FAQs
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions I receive, and exactly what posts to find the complete answers in. This should make navigating this website and old posts easier!
Q: How far in advance did you start buying when you opened your store?
I went to shows in October of 2007 and January 2008, and I opened in May 2008 (which was a little later than planned). Generally buying is done 4-7 months in advance.
Q: Do we have to buy 4-7 months in advance?
No, but it’s the safest way to do it. Honestly, I don’t buy in advance anymore, I wait until merchandise sells and then I buy immediates. But I’m lucky to work with labels that have a lot of immediates available and will even produce a style on demand. Not all lines do this, so you’ll need to talk to the reps and kind of feel them out. If your store is new I wouldn’t recommend doing immediates right off the bat.
Q: Where do you buy your stock from when you are setting up a boutique?
You buy the merchandise from show rooms, through a sales rep. West Coast (Los Angeles) its the California Mart, New Mart, Gerry Building, Cooper Building. There is also MAGIC in Los Vegas, and there are show rooms in Atlanta, Chicago, and of course NY.
More about that in this post http://oohlaluxe.net/index.php
Q: How much does it cost to start a boutique?
There are so many factors that it’s tough to say. If it’s brick and mortar, generally I hear 75k-100k for everything. If you’re talking online, I got mine up and running for about 10k but this isn’t the norm; I bought less merchandise, I only bought for one season and I did a lot of work myself (designing and coding the store, etc). Based on my experience I would recommend having 20-25k for an online store, perhaps more.
More here http://oohlaluxe.net/index.php
Q: How hard or easy is it to get lines for a new store?
The bigger and more prestigious the brand is the harder it will probably be to get. The same can often be said for picky indie designers. For instance, if you want to carry D&G or Versace or something, their minimums are usually extremely high per season, they’re very picky about new boutiques and they might require that you travel abroad to purchase. And also its going to be harder to get brands that are saturated online; like Sky, Rock & Republic, Seven Jeans, etc; usually they wont sell to any new boutiques online because others are already carrying it. This same rule goes for brick and mortar stores, if the label is being carried in the area of the boutique. But most of the smaller, popular brands are good to work with.
Q: What are the minimums for different brands?
It depends on the brands. From what I’ve heard, if you’re expecting to get a high end line like Dolce & Gabanna or Chloe….get ready to shell out some serious cash each season. But for the type of brands that I carry, and others similar (think Voom, Black Halo and lines like that) the minimums are usually easier to work with. Still, some brands are more flexible than others but for the most part reps want you to buy 4 styles per delivery and 4 bodies of each. And I’ve come across popular, high end bag lines that want you to spend around $2000 per delivery.
Q: How does one support themselves while trying to run a business?
I live at home, so that’s how I support myself. But most people who are starting their businesses either keep their jobs or take out a loan that allows them a certain amount per month to live on.
Q: Where can I get a mannequinn?
JoslinDisplay.net or AcmeDisplay.com. I purchased my mannequinn at the former; the latter has a lot of products but they tend to sell out of things.
Q: Who does your photography? Do you have any tips for taking pictures? WHat kind of camera/lightening do you use?
I have a professional photographer who takes all the photos for my website (check her out at BabyLovePhotography.net — I designed that site, btw 
. I don’t know what kind of camera she uses but she does not use natural light. Always take your pictures on a live model or mannequinn and make sure to get high resolution photos.
