How to open a souvenir shop. Opening a souvenir shop as your own business. Profit calculation, profitability and payback of the project

Some enterprising people make a profit using their imagination and creativity. The production of souvenirs is a fairly promising area of ​​activity. Such products are in demand even in difficult economic conditions because people never spare money on gifts for family and friends. If you want to open the production of souvenirs as a business, you should understand in more detail all its nuances.

Where to begin?

Before starting the production of souvenir products, you should decide on your goals. It is important to understand whether this activity will become a source of additional income for you, or whether you want to make it your main activity. In addition, you need to know whether you will sell retail souvenirs in a small store or whether you are more interested in large orders from different companies and enterprises.

Business registration

At first, in order not to spend money on renting premises, you can work from home. In this case, you don’t have to register your business and, accordingly, don’t pay taxes. When the business begins to develop, it is advisable to open an LLC and choose the production of souvenirs. Thanks to this, you will have the opportunity to enter into agreements for the supply of goods with legal entities. This line of activity is not licensed, so you do not have to obtain any additional permits or approvals.

Room

To save money at the start, you can initially work in a garage or any other heated room at home. By the way, souvenirs are one of the most promising. If you do not have a suitable place at home to install equipment for the production of souvenirs, you can rent a room on the outskirts of the city. This will allow you to significantly reduce costs. When your business begins to develop, you will need a spacious building for production workshops, warehouses and offices. It is desirable that the production and sale of souvenirs be carried out in one place. To do this, you can open a small shop near the enterprise.

Types of souvenirs

To make souvenirs, you can use different materials:

1. Products made from acrylic strongly resemble amber jewelry. They are produced in two ways: mechanical and casting. The first method is used to make tombstones and logos. The pouring method allows you to place different objects inside the material. The result is unusual, original souvenirs;
2. Metal products are always in great demand. But their manufacture is a rather labor-intensive process that requires certain skills. Souvenirs are made of brass, aluminum or bronze. Finished products are polished and then decorated with engraving, inlay or enamel;
3. The stone is usually used to make ethnic souvenirs. The master must fully feel the material so as not to disturb the natural design. This type of work requires great patience;
4. Glass souvenirs are made using complex innovative technology, consisting of several stages. Laser art design and 3D images on glass are in greatest demand;
5. Tree. Craftsmen who have already worked with wood can easily manufacture custom souvenirs. You can earn decent money on original products made of natural wood;
6. Business souvenirs are the most serious and responsible matter. Such products should contain maximum useful information. The production of souvenir products with a logo must be treated very responsibly, since it is a marketing ploy of the company. To keep corporate customers happy, you need to hire an experienced craftsman and a professional designer. Such souvenirs can be made from any materials - stone, glass, wood and others.

Equipment

Before purchasing equipment for making souvenirs, you need to decide what products you will offer to customers.

In any case, it is much more profitable to purchase Chinese equipment. This is a fairly successful option, which is distinguished by affordable prices and decent quality. Such machines are designed for six months of intensive continuous work. During this time, you will be able to understand whether it is worth investing heavily in these popular businesses. If business begins to flourish, you can purchase better units. For example, it is best to buy milling machines for the production of souvenirs in Germany.

Sales market

If you are manufacturing souvenirs at home and produce them in small volumes, the products can be sold to stores located in crowded places.

Solid production requires more serious distribution channels. It is advisable to conclude contracts for the production of souvenirs with large companies and enterprises. In this case, you will be guaranteed to receive a stable high income.

Business profitability

Experts believe that making souvenirs as a business is quite a profitable activity. In order for the income to be tangible, it is necessary to include advertising costs in the business plan. If you constantly use effective marketing tools, you will soon have many regular customers. But the best advertisement is the quality of the product.

The easiest way to determine the profitability of a business is by example. A small wooden box costs 3 thousand rubles. Its production costs 500 rubles. If you make products to order, you can earn even more. usually have high profitability, since entrepreneurs do not spend money on renting premises and salaries to staff. In addition, materials for the production of souvenir products are inexpensive, which can significantly reduce the cost of production.

