Your business: how to open a fabric store. Fabric store business plan

Despite the huge number of various stores and clothing boutiques, the availability of various brands from almost all countries of the world, the range of products offered on the modern market is not enough for consumers. And all because everywhere, with rare exceptions, sold is not a unique product.

This is especially true of popular brands. In this regard, many people prefer to sew their own clothes on their own or in the studio on an individual order. This allows you not to limit your imagination to a market choice, to embody the most unexpected and interesting ideas, including those borrowed from fashion shows of world catwalks.

All that is needed is a good fabric and a competent specialist. We are interested in the first - material that is very much in demand on the market today. Selling fabrics is a profitable and quite attractive business, so novice entrepreneurs should take a closer look at this area. And this article will be the first impetus to action and tell you how to open a fabric store from scratch.

Making up a business plan: highlights

This business is in high demand today, as people who value individuality and quality are more and more inclined to sew clothes to order or on their own, rather than to purchase a finished product that is not unique, and often of dubious quality. This is a key advantage that will make a good fabric store an attractive and popular place. A business plan that must be developed before the opening of your brainchild should include the following sections:

• search and rental of premises for the store;
• market analysis and product range planning;
• search for suppliers and purchase of products;
• hiring sellers and other employees;
• advertising and marketing strategy;
• calculation of required investments and revenue planning.

Room: location features and area

Let's start with the simplest and most understandable - the place where the future store will be organized. First of all, you need to determine its location. An ideal solution would be a busy city center or department in a large shopping center. However, in this matter, price is an important criterion.

The cost of renting in these places is usually quite high compared to other possible options. If this is critical for you, as the budget is limited, pay attention to the densely populated sleeping areas of the city. A fabric store near the house is a pretty good solution.

As for the premises themselves, its area is not as important as for public catering, for example. If you decide to open a small store of inexpensive fabrics, then you should not invest a lot of money in the area. 30-40 square meters will be enough. Only in this case it will be necessary to purchase material in small batches, since there will be little space for storage.

If we are talking about a good large store with a large assortment, including expensive and exclusive fabrics, then the territory should be larger - up to 70-100 squares. Here it will be possible to organize a warehouse, a rest room for employees, and a spacious main hall, where the whole variety of samples of your goods will be presented. If you are thinking about how to open a fabric and accessories store, a large area is also important here. And it is better if the material and components are divided into two departments.

The store also needs to purchase the necessary furniture. Equip the warehouse with special racks for storing fabrics, and in the main hall, set up stands for placing samples of goods. Also, the most important purchases include a cash register, telephone, computer, and a workplace for the seller.

Fabric market analysis and assortment

In this business, the most important thing is a high-quality and varied assortment. But before you pick it up, conduct a small "audit" of other stores in your city. What do they offer? What materials are most in demand with them? What is missing and what is better not to offer?

Go to different points as a potential buyer and try to get the most complete picture of the state of the fabric market in your area. This will help you understand what is in demand today, what is the shortage of supply that you can cover.

We create an assortment

It is important when compiling the assortment to take into account the needs of customers with different incomes. Include in your list of mid-range fabrics, as well as inexpensive materials. Pay special attention to the selection of exclusive and expensive goods, especially one that cannot be found in other stores. So, for example, Iranian silk is in high demand, but due to the high cost, not all entrepreneurs buy it. Not only a wide selection of textures is important, but also a variety of colors. At the same time, do not forget to take into account current fashion trends.

In addition to clothing fabrics, offer your customers materials for upholstery, for sewing bedding, curtains, etc. This will allow you to expand your potential audience, because those who don’t sew clothes can sew anything for the interior . Your store will also be contacted for fabrics for school uniforms, for theater and other costumes, for all sorts of uniforms and so on. Take care that you can offer them what you need.

