What are my start-up costs? How much will my store make? Should I sell online? How can I compete with larger stores? If you've ever considered owning a store but don't know where to start, The Everything Guide to Starting and Running a Retail Store is perfect for you. This resource will help you recognize the importance of an independent retail store in community life and the opportunities it offers for a rewarding lifestyle. This comprehensive guide shows you how to: Spot and capitalize on small retailer trends Conduct your own market analysis Research and select the most appropriate retailing software Run your business day to day Attract customers with effective advertising Make the leap to online selling This helpful handbook offers practical advice on retail store planning and management with valuable guidelines and real-world examples that can make the difference between your store's success and failure. This guide provides all the tools you need to run a store that your customers--and you--will enjoy for many years to come!

Make the dream of opening a retail business a reality. The fastest-growing segment of small business is retail-everything from clothing to linens, books to boats, gourmet pans to furniture. With over 30 years’ experience in retail, national expert and consultant James Dion offers practical, hands-on tips and advice on all aspects of retail business, from choosing the right business model and finding the ideal location to financing, purchasing, and marketing. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Information on permits, registrations, licenses, and other legal paperwork. • Advice on hiring, training, and motivating reliable employees. • Exceptional customer service techniques. • Creative tips on how to merchandise and market your store.

Entrepreneurs interested in opening a retail business find the tools, tips, and practical advice needed to plan for and open a successful retail store. Readers receive an overview of the market and are guided through the steps of planning and managing a store with the help of valuable, real-world examples from successful retail owners. From the traditional brick-and-mortar to the online-only stores, the experts of Entrepreneur offer an insider's look at creating a stable, cost-effective, and profitable business with long-term growth. Readers learn how to: pick the right retail outfit for their products or services (brick-and-mortar vs. online-only shops); analyze the market, assess the competition, and evaluate consumer demand; choose a location, design a retail space, and find the necessary floor and back-end equipment; assess startup costs, develop a business plan, find the right suppliers, and manage inventory; hire the right team and manage customer service; calculate the competitive advantage with pricing strategies and marketing that maximize profits, and calculate discounts that take profit loss into consideration; capitalize on emerging consumer trends like Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram; create synergy between brick-and-mortar and online components; set store policies: hours, credit, customer service, security, and day-to-day operations.

Consultants work in all fields. They operate from offices and from home, work for investment firms and as personal trainers, or have expertise as accountants and wedding planners. The independence, flexibility, and potential income it brings make for an exciting and satisfying career. And it’s an increasingly popular one for highly skilled, motivated professionals who’ve been laid off in this unstable economy. This guide features tips and tricks to help beat the competition, including how to: Set—and keep—personal and financial goals Organize important paperwork Price and market specific services Create advertising and publicity plans Grow a business, from finding a partner to managing employees Minimize and eliminate business risks Consultants are paid well for their advice—if they know how to operate a successful business. With advice from experts in a variety of areas, this valuable guide helps you create the business of your dreams!

There is nothing more satisfying than owning a shop of your own. Whether it's a designer clothing store, an exciting florist, or something for practically everything, this book will guide you through all you need to know about opening your own retail business. It is aimed at anyone who has a dream or a practical idea. It includes case histories of hands-on shop owners, their advice and top tips. You will be able to browse through such topics as: - Choosing the best location - Finding finance in a dwindling market - Developing a business plan - Exploring the costs of setting up - Selecting the products you want to carry - Decoration, displays and shelving - Meeting the challenges of a new business - Getting your business noticed in an internet age - Turning your passion into a profitable business

Written by the award winning owner of The Fashion Truck, Emily Benson, The Ultimate Boutique Handbook is a comprehensive, easy to follow guide of how to open a boutique of your own. After reading this guide, you'll have the knowledge and the confidence to build the boutique of your dreams!