Lingerie wholesale unit with trade showroom

Boutique owners, department store buyers for small chains, online sellers and costume or bridal retailers who prefer to see fabric and fit in person and reorder regularly.

Margin between your buying price and wholesale price, on larger and repeat orders. Rent and staff costs mean you need steady volume from a good number of accounts.

• Buying and range planning
• Stock control and order fulfilment
• Sales and account management
• Managing cash flow and supplier terms

• Check your lease terms, zoning and any municipal business licence for commercial premises
• Commercial general liability and stock (contents) insurance, including cover for theft or water damage
• Check textile labelling rules and customs and import requirements for any imported lines
• Register for GST/HST and check provincial rules for selling to resellers
• Large stock holdings and slow-paying accounts can strain cash, so check payment terms carefully
• Check WCB/WSIB requirements in your province once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on your lease, showroom fit-out, the stock you carry across several brands, insurance and packing equipment. Large stock holdings can strain cash, so check supplier payment terms.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the brands you carry, your number of repeat accounts and how well you collect payment. The estimate assumes at least 30 hours a week.

Check your lease terms, zoning and municipal business licence, plus commercial general liability and stock insurance. Also check textile labelling and import rules, GST/HST and provincial rules for selling to resellers, and WCB/WSIB once you hire.