Beauty Supply Retail Store

[Radley]

Hello,

I do have a business plan, have money set aside for the business, licenses, sales tax license and have located my potential store space.  However, I have been doing research for whole sale distributors and have not been successful.  How do I obtain information on distributors?  I also do not have a business tax license(is that different from a business license?)

By the way, the state is Georgia.  

Thank you

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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Hello,

I am attempting to start a beauty supply store within the next 6 months.  I have been trying to get information to how to get this business started successfully.  Can you please give my some of your expert advise. I need to give a list of distributors, the legal procedures for leasing a retail shop space, marketing advice ect...

Tina

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[Sid]

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Do you have a business plan?  If not, you need to.  Thinking through a business plan(there are books, software all kinds of helps) will help you answer all the questions you have.  

I have written many plans that have started businesses.  You need to plan your finances, your stock inventory, your marketing(how are you going to sell) and your advertising/sales(who are you going to sell to?).

If you have a plan, which is a guidline not a set of rules, you have a much better chance of being successful. s need to be answered like:

Who do you get your supplies from?

What are your supplier payment terms?

Do you have enough money or credit to do this?

How much space do you need to rent....

What are your hours going to be?

How are YOU going to get paid?

Are you set up for sales taxes?

Are you set up for business taxes?

Do you need a license?

There are many more.  What part of the country are you in?

Some have more regulations than others.  I am not sure if this helps, but I hope so.

living the dream.

stb.

[Rique]

By using Google and Copernic I have been able to search up a number of wholesale beauty supply distributors in GA, FL, AL.  

I think a better way to go would be to outline the products you want to sell, contact the manufacturers and see if they distributed directly or if they have distributors in your area.  If you are planning on specific brands for some items, to differentiate yourself, then its best to check with manufacturers by name.  Also, when you speak to manufacturers about branded products also ask them about generics which you may be able to get for a much lower cost and stock for those people who are ok with those.

If you are looking for local suppliers, make sure they have what you want in brand and type of products.  If you order from the internet or from a local distributor the larger the order the smaller the freight cost is per item so you retain more of your margin.  Remember, if you go and pick up the items there is still freight cost, your time and cost so you dont save much by going that route except in the case of out of stock items you need badly.

Hope this helps.

livingthedream

stb.