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Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

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Quail By Mail

Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Location: Brixham, South Devon

Posted: Sun May 04, 08 12:42 pm Post subject:

The other thing to look at is getting a wholesalers listing on Ethical Junction... it costs these days, but is still pretty good at feeding leads through

Oh - and register yourself with BAsFTS, its the main place that the various fairtrade shops look for when looking for new products.

Helen_A[/quote]

I'm awaiting the outcome of my BAFTS application, hopefully this week. I'm already listed on Ethicla Junction but didn't know they had a wholesale section, so will check that out!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45442
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun May 04, 08 12:47 pm Post subject:

Quail By Mail wrote:

Jamanda wrote:

Having a shop front for clothes would obviously have the added benefit that people can try the clothes on. I know a number of people who wouldn't buy clothes on line because they can't, and I'm iffy about buying footwear on line.

Who would run the shop? And actually be behind the counter?

I always shop online and it is my favourite mode of shopping. Of course shopping is a major pastime in this country so browsing up and down the street appeals to more people. I agree footwear is certainly iffy to buy online! I think I would run a shop myself.

If you choose to run the shop yourself you'll change the focus of what you do, you'll be tied into it, whether you like it or not.

As you've already said most of your customers aren't local, you need to be elsewhere I reckon.

If you're doing OK online I'd look to find a couple of small retailers that would stock your range.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun May 04, 08 12:50 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

If you're doing OK online I'd look to find a couple of small retailers that would stock your range.

I'd agree with all tahir's thoughts on the subject, especially the above.

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Sun May 04, 08 8:59 pm Post subject:

You need to be ver sure of the committment you are making before opening a shop. We've had ours now for five years. It's now a good profitable business, but getting to this point has been very hard.

We have to work seven days a week, and get Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Easter Sunday off. Getting a day off involves tremendous organisation, a week is like planning a campaing in a war

It's very very hard work. I spend all day on my feet, then come home and do all the domestic things one has to do to keep body and soul together in a family of five. My husband - Steve, comes home and then becomes financial director and sorts all the bills out, that's almost a full time job in itself when you run a shop.

BUT we wouldn't swap it for any other life or any other job. I never feel depressed about going to work, I feel happy and fulfilled, I may be printing sometimes hundreds of t-shirts a day, but they're our t-shirts!!! When a customer rings up just to say what a good job you've done or bothers to write or e-mail to say thank-you, it really is all worth it.

If you want to do it more than anything else in the world, if you can easily write a good solid business plan, then go for it. If you struggle with either of those, I'd suggest you may want to reconsider.

If there is anything we can help with just let me know

Quail By Mail

Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Location: Brixham, South Devon

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 11:08 am Post subject:

Just to give people an update, I'm not entirely keen on having a shop at this point simply because my husband and I only just changed our lifestyle with moving out of London less than a year ago, buying an old cottage, renovating it, and launching two businesses.

:: I think having a shop boils down to location, location, location, selling desirable products, footfall and capitalisation.

:: Having a website boils down to 'site optimisation', lifestyle photographs, professional graphic design, desireable products, fluid stock levels, and capitalisation

Both methods must innovate. Both methods must scratch their heads and consider what to do next. Both methods need business plans.

What else?

SarahB

Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 869
Location: South Wales

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 11:46 am Post subject:
Had a shop briefly, failed, still paying off associated debts. Would never never do it again.

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