This week, in the "Seller of the Week" section, we are pleased to introduce you to the mega-lover of bags. This is what Ekaterina from Kherson calls herself, and it is not unreasonable. Indeed, over the past few years, she has sold more than 5 thousand bags. On the recently closed website Aukro Katya was in the top 6 among the sellers in her category. She opened a profile in Shafa just one month ago, but has already made 73 successful sales. So everyone who is interested in branded leather bags at low prices is highly recommended to take a look at our article.

Ekaterina, profile in Shafa - spaniela86
? (5010) - reviews of successful sales from other platforms

The main products are:
- leather bags, including those from premium brands;
- silk scarves.

Katya, tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been doing bags and what is it for you - a hobby or a full-fledged business?

I am 30 years old, married, a cybernetic economist by education, and a "handbag" in real life)
I always loved beautiful leather bags, I stared at them in the windows of expensive stores. Even 7 years ago, she herself had only a couple of leather ones. I didn't even think that in a few years bags would occupy all my thoughts)))

In recent years, I have come a long way from a zero-price seller on Aukro to a 5,000th sale at this auction in September of this year. I am a true bag-maniac, and I can't call myself any other name 🙂

Each person should have their own hobby, mine is bags. I can't imagine my wardrobe without 40 different bags 🙂 I'm a happy person, because my hobby is completely the same as work.

On average, my sales on Aukro were 5 bags per day - 25 per week. Almost every day, from Monday to Friday, for 5 years, I auctioned 5 bags a day. Updating the assortment is very important, because, from my own experience, people are always interested in watching new items 🙂

New large incredible leather hobo bag

What kind of bags do you sell?

My main product is leather bags. Often there are new ones (sometimes with tags, sometimes without) or used bags in perfect condition. Sometimes - textile bags, but only branded (for example, Guess bags). I do not deal with leatherette bags, as well as bags made of so-called PU leather.

Seven years ago, I started to deal with stock clothes from Germany (a relative lives there, she helped establish contacts with sales stores). About a year later, I thought that I could do my hobby - bags, I started looking for an Internet resource where I could sell them. Coincidentally, I went to Aukro, just started flipping through the "Bags" category, and realized that this was what I was looking for. I was "hooked" that it is possible to exhibit goods from 1 UAH, and buyers in a fair fight determine the price of the goods themselves.

Interest prompted me to put up my first lot for auction. As I remember now, it was a beautiful new leather bag, brought to me by my husband's sister as a gift, but it did not fit in style. I put it up for 1 hryvnia, and expectations were justified. As a result, the price increased to 400 hryvnia (even at the rate of 8 hryvnia) - it was 50 dollars.

And then I definitely decided to start selling bags. At first, I bought a little, then in about a year or two, a base of regular customers filled up, and then regular large sales at Aukro.

My criteria for purchasing bags - only large wholesale, only from trusted suppliers, only the "new" category and the "luxury selection" category. And my husband and I really love to travel, and wherever we go, I try to bring an unusual handbag. Well, or some unusual handbags :). Well, or a few, a few :))

What models of bags are in trend now? What do customers like?

The trend for the sale of bags, by the way, does not always coincide with fashion. Big black or brown fleshy bags, suede bags of models "hobo", "torba", "sack" are actual and popular.

I like big bags myself. As the saying goes, “you really become an adult when a head of cabbage is placed in your handbag, and you are not ashamed of it” 🙂 Bags with whale tassels are also very popular, I myself love these leather or suede “hanging” accessories.

How to get the right price if you want to sell your bag?

The main criteria for evaluating a bag are:

• brand;
• manufacturer country;
• bag material (leatherette bags, of course, should be much cheaper than leather ones);
• bag size;
• condition.

Expensive brands are mainly Italy, France, England, Germany, it is there that first-class things are sewn. Made in Italy bags are the top of baggage perfection. The quality is always amazing. I love Italian bags 🙂

The size of the bag plays an important role. It is ridiculous to estimate a small crossbody at 1000 UAH, and then wonder why it is not for sale.

As for the state - evaluate it truthfully. Do not hide defects, if any. If the bag is as good as new / perfect then the price may be higher, that's okay. If there are drawbacks, then it is reasonable to set the price lower in order to find your buyer.

