inventory, wholesale prices and everything else.





They can also talk to you about the pluses and minuses of franchising.





I would also find a clothing store owner with a line of clothing that does not compete with yours and I would make him/her the following proposition. Tell them what you are planning to do and offer to buy them dinner for the chance to pick their brains about avoiding some of the mistakes they might have made. Be humble, you never know, they may bite.





Try this link :


http://www.ychange.com/small-business-co鈥?/a>


and read some of the articles especially the ones about a business plans, starting a business and the qualities of a good leader.





Good Luck
Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.





Research, research, research 鈥?this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:





* Start Your Own Clothing Store (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Entrepreneur Press


* Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business by Jim Dion, Ted Topping


* Retail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel


* Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder


* So You Want To Own The Store: Secrets to Running a Successful Retail Operation by Mort Brown





There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.





Hope that helps! I wish you much success %26amp; happiness in all your ventures!
Well first of all finding all the information on starting a business is hard. I know it took me forever. I now have a children boutique with upscale clothes, toys, and other gifts. I am looking to sell my business. I am selling the business as a package. Inventory, store supplies, shelves, counters, sign, any information you will need like all the suppliers, and everything else needed.





Cassandra