EVERYBODY Listen up!! I need manufacturing help !!

WOW, where to start.

Shops don't normally produce their own products, let alone something as technical as outerwear.

No shop will sustain any sort of business only selling outerwear. You should probably carry all things skiing.

So do you want to have a shop or an outerwear line?

You are never going to get contact info for a manufacturer through NS. Start poking around the industry and see where everyone else gets their stuff made, for how much, and the other 1283729138098 details. This should take months to years to develop a solid plan/business model.

My best advice, is to start drawing. Once you have a BOOK of good designs and a solid understanding of how they might actually fit, buy a sewing machine and some material. You will find out quickly how much you do or don't like working with textiles. I taught myself to sew quite easily, but trust me you will be doing it for WEEKS before you have anything you are proud of, especially outerwear.

Honestly, you may think you are talking about a small little business, but you are quite literally talking about a HUGEEEEEEEE project.

^ what he said.

Generally a "retail shop" is a place that sells a ton of different brands/products, like your classic ski shop.

If it's brand specific, it comes after you've developed a brand and brand recognition, much like Jiberish has done.

I'd start smaller and either make a ski shop if there is room for one in your area (although I'd advise against it since online shops are dominating), or make an outerwear company.

nail on the head with what these guys have said, but go for it you'll never know unless you give it a go :D good luck

You guys are super helpful !! Thank you !!! On another note, do you guys think a website would be more successful than a shop?

yeah!
and make it shipping to the UK sara!

It will be a while until some real product is out but keep an eye out for Free Spirit !!

nice

good luck

Catch 22
If you run an online shop, you're still selling marked up goods in the same medium (internet) that the companies are selling from directly. You'll be a middleman, but in a huge market. You might as well carve out a niche in your hometown as a retail shop.

-Why would a customer purchase from your store at a higher price rather than going to Jiberish.com or Saga.com and getting the exact same good for 100 less?
Just something to consider...

If it were me starting a business, i would completely forget the idea of retail. I would try to create a brand new product that stands out as either a price-point leader or something totally unique. Without an extremely well planned business model, a retailer is sure to fail quickly..

Nvm, I see that you are in fact trying to create a new outerwear brand, not a retailer.

Either way, i'd reconsider. The market is completely flooded with outerwear brands... its unlikely to be received well by a community that basically has everything it already needs.

:(

As someone who is starting my own business right now, let me just say that you need to get input from LOTS of people who are in the industry you want, as well as people who own or operate different types of businesses. If you just think you have a fun idea that you want to sell, you'll flop hard. I am not trying t be a a pessimist, but a realist. Starting a business from scratch is VERY hard, especially in a flooded market like outerwear or skiing retail. Again, do crazy amounts of homework. My other suggestion is that you slowly build your business. Don't quit your job and go "all in" on one idea. Check out the book "Quitter" by John Acuff (unsure of the spelling of his last name) to see how to work your way into a business.