As an example, an excellent stylish crossbody made of soft leather made in England or Germany can cost UAH 300-500. If the bag is larger, the price will be higher. Beautiful medium-sized bags in perfect condition have a price range of 500-800 hryvnia.
Over 1000 hryvnias are branded, voluminous, large, made of excellent leather, made in Italy, France, England, Germany (in perfect condition, of course).

Due to the fact that I buy bags in large quantities, I can set affordable prices on them and delight my customers. I try to adhere to the "golden mean" in prices - and not to offend myself, and give my customers the opportunity to replenish their "bag" wardrobe more often.

How to buy a bag online and not get upset?

The main thing when buying a bag on the Internet is a high-quality photo from all angles so that you can clearly see what you are buying. I never accepted magazine photos. It is better to take a photo yourself so that the buyer can see real photos of the bag he is buying. I take all the photos in my profile myself. I put my bags on my sofa so that they feel comfortable 🙂

In order not to be mistaken with the material, look at the seller's page. If he sells clothes and only one bag, while confidently writing that it is made of leather, then it is better to ask more clarifying questions, because if a person is not a leather specialist, then he may be mistaken, not even on purpose.

If the seller, as can be seen from the reviews and the exhibited goods, is actively selling leather bags, with detailed photos, descriptions, then you can be calm. And on a note I will give advice - about 60% of leather bags inside have tags with the inscriptions - leather, pelle, leder. These words are translated from different languages ​​as leather. And the inscriptions like 100% pu are 100% polyurethane, it lay "far" from the skin 🙂

I work with brands and I can confidently say that branded items are always visible by the quality of the leather, stitching, accessories, nameplates (metal plates with the brand name). For example, in real Balenciaga bags there are runners from Lampo, an expensive furniture brand that produces only high-quality accessories. You unzip your bag, look under the slider and look for the lampo brand. It's the same with Prada bags.

Another example is the hologram of authenticity. For example, every Cavalli and Fendi bag has a hologram of authenticity inside that shimmers at a specific angle of light. A branded bag is always characterized by the quality of the lining. You will never see a thin, low-quality lining in a branded bag, with a curved stitching, with protruding threads.

Is it realistic to buy a branded bag at a price of up to UAH 1,000?

Buy a branded bag up to 1 thousand hryvnia ??? It's real for me.
Simply summarizing bags with the word “brand” is not entirely true. After all, each handbag is individual. For a price of up to 1,000, I often sell bags from Armani, and from Coccinelle, and from Baldinini ...

At the same time, we sell luxury models for UAH 2000-2500. Recently there was Prada, the original with the authenticity card, there was Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo and many others.

By the way, I never sell copies and replicas. Here I am an ardent supporter of the fact that it is better to never wear this. A girl with a beautiful high-quality leather bag will look much better than with a miserable semblance of a brand.

What types of leather are there, what is their difference and which ones are better for everyday bags?

Oh, types of leather are a separate big long story) What I didn’t have. And the skin of a goat, and calf, and natural crocodile (it is natural, and not just embossing "under", which is much more common).

The coolest leather for a quality bag is calf. It is usually smooth, soft, strong, does not break or crack on its surface. Calfskin bags are very elegant, do not wear out for a long time.

Bovine skin is the thickest. Due to its thickness and strength, such leather has a long service life; bags made of it are simply "indestructible". Bull leather Italian bags are always beautiful and durable. I often have these bags.

What I also love: aniline leather - leather with minimal processing. These bags look very stylish in casual looks, perfect for topsiders, moccasins, and a casual city bow.

I would also like to highlight the saffiano skin. For example, Prada bags "love" this kind of leather dressing. Saffiano Leather - sheepskin or calf leather with a special diagonal embossing, resistant to various stains and scratches. After applying this embossing, the skin looks very unusual and status. Many world stars are happy to wear handbags, clutches, wallets from this particular dressing. A few weeks ago I sold this tote at Aukro (Michael Kors, saffian leather). The customer was very pleased)

I would also like to draw attention to patent leather. This is a very beautiful leather with a glossy mirrored surface, treated with a lacquer coating based on polyurethane resin.
But there are many nuances here. The skin, although beautiful, but very often there are problems with it. If you put it on with something contrasting, then nothing can be traced from the thing. Therefore, lacquer bags, especially light or colored ones, must be worn very carefully so as not to spoil them with dark stripes.

Are there any cool brands of bags that are not very popular with us, but are they worth paying attention to?

