STEP 6: Expand your Reach
Post-mortem: Take your first boutique as your first case study
What went well?
What are your highlights of this experience?
How much did it help you?
Financially
Reputation wise
Increased Fans-Followers
etc.
What positive feedback did you receive?
What do you like about this particular boutique?
People: Owner, employees, clients
Location
Style-Look and feel
Other products that complement yours
Overall ease in building the relationship
What could be improved?
Are there moments of this journey that were no fun;
Did you receive product feedback requiring changes in your future collections?
What do you dislike about this particular boutique (if anything)?
People: Owner, employees, clients;
Location;
Look and feel;
Brands they carry;
Overall difficulties in the relationship;
Once you got a better understanding and view of the future of your business, taking into account the summary you just did, what’s next?
Target a store in the next neighborhood or city (you should never compete or bring competition to your partners) unless you are going for a different kind of store (a gift shop, for example);
Rinse and Repeat the process!
Once you get to about ten stores, and it’s taking a lot of your time, consider partnering with a commissioned sales agent to visit stores outside your reach. You have the experience and the feedback from your partner boutiques. You can do magic with an agent who already knows their area, has contacts, does tradeshows, etc.
We hope you enjoyed this series! Leave a comment using the chat button on the right-hand side.