DSF

Charity shops are starting to think and trade like proper businesses - I see a few of them making themselves look more like boutique shops in how they're dressed, and buying in wholesale/trade crafts, nick-nacks and accessories to expand their quality and offer from just second hand clothes.
Obviously the margins are a lot higher on stock which is donated, but there is still money to be made on them trading bought in products like a normal shop too.

In terms of the recession, some areas were/are hit much worse then others. Where we are in the north east, the effects have been pretty dire, but when we were living in London (and still trading there up til Christmas just gone) there didn't really seem to be much affect at all in many areas, and our trading down there was up a few grand on last year.

This is my worry about opening a shop up here, yes there are some very cheap high street shops in this town, with zero rates to pay, but it's hard to guage what trade would be like - This used to be a thriving market town, in the middle of a rural area, where people from the surrounding areas - other smaller towns and villaes would come here for their main shopping. This doens't happen so much as they can order online and not venture out of the dale, and a new out of town shopping area 5 miles away with 3 supermarkets, and other outlets has sucked the town dry of shoppers, and some shops have upped sticks and moved out there - including M&S, and MacDonalds - still can't understand why MD's didn't stay here and open a new shop over there, as this high street must have been able to support a MDs!
The problem in this town is that as it was so thriving the main high street is very long, with a few other shopping area leading off it, unfortunately most of the units are empty, with the remaining open shops spread over too long an area to have any sort of critical mass of open shops.

I have a shop and a lease but my advice is don't bother every one and I mean every one want a slice of the pie your money business rates another tax if the government for running a shop you may get busy but the bills and staff will set you back 500 a week as you need insurance staff wage insurance electric water running a shop is as dear as running a house but more bills and people every other day ringing you up soon as yiu sign lease yiu can move out until lease expires if you have a spare room at home or garage move in there or get a cheap unit .as we are in a serios bad time recession most people are buying online so I would invest in a great website and do it from home get a business uniform business cards and call in to firms see what feedback you get my honesty I wouldn't bother getting a shop as well two dear and if you go quite you still got all bills and you will need to pay as you are responsibility as its your name on the lease avoid like the plague

here, you may find some of these useful ;o)


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Good points, but I ran out of breath.