I'm doing it - again!

Nicksyb · #1 04-03-2010, 09:33 PM

Hiya everyone,

oohhh exciting times abound for me.

For those of you that do not know me I guess a lil bit of background is in order. I have been a member of the forum right from thevery start, and ran my own business called The Website Angel. This was a data entry service for e-commerce owners/users, sadly before christmas things dried up a lot for me and since then I have had to call time on the business

It did teach me a lot of how to do things especially marketing.

Since then I have been working full time in a bookies and though I love the people I work with I HATE the job and the company and how they treat you (that is a different post I think). As John and Cathy might know I have always dreamed of owning and running my own shop selling crafty, unique gifts of various sorts.

WELL I have finally cleared up my debts and have sorted myself out to be able to look to the future and what I really want. I have a meeting next week to discuss having a market stall at Gloucester Indoor Market which is fantastic. It is not something I am going to jump into head first as I would have done previously but I will plan loads.

The aim is to be able to have enough money for the first three months rent plus a full stock room for when I start. Now that may take me ages but i intend to get there.

I suppose what I am asking from you lot is any tips you can give me. Also does anyone know of any grants that are available to new retail start ups?

Ohhh I'm soo excited

Kip FX Design · #2 04-03-2010, 11:16 PM

Woohoo! You go girl! Well you know how to fill an eshop already, though I would point you to Card To Find - Hard To Find Business Cards just cos i live plugging myself lol!

SMART H&S Solutions · #3 05-03-2010, 09:11 AM

You keep that excitement going, it will be one of your most valuable assets.

Mike

Maslins · #4 05-03-2010, 10:02 AM

Good luck with it Nicole

Think you're unlikely to be able to get a grant I'm afraid. My basic recommendations (though I freely admit I have no experience in what you're planning to do!) would be:

Don't commit to anything too long term (eg can you get a stall for just 1 month, to test the water)

Don't buy too much stock until you know you can sell it

Try to make your stall quirky to encourage people to come up to you. If you're selling unique gift type things this should come easily to you.

Get friends to hang around if possible. Punters often prefer going up to a stall that already has some people by it rather than a completely vacant one.

Oh...and register as self employed with HMRC

RandomTemplate · #5 05-03-2010, 10:25 AM

This is going to sound odd.

Work out your target age range, then target children a bit as well.

Whenever I take the kids out shopping I have a plan of going to A, B & C. But if the kids see something they like I can't go A, B & C I need to do the rest of the alphabet, I know this is the same when they are with there grandparents.

Even if I'm out on my own if I spot something I think the kids would like it drives me in and I end up buying something else from there. So getting the kids in (and stamping there feet) will help

IP · #6 05-03-2010, 10:27 AM

Hi Nicole, as Chris has said there are no grants for starting a retail venture, but you should be able to negotiate a good rent.

Spend some time watching the 'people flow' to be sure the position you get is not 'lost on the fringes'.

Good luck and as always shout if I can be of any help.

IP · #7 05-03-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Even if I'm out on my own if I spot something I think the kids would like it drives me in and I end up buying something else from there. So getting the kids in (and stamping there feet) will help

That can cut both ways, customers will also avoid places full of young children screaming "I WANT ONE" and if you sell breakables the last thing you want is kids charging around.

seanstevens · #8 05-03-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IP

That can cut both ways, customers will also avoid places full of young children screaming "I WANT ONE" and if you sell breakables the last thing you want is kids charging around.

haha, will have to bring my kids round to one of your shops, you'll love 'em. One of them touches everything and will leave sticky finger prints everywhere and the other one doesn't know how to walk and runs everywhere

Nicole, can't say anything more than has already been said. Good luck with it.

IP · #9 05-03-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanstevens

haha, will have to bring my kids round to one of your shops, you'll love 'em. One of them touches everything and will leave sticky finger prints everywhere and the other one doesn't know how to walk and runs everywhere

Nicole, can't say anything more than has already been said. Good luck with it.

That is why we have chains in the cellars!