I'll tell you about a few unusual brands that I sometimes come across.
The German brand Liebeskind Berlin is the most unusual bags that are almost not represented in Ukraine. A distinctive feature of the brand: products from the softest leather of complex and incredibly beautiful shades with unusual techniques for dyeing leather and fabrics. Colors range from delicate pastels to very noble base colors (have you ever tried brown leather in cool shades?).

Fossil handbag brand is an American brand that began its history 30 years ago in Texas. The bet was made on the vintage direction. Handmade artificially aged leather, from wearing it only becomes more attractive, quirky details - this is what characterizes this brand. The antique key is one of the central design elements of Fossil, which has become an integral part of the design of bags, making Fossil products one of the most recognizable in the world.

Yes, and in parallel with the bags - I really like silk scarves and some funny stoles. With different positive prints, interesting patterns that cheer up every time you wrap them around your neck and look in the mirror).

A bag, a clutch is an integral attribute of a fashionista's image. Women pay a lot of attention to him and are ready to spend impressive funds on his purchase, often purchasing several pieces for different occasions. Therefore, a boutique of such women's accessories, in theory, is a profitable business. But is everything that simple and what you need to know to open a bag store from scratch? In this article we will try to understand all the important points.

Features and pitfalls

The main difficulty in selling your favorite women's accessory is the high level of competition. This necessitates careful preparation before opening a store. There are many things to consider.

• Location. It is important to understand here that the city center gives practically nothing to business today. To make a profit and not work at a loss, you will have to overestimate the cost of bags, and this is already a minus in the fight against competitors. Naturally, with the same quality level, customers will go where prices are lower. Therefore, you should not strive to open an expensive boutique in the city center. It should be more practical to approach the issue of renting or buying premises for a store;
• Range. Women, girls love to choose very much. Accordingly, in order to keep customers, it is necessary to offer a rather impressive but huge selection of bags and accessories for them, for example, hats, scarves, gloves. This will be a nice addition to the main product and another source of income that will ensure high traffic and, accordingly, increase the likelihood of a purchase. You can also add suitcases on wheels, which are very popular, to the main assortment.
• Interior design, lighting. Before you open a shop for women's handbags, you need to carefully consider your interior design. This is important, since the female perception of the world is based on a sensual, emotional beginning. Therefore, a stylish interior, a bright signboard will surely attract attention, arouse interest, make you go to the store. Also important is the lighting of the assortment - bags. This will focus attention on them. Such conditions indirectly push girls, women to buy;
• Creation of an analogue on the Internet. If in real life funds allow you to open a regular bag store, then on the Internet it can be a boutique that offers a huge selection, favorable prices and convenient purchase conditions. The creation of such a resource is a rational investment in business development;
• Promotions and sales. Holding such events allows you to promote your business relatively quickly. The female sex willingly bites on such proposals. Moreover, the size of the discount is not so important, the main thing is its availability. Sale of bags and accessories will allow you to get rid of stale goods and old collections. Periodic renewal of the assortment is vital. The arrival of new collections should be turned into an event and communicated in different ways: through the distribution of flyers, street advertising, social media. networks and other Internet resources;
• Staff recruitment. To please girls, women need to create a high-level service. These are polite managers who know everything or almost everything about the product. It is not worth saving on personnel. It is necessary to closely monitor the work of sellers and make appropriate adjustments. It is the service that will transform the store into a boutique. It is important to learn the methods of proper communication with customers yourself, in order to know what to pay attention of the staff. About, how to interview for a job, we talked about in the corresponding article.

How to open a Leather Goods Store - which will develop and make a profit?

Despite the abundance of stores, you can always find your own niche in which the supply still does not sufficiently cover the demand. But even if the market is full, a competent and original approach will help redistribute profit streams. The peculiarities of a leather goods store are such that there is no need for a number of items that are mandatory for other outlets related to wardrobe and style.

Features of selling leather goods

Leather goods include leather goods that do not require adjustment in size. It with umki, accessories, wallets and purses, key holders, business card holders and other items, which are bought either under the influence of mood, or as a gift, or as an addition to a stylish wardrobe. The business scheme is no different from any other outlet - purchase of goods and sale at a premium, but there are some peculiarities.

Depending on the selected price category of goods, the profitability can be about 50% for economy and middle class goods, and up to 140% for luxury goods. If you focus on the mass buyer and import cheap goods, then the markup cannot be higher than a reasonable limit - the effect of the price affordable for the buyer will disappear. In such outlets, profit does not depend on the amount of the margin, but on the assortment and the continuous increase in the rate of sales. It is for mass buyers that leather goods stores are suitable, where you can buy almost all the names of this group of goods, from bags to covers for documents.

