How to Choose the Best Location for Your Boutique to Maximize Sales and Minimize Problems [2021 Update]

Are you planning to open a clothing store but don't know where to locate it?

One of the most crucial components of launching a clothing store is finding the best location with high foot traffic, a business environment, and the long-term profitability of your clothing business.

Analyzing the area, reading about potential consumer demographics, and understanding where competitors are located are significant elements of finding and picking the right site.

Let's discuss it in more depth!

Location Demographics

When it comes to demographics, there are two crucial factors to consider. First, consider who your consumers are and how close they are to your business. Second, you should think about your neighborhood. Is your consumer base local, and does a portion of it support or match your target demographic?

Is there a robust economic foundation in the community that will allow your firm to thrive?

When evaluating communities that are heavily reliant on a single industry for their economic well-being, be wary; a downturn can be devastating and bad for your business.

Accessibility

Lots of traffic and a lot of customers are different. You might want to be located where many shoppers meet the definition of your target market. Customers always wish for convenience, especially in shopping for clothes.

These are the aspects you should consider along these lines.

• When you want to locate your store in a downtown area, it should be accessible to ordinary people who use public transportation like subways and bus stops.
• The location should be easy to find and locate using Google Maps.
• The main entrance should be accessible even for disabled persons to get through the door. Ramping one step or even several steps should be readily available. The location should have easy access to emergency exits.
• It should have an adequate parking space for the customers and delivery trucks. Remove obstacles like shopping carts, maintenance equipment, or anything that blocks and narrows the route. It would be wise if you can provide 5 to 8 parking spaces per 1000 square feet.
• Ensure the main entrance is 810mm - 850mm wide, comprehensive and clear from obstacles. The clear space should be at least 1200mm.
• There should be adequate access from fire and police protection in the area.

Visibility/Noticeability

How many people can see the location as part of their everyday activities? Visit downtown areas and shopping malls to determine where the most visible site is. Check the location from the customer's viewpoint. Can you see the store clearly and quickly when you walk or drive?

Make everything highly visible. The better visibility, the less advertising is needed. Location can also influence your marketing strategy. An adequate exterior lighting will attract shoppers and visually impaired people, and people who lip read.

Also, consumers can quickly notice you because they are going to visit a nearby location. For example, you want to locate your store in a shopping mall. The potential shoppers that are walking and shopping to other shops will notice your store.

Find a safe and secured location

Find out what type of security the location has, such as camera systems or alarms and security guards. Make sure the parking area is well-lit after dark. You would also need to check the security history of the place where you want to open your store if it is prone to thefts and break-ins. Ask your landlord or talk to other shop owners near the area to gather complete information about this critical matter.

To avoid such occurrences, find out if the area is safe and check if the kind of security is put in place to protect tenants and your business as well—another essential thing to prevent if the other stores around the neighborhood are susceptible to fire accidents.

Competition

Determine if the type of business near the area is compatible with your clothing store. Since your business is a clothing shop, position it next to a shoe store, hair salon, or jewelry shop because apparel shoppers usually visit several stores, which tend to draw the exact audience you're targeting.

Look for areas where clothing shops are in demand and where your competition is relatively low. You might want to find anywhere that is slightly far from your competitors. The only way to know is to research your competition and market.

Affordability

Your finances are one of the factors that you should consider before choosing a location. Unfortunately, most small business owners don't have enough funds to buy a space for their business. So instead, find a place that you can afford.

When you are writing your business plan, estimate how much rent would be financially able to pay each month, given its other expenses like utility bills, maintenance expenses, renovation expenses, and taxes.

Personal Factor

How far is the place you want for your business from where you reside?

You also have to think about your comfort. Look for a location that is close to your home. If you spend too much time traveling to and from work or getting to work late, it will affect your performance and may overshadow the benefits of being a boss.

Zoning rules and laws

Are there any future constructions and renovations that could affect your business soon?

Do your research and make sure a clothing store you'd like to open is permitted in the area you're considering. Zoning is not an issue, but local ordinances can affect the operation of your physical store.

Here are some tips for checking local ordinances and zoning:

• Contact the zoning department and discuss your business.
• Check their limitations, exceptions, and rules with City Hall.
• Keep the hard copy of the requirements.
• Take note of other considerations like required structures and taxes.

Image

What is the image you want to create for your clothing store? Is that location compatible with that image?

Choosing a location for your clothing business will depend on the image you want for your business. For example, if you're going to open a high-end store and sell luxurious clothes, and you intend to locate your business in a slummy area, you are just avoiding the people who can afford your products. Find a location that is compatible with the image you want to project.

Success of other business

When starting a business, you need to be flexible and have good organizational skills. So to find the best location, you need to have the ability to collaborate not only with your employees but also with other owners who have business around you.

It will be good to check the location's history and how it has changed over the years. You can ask the previous and existing tenants or your landlord about it. For instance, if you discovered that the clothing stores around the place closed within a short period, it may happen to your business. If the clothing stores failed, do some research if the problem was with the firm or the site. But if the previous company has been successful, then it's a good sign.

Contract and Lease term

When you think you've found your dream location, review the lease and contract before signing it. Clarify the landlord about the costs issues before you engage in a lease, such as property management fees, insurance, and maintenance.

You can find a more flexible lease term in a privately-owned building than a corporate-owned one. If you have a second thought, you can hire an attorney specializing in retail lease terms to ensure you are protected.

Takeaways

Choosing the best location for your clothing business is a crucial step to your overall success. Think about your site as a business owner and from the point of view of a potential customer. Do a lot of necessary research and always remember that it's important not to rush things and make decisions quickly. You might want to save this page and read it numerous times to avoid mistakes and make your decision remarkable!

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