It is important to note - the question of how to open a fabric store in a small city and in a large metropolis has significant nuances that must be taken into account. So, in small areas, inexpensive fabrics or goods of the middle price segment are in special demand. In large cities, buyers are more interested in original, exclusive materials that are of high quality, uniqueness and, of course, price.

Suppliers: find, evaluate, purchase materials

Before you open a fabric store, you need to find good suppliers who will be able to provide you with quality products on a regular basis. As a rule, it is possible to purchase inexpensive and widespread materials of good quality in Russia. However, if we talk about an exclusive product, you will have to contact foreign suppliers.

The most popular fabrics in our country are those imported from Indonesia, Japan and China, France, Italy and Turkey. Get ready to work with several partners from different countries. This will allow you to collect a truly diverse range of quality materials and also reduce risks. Working with a single supplier is a very risky and unprofitable business.

Where to looking for? How to buy?

You can find the sellers of fabrics you need through the Internet, but the first purchase is best done on the spot. So you can evaluate the quality of the goods offered, personally negotiate with the supplier all the conditions for cooperation and establish good relations, so that in the future with a calm mind, order materials from him remotely.

At the initial stage of the work, the approximate purchase price will be 500-600 thousand rubles. This amount is enough to offer its customers a large and varied range of fabrics. Then you will replenish it as necessary (approximately once every three months).

Personnel: selection criteria for employees

How to open a fabric store without staff? No way. Unless you intend to serve customers yourself. The staff should be, first of all, friendly. The level of sales and the desire of consumers to come again will largely depend on how store employees will communicate with customers. Secondly, sellers must understand the fabrics, as well as at least a little knowledge of sewing skills. Then they will be able to competently advise the buyer, give him useful tips. It is always attractive.

If the store is small, then one or two employees will be enough (one at the checkout, the other advises).If you have a large wholesale fabric store, you may need 2-3 additional people, including men, to carry large bundles of fabrics from the warehouse. If necessary, hire a security guard and a cleaner (or agree that for an additional fee one of the employees will be removed at the end of the shift).

Advertising: how to attract buyers

In addition to the question of how to open a fabric store and organize its work, it is important to consider how to get the attention of a potential audience. At first, direct advertising, for example, in women's fashion magazines, will be useful. In addition, you can attract for several days a promoter who will distribute booklets and business cards of your store.

Also, customers who purchase something from you fabrics, hand in a beautiful package with the logo of your company. Attractive packaging with the right information is a good move to gain loyalty from the female audience.

In addition, try to create a pleasant, cozy atmosphere in your store. Let current fashionable magazines and magazines on tailoring be always available. This will undoubtedly be appreciated and will help to get regular customers.

Financial plan: investment and profit

We examined the main organizational issues, issues of selection of assortment and advertising. Is it profitable to open a fabric store from scratch or are the required investments still incomparable with the costs? Let's analyze. First, consider the main items of expenditure:

• the first purchase of fabrics - about 500 thousand rubles (for a fairly wide range);
• rental of premises for a store - 40-100 thousand rubles (depending on area and location);
• cosmetic repairs - up to 100 thousand rubles;
• shop equipment (furniture, appliances) - about 150-250 thousand rubles;
• remuneration of employees (about 15-20 thousand rubles per one), an average of 60 thousand per staff of 3-4 people;
• other expenses (trip for goods, telephone, electricity, paperwork).

On average, the initial investment required to open a fabric store from scratch will amount to 1-1.5 million rubles. At the same time, the daily revenue of an average store in size and assortment is 15-30 thousand rubles. In a month it is approximately 450-900 thousand. Even after deducting all monthly expenses, the profit will be at least 200 thousand rubles. Thus, after a year, the investment will fully pay off, and the store will bring its owner a good regular profit.

Conclusion

In this article, we examined the main points related to how to independently open a fabric store. A business plan drawn up on the basis of advice obtained from the material will allow you to evaluate in advance all the most important issues and features of organizing such a business in your city, help to draw up the correct assortment and find buyers who will become regular customers for many years. Good luck in your endeavor!