They say the best businesses to get into are the ones that are either essential, in trend or in demand. And for baby stores, they’re kind of in between the crevices of all three. It’s essential, it’s trendy for new parents and it’s always in demand.
Baby stores are great for a starting business since babies are always sprouting and the need for new clothes, baby items, equipment, toys and so on just keeps going. So you’ll always have customers and a clear view of your general target audience.
Plus if you’re someone who believes in sustainable living, so and so, having your own business can give you the control to shape your shop however you’d like. So if you’re eager or simply planning on opening a baby store, go ahead!
To help you out and to give you an idea of what you’ll need before opening, below are essential things to get before opening your baby store!
1 – Plan, plan, PLAN!
Before opening any kind of business, you need a plan. Opening a business is not like opening a lemonade stand outside your yard, it’s way more complex than that since you’re putting in money, time and effort to make it happen.
So before anything else, make a plan! Your plan can consist of what your store will be selling, where you plan to be located, how much you’ll be spending to start and so on. It’s important to tackle all the necessary details to ensure a swift and smooth opening.
Plus planning can give you an idea of the whole deal of what it’s like opening a store. And if it’s something you don’t fancy, it’s okay since nothing is set in stone just yet – no agreements and contacts have been made.
2 – Create a persona for your store!
Now it’s time to come up with a personality for your shop! Personality is a huge thing when it comes to business since this is what will give people their first impression. So depending on your peg, be consistent with it!
For instance, you want a baby shop that’s sustainable. Make sure to go with furniture and layouts that are green, brown, natural wood and any kind of earth-toned colours. And be consistent with your outputs. Make sure what you sell is also sustainable.
So you can go for items that are made with recycled material, natural material, biodegradable material and so on. To give you an idea, here’s a list of some baby items, if you decide to run an eco-friendly baby shop:
- Bamboo bowls, plates and cutlery.
- Biodegradable diapers.
- Washable and reusable diapers.
- Flushable baby wipes.
- Organic baby snacks.
- All-natural baby lotions, balms and ointments.
- Organic cotton baby clothes, wraps and beddings.
- Bamboo-made toys.
Keeping it on-brand all the time is what will make people trust you. Consistency is key so use it well! So whatever your theme, personality and peg may be, make sure it’s also consistent with what you have to offer.
3 – Make it legal!
To run a successful business it has to be legal and a way to do that is by registering your business! Depending on your country’s requirements, make sure to comply with everything asked. This is to make sure you’re running a legal business that’s for the benefit of your shop, the city and your customers.
4 – Get a place
After finally legalizing your business, go ahead and look for a spot! Make sure to pick out a location that’s accessible, visible and convenient. So think about planting your shop in malls, commercial buildings, near the town or even beside other baby-related businesses.
Make sure to get a place that’s just right. But this may all depend on what you plan to sell. If you sell baby furniture, go for a place that offers a bigger space. But if you plan on selling smaller items, you can go for small to medium-sized spaces.
5 – Get and install organizers
After getting a place, you can now start installing organizers like hanging shelves, ground shelves and so on. This is best to do after getting a place to make sure everything will fit perfectly.
To save more floor space, consider installing more wall organizers to keep your floors free. And since you’re catering to parents, you can bet they’ll be having strollers, carries and even kids along with them so the bigger the floor space, the better.
6 – Get your business protected
An efficient way to protect your business is by getting coverage! Before opening, make sure you get the coverage your business needs to run a safe and protected business. And since you’re running a baby shop, the likelihood of accidents can happen more often.
Getting business insurance can safeguard your business from property damage, auto damage, lawsuits, bankruptcy, theft and so much more. This keeps your business, employees, inventory and customers safe at all costs!
Plus getting business insurance can make sure your business doesn’t go through setbacks, which is the enemy of most businesses out there! So consider getting business insurance before opening your store.
