Thursday, 9 November 2017

Tips On Starting A Successful Store Like The Orchard Supply Company

By Stephanie Allen


If you are passionate about construction, starting a hardware shop could be ideal for you. However, to succeed, you require more than passion alone. Read ahead for a guide on starting a leading building materials store like the Orchard Supply Company.

Start by conducting an extensive market research. This is an important exercise that will help you determine how feasible your idea is. There are a number of things that you need to look into when conducting your market research. For example, you need to start by determining the demand for hardware items in the area you plan to locate your store in. You want to be sure that the existing demand is sustainable.

Develop a good business plan. You can never start a company successfully with planning. You are therefore advised to write down a plan that will guide how you operate your store. The document you come up with will also come in handy when seeking a bank loan. Additionally, it should include various strategies with regards to sales, marketing and exit. Still, the plan should contain both sales and financial projections.

Once your plan is ready, you will need to look for financing. There are different ways of financing any new business. First, you can apply for a loan from your bank or any other financial institution of your choice. Additionally, you can finance your startup through your personal savings, partnering with an investor or liquidating some of your assets. The amount you raise should be enough to meet your stock requirements.

Decide on where to locate your startup. It is important to carefully think about the right place to locate your store. This is because the place you choose will greatly determine whether you succeed or fail. Before making a decision here, it is therefore important to take certain factors into account. First, asses the kind of potential that an area offers in terms of growth.

Accessibility is another critical issue to look into when deciding on where to locate your shop. The place that you are considering should be surrounded by a good transport network. Keep in mind that it should be extremely easy and convenient for your customers to visit your shop. Additionally, your suppliers should also not face any difficulties when delivering your orders.

Before opening your hardware, you also decide on where you to get your supplies from. In general, you can buy stock from three main sources. First, you can source for supplies directly from manufactures. Secondly, you buy from wholesalers that are located around your city. Lastly, you can get your products from specialty distributors. Before deciding to choose a supplier, you have to consider pricing, quality and reliability among other things.

The success of your store will heavily rely on how well you market it. There are several ways that you can use to spread the word on your new venture. These include placing advertisements on local daily newspapers, sending mails to prospective clients and using social media. Still, you should be sure to offer excellent customer service.




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