Second hand children's clothes - thinking of opening a shop. Advice please!

[amidaiwish]

I am thinking of opening a second hand children's clothes shop and wanting to pick all your brains before i commit to it.

The shop is in an affluent area of SW London with no other second hand children's clothes shop nearby. There is a successful adults one.

I have found what i think are the perfect premises but i need to work out the logistics / business plan to prove it can make money.

I would only take clothes from M&S, Gap, Boden, etc plus Designer. All would be clean, spotless, good as new condition.

If you were a seller, would you accept payment when your clothes sold. Would you accept a one month - they sell or take them away policy? Would you accept a set time for bringing clothes in etc... How does it work?

Thanks!!

I'll happily meet you for a coffee sometime.

I probably don't know you because, as you say, there are hundreds of babies in Teddington!

I have a DD who was 2 in September and a DS born in June. You?

DD1 is 3.5
DD2 was 2 in october. so maybe - your daughter and mine? hmmmmmmmm who can you be?

do you go to Amida?
do you go to Little Gym?
do your children go to Teddies?

I don't go to Amida or Teddies but I used to take DD to Little Gym until about March when I was just too pregnant! I bet we've seen each other around even if we haven't met.

in the meantime, get looking for premises...

Now that is the really hard bit!

have you been to the soft play in Shepperton?
small and for under 7's. kind of ideal

Snakes & ladders is just way too stressful with littlies and the whole place and food is just bleuurgh..

I've not tried the Shepperton one. I do tend to avoid Snakes and Ladders as it is a bit minging and, as you said, it is badly supervised and a bit scarey with little ones. We tend to go to the Heathrow Gym but they don't have any food or drink there which is a downside, and it's a bit of a trek.

Sorry, I seem to have rather hijacked your thread - I think everyone else who was making helpful comments about your ideas has given up and gone away....

you should try the Shepperton one - it's really very good and not too busy.

or there's also Gymboree in st margaret's. i am not sure if that's a turn up and pay place though and is in a basement so a bit dark/small.

i'll bump it later, don't worry! was good to talk. the more i look into it the more i realise why there isn't a baby shop there already.

I tried gymboree with DD when she was younger but it seemed expensive and was sessions rather than a turn up and play session.

I will def try Shepperton, thanks for the tip.

Join up to UKbusinessforums if you need advise on business they are great, there are a couple of threads there already re softplay businesses HERE.

thanks :-)

Hi did you ever open a shop? I am desperate to find a second hand children's clothing shop! Thanks