Baubles, Bangles and Beads
Any outfit can look great if it's clean, pressed, fits well and is a flattering color and style. To take that outfit up a notch and truly make it smashing and memorable, add accessories like jewelry, scarves, shoes, hats, belts and handbags. If you have a great eye for those little details that make a dynamic fashion statement, you may want to think about starting your own business. Here's how.
Instructions
1. Identify your strengths and passions as an accessory expert. While it's likely that you can eventually branch out and offer a wide assortment of merchandise as your business grows, it's important to start modestly.
2. Determine what types of services you want to offer in conjunction with selling accessories. For instance, you may be interested in creating custom pieces, accompanying clients on shopping trips to select just the right shoes or handbag, or doing in-home consultations in which you survey what the couple have and how it can mix and match with other pieces in their closets.
3. Identify where you are going to get your accessory merchandise and how best to showcase them. Perhaps you are an artist and intend to create everything from scratch. Maybe you are looking at going into a partnership with someone whose accessories you'd like to promote. Another option is a consignment shop that will allow you to display your accessories. Yet another route would be local crafts fairs at which you distribute mini-catalogues and build a clientele.
4. Your best resource for establishing your new business identity is the Small Business Administration website (see URL at end of article). This easy-to-navigate site will walk you through the steps of getting a federal tax ID number and registering your business name with the Secretary of State's office. Also consult with an accountant regarding records of income and expenses you will need to keep.
5. Whatever logo, catch phrase or color scheme you choose should be used consistently in your website, business cards, shopping bags and promotional materials.
6. Build a professional website. This should not only include high-quality photographs of your accessories but also a price list, brief biography and whether you are available for custom work. Perhaps your expertise is designer scarves; customers might want to know if they can bring you their own material and turn it into something unique. Another angle might be your ability to go sleuthing for vintage jewelry or hats, thus saving the customers the time of having to go hunting for these items themselves.
7. Establish a business checking account so that you can keep your accessory income separate. If you are going to be doing business by mail-order, it may be beneficial to establish a PayPal account.
8. Perform a cost benefit analysis regarding how much time you actually spend on creating designer accessories and how much you charge for them. Survey what your competition is doing.
9. Stay abreast of fashion trends by reading fashion magazines, attending fashion shows and watching what celebrities are wearing. It also doesn't hurt to fraternize with the owners of boutiques, especially if they're in the market for something fresh to offer their clientele. The URL for "Start a Fashion Business" is a great resource for Been There/Done That advice and articles targeted to future business owners.
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