If this is your first time opening a store, you should know how important the right location is. The location is something that can either make or break almost any business – regardless of how big or small.
However, to find the perfect location, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and do some thorough research. In addition to that, you’ll need to know how exactly you can decide which location is ideal for your store.
If you’re planning to launch your own fashion store, here are some tips on how to find the perfect location.
1. Store image
Before you start looking for the perfect location for your fashion store, you need to have some things very clear. The first one is the image – what sort of image do you want to create for your store? The image plays a big role in the location and vice versa. You wouldn’t want to put a luxurious fashion store in the worst neighborhood in town, would you?
We’re so invested in implementing technology into our fashion business – creating an online store, using the best possible software such as Unmade software to run our businesses, and being present on social media platforms that we completely push aside the physical aspect of running a fashion brand.
So, before you start looking for a store location, make sure you have a clear idea of what kind of image you want to create for your store.
2. Consider location demographics
The next thing that you should consider is location demographics. When looking for a perfect store location, you need to know who your customers are. With this information, you can start looking for areas in the city where such people live or frequent the most.
Keep in mind that a lot of human and vehicle traffic isn’t the best indicator that the store will do well in that area. A head count is what you need and this is done through careful study. You need to keep close attention to how many people are simply passing by and how many are doing the shopping in the area. Window shoppers should also be factored in.
3. How accessible is the location
If you already have a location in mind, the following step includes figuring out how accessible that location is. Accessibility plays a big role in how successful your clothing store is going to be.
Take notes of how close to the city centre the store would be, if there is public transport nearby, if the actual store is easy to access, if there is a place to park your car near the store, and many similar things. Once you have the answer to these questions, you’ll know if the location is good or if it’s a bust.
4. How noticeable is the location
Want to save money on ads and promotions? Open your store in a very visible place where it will get noticed. So, a location where your clothing store will be visible to both those driving through and those walking by would be perfect.
With such a location, you will need to invest less in marketing and more in making your store window attractive with lighting, different themes, and other smart ways that can attract attention and customers. A noticeable store location would be a shopping center, for example.
5. Is the location safe and secure
However, there is something else you should keep in mind when searching for a perfect location for your clothing store and that’s the safety and security of the area. Of course, no one in their right mind would choose the most dangerous part of the city to open their store, but sometimes you never know.
Find out whether your potential store location has security cameras and systems, or maybe a security guard. Also ensure that the area is well-lit, as well as the parking lot near it. Ask around and ask other shop owners about their opinion about the safety and security in the area.
Having all this information will help you decide whether to open your store in the area or not. You wouldn’t want to deal with burglaries and break-ins.
6. Can you afford it
All the above-mentioned tips mean very little if you can’t afford to open the store. Your finances play the ultimate role in where you can open your fashion boutique. Keep in mind that your budget needs to cover the costs of the store (rented or bought), utilities, taxes, possible remodeling, and maintenance.
If you can’t cover the costs of all of this, then looking for the store location is pointless. The best advice we have for you is to start small. Find a store that you can afford and then when your business start growing, you’ll be able to afford something larger and in a perfect spot.
7. Competition
It’s always a good idea to scope out the competition in the area you’d like to open your store in. Since you’re opening a clothing store, it’d be a good idea to place it next to a bag or a shoe shop, maybe a hair salon or even another clothes shop. Having some competition is not a bad thing, your store could even benefit from it.
You can also look for locations where clothing shops are in demand since there aren’t many. This means that the competition will be on the low end, which, again, can be a good thing, too. To find out more about the competition and their locations, you’ll need to do some research first.
With all these tips in mind, you can start your location search. You need to be aware that there will be a lot of places that are nowhere near what you had in mind, and there will be places that are just what you imagined but so out of your budget.
The best you can do is not rush things, consider the store and its location as both a business owner and a customer. When the site ticks all the boxes and you feel good about it – only then consider renting or buying it.
