HI!
I want to start a used/new designer clothing store.
My target market is:
- 16-30 years old
- Female
- $45,000 + income
- Preferably employed
- Into fashion, fashion-forward
- Financially stable
I want to start this business in Concord, CA. I know that I need to obtain an ficticious business name ($15) and I want to become a LLC because I don't want anyone coming after my assets. (Even though I don't really have any right now..lol) I have my store's name also. My plan is to buy my clothing on sale at Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Nordstrom. I also want to purchase designer clothing on eBay.
My question is, how do I get all of this started? I have no idea how to estimate my profits for the business plan. Also, what all needs to be included in the business plan? What is a good sq footage if I want a small store? I want to have about 4-6 clothing racks, install shelves to hang handbags, install shelves to showcase shoes, and a glass showcase for jewelry. I want to have at least 2-3 fitting rooms.
I know that if you provide things like a place to sit, bathroom, and food; your customers will stay longer. So I want to have a small area where my customers can get bottled water. I want the waters to have my store logo around them. I want to have a sitting area in the middle or the back of the store. So I was thinking of purchasing small sofas.
Is this a good idea? What do I do to get this started? As far as I know, there are no stores like this in the Concord area.

You are picking a very competitive business. I don't see how you can possibly get a sufficient margin by buying clothes on sale from a retailer and then reselling them at retail. Generally, a designer clothing store's cost of goods sold should be no more than about 40% of the retail price. To say that another way, if you buy a dress for $40, you need to be able to sell it for $100.

A retail store would have to be having a clearance sale to see discounts of more than 50% off retail. So, even when you are able to buy in stores at 60% off the retail price, you are usually buying at the end of the season and would have a very hard time selling the merchandise at the full retail price (which is why it is on sale in the first place).

With designer fashions, most of the successful stores know their clientèle and buy very carefully, often with specific customers in mind. Going to retail stores and buying only items that have deep, deep discounts will seriously restrict your ability to buy for your customers' tastes.

You say you want to buy you're clothes on ebay ?
Remember that most of these clothes are fake and if they find fake clothes in you're store you can close the store and get a big fine.

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