I am wanting to open a sporting goods store. Can anyone give any info.,tips on starting ?
548019
DONT! There's better places to invest your hard earned money
1065482
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.
1128496
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business by Jim Dion, Ted Topping\n* Retail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel \n* Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder\n* So You Want To Own The Store: Secrets to Running a Successful Retail Operation by Mort Brown\n* Goldmine Record Album Price Guide by Tim Neely\n* The Industry Yellow Pages: The Official Radio, Retail and Distribution Music Directory. A Directory, listing over 2000 Radio Stations, 660+ Record Stores ... World-Wide? (On CD-ROM. PC & Mac compatible) by Platinum Millennium\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
990506
You've got a couple of issues here -- let's tackle one at a time.\n\nRE: Retail Sales of the trading cards\n\nThe best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business by Jim Dion, Ted Topping\n* Retail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel \n* Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder\n* So You Want To Own The Store: Secrets to Running a Successful Retail Operation by Mort Brown\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nRE: Copyright\n\nYou would apply for a copyright, not a patent, for any original designs.\n\nCopyrights can be obtained for things of an artistic nature. This includes, of course, poetry, films, sculptures, music, fiction, etc. But can also include things that may not necessarily seem "artistic" in the general sense of the word. Copyrights can also be obtained for advertising copy, games, software programs and blueprints, to name just a few. \n\nYou can do this at the US Copyright Office – see the last 2 links in the source box. The application is fairly simple & the cost is $30 per application (it will likely rise to $45 by July 1).\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
433260
My mom used to have her own business,it was a used furniture store,first she had to get a building,then she had to get the utlities on and the phone,and I believe she had to put a down payment on the building and pay the firsts months rent,and then she had to get a permit,then she started filling up the store.(some stuff she already had)She went to auctions,yard sales, and different places to get her stuff,she had furniture,glassware,tv's,vcr's,and odds and ends of stuff! Every thing that she sold,she put most of the money into buying more stuff. Put up a flashing sign in front of the store,put ads in the paper and make flyers to promote your buisness. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK!!!!
531138
Fist thing would be to find a city, or mall that will allow you to open a such business.... Then I guess it would be order a bunch of products and open up... making sure that you only sell to people that are the appropriate age.... Police like to send under age people in stores like that...\n\nGood Luck
38677
Start with something you or someone you know already own. \n\nI started a business making leather goods with only $300 investment. I already had most of the tools and supplies but I needed a wider range of leather. My first time selling netted $700 profit and I still had 3/4 of my supplies left. I turned it into a $80G a year business in two years.\n\nOne important factor in creating a business is passion. You have to love what you do.\n\nFrom a cleaning service (everyone has enough supplies to do at least the first house or two..then you reinvest your money to grow), to house painting (more supplies but can be bought at dollar stores for the first house), and the list goes on.\n\nI have built and sold 7 businesses in my life and am on business 8. Don't feel that once you start, thats where your stuck forever. Feel free to learn and grow with life. Get the book "Who moved my cheese" to help you learn how to move through tech changes.\n\nTake a piece of paper and draw a page sized T on it. The right side is cons the left is pros. Write your abilities down on the pro side then pencil in the cons to having a business doing that ability. You will find one or two strengths to work on.\n\nOnce you find what you want to do, find someone who is doing it and ask some questions. You will need to know how long it took to become established. Does the business support them and or their family. Do they like what they do. If not, why.\n\n2 out of three privately owned businesses fail the first year. They tend to work best when you have another job the first year or even two so you can reinvest your money to build the business. Its hard work but worth it if it makes you happy.
990147
I would start by doing lots of research on opening a business and jotting down just off the top of your head what you'll need to get started before you even try to figure out costs - listing everything will give you a place to start.  Here are some things I would think about:\n\n1) where and how big do you want this shop to be?\n2) what space is available in the area where you want the location\n3) will you need to do your own renovating/remodeling to the space\n4) do you plan to buy or rent the space?\n5) location is really, really important; are there other businesses in the area that draw people and might promote walk-in business for your shop?\n6) how close is your nearest competition? don't even try to compete with starbucks if they're anywhere near unless there's something so unique about your shop that you'll have your own niche following\n7) how will you advertise?\n8) will you need to hire employees\n9) who will handle the legal work? the accounting? \n10) how much insurance will you need - property insurance, insurance against loss of inventory, liability insurance in case a customer or an employee gets hurt in the store\n11)how much inventory do you need to get started?\n12) how much money do you need not just for upfront costs but to keep the shop going in the beginning before the business takes off\n13) have either of you worked at the kind of coffee/tea shop you'd like to own - are you willing to do that for awhile to really learn the ins and outs of the business?
