If you are looking to set up a clothing retail business, rather than shopping around at different distributors, manufacturers, and supplies for stock; there is a good reason why you should consider buying in bulk from a wholesaler such as www.stylewisedirect.com, based in Manchester.  Buying in bulk is necessary if you want to have a chance of making a profit, as it gives you a chance to set your prices at a competitive level while still making a return.  If this is the method of stocking your new retail business with though, there are some things you should keep in mind before you start buying stock and setting up shop.

Distinguish Yourself From The Competition

The clothing area of retail is a highly competitive market, so if you want your business to be reasonably successful you need to find and target a suitable niche.  This will help you to distinguish your shop and line of clothes from others out there.  Consider whether you want to specialize in suits for men, clothing for teens, children's clothing, or even something like plus size or maternity clothing.

Ensure Your Business Has The Appropriate Permits

It is essential that you make sure your business has all the correct documentation and permits.  Many clothing wholesalers will not do business with you unless you are properly registered with the taxman and can prove you are a legit and legal business.

Find A Suitable Venue

If you haven't already, you need to find an appropriate venue to establish your business.  Renting or owning a traditional, bricks and mortar shop is the most expensive way to go about this.  In order to save some money, therefore, it may be worth considering setting up your own e-commerce site or opening a kiosk in the local shopping center, or even just using one of the popular online auction sites.  It really depends on the kind of budget you have and who your target customer base is.

Work Out Where You Will Store Your Merchandise

If you aren't going to open up a physical shop or can't afford a particularly big one – you need to work out where you are actually going to store your merchandise.  Although a warehouse or storage facility of some sort would be best if your business really picks up and you need to keep buying a steady supply of stock; in the beginning, you could make a start by having a closet in your house that has been cleaned to a high standard and is free of pets, sunlight and odors.

Make A List Of Products You Are Interested In

You need to give a lot of thought to the stock you want to sell and the type of products you are interested in.  Think about your target customer base and the image you want to convey.  This is a key decision to make as it could affect the suppliers who want to do business with you.

Open Accounts With Wholesalers

You can open accounts with wholesalers easily by contacting them directly or ordering through their websites, like www.stylewisedirect.com.  It is generally quite easy and straightforward to set up an account and there will be directions every step of the way.

Give Careful Consideration To How You Display Your Merchandise

Whether you are running an online business or bricks and mortar shop, you need to think carefully about how you display your merchandise.  It is best to lay everything out in an attractive and logical way, to make it as easy as possible for customers to find what need.  If you are targeting different age groups and both male and female clothing, for instance, you will want to keep these all separate. Customers who can't find what they are looking for, will turn around and walk away or click to a different site.