If the choice is an expensive branded product, then there are two ways to bring your business plan to life. This is a multi-brand store where you can buy a Versace bag, an Armani trouser belt and a Gucci wallet, and a mono-brand franchised store. Not all elite manufacturers are ready to provide franchises, this should also be taken into account. A franchising package is quite expensive, but you get a time-tested marketing plan, a calculated system of discounts, support from a parent company and the trust of discerning buyers.

The complexities of the leather goods trade include the scourge of all retailers - fashion... Buyers of leather goods in most cases are sensitive to changes in fashion trends, and they have to adapt to the whims of these trends. Nevertheless, the classics always stand guard over stability, some things do not change over the years, and the classic trouser belt from Armani or Gucci can keep the level of demand for many years.

The financial part of the business plan

The two most expendable parts of the budget are renting or buying premises, this includes both commercial equipment and the amount allocated for the initial purchase of goods. Rent of premises in a shopping center, depending on the location, can be about 500,000 rubles per month. The amount also depends on the floor on which the retail space is located, as a rule, the higher, the cheaper. The explanation is simple - the main flow of potential buyers passes through the first floor.

At first, you can save on commercial equipment if you use used equipment. Depending on the area of ​​your retail outlet, the cost of equipment is also calculated. When selling leather goods, you can not equip fitting rooms, but confine yourself to a good mirror, in front of which customers will be able to evaluate how a bag or belt fits their appearance.

Finally, the amount to purchase an item is determined by your store's price range. Bags worth up to 3,000 rubles are imported from Turkey and China. Alternatively, you can look for domestic manufacturers. Bags from expensive brands will cost about twice as much, but the mark-up is higher. If, apart from bags, nothing else is planned, then the assortment can be formed from three hundred units of goods, but at the same time it is necessary to provide for a variety of styles, shapes and sizes. Belts and wallets are more affordable goods; for an economical start, you can expand the assortment by forming several groups of goods. This increases the likelihood of a purchase, especially on the eve of the holidays, when leather goods are especially in demand as gifts for friends and family.

Documentation costs in most cases they are standard, if we are not talking about buying a franchise, then the costs are slightly higher. Usually a trade patent and a trade permit, a copy of the lease agreement, copies of certificates and other documents of a private entrepreneur or LLC are required. In some cases, permission is required for a sign, if it is located outside the shopping center, and approval of the operating mode.

Questions of the retail space and procurement of goods

There are peculiarities of working in a separate building of a leather goods store, and in renting a boutique in a shopping center building. If the lease of a retail outlet in the complex is designed for the flow of potential buyers who somehow see the store, then a separate autonomous room will require deeper work on the sign and advertising. As a rule, they go to a separate store or salon on purpose. The advantage in this case is a fairly high percentage of buyers compared to curious people who will inevitably enter the mall.

A standard set of commercial equipment for a leather goods store is as follows:

Racks for bags;
- glazed showcases for small leather goods;
- counter;
- cash machine;
- safe for documents and money;
- a correctly designed buyer's corner.

It is imperative to approach the display of goods in the most beneficial way to present all items in the best possible light. To do this, you can invite an experienced merchandiser. The basic rule of merchandising is that the goods are "face" to the buyer, that is, the inexpressive end of the packaging does not motivate to make a purchase and gives the window a casual look.

Staff for a leather goods store

Undoubtedly, sellers are obliged to understand the peculiarities of the goods in order to advise the buyer if necessary. Where can you find such sellers? You can contact a recruiting agency and order recruiting in accordance with the requirements, but there is an option for training salespeople strictly according to the needs of your store. This will require an introductory course in the specifics of work, familiarity with brands of sellers, an explanation of the pricing policy.

For a small store with an area of ​​up to 30 sq. meters, two sellers are required, if the store is branded, then an administrator is also required. Accounting can be outsourced in order to save money, since your own accountant is quite expensive. If you are going to open a chain of stores over time, then you can think about creating your own accounting department. Cleaning technicians are also required and may need a security guard. Hire a security guard separately or contact the appropriate company, this is decided individually. When opening a store in a shopping center building, security may be provided by landlords.

