I have this great idea that was taken from craft shops. I wanted to open a store that other vendors bring in their clothing and accessories for one flat rate a month. All NEW items. No used or childrens clothing allowed. There would not be booth space. It will be set up like a traditional retail store You can bring in as much inventory as you like. I also have clothing that I sell currently out of my home but space is lmited. I just wanted some feed back about this idea.

So how do you make money from this? You lease space to these vendors? Do you take a percentage of sales? Can you make enough to cover the rent on a store front? Can you make enough to cover the other expenses (utilities, advertising, payroll, etc). Have you figured out your start up expenses? Start up costs can be very high. You need to cover the security deposit on the space, your racking and equipment (hangers, tags, tables, signs, lighting, point of sale equipment, steamer, office furniture and equipment, etc.) Also part of start of costs are professional fees (accountant and attorney) and permit fees. Will you need to build out the space or remodel?

It can certainly work for crafters, but that is a tried and proven type of business. Something like what you are proposing may take a while to bring in enough vendors and customers. There is something similar to your idea in my area. They call it an indoor flea market. Vendors lease space and sell new clothing, shoes and all sorts of miscellaneous decorative items. It's a huge venue though and the rent is astronomical. The vendors are charged around $700 a month for a 10x10 space.

Start with your business plan so you know if this is really a viable idea. See below for help with that.

Sylvia
http://businessplanmentor.com
Business plan and start up resources

The Vendors will not have booth space it will be set up like a tradtional clothing store. With all vendors having ID numbers. They will be charged one flat rate per month plus 10% of all sales. I already have a building. I already have the hangers, tags,point of sale equipment, signs. This is not a indoor flea market the vendors do not have to be present to sell their items. My fee that I am charging is no where near as much a in your area.

Hmm. I'm still not quite getting the point. Will there be any sort of theme or is it a mish mash of whatever any vendor happens to carry? What type of customer are you targeting? Younger? Older? Hipper? More traditional? Are your vendors signing up month to month? How will a customer know what to expect or is that part of the draw? A surprise every time you visit?

Let us know how it goes.

Sylvia
http://businessplanmentor.com
Business plan and start up resources

>Hmm. I'm still not quite getting the point. Will there be any
>sort of theme or is it a mish mash of whatever any vendor
>happens to carry? What type of customer are you targeting?
>Younger? Older? Hipper? More traditional? Are your vendors
>signing up month to month? How will a customer know what to
>expect or is that part of the draw? A surprise every time you
>visit?
>
>Let us know how it goes.


I am specailizing in plus sizes. I will carry all the lastest styles no surprises when you enter the store Vendors will sign up for a min of 6 months.

It sounds to me that you prity much know what you are doing. I think it sounds great. As someone else said please let us know how it goes.

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