Expenses

To start your own business producing souvenirs you don’t need a lot of money. If you plan to work independently, you need to invest 60–150 thousand rubles. These are expenses for the purchase of equipment and advertising. A craftsman who has all the necessary tools and machines only needs to find 20–30 thousand for advertising and consumables. , it’s up to you to decide, but you should remember that souvenirs bring good income even during a crisis. In addition, this is a very exciting creative activity. If things go well, you can eventually open your own souvenir shop and hire experienced craftsmen as a staff.

Making souvenirs from high-strength cast stone

Advantages and disadvantages

Experts characterize this area of ​​activity only on the positive side:

• The product price is 3-4 times higher than its cost;
• Minimum expenses;
• High demand for products allows you to receive a stable income;
• A business can be organized right at home, which allows you to significantly save on renting premises.

The only drawback that scares away novice entrepreneurs is seasonality. Sales volumes increase significantly before official holidays - New Year, Christmas, March 8 and others. But this does not mean that production will be idle the rest of the time. If you sign contracts with corporate clients, there will be more than enough work. In addition, you can engage in other activities during the off-season. , just like the production of souvenirs requires a creative approach and a flight of imagination. Therefore, you can try your hand at this area. Photo books to order are a new area of ​​business activity, but despite this, this service is already extremely popular.

Let's sum it up

Handmade souvenirs are always unique and therefore very attractive to foreign tourists. If you produce aesthetically beautiful products from environmentally friendly materials, they will always be in great demand. Such a business brings good profits and is highly profitable. But to work in this direction, you need to have talent or appropriate education.

I tried to sell different groups of goods and I want to note that the souvenir assortment has a number of clear advantages. Unlike food and, for example, cosmetics, cute trinkets do not spoil and do not have a sell-by date.

 

Souvenirs do not need to be certified, there is no need to obtain special permits to trade these products, and the seller does not have to issue a health certificate. And although souvenirs are not essential items or goods in high demand, they sell well, and the relatively small turnover can be more than compensated for by high profitability.

Souvenirs “tourist” and “gift”

In my opinion, it is these two categories that souvenir products are primarily divided into. There are, however, also promotional souvenirs, but as a rule, they are not sold at retail. However, some products are equally well bought by guests of the city as souvenirs, and as gifts by the natives. An example is souvenir mugs with images of architectural monuments or views of the pearls of local nature. And, let’s say, Gzhel porcelain in the Ramensky district of the Moscow region will be a “dual-use” product, and in other places it will be primarily a gift item.

Of course, sometimes tourists willingly buy souvenirs that have nothing to do with local attractions, simply as gifts for loved ones. And yet, IMHO, the conditional division of the assortment into the two above-mentioned categories remains relevant.

Taking a foothold is the basis for business success

In retail trade, a good location of a retail outlet is one of the main conditions for profitable work. Of course, there are exceptions: if you sell something exclusive and at the same time desperately needed by people, they are ready to come to you on the other side of the city with two transfers. No one will chase souvenirs like that; they are already sold at every turn. To sell “tourist” products, you should choose sites near local attractions. It is advisable to first observe whether excursions stop at this place for a time sufficient to make purchases, or whether tourists are quickly “driven” further along the route.

Gifts are good to sell in large shopping centers, in the sales areas of large grocery stores, on pedestrian streets and at intersections of major passenger flows. The only trouble is that all the “bread” places are usually occupied by competitors for a long time and firmly, and if they are suddenly free, then astronomical sums are asked for rent (this fully applies to the approaches to tourist sites). Instead of a souvenir kiosk or department, you can try opening a trade from a portable tray or using a collapsible tent. But it is sometimes very difficult to obtain permission from local authorities to operate such a retail outlet (which, however, does not mean it is impossible).

There is another option: do not look for a permanent place for yourself, but take part in various exhibitions, fairs and folk festivals on the occasion of major and minor holidays. Here you need to carefully monitor the calendar of events and contact the event organizers in advance for approval of your participation.

Where to buy or order souvenirs for sale

It’s easier with souvenirs of a “gift” nature. You can create a wide assortment on the wholesale market or in the warehouse of almost any specialized company, something can be purchased from individual artisans (one thing does not interfere with another). An independent trip to China for cheaper souvenirs is too expensive for a novice trader.

