Does anyone here have a B&M shop please?

soolin

Good luck and thanks for the update mrs_sparrow

mrs_sparrow

Oh, also to add. even though I am an established business, because I am bringing something new to the locality, I applied for, and got, a £500 new enterprise grant - although not much it means I can buy leaflets, mannequins and bras as I am starting an education programme for teenage girls (although I have had adults complain they want to be invited too).

As for what I do.... I am a bra fitter, I sell 'proper' bras in all sizes and, on the back of someone visiting me with their teens I was invited into a secondary school to give talks to the girls on breast care and why it is important to wear a bra that fits. This lady was a PE teacher it turns out. The school is telling all girls they need a sports bra and I will be the recommended 'go to' place to get them from because they was so impressed with the service and fitting I gave.

Because of this my small pop up show was not really suitable to have girls coming and going so I needed somewhere bigger. This has now been picked up by another 2 secondary schools as well as guiding groups and some other schools where their year 6 girls are given talk on body care. The products I sell I have a territory on so no-one else could come in tomorrow and open a shop selling these same brands. I also am setting up a fitting school several nights a week - of which I have enough people interested to fill up the weeks for a good 3 months!!

RFW

What a great story, best of luck.
Sounds like everything is falling in to place and you're doing all the right things.

If I can throw in a bit of advice it would be to maybe blog the opening and use Pinterest and/or Instagram. They're surprisingly good tools for creating extra buzz and getting more custom. Plus they don't require too much effort. Twitter is useful too, if you're not already there.

mrs_sparrow

Thank you. I think I need to emply my daughter to do that, LOL, I struggle with Twitter!!

I have so many people waiting for me to open I do not want to advertise any more yet - I'd rather trickle feed people than have a huge influx, have to rush and not give a good service and damage my reputation.

I am incredibly nervous, I am not going to be home much anymore - that is the big game changer if I am honest as my life has been my children, but I also cannot afford to lose this opportunity and if it works I can employ people in the evenings and at holidays.

Thanks to everyone who game me support on starting up. I have had days when I doubt myself, don't get me wrong, but I hope that this will be a positive thing and it is what I have dreamed of for such a long time.

charlies_mum

Congratulations. Hope it really takes off for you.