Page 186 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

of-town store, or buy by mail? Would they patronize you if you handled a
complete line? What items do they have the most difficulty in finding in local
stores? These are some of the questions to ask around your community before
you start a store.

In this book you will find specific and definite suggestions, based on the
actual experience of others in starting specialty stores. From these
suggestions, and a careful survey of the needs of your community, there is no
reason why, if you really want to, you can’t start a successful store.

Choosing the Best Location

There are two general types of store locations, popularly called “high rent
locations” and “low rent locations.” Of course, the high rent locations are the
“hot spots” on the busiest downtown streets. Even a small store in such a
location may rent for thousands of dollars a year. Without adequate capital
such locations are almost out of the reach of the average beginner in
storekeeping. But for the sale of certain “drop in” items these locations are
almost essential.

People will not walk upstairs, around the block, or even across the street to
buy convenience items such as chewing gum, cigars, cigarettes, popular drug
items, soft drinks and similar merchandise. For stores specializing in this type
of merchandise, location is the most important thing.

In selecting your location try to determine how much your type of store is
actually dependent on location. Pick a location that is in a growing section of
town. Beware of a section that is being overrun by manufacturing, garages,
cheap rooming houses, or gives other indications that the neighborhood is
going to seed.

Different types of stores require different locations. Be sure you know just
what type of people you intend to cater to, and that the location you select is
in a neighborhood frequented by such people. In every business section there
is always one side of the street that is most popular; locate your store on this
side of the street. Most of the busiest locations are now cluttered up with
cheap chain stores, featuring “price” merchandise. A high-grade store