Increasing the pace of sales

Attraction of customers plays an important role in the successful operation of the store, and here it is necessary to develop a plan for an advertising campaign. The most inexpensive way to attract customers is by distributing leaflets and flyers.

The method of discount discounts and bonuses for attracting a buyer is quite effective. There are several ways to implement the discount program, for example, to issue special plastic loyalty cards. A customer invited by a regular customer can count on a symbolic discount, and a regular customer also has a pleasant bonus. Filling out a loyal customer card makes it possible to create your own customer base, to whom you can send advertising brochures and brochures with new catalogs, notifications about holiday promotions and certainly congratulations on the holidays.

Provide customers with additional services, such as urgent hardware repairs or a service for shortening belts, punching new holes in belts. This customer-centric activity quickly gains customer loyalty.

To open successful leather goods store, desire alone is not enough, competition forces us to invent new ways of working. However, this type of business has a lot of advantages: there is no need to adjust the goods to the parameters of the customer's figure, except to shorten the belt. Trade in leather goods can bring high profits, and a competent business plan will help to avoid common mistakes.

Today I am publishing not a simple article, but a kind of interview with an active young entrepreneur in the field of Internet business and online commerce. His name is Alexander Galaktionov and he is the creator of a successful online store of men's bags. Bag Republic and website development studios. We did not talk to him about the studio, but about the online store and about online commerce in general, Alexander answered my questions and shared interesting information that you will read below. The interview turned out great, I personally really liked it.

Before getting down to the questions, I would like to say on my own behalf that for me personally, Alexander is an excellent example of an entrepreneur who sets goals and successfully achieves them. He is not afraid of difficulties, he is not afraid to start something new and experiment. Well, in addition to his worthy entrepreneurial data, he is also an excellent conversationalist, as well as a good and sympathetic person! Okay, let's not pull the cat for me ... let's get down to the questions 😉

1. Hi Alexander! Where are you from (city), how old are you, how did you start doing business, and why business and not employment (if you worked somewhere before business, tell me too)?

Hi Nikolay. I am 26 years old, was born in Chelyabinsk. Since I got into business quite early, from the first years of university, I did not officially work anywhere - I do not have a work book, sometimes problems arise because of this (obtaining a loan, visa, etc.).
At that time I was engaged in website development, computer repair, and selling Parabellum courses through an affiliate program.

2. Tell us about your business.

Now the main business is the Bag Republic online bag store. We sell men's bags, briefcases, valise and travel bags exclusively from genuine leather made in England and Italy.

3. Is this your first business?

No. As I said before, I did a lot of things. I officially registered an individual entrepreneur only in the fourth year, when serious clients came and it was necessary to correctly draw up transactions. By that time, only the web studio remained, my partners and I did everything ourselves - we found orders, drew designs, programmed. Now I practically do not participate in the activities of the web studio.

In the process, there were several more projects that did not meet expectations, which were subsequently closed. Internet magazine, marketing school ... These projects gave me good experience and interesting acquaintances.

4. Why did you choose online commerce (online store)?

The Bag Republic online store spilled out from the web studio - I myself decided to use the technologies and knowledge in Internet marketing that we have been offering our clients for several years. I was confident in a successful start.

There was also a desire to go offline, at least partially. Physical goods are another level of business, in which you need to perform different actions, solve other problems. It is interesting.

The online store does not require a permanent presence. You can control everything remotely, the main thing is to resolve the issue of personnel who will process orders.

5. Tell us about how you opened an online store step by step, so to speak: how you decided on a niche, how you found suppliers, how you sell a product (advertising tools), etc.

The niche chose me herself 🙂 I wanted to buy a leather laptop bag, but I couldn't find anything suitable in the shops of the city, everywhere there are Chinese products at greatly inflated prices. I analyzed the niche of men's bags through the Wordstat service and decided to give it a try.

I wanted to start quickly and at minimal cost. As my experience shows, successful sales do not require any design refinements - it is only important to convey to the buyer the essence of the offer, so a free website engine and the basic design that came with the kit was chosen. We just removed unnecessary functionality, repainted a couple of panels and introduced selling chips that are known to everyone, but few people use them.

I looked for suppliers on the Internet. You drive into Yandex “to buy such and such a product in bulk” and you get a bunch of offers. Initially, I put only pictures, there was no product. I set up Yandex.Direct, saw real demand, and then made my first purchase. I decided to launch in Moscow because of the greater demand.

