When you embark on the adventure of opening a boutique, you have no idea about the many requirements of bringing your vision to life. My e-book aims to save you valuable time, money and frustration – while assuming you are an intelligent and creative individual with your own ideas.
Basically, The Proprietress is a detailed, easy-to-absorb, guide designed to help the modern, fashionable entrepreneur learn the steps required to open and run boutique.
The book includes:
• Relevant information from conception of your idea to managing your shop
• Insider tips that you won’t find in any typical business books
• Practical homework assignments that will lead you to your goal of opening a boutique
• Links to helpful resources that make your research quicker and easier
Now Available: Helpful Tools!
We’ve also created helpful tools for both current and aspiring boutique owners:
Business Plan Financial Statements: holy cow – these are very hard to create! Let me make things easy for you. Use my inter-related Excel worksheets for Breakeven, Revenue Assessment, Start-up Costs, Income and Cash Flow Statements. $40
Kate’s Merchandising Matrix: are you a buyer who has difficulty editing your market wish list? This matrix can serve as a helpful tool to edit a long list to fit your budget while ensuring an appropriate mix of styles, colors and price points. Can also be used as a tool to manage your PO’s. $10 (comes with PO)
Custom e-PO: why use a manufacturers PO when you can create your own and manage your purchasing with ease and style? A simple template customized with your store logo and color palette – this tool is great for emailing your orders.
My earliest memory involves ditching my mom at the mall so I could try on party shoes to my heart’s content. All that patent leather delighted me to no end. Little did I know that this was the start of a shopping career that would culminate into an entrepreneurial effort affectionately named ooma (objects of my affection).
Owning a boutique was always a dream for me – but I knew there was much to learn before diving into the endeavor. Armed with a degree in Business Administration, I gained ten year’s experience as an account executive for various marketing and design firms. This provided a solid business foundation for starting my business, and satisfied my craving to work with creative people. But a career in marketing was not my calling. Getting laid off in the summer of 2001 was the world’s way of saying – “it’s time to do your own thing.”
I created ooma - a successful San Francisco boutique – as the intersection for my love of style, self-expression and creative talent. Everything in the store was either made by the hands of local artists, dreamed up by someone who just went out on their own or was just too dang darling to pass up. From flirty and flattering clothing to colorful jewels to unusual accessories and fun gifts – all of these items were the objects of my affection.
But alas! A new object of my affection entered my world-my son Oscar. As I became a mother and prepared to take time off to raise my family, I made the difficult decision to sell my adorable boutique. Thankfully, I found buyers that wanted to maintain the essence and name – so ooma will live on even without my daily involvement.
During my six years of ooma ownership, I enjoyed stellar customer reviews, very favorable editorial and several “best boutique awards.” Mostly, I just did what came naturally for me: building relationships with both vendors and clients, seeking out the most unique and timeless merchandise, and creating a happy environment.
Along with my success came constant questions from clients who wanted to open their own boutiques. Many a morning was spent chatting about this topic over coffee with several people throughout the years. With my strong business background and warm personality, I took great joy in helping others to follow their dreams.
I hope this blog and my e-guide help you realize your dream and that anyone with a strong passion and plenty of knowledge can open a fabulous boutique! And if you’re just here for fun & style -than enjoy!
Good luck with your adventure –
kate logan fulford
