Retail Business

Pawnbroker

Use your negotiating skills by opening up a pawn shop and bringing in second-hand goods.

Published

9 years ago

Dec 1, 2009

Entrepreneur

Business At A Glance

Pawnbroker

Startup Costs: $10,000 – $50,000
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

Pawnbrokers sometimes get a bad rap, andunfortunately it only takes a few bad apples dealing in stolenmerchandise to give the industry a bad name for all operators ofpawnshops. However, like any business venture, eventually the badbusiness operators will disappear and the good operators will flourish.

Starting a pawnshop business is a good choice as a business start-upfor a few reasons, such as no special business skill requirements,relatively low initial investment, and excellent profit potential.Furthermore, utilizing used product pricing or value guides such as theBlue Book take away any guesswork in terms of the wholesale and retailvalue of products.

The key to success for operating and profiting froma pawnbroker business is to keep all transactions legal, establish thebusiness in the right location, deal only in up-to-date merchandisethat has real value, and always practice good negotiation skills.

Retail Business

Safety Clothing Sales

Help employers keep their workers safe with boots, neon vests and other apparel.

Published

9 years ago

Dec 1, 2009

Entrepreneur

Business At A Glance

Safety Clothing Sales

Startup Costs: $2,000 – $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Online Operation? No

Business Overview

Selling safety clothing and footwear on amobile basis to customers working in factories, at construction sitesand in warehouses is a great business to get rolling. The business canbe operated on a full- or part-time basis and managed right from a homebased location.

In North America, millions of dollars are spent everyyear by workers, companies and organizations to purchase safetyclothing such as vests, coveralls and work boots. Securing a smallportion of this very lucrative market can be as easy as securingwholesale accounts with manufacturers of these items, purchasing adelivery vehicle and creating a catalog featuring the items for saleand distributing it to potential clients.

Retail Business

Work Uniforms

Millions of people have to wear uniforms to work. Target this demographic by selling work uniforms.

Published

9 years ago

Dec 1, 2009

Entrepreneur

Business At A Glance

Work Uniforms

Startup Costs: $10,000 – $50,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Online Operation? No

Business Overview

There are a few options available when considering starting a business that retails work uniforms and work clothing. The first option is to establish a retail storefront location to stock and sell work uniforms. The second option is to establish a mobile business that sells work uniforms from a large van or delivery truck.

Both options have drawbacks and benefits in terms of the business. However, the second option of being a mobile retailer of work uniforms will be less costly to establish, as well as operate. The types of uniforms and work clothing that can be sold include work overalls, health-care uniforms and scrubs, fire and police service uniforms, and school uniforms.

Also stocking and selling specialized footwear, such as steel toe work boots, can earn additional revenues. Regardless if the business is operated from a fixed retail location or on a mobile basis, one of the main marketing tools required is a full-color catalog that features the work wear available for sale. You’ll want to distribute this catalog to any local businesses in need of your uniforms. You might also want to offer discounts on bulk purchases to influence businesses to choose you as their main uniform supplier.

The Market

Local businesses, people in the healthcare industry who must purchase their own scrubs, parents of children enrolled in schools requiring uniforms

Retail Business

Used CD Shop

Share a love of cheap and legally-purchased music with your customers.

Published

9 years ago

Dec 1, 2009

Entrepreneur

Business At A Glance

Used CD Shop

Startup Costs: $10,000 – $50,000
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

If you love music, consider starting a used CD shop. The business can be established in a storefront location or alternately in a sales kiosk located within a busy mall or public market.

To initially establish an inventory of CDs for the business, place classified advertisements in the local community newspaper offering to purchase whole or partial CD collections.

Currently, secondhand music CDs are retailing for $5 to $12 each, and as rule of thumb, owners of secondhand CD shops mark up all products by 100 percent for retailing purposes.