6. Tell us about your scheme of work with suppliers. As far as I know, you do not purchase goods, but the supplier sends it directly to the client. Why did you choose this particular model?

This is not entirely true. We purchase hot goods in advance to our warehouse, they sell out very quickly, and we take slow-moving and various exclusive items from the suppliers' warehouse as orders come in. I always thought that suppliers don't work like that, it turned out quite the opposite - here's an insight 🙂

Suppliers do not send anything to customers, they have enough of their own problems with deliveries, so we handle all the logistics ourselves. We have concluded contracts with courier services. When the order arrives, we call the courier, he goes to the supplier, picks up the order, takes it to the courier service, and they give it to another courier the next morning for delivery to the buyer.The exact same scheme with our own warehouse, only easier - we rent a piece of the warehouse directly from the courier service, so it comes out a little cheaper.

7. What documents, certificates and other formalities are required in order to legally and officially open an online store?

9. What was the initial investment in the business?

This is not to say that thanks to the web studio I started for free. Even the time of your own specialists costs money. But I managed to save a lot, since I had knowledge, experience, a clear understanding of the task and the ability to correctly set it.

The launch of the site cost 10,000 rubles, although work on it has not stopped until now and at the moment a much larger amount has been spent, third-party specialists are involved.
Purchase of the first batch of goods 15,000 rubles. + 2500 rub. delivery.
The advertising budget was 500 rubles / day, now this figure has also grown - there is no point in saving on advertising, which brings the bulk of the profit.

10. How quickly did you receive the first order and when did you recoup all investments and came out with a profit?

A properly configured Direct worked instantly - we received 3 orders in the first week. They went to zero almost immediately, but they received a net profit only at the end of the second month of work.

11. If it's not a secret, how much profit is your online store at the moment or what is its turnover?

Here it is impossible to answer unequivocally, the situation is constantly changing ... This year the average monthly profit has doubled compared to the previous year. But there are months in which sales are good, and there are unprofitable ones. We went into negative territory during the spring holidays: March 8, May 9. At the end of the year, my goal is to earn a certain amount, I will not name it.

I set up Direct myself, rewrote it several times. We have recently rewritten most of the ads, launched A / B testing and retargeting, and are preparing a campaign for YAN. Work on improving contextual advertising should not stop, even a perfectly tuned campaign will lose its effectiveness over time, because nothing stands still on the Internet.

13. What difficulties did you encounter in the process of implementing the idea and do you still face?

The most important problem is logistics. It is very difficult to work with delivery services, their business processes are absolutely not flexible and at the slightest deviation from the scheme they have no “B” plan. The only solution they propose is to move everything over to the next day by starting the process over again. Such an order can be considered lost, but you still have to pay for delivery.

Buyers often do not understand why the courier cannot arrive minute by minute at a specific time, or why, if the delivery address changes spontaneously, the courier cannot immediately go to them in the other end of Moscow.

The second problem is related to the circulation of cash. We provide all the most popular payment options, but despite all the advancement of Moscow, 100% of orders are now paid in cash. The courier service accepts cash for us, they also punch the cashier's checks. But if the buyer accepted the goods, and 5 minutes after the departure of the courier decided to refuse (did not like it), then a problem arises - the courier service is not the seller, it cannot return the cash received 5 minutes ago. We also cannot transfer cash by courier, this is prohibited by the law on postal services. It turns out that we take cash, but we return it only to the card, this is not clear to customers.

14. If you had the opportunity to go back in time, would you change anything in your business, correct any mistakes, or regret anything?

I do not regret anything, an entrepreneur should not regret his mistakes at all - all mistakes give me additional experience. For example, last year we took orders until December 28th. It is useless, even the most expensive courier service cannot provide on-time delivery before the New Year holidays. It's not cool to make buyers nervous, so we are already working on solutions to this problem.

15. Were there people who have helped or are helping you to this day with advice, mentally or physically?

Among my friends there are no people with the experience I need, so I have to do everything myself. Business Youth seminars motivate me the most. I can’t say that I’m a fan of them, I’m not even subscribed to the group, but Petya and Misha really charge me for action, thanks in large part to them I launched this project.

16. How competitive is your niche? Would you advise anyone to go into online commerce at all, or is it a tough business and are you just lucky?

Where there is demand, there is always competition. There are large competitors who have been selling bags all over Russia since the 90s. There are well-invested fresh projects. Perhaps we will also attract investment in development, such proposals sometimes come to us.