With the “tourist” assortment it is more difficult. The attractions of some (especially small) settlements may be very poorly reflected or not indicated at all in the souvenir products offered in bulk. Then you have to turn to the services of manufacturing companies that produce custom souvenirs. And here the price of the product VERY STRONGLY depends on the size of the batch; the difference can exceed 100%. The best prices are sometimes offered not by manufacturers, but by intermediaries who place customer orders with their Chinese partners, but in this case we are usually talking about a thousand or even several thousand units, and the production time is several months. However, you can invest decent amounts in one or two items of goods only when ordering the most popular souvenirs.

A good solution may be to purchase components for souvenirs with a printed insert. With minimal skills, you can design the pictures yourself, and print them even on a home color printer (although, most likely, professional design and printing will give better results).

What souvenirs to choose

Which direction is better to choose - tourist or purely gift - depends primarily on the “place in the sun” that you manage to stake out. Although, if retail space and working capital allow, it makes sense to cover both in some reasonable ratio. To begin with, you should try to include a variety of souvenirs in your assortment, so that later you can decide on the most relevant ones. A variety of refrigerator magnets, key chains, souvenir plates and mugs, lighters, flasks, and products made from natural materials (wood, clay, straw, leather) sell well.

Should you mostly buy a cheap product or a more expensive one? Practice shows that goods in the mid-price category are usually in best demand. Expensive products will definitely sell poorly from a street stall - for substantial gifts, the buyer goes to more respectable retail outlets.

It should be remembered that souvenirs most often do not have utilitarian value, and therefore a significant portion of buyers may not appreciate the particularly high quality of the product, and people will regret the extra money. The same applies to the artistic level of souvenir design - unfortunately, few people have a developed aesthetic taste, and sometimes tasteless crafts sell much better than high-quality design developments. And at the same time, there is a certain stable demand for original handmade products.

Particular attention should be paid to the packaging. Properly packaged goods look and buy much better, and are less likely to deteriorate during transportation. Gift wrapping can sell well on its own; some people build their business on gift wrapping.

Competitors, let's live together!

Competition in the souvenir trade is quite strong - near the same tourist sites you can sometimes count dozens of kiosks and stalls. Sometimes the struggle for buyers takes the form of dumping wars, and as a result, all traders lose their profits. Isn't it better to have a coordinated pricing policy?! After all, tourists, and in the pre-holiday rush for gifts, most of our fellow countrymen are ready to fork out the full amount. And it is unknown whether it will be possible to sell so much more goods at reduced prices to compensate for the loss in profitability.

From personal experience I can give an example of successful cooperation with a competitor. Together we purchase larger quantities of goods and receive discounts. Each of us works with several of our own suppliers, and as a result we both have twice the wide range of products. One person would not be able to organize all these supplies purely physically, and finding a suitable assistant is not easy, and there is a high risk of raising a new competitor.

Souvenir Calendar

It should be borne in mind that the souvenir trade is seasonal. The main flow of tourists occurs from May to August and during the Christmas holidays, and the peak demand for gifts occurs on the eve of the most popular holidays. It is advisable to stock up on souvenirs in advance, otherwise you may be left without goods on hot days. As for purely thematic gifts, such as a symbol of the coming year, there is a high risk of getting large balances of illiquid assets, which you will then have to sell at a loss.

Growing your souvenir business

The logic of any business involves development, the alternative to which is decline. And here you have several ways. You can constantly expand and improve the range, find new suppliers, and develop exclusive souvenir designs. It is possible to open additional retail outlets and/or expand the geography of outbound sales. Or you can try to become a wholesaler, at least a small wholesaler for starters. But this is a topic for another discussion.

The fashion for unusual gifts has returned again, thereby increasing profits from sales of souvenirs and gifts by 20-25%. Taking into account the statistical data, you can safely open a souvenir and gift shop, the profit of which will grow every year.

In this article, we will look at the business plan for a gift store and find out how profitable this niche is now and whether the market is free.

But before relying on extras, let's look at what it takes to open such a store in more detail. So, in this review, we will together draw up a business plan for a gift and souvenir store with plans for 2018.