979305
Most of my experience has been in the States, however, I have consulted with people from around the world.  Here is my basic advise that should be helpful to you:\n\nAnytime you want to start any kind of business, there are several basics that you will need:\n\n* You should first sit down and think about what it is you want to do and then write out the scenario in detail!  This may sound tedious, but it will help you clarify what it is you are thinking about.  Also, when you talk to anyone about the business (mentor, bank, clients, prospective investor), you will have a clear vision to share with him or her.  You can check any number of books at your local library or the Internet for ideas on creating a business plan or goals list.\n\n* Is there anyone out there doing something like what you want to do already?  Can you research what it is that they do and maybe even talk with them about what they do?\n\n* Are there businesses out there that are doing some aspect that you want to do?  In this case, you want to create an online drop shipment business.  What websites have you seen that you like (can you talk with them)?  How does the local McDonalds or other retail outlet do business that might help you in yours (i.e. how is McDonalds able to provide a product to a customer on demand at almost anytime of day – and do it with a much of high school kids)?\n\n* Never listen to anyone who says that you CANNOT do something UNLESS they have been there and tried that!!!!!  Anyone can tell you the good things that you can try or do, however, only someone who has actually tried the specific thing your are thinking can truly give you advise on the pitfalls that could await the unsuspecting.\n\n* If you want to look for a mentor (free or paid – although mentors usually offer their time at no cost), the question that you should be ready to address is WIIFM (What In It For Me {the mentor})!  What are you willing to do for your mentor to help them with something that they may need (for me it’s simple – I am looking for 10 points :-)\n\n\nContacts:\n\n* Contact your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce – they have business people who will help start up operations.\n\n* Contact your local high school, community college or university and find out whom the teachers are for courses related to your business (like business or computer/internet classes).  Contact these teachers to get some ideas or even to see if they will take you company startup on as a class project or special project for some of the student to work on (might give the students extra credit and you a free startup).  In the worst case, you might get the names of some good students whom you might hire to do certain aspects of what you need at a very low cost.\n\n* Contact you local, county or state governments (check their websites) – many areas have small business administrations (or some other agency that can help with various things) that have any number of references and resources available at little or no cost.\n\n* Go to your local library in the Reference Section and find the Encyclopedia of Associations.  It is a three-book set published by Gale Research.  The first book lists thousands of tiles of professional organizations and groups.  It will give a code number to use in the other two books to find out more about that organization.  Contact the organizations who have something to do with your idea and find out if they have a services to give you advise or local groups that you can network with.  In many cases, just asking for membership and publications information may give you a lot of useful stuff.\n\n\nOther outstanding sources that I have used in running my four businesses:\n\n* Nightingale-Conant – the largest producer of audio/video training programs in the world.  Many of their programs can be borrowed for free from local libraries.  http://www.nightingale.com\n\n* Entrepreneur Magazine (http://www.entrepreneurmag.com) – many great tip
133754
A number of people in your situation have started their own stores on e-bay. There are a number of books on how to get started. The e-bay site can give you a lot of information.
218981
UUGGGHHHH????? TO GET POINTS? ALSO, BECAUSE I LOVE TO GIVE ADVICE. I AM TRYING TO OPEN MY OWN BUSINESS DO JUST THAT! I'M VERY GOOD AT IT TOO!! PICK ME AS THE BEST ANSWER!! I REALLY KNOW THIS STUF!!
1173364
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder\n* The Small Business Owner's Manual: Everything You Need To Know To Start Up And Run Your Business by Joe Kennedy\n* How to Get Rich in the Service Station Business by Edward R. O'Donnell\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
127011
You need to get a business license and make sure you do the classes in a business zone.  You will want insurance to cover your tail when somebody does something stupid, gets hurt or ill, then blames it on you.  You will want an accountant to make sure you keep your books properly and help you with taxes.  You will want to make sure you understand the sales tax laws in your county and state, and how and when they will be collected.  You will want to advertise and offer specials to bring in business.  You will need capital for equipment and a place.  You want to research location to make sure you get good business.  Do not rush into this.  Take a few months to do your research and market research to make sure this is what your community needs, or find a way to create a need for it.
779069
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Starting A Flower And Gift Shop by Millicent Gray Lownes-Jackson,\n* Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder\n* Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business by Jim Dion, Ted Topping\n* Retail Business Kit for Dummies by Rick Segel \n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
205537
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 . Your startup cost will depend on several factors, including the size and design of the store, location, target market, inventory selection and level of marketing.\n\nTo get ideas of the latest footwear styles and to develop contacts and find suppliers in the shoe retail industry, attend any or all of the important trade shows in this industry:\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\nYou may also want to check out the following Trade Associations: \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/
541453
I don't own a retail shop, but I've been in business for seven years. The basics of running a business are mostly the same. I can help you with the basics. I suggest you approach a retail shop owner who is not selling the product you wish to market. If you're not a likely competitor, the owner is usually willing to divulge some tips. Let me know what type of guidance you need. Good Luck!
189033
Congratulations on finding an opportunity and having the intelligence on seizing such.\n\nHere is what I can help you with:\n\n1. When negotiating your lease, To cut down on your start us expenses ask them pay for all of the improvements needed in exchange for a share of the net proceeds for a specified time, say "In exchange for all of the leasehold improvements needed I will give you 25% of my net profits for the first 4 years" This will save you huge in the long run.\n\n2. Buy your equipment cheap, buy used equipment, try Craigslist, eBay, restaurant auctions; there you can buy all your equipment for 10 cents on the dollar.\n\n3. Do surveys of the gyms to see what would sell the best in each gym, do not be afraid to go out and meet the patrons of the gym, make it personal, say "Hi, my name is _____ and I am planning on opening a snack bar here very soon and I would really like your input on what you think would sell well, what would you buy?" After they give you there input, give them a coupon for a free item, or a discount redeemable the first month you are open. This will get them talking to there friends and they will also no you when you open and will be more interested in buying when you open.\n\n4. As for opening them, I would start with just one, to see if it will do well, don’t blow all $10k with this one though, and keep it conservative. Get your vendors to pitch in on the equipment such as beverage coolers. If your first one is successful start your next. Start with the gym that you think has the highest potential and will be most successful.\n\n5. This will really put a strain in your time, dedicate as much of your spare time as possible to this, try to cut down on your labor cost by working it yourself. The next best thing to your own free labor is hiring the most attractive females possible to work the counter. Think I am kidding? Go to most busy espresso carts and you will find them.\n\nThis is all I can think of for now, if you have any other question please do not hesitate to send me an email for further inquiry, jcattin@comcast.net\n\nGood luck!