How to Open a Maternity Boutique
Setting Up a New Business
Open My Own Business
By Melinda Gaines
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Many expecting women prefer buying a maternity wardrobe, typically for their second and third trimesters. Though some department and women's clothing shops sell maternity wear, pregnant women often shop at maternity boutiques. These specialty stores sell clothing, shoes, undergarments and supplies, such as body care and breastfeeding gear, for pregnant women and new mothers. Owning a maternity boutique can be fulfilling and lucrative, and there are several things you can do to help ensure your business's success.
Establish the type of maternity boutique you want to open--this will be your niche. For instance, you can open a designer, upscale, boutique, a maternity shop for plus-sized women or a second-hand maternity store.
Obtain the licenses needed to start a retail business in your city, such as a resale permit or assumed name certificate--what is required will depend on where your boutique is located.
Source inventory for your boutique. You can open wholesale accounts with manufacturers and distributors of maternity clothing and items, or shop at garage and estate sales, browse classified-ads, and sell clothing on consignment if your niche will be selling thrift or second-hand merchandise.
Buy or lease a building for your maternity boutique. Alternatively, you can start out with an online store, sell on an Internet auction site or become a flea market vendor, if your niche is used maternity wear--all of these options are less expensive than opening a brick-and-mortar store.
Make your boutique welcoming and practical for expectant mothers. Though you will have patrons that are not pregnant women, the majority of your customers will be. Place a few comfortable chairs throughout the store so expecting women can rest for a moment, making sure your clothing racks and displays can be easily navigated and are not cramped together. Avoid putting any of your merchandise so high that a customer would have to struggle to reach it, and consider providing a play area--many pregnant women bring their older kids shopping with them.
Promote your maternity boutique. You can place fliers in local day care facilities, obstetrician offices and other complementary businesses, open social networking accounts, give exclusive discounts to the mother and play groups in your city and launch a promotional blog.
Melinda Gaines has been a freelance writer since 2006, with work appearing online for YellowPages and other websites. Her areas of expertise include business, beauty, fashion and sports. Gaines attended the University of Houston where she earned a Bachelor of Science in sport administration.
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1 Starting a Small Business Boutique
2 How to Start a Greek Paraphernalia Store
3 How to Start a Craft Store Business
4 How to Start a Shoe Store Business