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Opening a Retail Store – Complete Guide to Your Dream Retail Business
A Comprehensive Guide to Retail Store Operations
January 22, 2021
A Comprehensive Guide of Merchandise Management in Retail
February 3, 2021Opening a retail store is not an easy task. There are countless decisions to be made that can affect the success or failure of your business. There are many things to do, various choices to make. Moreover, the need to conduct research and analysis. However, it’s crucial not to forget the fact that you’re working towards achieving your ambition of establishing a retail business. Now, the key question is, “How to start a retail business?”
When it comes to opening a retail store, it is important to have a little knowledge of the industry. Its country-wide reach, market size, regulatory and compliance requirements, competitive scenarios, retail business trends, and many more. The retail industry is large in size and operations. As a result, it includes multiple segments in which you can opt to operate. In other words, It is a highly competitive domain. Therefore, you must be sure of your decision to operate in such a risky retail business with the help of Retail POS Software.
With the right mix of planning and dedication, you can successfully open and operate a retail store. We are providing you below with a list of steps.
Moreover, there are key considerations to be fulfilled before opening a retail shop:
1) A Solid Business Plan Forms the Base of a Retail Store:
Making a strong business plan is the first requirement for opening a retail store. This requires you to put all your thoughts regarding opening a retail store into words. Specifically, your mission statement, vision, goals, values, objectives, and approach that you intend to achieve by opening a store. Your business plan must also include the following details:
- Products and services
- Target audience
- Marketing and promotional strategies
- Financial funding
- Employees to recruit
- Suppliers for sourcing products
- Competition in the market
- Your unique selling point (USP)
- Timeline to achieve breakeven
Above all, you must include Retail Management System in your plan. It will serve as a guideline for your retail business. As a result, you can keep moving ahead as per the framework with some allowed flexibility as per market factors.
2) A Proper Legal Structure affects your Retail Shop’s Business Operations:
Defining the legal structure of your retail business is an important requirement before opening retail marketing ideas. There are multiple types of legal structures available for a retail store in any country. You can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership firm, or a limited liability partnership. Moreover, limited liability companies or any other form available in your country of operations. Each legal structure has different features and benefits, such as tax benefits, reporting, shareholding, personal liability for debts, and others. Once you decide on the legal structure, you should start registering your retail shop with the relevant authorities.
3) A Catchy, Unique Name for your Retail Shop that Resonates with Customers is a Wise Decision:
Store’s name plays significant role in retail strategy. Select a unique name for your retail shop that is easy to communicate, remember, and catchy enough for customers. Selecting a name will be your second step in opening a retail store. You must keep in mind the basic requirements of SEO and keyword research rules. As a result, it will help you gain more visitors. Therefore, you will get more business. Furthermore, your retail store’s name must include the word of retail business you intend to
engage in. It must convey a meaning that resonates with potential customers. You can do a Google search to find the perfect name for your business. Later, you need to search the country’s trademark database to check if a business with a similar name exists.
4) Compliance with the Regulatory and Statutory Legal Requirements for Retail Stores is Crucial:
There are many other regulatory requirements that a business must comply with to operate legally in a country. After registering your retail business and deciding on a name, you are required to register with the industry associations. Moreover, you need to apply for a tax number, obtain a business permit or license. In addition to that, you need to open a business bank account, get insurance cover, and any other requirements. In short, checking for all the legal compliance will be the third step of opening a retail store.
Similarly, if you are looking out specifically for retail pharmacy business then compliance is one of the major element. Use Retail POS System for your pharmacy to track your compliance on a federal and state level.
Are you a pharmacist or pharmacy startup? Read our blog on How to Choose the Best Pharmacy Management Software for a New Store and established one?
5) The Strategic Location of the Retail Store can be the Difference Between Success and Failure:
At the time of opening a retail business, the location of a retail store matters a lot. It matters because it attracts customers and increases footfall. It would help if you also decided whether you would buy the place to have full control or rent it. You must be careful of the neighboring stores and shops. Furthermore, any traffic junctions or any construction in progress in a nearby place may hamper potential customers’ shopping experience. Another big consideration is the amount of money to be spent on the best location; therefore, a cost-benefit analysis is essential to finalize the location.
