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Starting up in menswear.

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Gentlemansrelish

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Jun 28, 2011
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Good evening people.

Just looking for some input/advice on a idea, albeit a serious one. I am looking to open a menswear shop. A shop has come up near where I live in the North West, and the rent and rates look reasonable. After doing some number crunching, with the help of my parents, it looks like it will have to take £1800pw to be viable. Is that a doable figure? That would equate to 30 shirts at £60 a week. The shop is on a busy victorian crescent with other independents (wineshop, butchers, hairdressers, finacial advisers etc). Free parking right outside too!
Bit of info, rent would be £8400pa, rates around £1000pa. Shop approx 500sqft. Obviously the biggest outlay would be stock. I have been in touch with a few suppliers, sounding them out.
I'm just wondering about the politics of ordering from labels, and would appreciate anyone's input who has dealt with suppliers. I am going to go direct to the labels themselves as they are a bit niche to pick up wholesale. Do a lot of them have a minimum order? How often can you order from them (i.e. one big order begining of season, or do they let you pick key items etc). This is where my lack of experience come in. I have a retail back ground, though not directly what I will be working within.
Also, I would look to open a e-store, so both shop and website would support each other. What do shops with an online presence usual take shop/web ratio wise?
Just looking for some inside knowledge really. I'm seeing if this is a viable business before I take the plunge. I'm v excited, but I appreciate its a massive undertaking and risk.

Thanks in advance, hope I dont come across as a total numpty!
 
if you think people are going to spend £60 on a t-shirt then your wrong, unless you live in a really affluent area, and even then I doubt it. Not even the trafford center sell t-shirts for £60.

Only you can figure out if it will work, but based on your current figures I would say not, there is only so many t-shirts someone will buy especially at £60.
 
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Thanks for your responses.

I knew you had to place orders in advance for the seasons. I have been watching the coverage of Petti Uomo and Capsule trade shows. So if I was looking to open at the end of the summer, would the suppliers only take orders for next years SS12 range? Or will they still have AW11 stock available?

And I would not stock t-shirts at £60, I was thinking more long sleeve shirts, I would rather stock quality products you may have to pay a bit more for, since no one can afford to take on the high street Zara/Reiss/Topman etc.
 
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Very hard to say unless we could see what sort of footfall the shop got and how affluent the area is - but at a guess I would say it's pushing it a bit. Remember with clothing and footwear, if you get 6 of an item you always struggle to sell the last 2 and they often need to be discounted to get them out the door - otherwise the shop soon looks like a bit's and pieces shop. personally I would not just have clothing but include footwear as well.
 
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What age range are you looking at selling to?

Why will they buy high end items from you?

Do you have the experience to buy for your customers and not what you like yourself
Few brands on shirts impress people nowdays?

Selling 30 high end shirts a week, go to a equivelent menswear shop, look at whet they are offering and go back a week later and see what they have sold (yes they may have some stock hidden away but a good guide)

I doubt many shops that size in clothing make a living at present time definatly not £1800 per week turnover

Sell something on web and forget the bricks and morter for a few years
 
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Gentlemansrelish said:
That would equate to 30 shirts at £60 a week.
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I doubt you will achieve that. Probably even PRADA shop on London Bond Street doesn`t sell so many per week. £60 for a shirt....that must be some gold plated product. Very nice and great quality shirt can be bought in M&S for £35.

You are VERY brave to go into retail at current climate....
 
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How about selling clothes to fit obese people. Just a thought. A 3rd of the Uk are considered obese now. You could bring out a new trend in clothes. Also you could sell them online. Most shops only go up to size 18 or so I think
 
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I think mesnwear is a tough section - I'm not saying that to try and put you off, but would definately recommend research, research, research!

I worked in my local high street for a couple of big stores in the mens retail area. Our figures each week were always tiny incomparison to the womenswear section.
 
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Especially now when all big boys have online presence. You might live in micro village, but can still get reasonably priced but high quality clothing from M&S.
 
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So everyone buys from M&S? What if you don't want to look like your dad?? I appreciate the comments. It frustates me as I know the other shops on the street can't take £1800+ a week. Maybe they do, but you never know what their finacial situation is.

I will investigate the online avenue more I think. I will need to find out how much a decent e-store will cost to run versus a shop. Sigh. Number crunching, def not sexy. But has to be done. :(
 
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To open a men's retail store you have to meet the needs of a defined target market. Define your market and assess everything to meet their needs - either it being the colour of branding, to the layout, music, to the clothes to your position in the market place.

