I work full time in engineering, retail is totally new for me, not sure how to start... I do have a great location in mind, but how can I run the store and work full time in some other place and be successful in the same time?  It must be possible... give me any advise that you think it would help.  Do you know of any good places to get en-gross shoes?  Any shows?  Expositions? The geographic area of interest is Michigan/Ontario.
204792
You may want to start by reading the article "Starting a Shoe Retail Store" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol136/shoe.htm . The article covers information on factors affecting demand for shoes, level of competition, business planning, registering your business, finding the right location, startup expenses, choosin your merchandise and key success factors.\n\nTo get inventory and connect with suppliers, you may want to attend trade shows. The following shows are a must for anyone in the shoe retailing business:\n\n- World Shoe Association http://www.wsashow.com   - the largest and most comprehensive footwear and related accessories event \n- Magic Marketplace http://www.magiconline.com - mainly apparel and accessories, though includes footwear as well\n- Fashion Footwear Association of New York http://www.ffany.org - largest shoe show in the East Coast\n- Shoe Market of the Americas http://www.smota.com  - held 3 times a year in Miami\n- North American Shoe and Accessories Market http://www.northamericanshoe.com  - the 10th largest shoe show in the world\n- Los Angeles Shoe Show http://www.californiamarketcenter.com  \n- Southwest Shoe Expo http://www.southwestshoeexpo.com  - held 5 times a year at Dallas World Trade Center\n- Chicago Shoe Expo http://www.chicagoshoeexpo.com  - a small regional trade show held 4 times a year in Chicago\n- Micam Shoevent http://www.micamonlin e - international trade show for medium to high end footwear held twice a year in Milan\n- GDS http://www.mdna.com  - the premier shoe event held twice a year in Dusseldolf, Germany\n\nYou can also visit the websites of the following associations and check out their resources:\n\nNational Retail Federation http://www.nrf.com \nAmerica Apparel and Footwear Association http://www.americanapparel.org/ \nElectronic Retailing Association http://www.retailing.org \nNational Shoe Retailers Association http://www.nsra.org/ \n\nYou may also want to read the books:\n\n- Profitable Footwear Retailing  \n- The Complete Footwear Dictionary  \n- Clothing and Footwear Industry: Market Review  \n- Footwear Retailing
103599
Clothing is a BIG business on eBay. Try shopping a discounter like TJ Maxx, Ross for Less, Marshalls or whatever it is called in your area for women’s clothes from designers like Ralph Lauren, BCBG or Tommy Hilfiger. Often times you can find, for example, a woman’s shirt that sells in the mall for $50 on sale for $10. Odds are if you put it on eBay for $25, you'd sell it. The customer thinks they saved $25 and you made $15. :) Now multiply it by 100 sales and you're in business. I do about $2K a month in sales and I profit about $500 and that’s from just working part time. It's not "easy money", you do have to work at it, but if you're willing to invest the time and effort, you can do it.
349493
Hi, like you I found myself suddenly unemployed a couple of weeks ago. I applied to Boots for a part-time job up until xmas (it's only 7 weeks)-mind you, I have worked there before, so it wasn't too difficult. Most of your local stores will need temporary staff, and don't forget you'll get staff discount which will help. I think you can work up to 16 hours and still get benefits. It's a difficult time to look for a permanent job, but I wish you lots of luck, and hope you still have a good xmas! :)
117017
Probably the best way to go about doing this is talk to a local representative.  I live in Michigan, and their are all kinds of factroy outlet stores, start out here (that is start small) and they will eventually lead you in the right direction.  \n\nThe other thing you can do is go to their cooperate websites and look at the list of partners, contact them and find out how they obtained the brand.  If you "surf" the site enough you may also find your own direct way to speak to one of their representatives that can turn you into the right direction.\n\nI know like anything this sounds like a lot of work, but sometimes it takes work to get what it is you want, keep being persistant and you will get what you want.\n\nI hope I have been of some help and Good Luck !
596749
i just checked out a local college for my daughter and they say they usually have a list of jobs on a board from places close by(check that out.)\nif first job: need to set sites a little lower to start: start with fast food or any restaurant they are more flexible with hours\nor wal mart.\nif you expect to be paid 7 -9$/hour then you need to start a little lower for part time work, \nthe jobs that start with 7 - 9$/hour are factories that are not that flexible with hours.
