Starting up a fancy dress/costume business..help

pokeroptimist

Hey folks,

My sister is thinking of opening up a fancy dress/costume business in the north west region. There is def a market for it as there is only one in Sligo and one in Athlone.

My question is does anyone know of any good resources for finding out info on the above topic? She has the capital to go ahead and make it happen but I'd just like to see what opinions/ideas ye would have here.

Sorry to mods if this is in the wrong section...move it if so

Regards,
Colin

Axwell

Be a bit clearer, what kind of info are you looking for? Fancy/Dress or setting up a business or??

kc66

Theres a franchise www.smiffys.com.
Maybe not what you are looking for.

pokeroptimist

Axwell wrote: »

Be a bit clearer, what kind of info are you looking for? Fancy/Dress or setting up a business or??

Sorry. Fancy dress business.

Axwell

Well has she looked into a supplier for the costumes etc,where to source them and that kind of thing? Has she done anything at this stage apart from the idea or is it merely an idea at this point?

Bandara

Hi

Why doesn't she ring the one in Athlone, speak to the owner (explain her plans in Sligo - which won't really interfere on his/her Athlone business) and offer to work there for free for a month ? (I'm sure they are very busy this time of the year with the Christmas Fancy dress parties - so its likely they might need an extra hand - and a free one is very tempting). Just make sure she gets a committment that the owner will give hers an insight into the business and lets her ask the questions she needs answered

She'll get a great picture of the business, how to run it, the problems that crop up and how to handle them etc etc. Also in the future if she does open herself and run into a problem she will have someone to phone for advice or just to help each other out with bits and peices, which could be very useful.

Obviously they may tell her to sod off but it is definitely worth a try. It would be beyond invaluable to her.

Just a suggestion

pokeroptimist

Hammertime wrote: »

Hi

Why doesn't she ring the one in Athlone, speak to the owner (explain her plans in Sligo - which won't really interfere on his/her Athlone business) and offer to work there for free for a month ? (I'm sure they are very busy this time of the year with the Christmas Fancy dress parties - so its likely they might need an extra hand - and a free one is very tempting). Just make sure she gets a committment that the owner will give hers an insight into the business and lets her ask the questions she needs answered

She'll get a great picture of the business, how to run it, the problems that crop up and how to handle them etc etc. Also in the future if she does open herself and run into a problem she will have someone to phone for advice or just to help each other out with bits and peices, which could be very useful.

Obviously they may tell her to sod off but it is definitely worth a try. It would be beyond invaluable to her.

Just a suggestion

Good suggestion. But the Athlone shop is making a killing from a 50 mile radius...we've done our research on that. Plus we've been up to the shop a few times checking stuff out and renting costumes etc...
The owner is'nt the nicest lady in the world believe me and would'nt entertain that face. Plus my sister owns a hair salon which she works in full time...so she would'nt be able to leave it and work in Athlone. The level above the hair salon is where she'd be starting the business, and also incorporating a t-shirt printing business along with it.

Dabko

nice idea, always money in renting stuff! You guys are going to need a good website and some decent promotional materials. We have just opened a new design/print shop in sligo town. Drop me a pm if there anything we can do.

newwifey

Colin,
Did you say that there was a fancy dress shop renting costumes in Sligo? If so, where is it located?
A friend of mine recently attended a fancy dress nite out and as far as I know she travelled to Ballina to rent her costume.