Too many people open up with enough thought for the customer - meet their needs consistently - that is the most fundamental part of your decision.

Ann
 
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what age range are you looking to aim for with this?

RBS said:
Especially now when all big boys have online presence. You might live in micro village, but can still get reasonably priced but high quality clothing from M&S.
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The quality from M&S isn't what it used to be, I get plenty of feedback stating this.

Also not everyone wants to dress the same, some people like individuality than all looking the same.

M&S also doesn't cater for the larger man.
 
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A menswear shop has just opened in my local market town. It sells good shirts at £60-£75 and short sleeve shirts at £40. This is just a small east anglian market town. Naturally it does not just stock shirts, but also offers quality trousers, jackets, ties, etc etc. Whilst not busy it is certainly taking money. I have bought from them and will continue to buy as the shirts are unique. Great designs, great quality, and will last.

So it can be done. Clearly you should not expect to make a profit in the first year. It takes time to build up a customer base, and time to get to know what your customers want. The person who mentioned larger sizes was right, most high street shops just do not cater for anything over XL and many stop at L.
 
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josor said:
The quality from M&S isn't what it used to be, I get plenty of feedback stating this.
Click to expand...

But its superb compared to Matalan/Primark/River Island/Next/Burton. I have bought slot of clothes there, I love it. Bought very nice Italian made suit today.

What are alternatives to M&S? Maybe I just don`t know there are other shops.
 
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kulture said:
A menswear shop has just opened in my local market town. It sells good shirts at £60-£75 and short sleeve shirts at £40. This is just a small east anglian market town. Naturally it does not just stock shirts, but also offers quality trousers, jackets, ties, etc etc. Whilst not busy it is certainly taking money. I have bought from them and will continue to buy as the shirts are unique. Great designs, great quality, and will last.

So it can be done. Clearly you should not expect to make a profit in the first year. It takes time to build up a customer base, and time to get to know what your customers want. The person who mentioned larger sizes was right, most high street shops just do not cater for anything over XL and many stop at L.
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Exactly. I am looking to open a menswear shop, selling a full range of clothing, not just shirts! There are quite a few, well prob around 20 decent well know independent mens shops across the UK that I am checking out as they would be my competition. All have a decent online shop, so I guess most do good business online. However, most of these shops (Hip in leeds, Oi Polloi Manchester, End clothing Newcastle to name a few) sell similar brands, so how much is left in this particular market place I'm not sure.
Also, as I am thinking of setting up purely online, some brands are a bit sniffy if I don't have a physical shop. If I could get established online, sell internationally (asia is a big market for western street ware) then maybe I would open a shop as well. I can't see how these shops on there own would take that much in a week. But they all seem to survive if not flourish.
I'm not looking to retire after 2 years trading, more getting out of a job I hate and doing something i am passionate about and hopefully make a living from it.

BTW, that menswear shop, was that in Bury St Edmonds?
 
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We stock a well known brand as does our competition, 3 big nationals, BUT we are the only one to carry a 38" waist, a 30" & 34" leg, and now recently trialing a 31" & 33" waist.

We do well because we have better size range (it costs money though and takes up more space), but customers come to us first for range and naturally our great service.
 
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deniser said:
Is that regarded as a big size in menswear?

We have customers with 10 year old kids with that size waist!
Click to expand...

I would class that as an average size for most of my customers. Biggest size we currently have physically in store is 52" waist
 
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To you all who are in menswear - what inspired you to start such a business? How did you find your suppliers? Do you employ style/fashion guru who advises you on stock to buy?
 
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£60 for a shirt or a t-shirt is steep unless you are buying the best designer labels. What about sourcing your own designer, contact local fashion unis and speak to their new graduates.

I would be more likely to pay £60 for something unique and different, and you wont get that buying in from brands. Plus its too easy to go on ebay and pick up the top brands for next to nothing. Take Ralph Lauren Polo shirts. £80-100 in departments stores, I got one for £24 on ebay. Thats hell of a difference!
 
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ValentinosDisplays said:
£60 for a shirt or a t-shirt is steep unless you are buying the best designer labels. What about sourcing your own designer, contact local fashion unis and speak to their new graduates.

I would be more likely to pay £60 for something unique and different, and you wont get that buying in from brands. Plus its too easy to go on ebay and pick up the top brands for next to nothing. Take Ralph Lauren Polo shirts. £80-100 in departments stores, I got one for £24 on ebay. Thats hell of a difference!
Click to expand...

