By Mashum Mollah
Getting it right in the world of business can be like playing Russian roulette. Some people are simply not lucky. If you listen to potential entrepreneurs voice their business plans, many of them prefer to sell stuff that has already been made instead of making something they can call their own. Well, there is nothing wrong with being a supplier or retailer but this bold step calls for one to be confident and brave. Like is required of any step in life, starting a shoe, bags or belts line calls for ample preparation. The fact is that over 75% of human beings own a pair or two and many of them will not mind adding to their collection something that is new, classy, modern and well crafted. So, how does one get down to running a successful shoe making business?
Research, research, and research some more:
While it is true that shoes play a big role in everyday wear, it is important to know what the market wants. What are the upcoming trends in clothing and fashion that can act as the basis for a suitable shoe line? Researching not only gathers information on potentially successful shoe designs but also helps you in benchmarking operations to offer customers a price that they will be comfortable with.
Take a course:
We have all seen business owners who have no idea of how the hands-on component of their business is run. It is unfortunate that such leaders must always hire someone to explain their operations to third parties or risk going out of business if the core team no longer wants to work. If you have the financial muscle to hire the experts, by all means, do it. Otherwise, it helps to go back to school to study a course on what you want to do.
The good thing with such courses is that they can be taken in various modes ranging from evening classes to e-learning. Furthermore, you are studying to improve your output in a business you are about to start so the achievement is personal and measurable. Taking a course in shoe making also exposes you to trends in the industry. You meet other like-minded individuals not to mention instructors that know a thing or two about how the real market is like.
Identify suppliers:
You already have the knowledge to make a pair of shoes and probably a few designs you are looking forward to starting with. The next big step is to identify where you will be getting your raw materials. As you begin, your requirements for accessories might be for a few pairs but this number will go up with an increase in demand. Basically, shoe accessories and materials can be obtained from retailers but the best practice would be to establish connections with manufacturers and suppliers. A bulk producer, belts eyelet, for instance, will give you a good deal which when factored into the costs, does not significantly affect the sales price.
Hire the right people:
A business is as good as the people behind its operations. Now that you have qualifications in the field that you want to venture into, have identified credible suppliers for your raw materials and you can now take time to hire some help. You are in a good place if you can take a shoe from raw material to finished product – then you have an understanding of the skill set needed for each process. Shoe making is not a common field of study so you might need to work with training institutions to identify potential members of your team.
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