Home Decor Store Owner Wannabe (small business, license, market research, profit)

[canyontothesky]

I want to open a home decor "boutique" (if you want to call it that, to denote it from a larger store) someday, maybe 5 years from now, who knows. I'm really excited about it. But I want to look at some facts and figures first. Is there anywhere that I can look up statistics for the industry? Like average profit and other operational things, as well as market research statistics like consumer trends, etc? I found one market research that cost $3,500! I can't afford that! haha

I want to sell independent artists' products, as well as vintage, and refurbished vintage... I hope to do it in the New England area, probably NH. Also any resources for the industry would be great. Comments as well.

[Rapture]

I don't have the answers to all your questions but here are some sites I've used for info.:
National Retail Federation -
http://www.sba.gov/

I suggest doing a business plan and that will help you plan. You can find one on the SBA web site and just fill in the blanks with some research. They also have people that have been in business or still are and give free counseling. SCORE | Counselors to America's Small Business | SCORE

Don't give up your dream and if you work hard you can do it! Good luck.

[Steve Bagu]

Lets see now...I want to start a business...have no knowledge...have no money for someone to teach me...but I'm really excited in the prospects of owning this type of business...sounds like a million people in the US. Maybe I can walk into a similiar type of store...talk to the owner and ask him how he got started...maybe he will help me in how to open a store like his across the street and create competition. Dreamland this ain't. The solution is to read up as much info as you can...save as much money as you can to buy/rent space/ get business license/phone and electricity connected and also money to BUY inventory to sell. Damn...its a lot easier then I thought. Steve (been there and done that)