473341
Not weird at all!  I've been home since 2002.  Started off, the birth of my last child, and now ended off being medical, had a cornea transplant last december and now about to have the other eye done next month.  I am excited that I should have perfect eyesight beginning next summer, but I am estatic that I may be able to go out and get a job.  Mind you, not a career, my family is my career and I had my own graphic design business, but I mean a J.O.B.  As most career women like yourself, we began working so early and for so long that we don't know how to do nothing.  Alright, so find something to do.  What do you do as a hobby now?  Make it your own career.  Do you know, this million dollar 'make a bear' business started as a hobby?  I'm sure there is something that you like to do everyday that people just know its Your knack.  Take it a parlay it into your new career move.  I'm sure making some money on the side wont hurt either! smile, good luck.
229632
Dear Patrick\nNow that the job market is finally looking up, it's the perfect time to seek out new opportunities. This spring you need to shake off that "lucky I even have a job" mentality, polish up your resume, and explore your career options! There are fun, flexible, fantastic jobs out there just waiting for someone like you!\nNow, get out there and pound the pavement. Beat on some doors until you latch onto that incredible dream job you always wanted! \n(I heard the Dearborn area is a great place to promote tourism?)\n-Kenny
636368
I think that starting here is a good initiative. Now if your friends has some summer homework to do, maybe you can do it for them. Sell some of your old play station games on e-bay or in game-stop stores. If you really have a talent for something find a store that sell things related to your talent and offer yourself for a summer job. Last if you have a WOW account that worth something try selling it on the proper forums.
602963
I work in the Franchise Sales dept. at the headquarters in Milford CT. I would say go for opening your own, buying an existing one isn't all that much cheaper, and you can pick your own location/building/setup as well.
497858
A lot of people dream of owning their own clothing store. My recommendation is always to start by researching on the business and learning everything about it -- before starting. Clothing stores, especially, require lots of capital to start so you cannot afford to make a lot of mistakes\n\nHere are some articles that provide information on how to start a clothing store:\n\nHow to Start a Clothing Store http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,287057,00.html\nStarting a Specialized Clothing Retailing Business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol89/specialized.htm\nStarting a Retail Clothing Store http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1102419629706&pagename=CBSC_SK%2Fdisplay&lang=en&c=GuideHowto\n\nOne of the first steps is to prepare a business plan. Especially if you are planning on applying for loans, the process of business planning can help you think through your business. It can help you decide on the type of store, determine the costs involved, how to get suppliers to sell to you, how to market the store, expected profitability, etc.\n\nHere are sample business plans for a clothing store that you can check out: \n\nRetail Clothing http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-01/Retail-Clothing.html\nMen's Clothing Retailer http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-04/Men-s-Clothing-Retailer.html\nSpecial Needs Clothing Store http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-07/Special-Needs-Clothing-Store.html\n\nFor detailed information, I suggest you check out the following books: \n\nStart Your Own Clothing Store (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) (Paperback) by Entrepreneur Press \nRetail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel \nSpecialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder \n\nYou may also want to check out the resources of the following associations: \n\nProfessional Apparel Association http://www.proapparel.com/ \nAmerican Apparel Producer’s Network http://www.usawear.org/ \nWorldwide Responsible Apparel Manufacture http://www.wrapapparel.org/\nAmerican Apparel and Footwear Association http://www.americanapparel.org/\nNational Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers http://www.nafad.com/ \nFashion Group International http://www.fgi.org/ \nApparel News http://www.apparelnews.net/ \n\nAs for grants, unfortunately, if you are in the US, the government hardly gives any grants for starting a for-profit business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. \n\nNonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.\n\nEven if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.\n\nEven SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html\n\n"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."\n\nHere is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals
444781
Good help is difficult to find in pet shops and they cannot legally hire you.  If you are entrpreneurial and industrious (which it sounds like you are) go in and say, up front, "I am a very good worker and have a real love for animals.  While I know you cnnot legally hire me, let me work around here for a week and you pay me what you think I am worth"...then you need to perform.  Do jobs, like cleaning cages and help the store look nicer with good merchandising.  Also, bring new ideas of things you can do to help the store be a better place to shop.  If you get tht far I can give you lots more ideas!
