Resale clothing? Resale CD,games,books, dvd?

[Sepiroth]

Hello all. As many of you can tell, I'm new here and new to the idea of entrepreneurship.

A lillt background. I was an auto mechanic with 15 years of knowledge under my belt. I hurt my back in 07 and have been out of work since then. Worker's comp waxes and wanes. Currently as it stands, I have applied to withdraw my retirement. I did this originally to get money and a motorcycle. Then I started thinking. I started to think that this would be a good as time as any to finally make good on a dream of mine.

So as it stands, I am seriously thinking about starting my own business. But, I havent the slightest clue on how to do so.

What would my business be? Right now I have narrowed it down to 3, well 4.

The first one is a clothing resale business. I would either do a consignment, which is what I think I will have to do because i do not know how else to get product or inventory.

The second business idea is a business that resell, DVD, CD, Games, Books. I would also include the possibility of new college books, due to the fact that there are several colleges around me. Again, I have no idea on how to aquire inventory.

The third is an auto accessory business. I would sell items from exhaust to cold air intakes. I figure there are lots of people who do upgrades to their vehicles to set them apart from the rest.

The fourth idea is a plus size clothing store. I mean lets face it, plus size people have a short list of stores to go to. Mine would cater to the junior, goth, and hip person.

Fifth and final would be a what is commonly referred to as a head shop. this place would sell tobacco** related items. I am kind of shying away from this one as I do not want to feel embarrassed when talking to family about it.

Any ideas and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. And thank you.

[bananaman]

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The third is an auto accessory business. I would sell items from exhaust to cold air intakes. I figure there are lots of people who do upgrades to their vehicles to set them apart from the rest.

Not in this economic climate. GM is going to file for bankruptcy, Ford & Chrysler need government bailout. Alot of the businesses that supplies parts to the carmakers are going bust. People losing their jobs are getting their cars repossed. People are not upgrading their cars in this economy. They are selling their cars, buying smaller cars, or using public transport. Right now, anything to do with cars is suicide.

The fourth idea is a plus size clothing store. I mean lets face it, plus size people have a short list of stores to go to. Mine would cater to the junior, goth, and hip person.

Why did you narrow your already small market to junior, goth and hip person? Do you not want to sell to non-junior, non-goth and non-hip people? Is their money not good enough?

Fifth and final would be a what is commonly referred to as a head shop. this place would sell tobacco** related items. I am kind of shying away from this one as I do not want to feel embarrassed when talking to family about it.

Fear of criticism is a major reason why some businesses fail, or never even start.

A quote from the book "Think and Grow Rich":

"The fear of criticism robs man of his initiative, destroys his power of imagination, limits his individuality, takes away his self-reliance, and does him damage in a hundred other ways."

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[JackofTrades]

(I'm assuming you're thinking about building your own INTERNET based business, which I applaud since you don't need much overhead to start and maintain.)

I disagree with the previous poster.

It is a GREAT idea to target a niche and build a loyal customer base. This isn't the old days where one store had to appeal to everyone since you couldn't market or sell to people not within your region. Internet marketing makes niche marketing possible. You might not see a ton of plus sized, hip goth people in YOUR neighborhood, but using the internet, you can appeal to all the plus sized, hip goth people EVERYWHERE. (Meaning, one rock in your backyard is just one rock, but one rock from every backyard in the U.S. can make a mountain)

The important part is creating your website, getting the items specifically targeted to your customer base, really communicating with your customers to build a list, etc.

Good luck!

[Sepiroth]

Bananaman: Why did you narrow your already small market to junior, goth and hip person? Do you not want to sell to non-junior, non-goth and non-hip people? Is their money not good enough?

Bananaman, I chose to narrow it down to the list I did because around here by me, we have a fashion bug, lane bryant, wal-mart. Now while these store carry plus size clothing, the really do not cater to the types of style people I listed are into.

For instance, in school, I sometimes got ridiculed for having Kmart brand clothes. Now I didnt care but to some junior girls, that might be an issue. Perhaps junior girls are looking for items a little more unique than what Wal Mart would carry.

Next, there used to be a store that sold Goth type clothes, Torrid was the name. They have since closed and IMHO, the GOTHS have no choice but to order clothes online. At least out here anyway.

Any money is good money. But, IMHO having an item that certain people relate to is in particular better money, or i could be wrong.



Jack of trades, I had not considered an internet business. Mostly because I have no idea how to start one and everywhere i have tried to look for help, wants me to buy something, whether it be a book or a subscription, which I refuse to do.

If you can point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful.