Shabby Chic/vintage furniture business looking for retail space

[dougie212]

Hi there.

12 months ago I started my own shabby chic and vintage furniture business called That Vintage Feeling. For this time I have been solely online based and made reasonable sales I feel considering being solely online.

I am now looking to expand, as with furniture I get the impression people want to be able to touch, and feel the pieces before purchasing, which they do have the opportunity to do at present but it's a rigmarole of appointments and them coming to my home to look etc..

I have emailed many different garden centres and craft market esk places asking if they have premises to let or retail area to display and sell my items but to no avail, so I thought I would turn to the forum that helped me get started in the first place.

Does anyone here either have a retail premises where they are looking to rent out space for shabby chic/vintage furniture or have any suggestions as to go about getting a premises. I have been looked into getting my own premises but was met with very little advice from CAB and so am now looking to maybe display my items in someone's premises and rent an area.

Any help, suggestion or recommendations would be gratefully received..

Many Thanks

Carly - That Vintage Feeling

 

[Wavecrest Ltd]

Whereabouts are you based?

 

[dougie212]

Ah yes, sorry that would help.... I'm based in Cannock, Staffs. Our customer base is mostly midlands based but our delivery service has enabled us to spread that to local counties and more recently further afield to Scotland and Wales

 

[GraemeL]

Taking this sideways a bit. Have you watched programs like 'Auction Hunters' on TV? The impression given is that anything 'old' is exciting, revered and valuable. It made me think about exporting old furniture to the US.

G

 

[Wavecrest Ltd]

There is a massive trade in bric a brac (as they call it) between the UK and US Graeme.

Dougie, I'm going to send you a PM as we have a contact in Australia that buys vintage furniture in the UK and France. May be something you have is of interest to them.

Glen

 

[dougie212]

It really hadnt entered my head being an exporter but you are both so right. The US Im sure has its share of people doing what I do, but their old style is very different to ours, and therefore may be appealing to them. My business bubble was pretty basic I suppose in that lots of people start online, progress to a shop and there it is, but exporting to the US and Australia would, I think be a huge step... For help about how to become an exporter Im guessing I would need to start a new thread or do either of you gents have any expertise (or dare I ask contacts) in the area in the US or Canada.

Glen... I did drop you an email yesterday, hope you got it..

Thankyou for your help so far... I think my creativity is being broadened as far as business goes by you.

Carly - That Vintage Feeling

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Have you considered using a stand or two at local markets to build up a local awareness then if all goes well contact local town hall who have lists of nearly all commercial buildings for rent

Some large antique shops are broken up into small units for rent of the area, benifit by plenty of customers looking for all sorts of things

 

[GraemeL]

Hello Carly,
I know very little about exporting, but I can help with imports from Asia!
If I was in your position, I wouldn't be concerned so much about how to export, but more interested in finding out about the markets over 'there'.

Suggest you log in to Google Australia/USA and carry out a bit of research. The huge advantage is that both of these markets speak English so the website are understandable.

Back to your original point. Retail outlets are expensive, are a fixed cost and require staff on the premises. They would not be my first choice to expand business.

 

[dougie212]

Graeme, thankyou for your swift response. I shall begin start my research. I was toying with a retail premises, then my husband suggested a small industrial unit type place to use as a work base and workshop rather than a shop, which appears cheaper and with the sell and turnover being our ultimate goal I think this may be something different for us than what most people seem to do... Im excited...

 

[Wavecrest Ltd]

It really hadnt entered my head being an exporter but you are both so right. The US Im sure has its share of people doing what I do, but their old style is very different to ours, and therefore may be appealing to them. My business bubble was pretty basic I suppose in that lots of people start online, progress to a shop and there it is, but exporting to the US and Australia would, I think be a huge step... For help about how to become an exporter Im guessing I would need to start a new thread or do either of you gents have any expertise (or dare I ask contacts) in the area in the US or Canada.

Glen... I did drop you an email yesterday, hope you got it..

Thankyou for your help so far... I think my creativity is being broadened as far as business goes by you.

Carly - That Vintage Feeling

Hi Carly, I got your e-mail and will be replying to you soon. If you need any advice about exporting, please feel free to get in touch.

Glen

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

I'd have to agree with your other half Carly, you'll benefit a lot more by having a small industrial unit. For one, providing the location you'll have parking available for both you, staff and customers... something you don't always get on the high street or even retail parks to some degree.

On a personal level though, rather than emailing your local garden centres and craft market esk places, why not visit them... take with you one of your smaller items so you can showcase the product... I'm pretty sure you'd receive a better reply rather than being ignored or even discarded without consideration.

 

[Heron]

Hi Carly

I have done a lot of craft markets and they are very hit and miss depending on promotion, footfall etc. That is why I am about to open a shop in Watford (South East) whereby I will be renting out space to British crafters and those selling vintage/retro items. It is in an area that is undergoing a £4m redevelopment as a family friendly area scheduled to complete at the end of March. At the moment the shop is being refurbished and I will be inviting interested parties in a couple of weeks to see the space I have to offer etc. If you are interested then please feel free to pm me.

 

[The Wholesaler]

Hi Carly

I have done a lot of craft markets and they are very hit and miss depending on promotion, footfall etc. That is why I am about to open a shop in Watford (South East) whereby I will be renting out space to British crafters and those selling vintage/retro items. It is in an area that is undergoing a £4m redevelopment as a family friendly area scheduled to complete at the end of March. At the moment the shop is being refurbished and I will be inviting interested parties in a couple of weeks to see the space I have to offer etc. If you are interested then please feel free to pm me.

I'm not looking for space but would be really interested in hearing how the renting space to other crafters goes.

 

[Heron]

I'm not looking for space but would be really interested in hearing how the renting space to other crafters goes.

Will keep you posted!!!