How to Open a Fashion Boutique

These are the first steps you will need to take in order to start a fashion boutique. You will want to start at least six months before the actual opening of your store, and a big part of the reason why is because buying works so far ahead of the season. For example, buying for fall closes in April, holiday closes mid August, and Spring closes at the end of the year before.

Create A Business Plan
This is a given. Be sure to think about everything you'll need to budget for; supplies, advertising, services and of course merchandise. It never hurts to inquire about advertising prices and what not ahead of time. If your store is brick and mortar, you'll need to get with a real estate agent and start looking for a location. And be ready for paperwork galore! You'll need at least a wholesale license, EID and business license before you begin.

Get the Merchandise
You'll need to decide what brands you want to carry. However, the catch is that just because you want to carry a brand doesn't mean you'll be able to. A lot of this depends on where your store is located (even if it's online). On top of that, some labels are just very picky and protective of their brand. So be sure to have a long list of lines that you like, and inquire before settling your mind on anything.

Once you have your shortlist, get in touch with the lines sales rep. The sales rep is usually the one who you'll do all your buying through, and there are different reps depending on where you live (usually East Coast and West Coast). If you're on the West Coast, take a look through the LA Fashion Wholesale Index to find out who the rep is and how to get in contact with him or her. It's also good to look on the labels official website for sales rep, wholesale or showroom info. Once you have the information on hand, email the sales rep and ask for a linesheet (it's good to include a bit of info about the store as well, even if it's new). The linesheet will show you all of the styles for the upcoming season as well as the wholesale prices. From here you can plan your merchandise budget and choose which labels are best for your store.

Eventually make an appointment with the rep to see the clothing in person. This is usually done during market week, which comes up about every three months. The biggest market is in New York, followed by Los Angeles as well as Atlanta and Chicago. There's also MAGIC in Las Vegas, the biggest fashion tradeshow in the country, happening twice yearly.

Prepare the Store
Now it's time to start buying a lot of the things you added to your budget. This includes store supplies, fixtures, and possibly even advertising. If you plan on having a website it's a good idea to start looking for ecommerce packages (Yahoo Small Business and Monster Commerce are good ones) and finding the right graphic designer to create a unique look for your store, and perhaps a coder to customize a few things. Chances are you'll need a photographer as well. It can take time to find people are who are truely skilled and reliable at these things, so it's never too early to start looking. Web developers especially can be quite fickle, so that's one thing you'll want to get started on as quickly as possible.

It's a good idea to take a look at other boutiques, both brick and mortar and online (if you're doing both) and see what their stores look like. Then you'll need to decide how you can do what they're doing but in your own unique way, and better.

Get an inside look at how to start a fashion boutique from an actual fashion boutique owner at Kimberly's blog OohLaLuxe.net.

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Shop Easy With An Online Boutique

There were days when you had to rush to your nearest boutique to check out the latest spring collection. You certainly couldn't help it if the nearest boutique was 40 miles away from your home.

However, now there are easier and better options. If you have a computer and an internet connection, then you are going to save yourself a lot of money and effort and time.

All that you need to do is log on to an online boutique and shop away with a few simple clicks of your mouse.

An online boutique is a virtual counterpart of the boutique in the offline world. You can do everything from browse through the catalogue, add things to your shopping cart and even get it gift wrapped.

Buy everything

Most large brands today have an online boutique. Apart from that you also have boutiques that have several brands listed in one. In these boutiques you can shop for clothes, accessories, leather bags and even for designer wear.

For each item, there are detailed photographs and specifications listed. This makes it easy for you to find the right fit. You can search by color and even by size. Some online boutiques have also added a budget related search so that you can find items that suit your budget.

Get some great deals

Most online boutiques have frequent offers and discounts. You can find clearance sales and festive offers galore. If you do the right amount of hunting then you will definitely find an unbeatable price at an online boutique.

When you decide to shop online, make sure that the online boutique uses the best security features that protect you from hackers. The last thing that you do want is your identity to be stolen online.

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Four Accessories Every Plus Size Woman Should Have

Plus size women often make the mistake of thinking they don't need to think about accessories when trying to flatter their figure. But, the truth is there are a few accessories plus size women should not live without... as long as they use them correctly. In contrast, there are also many accessories plus size women should pass on by!

Four Accessories You Need:

1. An Appropriately Sized Handbag: Many women underestimate the power of an appropriately sized handbag. In fact, if you carry around a handbag that is too small, you can look as if you weigh 30 pounds more than you actually do! So, take the time to think about the handbags you choose from now on. When shopping for a handbag, be sure to remember scale is everything. You need to find a bag that's in proportion to your size. Avoid tiny bags or totes, as they will only make you look larger. Be sure your bag of choice has ample straps which fit your arms properly. Don't always go for the black or brown bag, as a handbag is the perfect way to let your wild colors show!