I can't say that online commerce is a tough business. This area in Russia is now actively developing, it is worth working in it, it is worth investing in it. But the owner needs knowledge of technology and Internet marketing, he needs to keep his finger on the pulse, to be aware of new products. If a person is not able to independently register an e-mail, install a counter on the site or understand the site statistics graphs, then he should not engage in this type of business. Many clients of our web studio have paid big money to seo companies for years, promoting requests to the Top, for which no one comes to them. It is incredibly difficult to persuade such a client to invest money, for example, in contextual advertising, which "he himself never clicks on."

17. What is your competitive advantage over other online stores and do you need to stand out at all?

Sometimes customers call and say in plain text “I'll buy from you if you give a discount more than store N”. We try not to compete in price, so my operators have been instructed not to succumb to such blackmail and not to give out anything just like that.

You need to do your job as efficiently as possible: deliver orders on time, work only with proven goods, then buyers will recommend the store to their friends. This is not always possible, but we are striving for it.

The advantage can be called simple delivery terms. Competitors have a huge sheet of text, which needs to be carefully read, and we all fit into 4 columns http://bagrepublic.ru/delivery/
For the sake of providing such conditions, we undertake many delivery costs, we work not only with federal transport companies, but also with private couriers. The site always automatically calculates the final cost of the order with all discounts and surcharges. For modern sites, this is in the order of things, but for some reason many competitors do not.

18. What advice would you give to a budding entrepreneur?

19. What are your plans for the future? Maybe other projects appear or are you planning to expand your existing business?

I am actively engaged in the wholesale of textiles from Italy and now I am testing another retail niche. By the way, the test site was launched on a free website builder.

Bag Republic will also not stand aside. It will be transferred to a paid engine, we will develop a new design, and bring to mind the existing functionality. Already now I am slowly making preliminary sketches of the terms of reference.

20. What prospects do you see in online commerce now for aspiring entrepreneurs? Which way can they look now?

Anywhere. The e-commerce market is growing across the board. There are niches that are already occupied by giants - branded clothing, footwear, electronics, books. There is no way to get there without investment, but you can easily get into all other niches. Launch an online store on a free constructor with any product that interests you, test it. All products are on sale, it is only important to start.

Thought what could be the stupidest product? The first to come to mind were nesting dolls. Googled. The search results are full of matryoshka stores, there are even exclusive ones for 65,000 rubles. for a set of 3 pieces. This means that there is a demand for them and you can get into this niche. Start up! 🙂

Conclusion on my own

Many thanks to Alexander for answering questions. As I said, I liked the interview very much. Special thanks for the advice that Alexander sometimes gives me in personal correspondence. I hope that someday we will see each other and chat live. Well, to you, dear readers, I want to say one thing: try, start, develop, because only in this way, you can achieve something in life. Do not look for the magic button "Loot", it simply does not exist and will not be. Ask Alexander questions in the comments under the article if you have any questions, and also subscribe to new articles, because they will be no less interesting.

And I really want to ask, no need to test the strength of Alexander's store !!! It's just that after the publication of articles about my online store and my other projects, I saw a lot of left orders, invoicing for payments, etc. You are not primitive people who saw an online store for the first time in their life and should definitely look, but whether the orders are actually being shipped. Treat other people with respect. Hope for understanding!

Thank you for the attention!

Research the demand for bags in your city. Everyone needs this accessory. But you will have to form an assortment and pricing policy depending on the average level of paying capacity and the number of city residents. The situation with competition is also subject to careful analysis.

The most important point in the process of drawing up a business plan is the choice of suppliers. You need to find high quality and fashionable bags at the lowest price.

The main risks

The main danger lies in mistakes in the formation of the store's assortment. Poor quality bags will ruin your reputation. A product that is too luxurious and expensive can be ruinous if the majority of potential buyers prefer average prices. Careful initial analysis and financial cushion will help mitigate this risk. It is not worth investing all the money in the initial batch. Test demand in practice and add the most popular models to your assortment.

Location

As with any retail outlet, you should look for the most crowded places for a bag shop. The adjustments are made by the city in which you plan to work. Competition is very fierce in large settlements. Look for free retail space in popular shopping malls. You can rent a pavilion in the big market. If we are talking about a separate room, a large amount is required for location in central areas. If start-up capital is limited, options in new residential areas may be considered. Lack or little competition with a large number of potential customers can be your trump card.

