Of all the many kinds of business you can get into, retail has to be one of the most lucrative going. The great thing about retail is that you can always be sure of a steady stream of customers. So long as you get all the various elements right, you are likely to enjoy some success.
However, it can be difficult to know how to go about opening up your own shop. If you have never done anything of the sort before, it might be especially tough figuring out what needs to be done.
To give you a helping hand, we have put together this guide. In this guide, we will look at the process of opening up a shop, step by step. If you are keen to get going in the world of retail, then take a look through this first.
Planning
The first stage in the starting up of any business is planning. Planning is essential to any project, regardless of its size or nature. It is especially important, however, with larger projects. And starting a business is one of the largest. When it comes to getting into the world of retail, it is vital that you plan out your business’ first steps.
The reason for this is that if anything goes wrong, you have something to refer to. Your business plan should ideally contain as much detail as possible for getting your business up and running. The truth is, there is no such thing as a plan which is too detailed. It is vital that you spend a decent amount of time on this essential first step before doing anything else.
Funding
It goes without saying that a business will need a decent amount of money behind it if it is to get going properly. However, knowing how to get hold of that money is another matter altogether. When you are starting out in business, this is something that you will need to put careful consideration into.
After all, you can’t get very far without the proper funding. The most common way to get funding is through a business loan or grant. Of course, it might be the case that you already have the personal capital necessary to get going. If that applies to you, then that is a great position to be in. You may as well take advantage of it.
Location
For retail, the location of the premises is especially important. This is a consideration for all businesses, but especially for retail. The reasons for this should be clear. You want your shop to be located somewhere where people will actually visit it, after all. It is vital that you find a position with a high footfall. Your shop should also be as visible as possible.
Ideally, this will be achieved through the size of the building. However, if that doesn’t apply, then you can use other methods to make your shop more visible. The most important thing about finding a good location is that it is as central as possible. That way, you are more likely to draw in a good number of customers.
Layout
Once you have your building, it is time to start thinking about the details. The first thing is to plan out the layout of the shop itself. This process can take a surprisingly long time – or at least, it does if you do it properly.
It is vital that you plan the shop so as to maximise sales. The truth is, there is an entire science dedicated to achieving just that. It is well worth doing some research and making sure that the layout of your shop is beneficial to your business.
Health & safety
It is at this point that you should start thinking about the legal necessities involved in running a shop. Arguably the most important is the health and safety side of things. This helps to protect both your employees and your customers from danger, so it is extremely pertinent.
You should work hard to ensure that your shop abides by all the health and safety regulations in your area. These vary, so it is well worth looking into. One of the most important aspects is to have Emergency Lighting to mark out the exits in case of emergency. That way, you can ensure that everyone gets to safety. Not only is this a legal duty of yours, but a moral one as well.
Employees
All businesses need employees, and with retail it is no different. The only real thing to bear in mind here is that you want to hire people who are dedicated to customer service. This should be the main quality that you seek above all.
After all, there is little use in hiring people who will not encourage your customers to come back for more. When you do hire your team, be sure to train them well. You should have a team of dedicated customer service advisors who are eager to please the customer.
Ultimately, this is what makes for a successful retail business. Hiring people for your business can be a long and drawn out process. However, it is well worth spending the time finding only the best candidates. It will serve you well in the long run.
Point of sale
One of the most important things to get right in retail is the point of sale process. This is where the interaction between the customer and your business actually takes place. As such, it is essential that you get it right every time. There are many different aspects to this.
One of the most important is the customer service offered by your employees. However, it goes beyond that. It is also a matter of making the process of paying as easy and straightforward as possible. Ideally, your customers should find the whole experience to be quick and easy.
It is a good idea, especially in the early days, to ask customers for their feedback. That way, you can readily learn what areas you can improve upon. Doing so will quickly draw in more and more customers.