Start and Run a Gift Job: What You Need to Do to Turn Your Idea into Reality (Small Business Start Ups)

Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgements......Page 10
Dedication......Page 12
Preface......Page 14
What sort of business am I going to have?......Page 16
How do I want to trade and where from?......Page 18
Premises costs......Page 20
What is your USP?......Page 21
Finding your market......Page 22
Researching your area......Page 23
Finding your location......Page 26
Researching your chosen location......Page 27
Finding a property......Page 31
The financial and legal arrangements of taking on premises......Page 32
Buying an existing business v setting up from scratch......Page 36
Writing a business plan......Page 39
Choosing a name......Page 41
The business sign......Page 43
Fitting out the shop......Page 44
Laying out the shop......Page 46
Keeping costs down......Page 48
2. Buying Stock in the UK......Page 50
Buying from a cash and carry warehouse......Page 51
Buying at a trade show......Page 52
Preparing for a trade show......Page 53
Placing the orders......Page 55
Buying from a sales rep or agent......Page 60
Buying from a catalogue......Page 61
Deciding what to buy......Page 62
How to buy......Page 70
Communication......Page 73
Building a customer base......Page 78
Labelling the goods......Page 81
Pricing: how much to sell things for......Page 84
Display......Page 86
Shelving and cabinets......Page 91
Using the space......Page 92
Advertising......Page 94
Attracting customers......Page 98
Increasing sales......Page 99
Be open!......Page 100
Respond to customers’ needs......Page 103
Disability Discrimination Act......Page 105
Know your stock......Page 106
Success is a question of attitude......Page 108
Organise your time......Page 110
Generate ideas......Page 111
Adapt to change......Page 112
If something is not working, change it......Page 113
Be diverse......Page 114
Maintain your core business......Page 115
Create the right ambience......Page 116
Keep staff busy......Page 118
Be aware of trends......Page 120
Keeping stock......Page 121
Be clear about your returns policy......Page 122
Failing to thrive......Page 124
5. Looking After the Money......Page 126
Bank charges......Page 127
Choosing a bank......Page 128
Ways to minimise your bank costs......Page 129
Accepting cheques......Page 130
Credit cards......Page 131
Choosing a till......Page 133
The float......Page 137
Subtle price differences......Page 138
VAT......Page 139
Shoplifting......Page 143
At the counter......Page 145
Vulnerable areas......Page 146
Theft and other losses by staff......Page 147
Deterrent systems......Page 148
7. Staffing......Page 151
Establishing who you are looking for......Page 152
Recruiting your staff......Page 153
Starting with an advert......Page 154
Reading into an application......Page 155
Conducting an interview......Page 156
Taking up references......Page 158
Managing your staff......Page 159
Motivation......Page 160
Fundamental rules of behaviour......Page 163
Potential problems......Page 164
8. Buying Abroad and Importing......Page 168
Choosing your destinations......Page 169
When to travel......Page 173
What to take with you......Page 174
Getting yourself there and back......Page 175
Once you are there......Page 176
Buying stock......Page 178
Getting your goods home......Page 180
Shipping the goods......Page 183
What next?......Page 187
Renewing the lease......Page 189
Expansion......Page 190
Becoming a wholesaler......Page 191
A cash and carry warehouse......Page 192
Selling door to door......Page 193
Exhibiting at trade shows and fairs......Page 196
Selling through mail order and catalogues......Page 197
Receiving payment......Page 198
Keeping financial control......Page 199
Advertising......Page 200
Selling the business......Page 201
10. Internet trading......Page 206
Decide what you want from a website......Page 207
Getting your name known......Page 209
Encouraging people to make the purchase......Page 211
Photographing your products......Page 212
Keeping your customers happy......Page 213
Security......Page 214
Taking Payment from Customers......Page 215
Other ways of earning from your website......Page 216
Rules and Regulations......Page 217
11. Top Ten Tips in Retail......Page 218
Goal Setting......Page 220
Sole Trader Business Plan......Page 222
Cash Flow Forecast......Page 224
Stock Record Spreadsheet......Page 225
Weekly Expenditure Record......Page 226
Bank Account Reconciliation Sheet......Page 227
Sample Letter Requesting References......Page 228
Staff Induction Sheet......Page 229
Useful Contacts......Page 231
References......Page 235
The Statistics......Page 236
I......Page 238
S......Page 239
X......Page 240