Anyone know a good Retail Consultancy Company?

[paint32]

I am opening an independent art shop and need retail consultancy company to advise us on the best way to go about it.
It would be more business planning rather than on the visual layout of the shop. Companies who specialise in small businesses would be ideal, especially creative businesses.
Please let me know if anyone knows of any good companies!

[snow.maiden]

I totally agree with cleversod. Your business plan should've been devised way before you thought about opening the shop, with all the costs being foremost in your mind. Are you in a town or a village? Do you expect sales to be steady? Have you enough money tucked away to cover your overheads when business is slack? Have you thought about opening an internet store first of all, to see what type of response you're likely to get? Will you be in competition with anyone else in the vicinity?

[Markandshez]

I can give you hundreds of people who will be more than happy to help you with a business plan - and they will all tell you what you want to hear.

Get yourself down to your local Enterprise Agency or Business Link, attend a course on starting a business and do your own research. The other two answers are spot on.

[paint32]

Thanks for your advice so far people - heres a bit more info though - we are already online and doing well, but online is very different to a shop - so I want some retail advice, just incase there are things we have not thought about!
And money is not a huge problem as we have been making a lot of sales already so can afford to pull out some stops on this venture.
Like I said, any Retail Consultancy companies people know of, or where to find some for small creative businesses - please let me know!
x x x

[Markandshez]

Depending on where you are, go to Business LInk. If you must have a consultant (which is just another word for "unemployed" in many cases) they may be able to help you with the cost. They will charge you between �300 and �500 a day so make sure you know exactly what advice you are looking for.

The advice to find your local Enterprise agency is still the best option. They can give you free, impartial advice and may have someone who specialises in Retail. If not, at least they will make sure your consultant does not rip you off