5 Important Points To Take Care, Before Starting A Mothercare Store

Many expecting women prefer buying a maternity wardrobe. Though some department and women's clothing shops sell maternity wear, pregnant women often shop at mothercare stores. These stores sell maternity clothing, shoes, undergarments and supplies, such as body care and breastfeeding gear, for pregnant women and new mothers. Owning a mothercare store can be fulfilling and lucrative business idea. Here are five important points to take care, before starting a mothercare store to help ensure your business's success.

Business plan

Prepare a business plan which is comprised of a detailed outline of your business. The business plan should include all the necessary details like what it will sell, how it will sell it, and how it will survive. A business plan also helps you in determining how much money you will need to launch your business, planning your product line, marketing strategy, and your managerial staff.

Decide your niche

Determine the type of mothercare store you want to open--this will be your niche. You can open a store that strictly focuses on maternity clothing or one that combines clothing, accessories, toys, furniture and other items that both parents and children will need. A mothercare store consists of clothing, shoes, undergarments and supplies, such as body care and breastfeeding gear, for pregnant women and new mothers. You can even combine maternity clothing with baby items in your store. You can also consider opening a designer, upscale, boutique, a maternity shop for plus-sized women or a second-hand maternity store.

Location

Location is a really important aspect of your mothercare store. Find a suitable location to open your store.  Find a place that is in a high-traffic area so that you can get more customers. Buy or lease a building for your mothercare store. Usually, leasing a spot will serve you best so that you can have some flexibility in your business arrangements.  You can also start out with an online store. If your niche is used maternity wear, the online store is less expensive than opening a physical store.

Welcoming Environment

Make your mothercare store welcoming and practical for expectant mothers. Though you will have customers that are not pregnant women, the majority of your customers will be. Place a few comfortable chairs or sofas throughout the store so that expecting mothers can rest for a moment. Avoid putting any of your products so high that a customer would have to struggle to reach it. Make sure your clothing racks and displays can be easily navigated and are not cramped together. Consider providing a play area because many pregnant women bring their older kids for shopping with them.

Promotion

Promote your mothercare store. Think about where your target market will be and advertise in those places. You can place fliers in local daycare facilities, obstetrician offices and other complementary businesses. Social Media Marketing is in trend nowadays, so open social networking accounts or launches a promotional blog. Give exclusive discounts to the mother and playgroups in your city. Use coupons and promotions to get your customers in the door. You may also want to include advertising in a parenting magazine or in a local newspaper.