Dresses are good business if you know fashion. Everyone has to wear clothing, and, at some point in time, every woman needs to don causal dresses or evening dresses or some sort of fashion dresses to dress for the occasion. That means they are going to need to buy dresses, and why should they not buy their dresses from you?

If you love fashion and know when to wear sexy short dresses versus elegant cocktail dresses versus fun casual dresses, opening a dress store may be for you. However, the dress business is not without its perils. There is a great deal of competition from other dress retailers, companies who sell wholesale dresses, department stores, and online sites like Amazon.com and eBay. Therefore, you must stand out, be unique, and be fun, or you should not expect customers. Also, if you sell dresses for women, you will need to deal with dress manufacturers, the ravages of fashion, and the dreaded no longer "in." Still, if you love to stay current on what the latest celebs are wearing and if you want to sell those dresses to the women in your area, dresses may be the business for you.

The art of selling dresses does not simply mean paying attention to the trends; it also means paying attention to the season.

1. In the winter, heavier, longer dresses are more popular.
2. In the spring, dresses get brighter in color and thinner in material.
3. In the summer, dresses are short, bright, and thin.
4. In the fall, the colors begin to darken and the materials get thicker.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

If you are looking to sell dresses for women, start with a good plan

Like every business endeavor, it is critical that you start with a solid foundation. This includes having a firm idea of what types of women's dresses you want to sell, how you plan to advertise, and how much money you need to run your store.

I recommend: Start by creating a business plan, like the one on the Intersteller Solutions website, which will ask you a series of questions and make you think about your store. If you know which of the many types of dress retailers you would like to be, you can get a more specific business plan like a prom dress business plan from HJ Ventures International, Inc. If you want a less specific business plan for your dresses business to give yourself more flexibility, visit SCORE Association.

Find suppliers for your dresses

If you are going to sell dresses, you are going to need a supplier. There are many domestic and international dress manufacturers that will provide you with the dresses you want to sell, from designer dresses to wholesale dresses. It may take time, but comparison shop and make sure you get the best deal possible.

I recommend: Look at a website like Global Sources to find suppliers for dresses located throughout the world. Then begin contacting the ones that make the types of clothes you would like to sell. A website like ApparelShowroom offers wholesale prices on many attractive ladies dresses and fashion dresses as well.

Get the word out about your dresses

If you want to be one of the successful dress retailers, you are going to need customers. This means telling the world you are in business. Fortunately, there are many resources to help you advertise your store.

I recommend: Look at women's magazines in your area, especially those that look like they feature articles on high fashion dresses or the type of dresses you sell. These are going to be good places to advertise. Also, look at the style and life sections of your local newspaper, and try to find free and low-cost periodicals at your local bookstore or coffee shop. Any of these are going to be good places to advertise your store. Check and see if you have a local Women's Edition in which you could advertise or a magazine similar to it. Most importantly, create a marketing plan, which is your blueprint for letting others know about your company. Entrepreneur.com has some great tips about how to do this.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are many different types of dresses (fashion dresses, wedding dresses, kids' dresses, costume dresses). Specialize in a just a few so that you can offer the largest possible selection.
• •  Remember your personal image. If you sell fashion dresses, be fashionable. If you sell casual dresses, be casual. Your image says a lot about you, and you do not want to scare away customers.
• •  Do not forget the shoes and accessories. Be a one-stop shop for all women's dresses and accessories.