Thursday, November 09, 2017

Tips On Starting A Successful Store Like The Orchard Supply Company

By Stephanie Allen


If you are passionate about construction, starting a hardware shop could be ideal for you. However, to succeed, you require more than passion alone. Read ahead for a guide on starting a leading building materials store like the Orchard Supply Company.

Start by conducting an extensive market research. This is an important exercise that will help you determine how feasible your idea is. There are a number of things that you need to look into when conducting your market research. For example, you need to start by determining the demand for hardware items in the area you plan to locate your store in. You want to be sure that the existing demand is sustainable.

Develop a good business plan. You can never start a company successfully with planning. You are therefore advised to write down a plan that will guide how you operate your store. The document you come up with will also come in handy when seeking a bank loan. Additionally, it should include various strategies with regards to sales, marketing and exit. Still, the plan should contain both sales and financial projections.

Once your plan is ready, you will need to look for financing. There are different ways of financing any new business. First, you can apply for a loan from your bank or any other financial institution of your choice. Additionally, you can finance your startup through your personal savings, partnering with an investor or liquidating some of your assets. The amount you raise should be enough to meet your stock requirements.

Decide on the best place to locate your business. This is a very crucial step in your quest to own a successful hardware store. Choosing the right location requires considering various factors. First, you need to confirm that there is sustainable demand for the items you want sell. The right place also need to offer significant and reliable growth prospects.

You also need to take accessibility into consideration. The right place for your hardware shop should be covered by a good transport network. This will ensure that you are able to receive your supplies and make deliveries without any hitches. Other important factors to look into when deciding on a location include existing competition, rent and availability of vital amenities.

Before opening your hardware, you also decide on where you to get your supplies from. In general, you can buy stock from three main sources. First, you can source for supplies directly from manufactures. Secondly, you buy from wholesalers that are located around your city. Lastly, you can get your products from specialty distributors. Before deciding to choose a supplier, you have to consider pricing, quality and reliability among other things.

The success of your store will heavily rely on how well you market it. There are several ways that you can use to spread the word on your new venture. These include placing advertisements on local daily newspapers, sending mails to prospective clients and using social media. Still, you should be sure to offer excellent customer service.




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