clothing company, please help, couple questions

[spenserb14]

A friend and I want to open up a clothing company that sells designer jeans, shirts, watches, sunglasses and more but for a lower price. We can get good deals on rock and republics, true religions, gucci, prada, and more. I have a couple questions though:
1. Do I need a license from the companies in order to sell their products?
2. Would we need a business license in order to open up a shop? (we already have a couple locations scoped out and money isn't an issue)
please send any info you can either in a PM or on this thread.
Thanks in advance!

[bananaman]

1. You would need to contact them and ask them yourself. If their products are only sold exclusively in their own stores, then I doubt their supplier would supply the products to anyone else to sell. Also, sometimes the brands have a partnership with particular retailers ie. Sears.

2. The shop will need to register a trading name and the business structure for tax purposes ie. sole trader, partnership, incorporation.

Good luck.

[spenserb14]

thank you bananaman
does anyone else have anything?

[elliotiscool]

1. All these companies have different ways of doing business. Some may have some sort of affiliate program where they want other people to promote and sell their products. Others do not want anyone doing any of the such. Contact the companies, check their website, etc. and try to get info on if they want their products sold the way you are doing. Also, consider the risk involved doing certain things. Do these companies have ways of finding out what you are doing? If not, then you still may be able to sell some to a certain extent. On the other hand, you could also get a cease and desist from their attorney or even an infringement lawsuit. You really just need to dig around and see what you can do, can't do, and what things you can do that they say you can't do. Good luck.

2. I have nothing I can add. Bananaman nailed it.

[spenserb14]

if these companies say it is ok to buy from another supplier then I should be fine selling their products right? They dont need to know who the supplier is.?
Thank you for your response elliotiscool

[jonathanfigaro]

Start making connections Asap! Go to trade shows and make friends! networking is the key reason some stores have exclusive items that the customers love, while the others don't!'

I suggest making a plan to go to all the trades shows you can, and make friends. You never know , who knows who.

[bananaman]

We can get good deals on rock and republics, true religions, gucci, prada, and more.

I haven't heard of the other brands, but gucci and prada are ultra high-end. They would not authorise their supplier to just sell to anyone. Are your merchandise legitimate? There are alot of fakes for those brands.

[spenserb14]

The gucci and prada are fragrances, not like handbags and stuff.
Rock & Republic and True Religion are designer jeans.
I've been emailing R&R marketing people and they say everything will be fine if I order through another supplier.