Womens Apparel and Accessories

AB Lindex Actif Group Plc Adelsten Holding Asa Aeropostale, Inc. Aileen, Inc. Alexon Group P.l.c. Alpha Pro Tech Limited Andover Togs, Inc. Anntaylor Stores Inc Apparel Ventures, Inc. Avingtrans Plc Banyan Corporation Barbara Bui Bebe Stores Inc Benetton Group Spa Biscayne Apparel, Inc. Blue Fish Clothing, Inc. Braat Beheer N.v. BRANSBY INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED Brazin Ltd BURBERRY GROUP Cabin CO Limited Cache, Inc. Campari International Plc Catherines Stores Corporation Cato Corporation Charlotte Russe Holding, Inc. Charming Shoppes Inc. Cherokee Group Chico's Inc. China Union Holdings Limited Christopher & Banks Corporation Claremont Garments Plc Clothestime, Inc. Country Casuals Holdings Plc Daidoh Limited Dalmys (canada) Limited David's Bridal, Inc. Devernois Donna Karan International Dunkeld Group Plc Durango Apparel, Inc. Ellen Tracy Etam Developpement Evans, Inc. Everlast Worldwide Inc. Far East Industrial Stock Co., Ltd.

Forminster P.l.c. Foschini Limited Frederick's Of Hollywood, Inc. Gantos, Inc Gerard Pasquier International Sa Gerry Weber International AG GUCCI GROEP NV - ADR Hallenstein Glasson Holdings Limited Harold's Stores, Inc. Helene Plc Hirsch AG Honeysuckle Group Plc House Of Lerose Ltd (the) Hucke AG Ik Enterprises Inc. Issey Miyake J. Crew Group, Inc. J. Jill Group, Inc. Jacques Vert Plc Jalate, Ltd. Jil Sander AG JLM Couture, Inc. Joyce Boutique Holdings Ltd. Just Group Ltd Kasper A.S.L., Ltd Kernel Italiana Spa Koehler & Krenzer Fashion AG La Senza Plc Lapine Co., Ltd. Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Leslie Fay Companies, Inc. (the) Leslie Fay Company Look Incorporated Magellan Industries Plc Marimekko Oyj Marumitsu Co., Ltd. Max Azria McNaughton Apparel Group Inc. MHM MODE HOLDING AG Miller's Retail Ltd Monsoon Plc NAF NAF SA Nahdree Group, Ltd. Neiman-Marcus Group Inc. New Look Group Plc New York & Company, Inc.

Nice Claup CO., Ltd. Nicole Miller Ningbo Shanshan Co., Ltd. Nino Ag Nutek Inc Nv Koninklijke Bijenkorf Beheer Kbb Oasis Stores Plc Palemo Co., Ltd Paul Harris Stores, Inc. Pennington's Stores Limited Petrie Stores Corporation Ports Design Ltd Regina Rubens Reitmans (canada) Limited RENOWN INCORPORATED Retrospettiva Rheiner Moden Ag Rio Chain Co., Ltd. Ritz Design Group Plc Russ Togs, Inc. S.r. Gent Plc Shani Group Plc Sherwood Group Plc Shin Won Corp Sirena Apparel Group, Inc. Sisley Slimma Plc Sonia Rykiel St. John Knits, Inc. Stirling Group Plc Sukwang Suzutan Company Limited Talbots Inc Tokyo Style CO Ltd United States Shoe Corporation Vera Wang Virke Oy Weber & Ott AG Wet Seal, Inc. WILLIAM BAIRD PLC Winjak, Inc. Wolczanka Wolf Howard B Inc Yuhwa Company Limited Zhongyan Textile Corporation

Guide to Opening a Womens Apparel and Accessories Store

Make money in women's business apparel and accessories
By Nikki Wheeler

There is always a growing market for clothing, especially business apparel for women. Decide what will set your business part from others from the beginning, and keep that goal in mind throughout the execution of your plan.

With more and more women in the workforce, there is a growing demand for comfortable, professional but stylish women's business apparel and business accessories for women. In the right geographical area, a shop for women's business apparel could be a huge hit.

Before starting your apparel and accessories shop, you must:

1. Consider your local market, and make sure there are plenty of working women in your area needing business apparel for women.
2. Also consider the social class you are catering to; they may be CEOs shopping for designer wear or entry-level looking for cheap pieces.
3. Be in touch with corporate women and their needs.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Secure finances to open up a women's apparel shop You must secure a business loan to get going. You need excellent credit and a lot of personal assets to secure a loan from a bank. You may also seek out personal investors.

I recommend:  Apply for business loans at RapidAdvance, Zana Network or PNC Bank.

Find a good location for your women's apparel and accessories shop Good location is essential for the success of your business. Allocate much time and thought for finding the right location. It is probably wisest to rent a location and start small until your business is established. Then you can move up.

I recommend:  Check real estate listings at Century 21, Realtor.com and Rent.com.

Purchase inventory Buy business accessories for women and women's business apparel at wholesale prices. It is very important that you find a distributor of quality products for the lowest price you can find them. You need a distributor with a good reputation that is very reliable.

I recommend:  Search for a wholesaler of business apparel for women at GoWholesale, Tampa Bay Global Wholesale, or find women's suits at Clozeout.com.

Hire employees Don't go overboard hiring at the beginning. You must work the store yourself until the business picks up. Hire retail professionals that are knowledgeable about women's business apparel and accessories.

I recommend:  Find good retail employees at iHireRetail.com and AllRetailjobs.com.

Market your store Marketing is one of the most important keys to success of your business. This may be one area where you outsource help. If you do it yourself, invest the time and money to educate yourself in marketing.

I recommend:  Get marketing help from GNA Marketing Group, or take an online marketing course at Westwood College.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Come up with rules and standards of operation before opening the women's apparel business.
• Decide on a mission statement, and stick to it throughout the process.
• Take classes in business and entrepreneurship to educate yourself on owning a business.