You’ve been letting the thought of starting a business simmer in your mind for some time, and you’re finally ready to take that next step. You know you want to focus on home decor, but you don’t know where to go. The following are a few tips to help you start your home decor business.
Education Matters
One thing you must do is focus on your education. Sure, some folks get into this business without a degree or anything, but having one does give you an edge. You’re just starting right now, and all your competitors have started before you, so you do need an edge. The good thing is an interior design degree doesn’t take long to get. Although, you could just focus on hiring folks with these types of degrees to help you get started.
Addressing Shipping
No business should start without a plan to address online shoppers. Today’s technology has made it easier to shop online, and a lot of customers have gotten used to it. You know that getting a package at home is much easier than getting dressed and going to the store to pick up what you need. You will have to figure out which company is going to handle your shipping needs. On top of that, you also want to use parcel auditing software to keep shipping costs low and anything else you can do to keep your expenses under control.
Making Connections
The next thing you may want to think about is making the right industry connections. It’s better to make these as early as possible and always be flexible. Just because a third party business is good for you now, doesn’t mean it will continue to be. You want to find flooring, fabric, carpet, furniture, and wall covering suppliers. Ideally, you can find local companies willing to work out deals with you that’ll be beneficial for both sides. The better the deal, the better prices you’ll be able to offer your customers.
Get a Portfolio
The next thing you want to think about is your interior design portfolio. Your clients want to see what you’re capable of doing. The problem is you won’t be able to work with many people until you have this portfolio. This is the reason you have friends and family members. Ask them if they’re willing to let you work on their homes so that you can start building that portfolio. It may even be a good idea to volunteer your services to others if you run out of willing friends or family members.
Photography Matters
All the beautiful work you do for your friends, family members, or folks you volunteered your services to won’t mean much if you don’t capture the images. Either hire a professional photographer to help you capture these images or buy a digital SLR and tripod and learn how to take quality photos yourself. Snapping pictures on your phone simply won’t do unless you happen to be a skilled photographer. A professional knows how to make these images sing, and that’s what you want. When you finally show your portfolio to potential clients, they’ll be impressed by your work because a photographer was able to capture it in all its splendor.
These are some important tips to keep in mind when starting a home decor business. Take your time with this; starting a business shouldn’t be done in a rush.