I want to open a shop!

[Rocketron]

Save your money and have a re-think. As others have said, the cost of new stuff is so cheap, you can't possibly compete.

[Alison]

Save your money and have a re-think. As others have said, the cost of new stuff is so cheap, you can't possibly compete.

That's a bit harsh and not really an unbiased summary of the previous posts. As others have also said, it's not about directly competing, it's a different thing.

[bubblewrap]

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.

I think there are far too many charity shops anyway there is only so much stuff people don't want.
If I want to "do" the charity shops in Loughborough it's a mornings work as we have 13 of them.
Plus there is a second hand "charity" furniture shop as well.

[northepaul]

Save your money and have a re-think. As others have said, the cost of new stuff is so cheap, you can't possibly compete.

As said previously if you aim yourself at the most expensive high quality children's clothes, you could command a better price and build a reputation for yourself.
IE How about Next, M&S and BODEN?

That's a bit harsh and not really an unbiased summary of the previous posts. As others have also said, it's not about directly competing, it's a different thing.

Yes exactly.

I think there are far too many charity shops anyway there is only so much stuff people don't want.
If I want to "do" the charity shops in Loughborough it's a mornings work as we have 13 of them.
Plus there is a second hand "charity" furniture shop as well.

Both the 'pre-loved' shops here are completely different than charity shops, they are more like small (well decorated, and selected) boutiques.
Charity shops dont care what they sell, and its like going to a jumble sale.

A well planned 'Pre-loved' shop can definately compete with retail outlets and dont forget your strong selling point is not only the carbon footprint but also the highly personalised service you can offer.

[its hilly]

My friends just read this over my shoulder and commented that most mums with more than one at school are desperate to buy clean second hand uniform, and when they are babies they grow so fast that stuff gets barely worn, if you know anyone with smaller kids you pass it on. So ok if ASDA are charging £2 for it new you may only get £1 2nd hand, but if you only pay 50p thats still a profit, it just may not be enough to pay rent rates etc, unless you sell huge volumes, and thats where research and business plans come in.

[matthew2riches]

Oooooo! Sounds a plan

Just remember that you're going to have to turn over a lot of clothes to make the £500ish rent + business rates back each month

I'd definatly recommend starting up online first with branded clothes, as said before, it would be a waste of time trying to sell a £1.50 retail t-shirt for 50p... and then for someone to try and haggle on top of that

Good luck! If you need any online shop help, I'm only an email away

[leah]

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

ooooh, which charity shop did you get them from if you don't mind me asking? I had to succum to Sainsburys uniform this year as I couldn't stretch to M&S this year I wouldn't mind buying them second hand at all, plenty of people have benefitted from my daughters old uniforms! I've not found any uniform yet that has stood up to the job of an active girls and looked good too like M&S!

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.

Thank you, I'm going to have a chat with a few companies, there are a few here and they are all free to use too, so I'm going to make the most of them Business link is one of them, they seem good and offer quite a few courses.

Save your money and have a re-think. As others have said, the cost of new stuff is so cheap, you can't possibly compete.

I have a few ideas in the pipeline, one being personalised baby board books which is looking like being the most cost efective to start, as long as I can find a supplier, there doesn't seem to be any in the UK.

[Glutton4...]

I have friends with a retail shop, and they are struggling against ever-increasing overheads. You could try an internet-based shop first for very little outlay (eBay for example), if it picks up, and your spare room is over-flowing, then it's time to consider taking on a concession in a larger store, as an alternative to your own premises.

All the above posts taken into consideration, if it's what you want to do, try it. If you don't, you'll never know!

Good luck!

[HeyWayne]

I think there are far too many charity shops anyway there is only so much stuff people don't want.
If I want to "do" the charity shops in Loughborough it's a mornings work as we have 13 of them.
Plus there is a second hand "charity" furniture shop as well.

Be thankful you don't 'do' the normal shops then dude - there's thousands of them.

As to being so much stuff people didn't want - there'd be no ebay if that were the case.