2. Elastic Belts: Belts are all the rage right now in fashion, giving plus size women a great opportunity to highlight the smallest part of their body (typically the waist area). However, regular belts may be too tight for you to tolerate. So, when you are in need of an accent belt, reach for an elastic type. You can pair them (under your bust area, somewhat high) with a white shirt, sweater, floppy dress or any other clothing you'd like to use to highlight your waist area. Of course, if, you're pear-shaped you may want to forgo a belt in this area or forgo the belt altogether.


3. Plus Sized Leggings: Leggings are considered an accessory because they aren't quite a substitution for pants. Plus sized women often use them as a substitute, which is the WRONG way to wear them! Pair leggings with a long tunic, under a shorter skirt or with a long sweater dress. They can add warmth and style to outfits. Just be sure you don't end up wearing them everyday or you may fall victim to the fashion police!


4. Large Jewelry: Just as we mentioned with the handbag, scale is everything when buying accessories as a plus size lady. You must remember to skip over the tiny and dainty jewelry and head straight to the chunky or larger pieces. If you put a tiny ring on your finger or a thin bracelet on your wrist, your entire hand area will appear much larger than it is. So, be sure to pick pieces which flatter your body and work in proportion.

When shopping for accessories, the most important rule is to remember scale. It's so important we've mentioned it multiple times already! Be sure whatever you choose to use as an accessory is not tiny, as it will instantly add pounds to your visual appearance.

Learning to dress a plus size body type has its own set of unique challenges that many women have a hard time understanding. At Plus-Size-Clothing.org we have combined the knowledge of several fashion experts and style goddesses to suggest clothing shapes, styles and stores that are most flattering to a fuller shape. Whether you are looking for a cute plus size top for a night out or just a few plus size clothing pieces to re-vamp your current wardrobe, we have tons of great fashion advice to share.

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Fashionable Ladies Clothes Now on Sale

For the past fifty years women have been running after the newest styles and for the past fifty years the price of these new styles have been rising along with their popularity. For the past five decade, women are left to deal with the price of fashion as people already got used to it, accepting what time has made to be rule not even questioning the prices that would feed a person for a week or even a month. In this day and age it isn't practical to pay oodles of cash for something you're only going to wear for a season or two, so what's the answer to this dilemma? Easy, Wholesale Womens Clothing, the answer to all you ladies' problems.

Wholesale Womens Clothing, is the online store that caters to all your fashion needs. With clothes from Sean John, Apple Bottoms, Steve Madden, Makaveli Ladies and many more high profile brands ready for you to buy at rock bottom prices. Yes, you heard it right, "rock bottom," because all the clothes at Wholesale Womens Clothing had their prices slashed down to 50% the original price. If you're lucky you might even chance upon Wholesale Womens Clothing underground sale, because the prices are even lower than rock bottom. Wholesale Womens Clothing also showcases and exclusively distributes some of the brands collections like Sean John's ladies collection. Wholesale Womens Clothing has the fashion and also the prices you want to match, so what are you waiting for? Log on to Wholesale Womens Clothing now at www.sevenwholesale.com and get on the fashion wagon.

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Boutique - Online Business Vs Retail Shopping

Have you tried traditional means of selling with little to no success? Do
you have a product driven, home based business that you would like to grow
nationally or even internationally? Are you unsure how to successfully
advertise your web site on the Internet? Does your web site get limited
traffic? Have you been a vendor at various boutiques but want the
continual yearly income that is generated from your loyal customer base?

Retail shopping has been the general source of selling and purchasing
products for decades. With the expansion of the Internet and other various
creative avenues, business owners have been able to grow their business
substantially in less time. Boutiques that have a physical location have
been popular over the last 15 to 20 years. They are extremely enticing to
the growing number of women who enjoy scrapbooking, home decor, holiday
crafts, gift ideas and much more.

Listed below are 8 reasons why an online boutique could increase sales and
grow your business.

1. Year round income: Not only would you have a physical location for your
customers during various times of the year at boutiques, but they would be
able to easily continue to purchase your items year round.

2. It will bring shoppers to you: Retail stores spend hundreds or thousands
of dollars marketing their business. By advertising your online store when
you are a vendor at a boutique, your customers will have an incentive to
purchase additional products later.

3. Linking web sites: If a vendor from a boutique has a web site, the
online boutique can link to the vendor's web site. This will generate
traffic to the vend's web site thereby gaining exposure and sales.

4. Reclaiming old customers: For customers who have not attended a boutique
for years, they could look online to see what is available and either come
back to the boutique or shop on line.

5. Extra income without extra setups and tear downs: Physical boutiques
can be a successful means of establishing and growing a business. It takes
time and effort to set up and take down a booth each show. Once a vendor is
joined into an online boutique, it stays available to the customer night and
day without much added effort.

6. Not enough online boutiques available: A study recently done found that
70% of online shoppers would like to purchase more boutique like items.
There are very few on line boutique sites available.

7. Substantial growth: A person can grow their business without travel
expenses by selling online. National and International growth is possible.

