Pet Boutique: How to Start a Pet Boutique Business


Business Outlook
According to pet product manufacturing association there are estimated 80 million cats and 75 million dogs.  The pet business is estimated at $55 billion dollars with pet boutiques gaining a share of the industry.
Things to consider before opening a pet boutique are employee salaries, insurance and rent. Others are funding the business, type of products and services to offer customers. The business is practicable on/offline depending on your business template.
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Business Considerations
Considerations include legal fees, registering the business name, insurance and tax. You need quality products and services.
Others are accounting knowledge, interpersonal skill, operational license or permit. Register the business as a limited liability company or sole proprietor.
         Legal fees
         Registering the business name
         Incorporate
         Insurance
         Tax
         Quality products and services
         Accounting knowledge
         Interpersonal skill
         Operational license or permit
Gain Experience
Gain workplace experience or get formal training. Work as an apprentice and Prior employment in related industry is an advantage. A good grasp of retail sales and marketing are important aspects of the business.
         Formal training
         Work as an apprentice
         Prior employment in related industry
         Retail sales knowledge
         Marketing skill
Pricing
The business is highly competitive with many players. Pet boutique products and services attract premium prices.
To compete favorable your prices should be comparable with those in your locality. Try to study your competitions prices, products and services.
Marketing
Your target customer base are middle to upper class clients. Advertise the business at high end shops, upscale cloth boutiques, high end venues. Use flyers, posters, billboard, banners, sign board.
Use word of mouth, referrals, email marketing, reciprocal advertising. Other good locations to advertise the business are pet grooming centers, doggie day care, and veterinarian clinics. Add the business to yellow pages, online directories.
         Use flyers
         Posters
         Billboard
         Banners
         Sign board
         Use word of mouth
         Referrals
         Email marketing
         Reciprocal advertising
         Choose a unique business name
         Add blog posts to the site
         Add contact address
         Use social media platforms
         Online advertisement
         Advertise in local newspaper
         Organize community activities
         Offer discounts
         Use promotions
         Coupons
         Newsletters
Build a Website
Build a website to highlight the business. Choose a unique business name, domain name and good host plan. Add blog posts to the site, contact address, telephone number and products.
Add online shopping including a PayPal payment system or debit card processor. Use social media platforms and online advertisement to drive traffic to the website.
Place advertisement in local newspaper, pet magazines. Organize community activities, offer discounts to regular customers. Use promotions, coupons, newsletters.
Product
The list of pet boutique products is huge. Common products are pet toys, supplies, treats, travel carriers. Others are collars, leashes, pet identification tags, bedding. More are pet clothing, gift baskets, bows, bandanas, hats.
         Pet toys
         Supplies
         Treats
         Travel carriers
         Collars
         Leashes
         Pet identification tags
         Bedding
         Pet clothing
         Gift baskets
         Bows
         Bandanas
         Hats
Location
The choice of location should be close to customer base. Target customers are middle to upper class individuals.
Good locations are highbrow areas, upscale areas and commercial areas. You need a web store to run a home based business. However a retail store offers better opportunities.


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