Anyone run a clothes swap as a business?

[TracyK]

I'm going to organise a local clothes swap for friends and then suddenly wondered if it was a viable business and run multiple events in neighbouring towns/locations.
But I have 100 questions - anyone got any experience?
How much do you charge
Are there any rules as to how much/what people bring?
Do they bring stuff prior to the event for setting out?
Can you offer local business' advertsing space for a fee?
Can you serve alcohol?
etc etc

There have been a few in our town, they are usually run by the PTA committee to raise money for schools. I think they normally charge around £3 to enter. I may be wrong but I have heard that they are not a great money spinner, our PTA have decided against it as one of the local schools had hardly any takers.

Oh poo - I wonder if I targetted the high end it would make more money?

Never say never until you have given it a try. Hire out a hall, check out whether you need a licence to serve alcohol, send fliers around and go for it. You won't know until you try. I think if you are serving wine you could get away with charging more per ticket.

Another idea to boost interest would be to use the event as a get together for mums with their own businesses, I don't know about your town but in our town there are loads of mums who run small businesses making baby clothes, toys and cakes etc. You could charge them a fee for having a stall which would cover the cost of the hall hire and you might even make a profit on that alone. When we have that sort of event in our area they tend to be quite popular so if you combine that your clothes swapping idea you might be onto something.

Good luck!

Thanks dollshouse - I was swithering about local businesses having a stall - I guess it would depend on how big the place was I hired.
I was thinking about a fiver a ticket - giving a glass of fizz and a couple of nibbles.

I was at a friends birthday party and we'd talked about doing it amongst us - but then I thought of the other friends that would want to come too - then I'd need to hire a room in the local hotel - then I'd need to charge people to cover my costs - then I could make a small profit?

I think I'll do one and see what kind of response I get - there is quite a high proportion of 'yummy mummies' in my area - so might have a lot of nice stuff to swap.

hi TracyK,

The idea you have is great and good luck with it. With regards the alcohol - you need to have a liquor license in order to be able to serve, sell and etc.
The easiest way will be to check hoe much will a venue charge you for hiring a room/space.
Most of them (esp. if they have on site catering) will have a liquor licence.
I am in the catering business - doing all sorts of events and marketing for RIBA and we had an event like that last year - great success. If you want I can try to get you the details of the company, which organised it.
Let me know if you have more questions.

Is it busy Verity?

there's a charity one tonight at our village hall. I may take a look. Sounds fun and ver recession friendly