290846
Maybe you could start with the neccesary things first, then expand. If you can undercut any competition within a reasonable driving distance, and can remember names well,sell goldfish, dog and cat food, treats, manufactured as well as custom built houses, then add your designer clothing as a small addition, just to see how it goes. You know if your items cost the same or more the traffic will be very low. But yes I think pet sales account for a real good income. Now, location, the better the locatiuon the more it'll cost you. People in towns where traffic is 9 cars long  to the intersection find that corner lots are not as good as they were when cars only lined up 2-3 long. Too busy of an intersection makes it impossible to get in and out. \n\nOr you could purchase a franchise. But here's a clean little example of what it might take to seriously consider such an enterprise:
198838
I just became a distributor is a comany called PureWorks. It is a brand new direct sales company with great opportunites. Check out the free business and product tour on my website so you can understand how great the opportunity is. You can even try some of the product out first if you like. It does take time to build though, no get rich fast squems.\n\nwww.mypureworks.com/distributors/gn
595480
Yes, it's called a "Buyer". You could do this for a designing firm or retail company. It does usually require a degree,but it is an awesome career. You do have to start at the bottom as a junior buyer or assistant to gain experience and an eye for it. You should look into internships and that would give you a heads up into a job. Yet, it seems like your melting a buyer, interior designer, and retailer together. These are all different fields that interact with each other often. My best friend is a buyer and she goes from Paris to Milan, New York, Tokyo, you name it to buy furniture for a large exclusive retailer. G'luck
225241
The article "Starting a Shoe Retail Store" can give you some pointers on how to go about starting this business http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol136/shoe.htm . \n\nA shoe store business is not something you can start without capital and without access to credit. Loving shoes is one thing; but owning a shoe store is another. You need to have capital in order to provide for the following cost expenditures: leasing a store (the cost of which will depend on the size, design and location), displays and racks, backoffice furniture and shelving, inventory selection, business licenses and permits, insurance, marketing, and many more.\n\nTo get ideas of the latest footwear styles and to develop contacts and find suppliers in the shoe retail industry, it is important that you attend any or all of the important trade shows in this industry (participation of which also depends on the availability of resources for your travel, accomodation and trade show fees):\n\n- World Shoe Association http://www.wsashow.com/ the largest and most comprehensive footwear and related accessories event \n- Magic Marketplace http://www.magiconline.com - mainly apparel and accessories, though includes footwear as well\n- Fashion Footwear Association of New York http://www.ffany.org - largest shoe show in the East Coast\n- Shoe Market of the Americas http://www.smota.com - held 3 times a year in Miami\n- North American Shoe and Accessories Market http://www.northamericanshoe.com  - the 10th largest shoe show in the world\n- Los Angeles Shoe Show http://www.californiamarketcenter.com\n- Southwest Shoe Expo http://www.southwestshoeexpo.com - held 5 times a year at Dallas World Trade Center \n- Chicago Shoe Expo http://www.chicagoshoeexpo.com - a small regional trade show held 4 times a year in Chicago\n- Micam Shoevent http://www.micamonline - international trade show for medium to high end footwear held twice a year in Milan\n- GDS http://www.mdna.com - the premier shoe event held twice a year in Dusseldolf, Germany\n\nMy advice is to either save up for more capital first or find an investor willing to support your venture. A retail store, whether you like it or not, has LOTS of overhead -- from rent, electricity, salaries of employees, etc.\n\nGovernment grants are typically not available for for-profit ventures such as a shoe store (check http://www.cfda.gov and http://www.grants.gov to see if there is a single one that offers grants for your planned project - there's none). For SBA loans, you may want to check their low-cost loan products available http://www.sba.gov/financing \n\nWhile you are getting your plans together, you may also want to check out the following Trade Associations for more information on this business: \n\n- National Retail Federation http://www.nrf.com \n- America Apparel and Footwear Association http://www.americanapparel.org/... \n- Electronic Retailing Association http://www.retailing.org \n- National Shoe Retailers Association http://www.nsra.org/
152069
Buyers for the large retailers are who you'll need to talk to but its premature to talk to buyers.  The clothing industry is extremely competitive.  If you are into the mass market the only chance is to have them made overseas.  Find a production source in Taiwan, India, Pakistan etc (possibly Mexico).  Then you are talking large minimum orders and long lead times both of which cost you money.  Specialty shops would be the place for high end, one of a kind items and it would be an easier market to penetrate than the huge retailers. Good luck and get out your check book.
121976
It's great that you are doing someting that you love to do.\n\nYou have you staff in place , do you have an accountant, laywer, mentors and any other person you need to move you farward.\n\nDo you have a marketing plan?\n\nDo you have a system for the shop from taking out the trash to customer service and any other routines?\n\nWhat results do you want are you after in opening the store? What goals do you want to achieve?\n\nYour well on your way and I am sending blessing to your success.