Competition

1. Analyze what products competitors offer, what is purchased and how often, price. The information will be taken into account in the business plan. This will allow you to purchase an assortment of gift products with high demand.
2. Pay attention to online gift stores, you can also learn a lot from them: how they conduct a dialogue with the buyer, what they offer, what time frames they deliver. Later, you can emphasize that when you come to your place, you can buy something right away, without waiting for delivery.
3. Study the local market: if an exclusive gift shop already exists in some area, then there will be no point in opening it. There will be revenue, of course, but it’s still not big enough for you to call the business successful. In addition, if a competing store already produces small sales volumes, this does not mean that they are doing something wrong. It is quite possible that this product is simply not in demand in a certain area or city.

There are always a lot of gift shops, so you definitely need to think about how your store will differ from the rest. It would be appropriate to open a business with your own “zest”. You can import products that no one else in the city has. For example, Korean handmade jewelry. Even if their range is not large, there is no need to specialize in this, but it would be nice to mention the availability of such an opportunity.

Location

A very important point in opening a gift shop, of course, is its location. Please note in the business plan that the store should be in a high-traffic area, preferably in the city center or in large shopping centers.

Even if your price is 10-15% higher than that of stores located in another part of the city, people will still buy from you, since more are in the field of view of potential buyers. In addition, based on the psychology of people, they will always go to the center, a crowded place, to buy a good gift, and not buy it somewhere “on the outskirts”.

At the initial stage, it is not necessary to immediately open a large outlet with 5,000 types of gifts and a large square footage. Start small, for example 20 m². We will consider opening such a store in a shopping center with high traffic. The price of such premises will, of course, vary from Moscow to other regions. In the list of business plan expenses, let’s take the average cost - 15,000 rubles per month.

If the room has already been renovated, there is no need to redo it - just decorate it to your taste. Usually, gift shops use their products as decorations, which the customer can immediately buy. You don’t need a designer, you can design everything yourself - focus on the layout and design of existing competitors, personally inspect similar points in your city, look at photographs in Russia and abroad.

Equipment for work

To operate a gift and souvenir shop, you must purchase the following equipment:

1. Computer for accounting - 15,000 rubles. Using it, you can also post updates, new deliveries that come to the store, and their photos on social networks;
2. Cash register - 15,000;
3. Barcoding equipment - 7,000;
4. Various stationery and small necessities - 10,000;
5. Stands for display, cabinets, racks - from 50,000;
6. Other unaccounted expenses - 50,000.

In total, in the business plan, the cost of purchasing equipment will be about 150,000 rubles.

Of course, for any business it is necessary to draw up official papers and register with the tax service. You can open as an individual entrepreneur or an LLC. It will cost from 5,000 to 11,000 inclusive.

Store assortment

Before you open your own business, you need to understand the assortment; thoughtless purchasing of gifts and souvenirs will not give positive results. Maybe these will be goods for everyone or exclusive handmade products, which will be a little higher in price? Depends, first of all, on what competitors sell

If you are aware of trends and know what kind of purchase customers need, and there is no similar store in the area, then feel free to open, since such a business will already be successful due to its individuality, and therefore demand.

Gifts should be for any occasion and for any clients: wedding, birthday, graduation, anniversary and more. Some people like to buy original and unusual gifts for themselves, just because.

Gift products of a wide range (cards, balloons, confetti) are purchased from wholesalers, and exclusive products are purchased from online stores. When taking into account the costs of purchasing assortment in a business plan, do not give preference to the cheapest product names, being tempted by the price. Having bought a gift that immediately breaks in your hands, customers will be disappointed and will tell their friends about you. There is absolutely no need for a business to have a bad reputation; it will quickly affect demand.

Handmade crafts are always welcome; it is wise to open a separate line of goods in the store: handmade soap, jewelry, cards, embroidery and much more. Hand-made goods can be bought directly from manufacturers at a negotiated price, and then sold in a store with a markup. You can work with several local manufacturers at once to find out whose range sells better.

For a traditional souvenir and gift store there should be a markup on products of at least 200%.

The range of goods is expected to be as follows:

Range	Description	Purchase expenses	Sales income (*20%)
Dishes	Dishes Mugs Spoons Knives with engraving	20 000	400 000
Toys	Stuffed Toys Matryoshka dolls	12 000	240 000
Festive office	Photo frames Albums Notepads Pens and pencils	6 000	120 000
Board games	Themed board games Games for adults and children	8 000	160 000
Interior items	Candles and candlesticks Vases Themed towels	9 000	180 000
Accessories	Jewelry: rings, beads, bracelets, earrings. Themed hats, ties, socks	11 000	220 000
Souvenirs	Magnets with city symbols and holiday themes Keychains Figurines Badges Piggy banks	10 000	200 000
Interior items	Candles and candlesticks Vases Themed towels	9 000	180 000

The cost of purchasing the assortment is - 76,000 rubles.