And how much do you think it costs to make say half a dozen or more shirts in a range of sizes and getting some nice material as well, you would be lucky to buy them at the sell price for small runs

Your shirt is probably a fake but only you would know if its a bargain or fake
 
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emmylou74 said:
I think mesnwear is a tough section - I'm not saying that to try and put you off, but would definately recommend research, research, research!

I worked in my local high street for a couple of big stores in the mens retail area. Our figures each week were always tiny incomparison to the womenswear section.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you. Research should be the 1st priority. Then comes the publicity. That's what will attract the prospective customers. You have to put yourself out there.
 
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RBS said:
To you all who are in menswear - what inspired you to start such a business? How did you find your suppliers? Do you employ style/fashion guru who advises you on stock to buy?
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I started in menswear as the company that i used to work for started to concentrate on schoolwear and pulled out of doing menswear.

Feedback from customers and research made me and a partner invest and open in November.

Suppliers was introduced by the buyer of the company I worked for, but then obviously worked at building a reputation with them. But to be fair they all want you to do well as they know when they support you now when times can get tough, they will get the rewards when the times get better.

All stock/buying is done by myself and partner and also from feedback from the suppliers themselves as they usually say what's been selling well.
 
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Just to pick up on a point made earlier, the quality of M&S suits is awful compared to several years ago and not that much better than the likes of Burtons!

The real growth mens retailer is Slaters. High quality suits, shirts, shoes etc, competitive prices and outstanding service... I have no affiliation with Slaters but I will keep going back whenever I need to spend a bit of cash on looking smart; I've not shopped in a place that gets the balance between attentive and distance so well.
 
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A report in the Times today saying that 20 independent shops a day are closing with fashion and jewellery being the most likely to close :eek:
 
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Hi there I deal in used Cream Clothes and top quality A grade clothes.

Please email me if your intrested !

Matt
 
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As everyone is saying, pick your market and research it fully - or fully research and pick uyour market.

Personally £60 a shirt is reasonable for me if the quality is there. I would never buy from M&S as I can't get over the fact that my Nan used to love it.

£1800 a week in clothes from a 500sq ft shop is pretty good. Sit and watch the footfall to the area and look at the people. If you have done your research properly you will know whether it will work or not. From my experience most men fail in business purely because they don't do enough research and jump in with both feet.

Don't think the internet will make you rich. The internet attracts people who want unique or cheap and from the sound of it, cheap is not your market. You need people who want service and quality and they will pay for it. As soon as you go on the internet you are introducing your customers to all your competitors and Joe Soap operating out of his bedroom while surfing porn on the internet and drinking his red bull through a straw to leave his hands free will always undercut you. (Sorry if you think in pictures!)
 
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Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure by putting my stock online will cheapen it. Just because it is online does not mean it is instantly discounted. A lot of stuff I would sell sells for the same RRP online as well as in the shops. Only in the sales would you be able to find it cheaper. I see by having both online and a B&M shop both would compliment each other. The web store would help support the shop as it would be open 24/7, open to a international market. The shop I would get walk in customers and be able to give hand on advice. Also would give my web store more credit as I had a physical store.
 
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Gentlemansrelish said:
Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure by putting my stock online will cheapen it. Just because it is online does not mean it is instantly discounted. A lot of stuff I would sell sells for the same RRP online as well as in the shops. Only in the sales would you be able to find it cheaper. I see by having both online and a B&M shop both would compliment each other. The web store would help support the shop as it would be open 24/7, open to a international market. The shop I would get walk in customers and be able to give hand on advice. Also would give my web store more credit as I had a physical store.
Click to expand...

I agree with you I think if you are going into retail with a B&M shop then having a website to compliment it is the ideal.
 
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Yes but you did generalise the internet which in reality does cater for all requirements and whilst some of the mainstream sites like ebay do to a extent offer products to your specification, many thousands offer great service and high quality, as to getting rich i would guess there are many more internet shops with turnovers of £5,000,000 than on the high streets including Oxford street
 
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Chris Ashdown said:
Yes but you did generalise the internet which in reality does cater for all requirements and whilst some of the mainstream sites like ebay do to a extent offer products to your specification, many thousands offer great service and high quality, as to getting rich i would guess there are many more internet shops with turnovers of £5,000,000 than on the high streets including Oxford street
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Possibly Chris, I will happily admit to being anti -internet shopping so my comments regarding it will always be biased against it. I do honestly think it is reaching it's peak as people realise that it's better to actually shop for things instead of clicking a button. I feel we are slowly turning the circle - I jusy hope it's not too late for the High Streets
 
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