Start a Women's Clothing Retail Stores | Business Ideas

Clothing is fiber and textile material worn on the body. The wearing of clothing is a feature of nearly all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn is dependent on physical stature, gender, as well as social and geographic considerations. Physically, clothing serves many purposes: it can serve as protection from weather, and can enhance safety during hazardous activities such as hiking and cooking. It protects the wearer from rough surfaces, rash-causing plants, insect bites, splinters, thorns and prickles by providing a barrier between the skin and the environment. Clothes can insulate against cold or hot conditions. Further, they can provide a hygienic barrier, keeping infectious and toxic materials away from the body. Clothing also provides protection from harmful UV radiation.

In most cultures, gender differentiation of clothing is considered appropriate for men and women. The differences are in styles, colors and fabrics. In Western societies, skirts, dresses and high-heeled shoes are usually seen as women's clothing, while neckties are usually seen as men's clothing. Trousers were once seen as exclusively male clothing, but are nowadays worn by both genders. Male clothes are often more practical (that is, they can function well under a wide variety of situations), but a wider range of clothing styles are available for females. Males are typically allowed to bare their chests in a greater variety of public places. It is generally acceptable for a woman to wear traditionally male clothing, while the converse is unusual.

If you've got an eye for fashion, are a self-starter and don’t mind working 14-hour days, starting a women’s clothing business is a fun and exciting way to break into self-employment. The clothing industry is fiercely competitive, so you'll need to spend months doing research, learning industry trends and developing a business plan before you jump in. A background in retail work will be immensely helpful as well.

Instruction:

Step 1

Determine what merchandise to sell. Visit local boutiques and malls to learn about local fashion trends. Visit industry publications online, such as Lucky, Style, Fashion Office and Women’s Wear Daily, to learn about upcoming trends. Then research your target demographic and your competitors to confirm that your niche is a viable one. Look for any holes in the market, such as a lack of well-priced professional clothing, boutiques, vintage stores or plus-size stores.

Step 2

Set your business apart from the competition by starting a boutique. Renting retail space outside of a mall may be much more cost-effective and offer you a better arena in which to compete. Boutiques, by their nature, offer a total shopping experience, with individualized customer service and fashion-forward sales people. Establish yourself as a fashion guru who can anticipate your customers' needs and outfit them with cutting-edge designs and styles that match their body type and personality.

Step 3

Scout out potential locations for your clothing store near other businesses that appeal to your target demographic, such as a midscale or upscale neighborhood or near salons or trendy restaurants and other merchants that cater to your clientele. According to Entrepreneur.com, your rent should be 5 to 6 percent of your total sales. Determine if you can handle the required annual sales to support your lease. Consider room for parking and deliveries, potential growth of both your store and the local area, and any city ordinances.

Step 4

Select a business entity, such as a limited liability company, and register your business with your state's secretary of state. Obtain your business license, federal tax ID and sales tax permit. Once you've established your business, attend trade shows, such as those offered by the Dallas Market Center if you're in Texas, and meet with designers.

Step 5

Choose a product line that includes a combination of staple items and the latest trends. Purchase one to two months' worth of merchandise. Fashions change frequently. To remain competitive, yours should also.

Step 6

Develop operating policies for your store, such as the employee dress code and performance requirements, returns and exchanges, credit cards you'll accept, gift wrapping, shipping, special orders, damages and your operating hours. Be prepared to change your hours as needed to accommodate the most customer traffic and reduce overhead costs. When first starting out, it may be wise to close one or two days a week to reduce staffing requirements and allow you time to refresh displays.

Step 7

Implement successful advertising measures. Send colorful postcards with details about your grand opening. Put out press releases. Once you've opened your doors, utilize monthly email newsletters. Get featured in local or regional fashion magazines. Then hold quarterly or half-yearly sales and after-hours events.

Step 8

Set up a merchant account. Look for a company that will provide you with additional accounting tools, such as QuickBooks, or inventory and payroll software.

Things Needed 

• Business plan
• Industry publications 
• Merchant account
• Merchandise 
• Mannequins 
• Display racks 
• Counters 
• Shelving 
• Tags 
• Hangers 
• Furniture

Tip 

• If you intend to procure financing, get your credit in order. Generally, banks do not extend business loans to businesses that are less than two years old. You may need to take out a personal loan. Either way, your credit history will be reviewed. Another option for a new business loan may be the Small Business Administration.

References

• BP Plans: Women's Clothing Boutique Business Plan
• Entrepreneur.com: How to Start a Clothing Store
• Start a Women's Clothing Retail Business