8. Increase sells up to 70%: Some of the most successful business owners
contribute their success to selling online.

9. Eliminating cost of rental space: The average of cost of a rental space
at a virtual boutique is around $125.00. This is usually for a 3 day
exposure time. An online boutique is day and night, everyday, for a minimal
monthly fee.

It is rare today for a business not to have a web site. If done correctly,
web sites can be an invaluable tool for any business owner. The perfect
solution for businesses that do not have a web site themselves, however, is
the ability to tap into the online boutique web site. It is critical to be
educated and informed on the latest marketing and sales tools available.
The competition can be overwhelming without education and progressive
action. Not only will online boutiques become a fun and easy way for people
to shop, they will become a lucrative source of income for many vendors
wanting to expand their business.

Bio: Terri Grace, nineteen years of experience in boutique sales and marketing. Successful business owner of a boutique for the past 5 years. Owner and entrepreneur of an online boutique. For more information on boutiques go to: http://www.terrisbluegooseboutique.com

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The 4 Types of Ladies Watches

The younger generation today don't always where watches. This is because technological pieces such as iPods, iPhones and cell phones can make great substitutes for wrist watches. However, there is something about an elegant looking watch which will make them popular accessories for a long time yet.

Ladies watches come in four main types: sport, jewellery, fashion and classic.

Sport ladies watches usually come in a feminine color like pink or pastel and include sport functions such as stop watches, alarms and even heat monitors. Typically they are waterproof.

Jewellery watches are the expensive types and are often made from precious metal like gold, white gold or silver. They can have diamonds and other precious stones embed with in them. These pieces are more about elegance and expensive looks than about functionality.

Ladies fashion watches are designed to match the current fashion trends and can come in all sorts of different colors and styles. Classic ladies wrist watches are the old fashion or antique looking watches that are very traditional.

Choosing a lady's watch for the special woman in your life is really about knowing her lifestyle. If she is into fitness or sport then a ladies sport watch would be ideal. If she is very particular about her looks then either a fashion or jewellery watch would suit. Women who are more conservative tend to suit classic looking watches.

Most women's watches retail for about $50. The more expensive jewellery watches can range into the hundreds or even thousands. The exact price will vary according to the brands, functions and quality.

The author is an expert write on ladies watches and help you look for ladies diamond watches at discounted prices.

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Tips for Finding Stylish Ladies Dresses

It seems that at times far too many people experience difficulties while choosing clothes that are appropriate for them? Is it so hard to find clothes that suit the occasion and the age? Why do so many people find it so difficult to dress him or herself adequately?

Lately, I visited a shareholder's dinner for the local hospital. I cannot even describe what I saw there! I was amazed by the clothes all people were wearing!

The shareholder's meeting included a dinner and an annual report of the hospital's financial situation. Over two hundred people were present at the shareholder's meeting. I was astonished to see that only about a half of them was wearing clothes, which are appropriate for the occasion. I even met women who were dressed as young girls. Probably, they have no mirrors at home!

Now, I'm going to read to all you women a short lecture about how to search for ladies dresses in a store. The regular stores are separated in sections. Lady's clothes are separated in two groups: there are a juniors' section which is meant for girls 19 years of age and under and then the misses' section that is meant for woman older than 19. All women that are under 19 years old must look for their ladies dresses in the misses' section.

Ladies dresses often follow the latest fashion, which changes from season to season. However, ladies dresses more often than not are in more classic styles. Ladies dresses usually have a simple design that suits many occasions. Ladies dresses must be modest and stylish in order to match a variety of events.

At the shareholder's meeting, I met women I met many women who were dresses excessively for that occasion. They probably had not realized that they were wearing ladies dresses, which were made to be worn at very formal or special occasions such as a wedding, opera or formal ball.

On the contrary, there were women who were dressed in their everyday clothes, sweaters, and jeans. What was going on there? I even saw people wearing blue jeans and T-shits. I appreciate people who try to express their personality through clothes but anyway I believe clothes have to fit the occasion.

Up to me, the ladies dresses that fitted the shareholder's meeting were those ladies dresses with stylish and simple design, which were complemented with refined accessories. The women who were wearing such ladies dresses had found a way to demonstrate their tasteful choice. They seemed to be self-assured and proud.

Contrariwise, women who were overdressed gave a sense of being unsure of themselves. Women who were trying show a youthful appearance were in fact leaving the impression of not caring.

I believe these women were not aware of how strong impression they may leave with their ladies dresses. I draw myself many conclusions. Based on ladies dresses choice, I can guess what a woman's character is. For example, if I see a woman dressed in her daughter's clothes, I think to myself that may be she is very desperate of losing her youth.

I will try to make her understand that if she had chosen an appropriate dress in the ladies dresses, she would convince everyone as well as herself that she is proud of what she had achieved. She may meet some very important people at this shareholder's dinner. They may judge her by her clothes. First impression is lasts long. Ladies dresses can help her leave a positive one.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning fashion. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Stylish Ladies Dresses Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

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