What still amazes me is the amount of rubbish people think is 'saleable' - clothes with holes in, broken items, things with bits missing and so on. The charity (which is trying to raise money to help others) has to pay to have the rubbish taken away. My Mum's shop has to pay £100's per week just to have the rubbish taken away that people are too bone idle to take to the tip themselves.

Sorry leah - I've digressed slightly, and I do wish you well, it sounds like a fine idea.

[richkw]

Finding a source of good stock at the right price/quality will likely be your biggest hurdle.

As a reasonably successful small retailer, I have to say I think you need to think long and hard before embarking on such a venture, and if it involves borrowing money, don't even consider it.

[northepaul]

ooooh, which charity shop did you get them from if you don't mind me asking? I had to succum to Sainsburys uniform this year as I couldn't stretch to M&S this year I wouldn't mind buying them second hand at all, plenty of people have benefitted from my daughters old uniforms! I've not found any uniform yet that has stood up to the job of an active girls and looked good too like M&S!

Hi Leah, there are some very good ones in Woolston, and the local Cry shop always have a uniform sale before the start of the new year - I was just lucky, but as its near my daughter's school I can often pick up her school cardis for £1-2, whereas the school charge £12 per cardi!!

[VictoriaJS]

Hi Leah,
I think it's a great idea!

We had a local nearly new shop nearby when I had my daughter and it saved me a mint. In fact, the little 'uns grow out of their clothes so quickly that many of my daughter's clothes went back to the shop for resale.

I also got her pram, some toys and blankets there so it was a gem.

At that time I was also involved with the local NCT group and they had nearly new sales too. - these could be potential customers.

[leah]

Hi Leah, there are some very good ones in Woolston, and the local Cry shop always have a uniform sale before the start of the new year - I was just lucky, but as its near my daughter's school I can often pick up her school cardis for £1-2, whereas the school charge £12 per cardi!!

I haven't been to the charity shops there for ages! My daughter goes to Ludlow, not far from there at all, so I'll keep a look out for the jumpers in there, thank you

[Rossa]

Finding a source of good stock at the right price/quality will likely be your biggest hurdle.

As a reasonably successful small retailer, I have to say I think you need to think long and hard before embarking on such a venture, and if it involves borrowing money, don't even consider it.

I have to go with Rich. I had bakery and 2 retail shops and the fixed costs i.e. overheads are your biggest headache whatever business you're in. Even more so if the items are selling for less than £10 like mine were. My basic overheads (excl. wages) were over £1000 a week before I'd even sold one loaf of bread. That's a lot of sandwiches to sell before I could even pay my staff, let alone me.

For example, if you had rent of £10,400 (£200 a week), business rates of £2600 (£50 a week) electric, water, phone etc £2,600 (£50 a week) there's £300 to find before you cover stock, cleaning the clothes if necessary, display units if the shop isn't kitted out, buying a till, staff, your wages, vehicle if you have to collect stuff.

That's why ebay is so popular and why our high streets are all estate agents banks and insurance brokers etc.

I don't want to put you off but the best thing you can do is research. You need a proper business plan and know to the penny what your overheads will be before you can work out how much stock you need and how much you will have to sell to make anything for yourself. If you sign a lease on a shop you will have that liability for a long time.

Oh and don't forget to check out the regulations on selling secondhand toys and equipment. If a child has an accident they will come back to you as the point of sale. Speak to your local office of fair trading for help on health and safety and any EU rules etc. And make sure you have the right insurance. I can recommend the Federation of Small Businesses for that sort of stuff and legal help etc.

Local council will have details of any shops they have available as the rent is usually less and see what the rates are. How about a market stall? Our local one in Bingley costs £10 a week but it is outdoors so you have to not mind the weather.

You'll also need a solicitor to handle the lease and a good accountant to help with your accounts, wages, VAT etc. If you're a sole trader you have all the responsibilty so you'll need to make sure you've covered all the bases.

If that hasn't put you off, good luck.

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
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