6) A Perfect Selection of Goods and Services is Essential to Achieve Operational Success:
The most important decision is to finalize the products and services you intend to sell in your retail shop. Depending on your retail niche (hardware, clothing, jewelry, food, and many more), you need to check any other retail shops that sell similar items and how far they are located. You can check into these retail shops to better understand what they are selling, how you can be different, their targeted customers, and other points. Your retail shop’s ideal inventory will also depend on your target customer base and their purchasing behavior. All these factors, along with your passion and skill to sell them profitably, help you with this decision.
7) Selection of Channel/s to Sell Factors in the Customer Experience you Intend to Provide:
Retail stores can sell their products to customers through multiple channels – brick and mortar stores, online stores, or a combination of the two. There are other decisions as well that are vital to your business operations, such as “Will you take phone orders? Will you have a mobile app? Will you also provide delivery at home?” and others. You must finalize the channels of distribution and delivery to your customers and then identify ways to imbibe best practices to give a good customer experience through all channels selected.
8) Select the Best Sources for your Products and Services to up the Game:
A decision of products to sell in your retail store is important at the time of opening a retail store. Furthermore, it requires the right support from the vendors and suppliers from whom you will source these products. You may get your products from manufacturers, wholesalers, or individual makers—the decision is yours. This decision depends on the pricing of each, quality of products, delivery services, time taken, and other factors. Select your vendors wisely so that you do not have to run after them when stocks are depleted or finished. As a result, that will affect your retail store’s reputation and sales.
9) A Marketing Strategy for your Retail Shop is Needed to Spread the Word:
The marketing for your store starts even before opening a retail store. You must develop a marketing plan that includes all the promotion and advertisement ideas. Moreover, it should include budgets, marketing channels, products targeted, customers addressed, and forecasted benefits from each. The result expected from each type of promotion will be more buyers and sales.
10) The Store Layout, Policies, and Procedures bring Discipline to your Retail Shop Operations:
It would be best to work on policies and procedures to follow on a day-to-day basis. For example, these policies may be about return policies, exchange policies, or payment options. Furthermore, employee schedules, the dress code, store open and close policy, etc. All these policies will bring a certain discipline and standardization across your operations. Therefore, after opening a retail business, it will run normally and smoothly. Furthermore, this reduces the customers’, employees’, and suppliers’ confusion, as a sense of order is maintained in the retail shop.
A retail shop’s layout and design are extremely important to attract customers. Most importantly, customers enter the retail store only if they are attracted to the interior design. For example, colors, shelves, amenities, and a friendly atmosphere. You have to set the right layout and design for your customers to bring them in. It would be great to think about the interior of your store before opening a retail business.
11) Hire a good set of Employees for all the Assistance and Support Requirements in the Retail Shop:
The people who make it possible to deliver the products, services in your retail shop to customers are the employees. Choosing the right employee for the right job is critical after opening a retail store. Therefore, you have to find someone who fits the retail shop’s job description and culture. Retail employees must be smart, friendly, smiling, compassionate, eager to help customers, multitaskers, empathetic, patient, and confident. You must conduct the right training for your employees and appraise them for good performance to keep them motivated.
12) Choose the Right Technology Solutions to Make it all Possible:
Depending on the retail business you choose, you may require some technology tools and systems to keep the operations running effectively and efficiently. Some of these technologies include POS systems, inventory management systems, customer rewards programs, data analytics, and many others. There are some retail management systems, which provide a combination of all these features. You have to decide the system right for your retail store within your budget.
The Bottom Line:
Follow the steps mentioned above as the perfect guide for moving ahead with your dream of owning a retail store and running it successfully. There might be deviations happening along the way based on market factors, industry trends, and internal changes. However, do not lose the spirit and keep working towards making your retail store successful and profitable.
For now, follow these steps to set up a strong retail store and have a memorable grand opening.