In a small town, finding a decent premise in the center and paying for its rent is much easier. The selection criteria are similar - the maximum number of potential buyers should pass near your store during the day.

An ideal option for organizing a small bag shop is a room with a total area of ​​30-40 m². This is enough for free placement of a good assortment of models in the sales area, a small warehouse and utility rooms. Smaller areas are acceptable, but do not huddle in too cramped rooms. Buyers should be comfortable. A spacious shopping area with good lighting allows you to better see the bags and assess their attractiveness. The reputation of a successful store should be worked from the very beginning. Another important argument is that it is much easier to steal in a crowd.

Equipment

No matter how big your store is, and what form it is organized in, you need trade racks to place your goods. Manufacturers offer a lot of options:

1. Special hangers for bags.
2. Standard racks and shelves. They can be positioned around the perimeter of the room. With a large trading floor area, double-sided racks are installed in the center.
3. Counters and glass stands for small accessories and skin care products and other materials from which bags are sewn.
4. Special metal mesh. It is wall mounted and used to display products.

For the equipment of a small store designed for a buyer with an average income, 70,000 rubles are enough. You can save money by purchasing used racks or ordering their manufacture.

In a small store, anti-theft systems are not installed. For large areas, it is a must. Regardless of the volume of trade, it is recommended to use a computer, barcode scanner and special software for accounting of goods. Additional investments for the purchase of this kit are about 30,000 rubles. In return, you will get a lot of benefits:

1. Significant time savings for goods accounting.
2. Ease of revenue control.
3. Superior service.

Install large mirrors along the wall. Customers should be able to see their reflection and evaluate whether the model of the bag suits them, whether it is combined with clothes and shoes.

If you are planning to open an elite boutique, the decoration of the premises and the purchase of equipment will require about 2,000,000 rubles.

Personnel

The number of employees depends on the size of your store. If you have opened a small retail outlet, at first 2-3 sales consultants will be enough. The main criterion for hiring is wholesome work in a similar business and the ability to communicate with clients. You can search for employees through ads, through the recommendations of friends, or involve a recruiting agency in the process. At the start, the store owner is also encouraged to work with customers. This way, you can test the operation of your store, find errors in the organization.

Cleaning is usually the responsibility of the salesperson. Whether it is worth hiring a full-time accountant depends on the turnover and assortment of the store, the form of registration and the taxation system.

The salary is formed depending on the average in your city. The creation of a new business is associated with high costs, but it is not worth saving on the qualifications of sales consultants and their remuneration. Experienced and motivated employees are the most important resource. The optimal wage formation scheme is the minimum rate + percentage of sales.

Documents and licenses

The choice of the form of organization depends on your plans for business development and the number of founders. If the store has one owner, and you do not plan to expand, an individual entrepreneur is quite suitable. In this case, registration takes 5 working days, the state fee is about 800 rubles. If there are several founders or if you plan to create a chain of stores over time, it is advisable to immediately register a legal entity. OKVED code - 52.43.2 retail trade in leather goods and travel accessories. You need to open a bank account. The next step is obtaining a trade patent, purchasing and registering a cash register.

If you are renting an area in a shopping center, the administration takes on most of the hassle of decorating the premises. In the case of a separate room, you must obtain permits yourself:

Permission for the location of the outlet.
- Conclusions of SES and fire supervision.
- Contract for garbage removal, disinfection and deratization.
- Obtaining permits from the local administration for a specific work schedule and placement of outdoor advertising.

Profitability

To organize a small store, 300,000-600,000 rubles are enough. There are many factors that affect profitability. With the right organization, the gross profit can be at least 400,000 rubles per month. The norm for a small store with an average price level is considered to be the period of reaching the payback period of 6-8 months.

Marketing

If the location and assortment are right, outdoor advertising can be enough to attract customers. It is important to announce the store opening well - use whatever means are available. It is worth offering discounts to the first customers. Regular promotions for selling off stocks should be organized regularly. Think over a system of bonuses for regular customers.

The most important factor is impeccable service. The politeness and professionalism of sellers, replenishment of the assortment with fashionable novelties, related accessories and bag care products, quality assurance, the ability to order a model from catalogs - all this will attract more customers than the most expensive advertising.

Summary

With all factors taken into account, careful work on the business plan and correction of errors in practice, a bag store can be a successful start of a new business.