I want to open a shop!

[leah]

hello, just wondering what you all reckon....

I want to open a 'pre loved' shop that will be from bump and beyond! Maternity clothes, baby clothes, baby equipment, pushchairs, cots, feeding pillows, etc.... and if the shop is big enough, pre loved school uniforms, dance costumes etc oooh and toys and books too, especially at christmas time.

It would look and feel like a proper shop, not a charity shop which I hope would take some of the stigma out of buying second hand (I personally love a good rumage at the charity shop or car booty )

what do you think? would you buy from a shop like that?

I was hoping to source some of my own items and also sell items on for customers on a 50% commission basis. Would you be happy to do that?

I'd only sell good quality items and at an affordable rate A winner all round really!

There isn't anything like it in the area, but I haven't got a clue when it comes to renting a shop! I'm going to a meeting on wednesday with a business advisor, so fingers crossed they think it is as good as I think it is

[di]

We have a couple of shops like that in the area...I love them.
Some of the stuff is a bit tatty and before now I've seen 'George' stuff at a higher price than it is in Asda
But they have some good bargains also.I managed to pick up a second hand Brownie uniform for Daisy at less than 1/2 the price just the hoodie would have been new

My friend takes her boys clothes there when they've outgrown them.Not sure if it's to do with baby stuff selling better or that times have changed(Supermarkets sell kids clothes so cheap now)but she reckons she used to sell a lot more when they were little.

Good Luck with your business meeting.

[Dane End Dolly]

I think that is a great idea, everybody loves a bargain and most people like a rummage in secondhand shops these days. what part of the country are you in?

[bobleponge]

Market research is what its all about, do as much as you can for your local area.
The business advisor will be able to help you with what you can get start up wise, how to go about trading, tax etc etc but even with the best advice in the world, if the stuff wont sell, your plan wont work.
Find out where the nearest place like it is, go there yourself as a customer. Speak to the owner and ask them how things are, just as a general customer chat.

Its a big step becoming your own boss, and I wish you every success in the world.

[HeyWayne]

Personally I wouldn't shop there.

My mum runs a charity shop and they are already finding it increasingly difficult to obtain good quality stock as the recession bites harder. It seems more and more people are selling their stuff via things like ebay to try and make some money back via what is a relatively easy method.

So anything we have, goes straight to mum.

I'm all for enterprising spirit though - so good luck to you.

[janeyo]

I think it depends on what are of the counrtry you are in really. You don't state your area of teh country. It's a great idea but no-one round here would buy second hand things for a new baby. Maybe an internet outlet would be better?

[jackie j]

We have had a couple of shops like that in this area but sadly they went by the wayside, mostly due to the exorbatant rents that they had to shell out. I personally dont buy second hand stuff especially for babies, I do accept things from people I know and have always offered money and when its been refused I buy something for them to replace what I have been given.

[Bigmallly]

Now that the weather is picking up, get a load of cards printed up, have some car boots & get a feel for the demand. Good Luck, I hope it works for you.

[leah]

Thank you for all the input

I'm in Southampton, not as sunny as some would think! A bit of a bog in my garden at the moment!

I was very fussy with my first and wouldn't buy anything second hand, when it came to me second I had a huge change of heart! He was in nothing but new until 3 months, then I had no problem in him wearing second hand I try with my daughter too, although it is hard to find good quality second hand the older they get.

I'm hoping it would appeal to locals to sell their los clothes through me rather than fuss around with ebay. I wasn't too impressed when 2 next tops and a pair of next jeans went for 99p I then had to faff around with packaging... I probably made 50p in the end! Maybe I'm not very good at ebay though

[Alison]

There's a place near me that does some second hand and some new for kids and babies. As we don't have kids I've never been in but it always has lovely window displays. Friend of mine gets stuff from there for her kids and their rooms. This is the web site (although it does look a bit out of date!) Lily's Wardrobe - Home so you can get an idea of if this is what you mean.

To be honest I'm amazed at some of the snobbishness around second hand stuff. Yes there's some rubbish but it's far better to get something of decent quality that's been worn before than buy the horrible cheap sweat shop stuff from the supermarkets.

[di]

To be honest I'm amazed at some of the snobbishness around second hand stuff. Yes there's some rubbish but it's far better to get something of decent quality that's been worn before than buy the horrible cheap sweat shop stuff from the supermarkets.

I agree.It seems people are all out for recycling household stuff,decreasing their carbon footprint through GYO yet stop at recycling clothes?
His first lot were bought new but as he outgrew them even DS' nappies were mainly secondhand...a good 90degree wash and you'd never have known!

[northepaul]

Thank you for all the input I'm in Southampton, not as sunny as some would think! A bit of a bog in my garden at the moment!

I was very fussy with my first and wouldn't buy anything second hand, when it came to me second I had a huge change of heart! He was in nothing but new until 3 months, then I had no problem in him wearing second hand I try with my daughter too, although it is hard to find good quality second hand the older they get.

I'm hoping it would appeal to locals to sell their los clothes through me rather than fuss around with ebay. I wasn't too impressed when 2 next tops and a pair of next jeans went for 99p. I then had to faff around with packaging... I probably made 50p in the end! Maybe I'm not very good at ebay though

Yes definately,Leah. (Im in So'ton too )
We have two 'pre-loved' clothes shops nearby but they only cater for 'retro' style clothing and the other is weddings and prom dresses. The shops are usually quite busy and I think you would find that as you are aiming at a different market you would get some business.

Personally I hardly ever buy new clothes for my daughter (other than things like shoes) - and never really have done. Its not just the cost, its the principle and...I dont know if I am alone here... I like the challenge of finding good quality clothes for a good price. For example I picked up 4 M&S school pinafore's for £2.50....I buy some of my own clothes second hand, although usually from Ebay because I am a bit fussy, and like certain brands

Do let me know if you start this up, it sounds great and I would definately come over and mooch around your shop!

[Bagpuss]

Hi Leah
A friend of mine started her own fancy dress shop (selling and hire). She and (her now ex ) partner started the business on line to start with in order to see whether the business was a runner. This meant that the had much lower start up costs than opening a unit. Thankfully the business has done so well that they now own 4 retail shops (plus the on lone business) and will sell the lot or franchise the business in the future.
Perhaps this could be a middle ground for you, without forking out so much in terms of start up costs ?

[Seahorse]

I actively prefer second hand clothes (as others have said, carbon footprint, saving money, etc) but I think you'd probably be best off aiming for the more 'posh' stuff. Places like Primark, Asda, Tesco etc are so cheap anyway, it's hard to see how you could charge less than new and make any money. But Next and M&S on the High St plus the mail order type places are much better quality, so I'm very happy to pay a reasonable second hand price.

Things like pushachairs, cots etc I'm sure would also sell well.

Best of luck!

[its hilly]

You said you're going to talk to a business adviser, does anyone in your area run a business start-up course. Round here there are business link courses and Furness area have their version too. You do 6 days over 3 weeks, and they go through everything from planning, market reasearch, funding and finding premises and keeping books, which gives you enough gen to do a business plan to take to the bank etc. On ours if you put in a sound business plan at the end you get a £1000 startup grant.
I did the course twice .. the first time I'd just bought an existing business but needed to know a lot more despite being reasonably clued up. And the second as a refresher after a break of a couple of years due to illness. Didnt qualify for a grant as it was an existing business, but, my goodness the stuff I learned has done me well.
I have a stall on an indoor market selling equestrian supplies, and its a lot more complicated (and expensive) than people think, but having said that ..do your research, work out a budget, and you'll never look back.