How To Set Up A Bridal Shop – Store Fixtures

If you love weddings, have an eye for fashion, and are willing to work hard, learning how to set up a bridal shop might just be the business for you.

What better way to spend each day than by helping brides, bridegrooms and their families plan their weddings? Wedding and bridesmaid dresses, suits, tuxedos, and other wedding items such as shoes and jewelry, can make a bridal shop a one-stop shopping venue for engaged couples.

Planning your Bridal Shop
One of the best ways to learn how to set up a bridal shop is by visiting the shops of your competitors. You can learn everything from store layouts to pricing structures. Investigate the services that are already being offered in your area. Find a way to make your bridal shop unique by either strategic pricing or offering new or different services.

Selecting the right location for the bridal boutique is essential to the success of your business. Your location should be a few miles from other bridal shops, but close to shopping areas.

Contact an attorney to help you choose the best legal structure for your business. Apply for your business license, design your store, purchase inventory and prepare for your store’s Grand Opening.

Store Fixtures and Displays
Now that you have a business plan and have selected your store location and square footage, it is time to organize your inventory and display your products. Some basic, must have store fixtures and displays include:

Showcases & Counters | Counter Displays | Perimeter Hardware & Shelving
Slatwall Panels & Accessories | Clothing Racks | Hangers & Accessories
Mannequins | Floor Displays | Bridal Garment Bags | Backroom Racks

   Bridal Store Fixtures

Click on the image to see examples of some of these fixtures in use at a bridal store:

Owning a Successful Bridal Shop
Understanding how to set up a bridal shop involves more than just logistics. Staying on top of the latest trends is imperative. Subscribe to bridal and fashion magazines. Learn about fabric, cuts, materials, and patterns of wedding dresses as well as accessories, like veils, gloves, shoes, and jewelry.

Marketing will be key. Your marketing should emphasize the reasons a bride and bridegroom should purchase their wedding attire from you instead of your competition. Is it lower pricing? Is it the fantastic customer service? Is it the widest selection? Give people a reason to choose you.

Customer service and a willingness to give your customers more than they ask for is essential in a bridal shop business. Weddings are personal. Planning a wedding can be an emotional time and for many people, making decisions about the wedding dress, bridesmaid dress colors and styles, and other wedding party details, is difficult. Gentle guidance on your part will be required.

With each bridal party purchase, add something extra. It is often the little touches that people remember. People expect you to provide beautiful, high quality wedding dresses. It’s your job. They won’t expect that bouquet of roses, though. Give them something to remember.

Build portfolios of previous customers in various gowns and dresses. An album showing real people in different dresses often makes it easier for customers to see themselves wearing the same item. Organize portfolios by price, designer and style.

Expanding Your Bridal Shop
Learning how to set up a bridal shop and taking it a step further, into expansion, is a way to give your customers added value and provide you with more income. Some ideas for expansion include:

– Team with travel agents to offer honeymoon packages at bargain prices
– Partner with caterers, florists and limousine operators to ensure customer referrals
– Add complete wedding planning services.

Remember . . .
– A Bridal Shop is more than just a store, a bride expects this place to be elegant, classy, inviting
and even luxurious with outstanding service.
– Make sure your staff is well trained in customer service and has full knowledge of you inventory so they can better understand the bride’s style needs.
– A successful bridal store meets and even exceeds the highest quality standards.
– Besides your inventory, maintain your store fixtures, displays, mannequins, hangers, walls,
tables, fitting rooms, mirrors, etc. in top shape. Make sure you and your staff replace any
broken fixtures immediately, so your customers don’t think their gowns are handled like the
broken displays they see.

Pictures feature The Wedding Chapel Bridal Store in Crystal, MN.
This article is courtesy of “Small Business Ideas”, your online source for small business ideas.
About the Carlson JPM Store Fixtures: Visit www.carlson-store-fixtures.com, your ultimate retail resource, to find the retail solution perfect for you.