I'd shop there as long as it didn't include ANY stock that looked like it might have come from Mothercare/ Mothercare's maternity clothes, IMHO, look as if they have been designed by a ninety year old with bad taste and a penchant for beige.

You've got to think why there isn't a high-street maternity clothes store already - probably because it isn't financially viable? I'm sure there's specialist stores in London but I can't imagine it working anywhere else - sorry. Would love to be proved wrong though!

In an ideal world, a range of maternity/nursing lingerie would be good too, with experienced fitters.

Agree that some baby clothes, gifts, general bits & bobs would broaden the portfolio. Maybe a second hand section?

I think its a good idea. They do this sort of thing really well in the USA I was in San Francisco recently (last splurge before baby!) and they had at least 4 specialist shops within walking distance of my hotel. They were lovely welcoming places with v helpful staff who almost act as personal shoppers whilst you sit down with a cold glass of water. They also sold some maternity aids pillows etc. The maternity stores in London all seem to be in Fulham and Chelsea.
I get really pee'd off that next/m&s etc dont carry maternity in most stores. I like online shopping but sometimes you want to see the product in the flesh.
One of the shops I went in in the US also had strap on bumps so that you could see what the clothes would look like at different stages of pregancy.

Sounds a great idea. The highstreet shope local to me also only have tiny maternity sections ie 2 trousers and 2 tops.

Swimwear might be an idea too. Ive had sooo much trouble finding a decent looking and priced costume.

One thing I would say if things ever do take off.. Dont make the shop too hot! Almost passed out a few times at the shops yesterday as they all seem to have the heating up high. Especially if your trying on clothes.. Always gets me hot and bothered when pregnant.

Yes I would love that since it is doing my head in having to buy everything online and I am spending a fortune on postage especially returning stuff. However I don't think it would make a viable business, unless you wanted to do it as a hobby and not make much money from it.

Think where your market would come from. Local shoppers from say a 25 mile radius. The proportion of those shoppers who are pregnant would be relatively small, compared to the proportion of people from such a radius who are not pregnant and would go, for instance, to Top Shop. Most of those pregnant customers will have limited budgets, or simply not want to spend much on clothes that will be worn for only one season, since there are so many other things to buy to prepare for a new child in the family.

I think it would have to involve online sales as well as a physical shop to stand any chance of being successful, so that your target market can become national rather than just a local market. Relying solely on a local market is unlikely to provide enough customers to cover overheads and make a decent profit.

The larger shops which have maternity ranges, e.g. Next, now are cutting back on having maternity wear in their stores, I think because it does not sell enough to justify the shop space it occupies. For instance, in Cambridge there are 2 large branches of Next, neither of which stock any maternity wear any more now.

An independent store would also have to compete on price with the larger shops which don't do exclusively maternity wear, such as Next, which has access to cheap manufacturing etc. In respect of other maternity wear stores, such as Blooming Marvellous and Mamas and Papas, I think it would be difficult to compete with them as an independent - their overheads will be lower and their prices are already competitive.

The reason why there are so few maternity wear stores around is simply the local market isn't ever going to be big enough.

I'd love there to be more shops, but I wouldn't risk it myself.

Great minds Lionstar

I would, I have found it ridiculously hard to buy grown up maternity clothes. Being nearly 40 I do not want to wear a tee shirt with snoopy on it saying "does my bump look big in this?" or any other "hilarious" novelty maternity clothing! I've found Mamas and Papas the best this time round, fashionable, grown up but not that cheap.

I would also think it could be good to introduce some kind of returns scheme within the store, ie if you bring your old clothes bought from the shop in good condition you'll get 20% of their original price back (or something like that, whatever's commercially viable) because personally I'm not planning on any more children, so I'm reluctant to spend a fortune on lots of mat clothing, but if I knew I could wash it all, iron it and return it and get a bit of money back I might be tempted to spend a bit more.

Mmm interesting idea. I probably would shop in such a place, though am blessed locally with H&M and Blooming M with decent maternity sections. Definately should be reasonably priced and not too designer-label.

Would be great to have decent range of nursing tops that don't come in lurid colours.

Also would there be any mileage in some kind of hire service - especially of one-off special occasion outfits for weddings etc.

Also could consider some kind of buy-back scheme as so much maternity wear is in great condition after use. Shop could sell these on cheaper as pre-loved? I would love this facility as hate to see my barely used stuff go to waste (or charity anyway)

Deemented yep plus size too, and a big range not just a few token peices, also the same quality and trendy too, although not plus size myself ive always wondered why there was only ever evans on the high street??