Sales income - 1,520,000 rubles.

Staff

If you plan to open a small store, then you can hire a minimum number of employees. Director and two salesmen (shift work).

The director should deal with tasks such as searching for goods, communicating with suppliers, concluding contracts, monitoring deliveries, hiring employees and much more.

Expenses in the business plan for monthly salaries of employees:

1. Director - 30,000 rubles.
2. Seller (2 pcs.) - 40,000 rub.

Total, monthly expenses for paying salaries to employees will amount to 70,000 rubles.

Tax deductions – 21,000 rubles.

Carefully monitor the quality of work of your employees; the success of the gift store directly depends on them. Especially from sellers, who must be as polite as possible and be able to sell well. The buyer comes not only for a gift, but also for the right mood; it is important for him to make sure that he is giving a truly useful and unusual gift.

Store advertising

As advertising, you can use any advertising methods, such as traditional ones - leaflets, banners, opening promotions, as well as online promotion. In your project business plan, you need to make a list of at least 50-100 advertising tools that you will master in the first months.

Use the most basic ones, which do not require any costs - advertising on social networks and among friends. Create groups, post photos of products. You don’t have to hire a professional photographer; you can borrow a good camera from your friends and take pictures yourself.

The name of the store should be memorable so that even people who don’t know about it won’t pass by. You can place a sign or banner at the end of the shopping center, which will cost 10,000.

Costs and payback

Starting investment for opening a souvenir and gift shop:

1. Renting premises - 15,000 rub.;
2. Shop equipment - 150,000 rub.
3. Product range - 76,000 rub.
4. Advertising - 10,000 rub.
5. Opening an individual entrepreneur - 10,000 rub.

Total: 261,000 rubles.

Monthly expenses in a business plan include:

1. Rent for premises - 15,000 rub.;
2. Staff salaries - 70,000 rub.;
3. Tax and social contributions - 21,000 rub.;
4. Product range - 5,000 rub.;
5. Advertising and promotion - 5,000 rub.
6. Income tax - 228,000 rub.

Total: 415,000 rubles.

According to statistics, 20% of the goods sold remain on store shelves, so the real income will be 1,216,000 rubles for 1 calendar month.

Net income: 1 216 000 – 415,000 = 801,000 rubles.

Payback:261 000 /801 000 = 0.3 months.

Risks

Risk	Probability of occurrence	Impact force	Response measure
Low demand for the product	Average	High	Purchasing power analysis Reducing prices for goods or purchasing cheaper products Carrying out a promotion for “stale” goods
Opening a competitor store	Average	Average	Purchasing a product that is different from a competitor’s offerings
Staff turnover	Average	Low	Implementation of % of purchase Conduct a material competition once a quarter among store sellers for the goods sold

In this material:

The gift and souvenir shop is a business area that is gaining popularity from year to year. The society of modern Russia is actively adopting the traditions of Western cultures, adapting them to its own life. You don’t have to look far for examples – Valentine’s Day, Halloween. Literally 10 years ago, people heard about these holidays only from films, but today they are celebrated by more than 50% of the Russian population. It’s difficult to count how many traditional Russian holidays are celebrated. Opening your own business in this direction will be a good start, especially if you develop a competent business plan for a souvenir store.

Is it profitable to open a gift shop?

The relevance of the business depends on the city and location of the outlet. In the first case, the population size is important, and in the second, the traffic flow of people.

In a city with a population of at least 150,000 people, there will be no problems opening a souvenir store. In smaller localities, you should pay attention to the presence of competitors and the demand for gifts in general.

There is a tendency in society that the usefulness and applicability of a donated item in everyday life is gradually fading into the background. If earlier people most often gave teapots, frying pans and other kitchen utensils, as well as books or household appliances, today everyone can afford to buy them. The emphasis is on uniqueness, surprise, fun and memory. No one is interested in receiving ordinary things as a gift that they can buy in the nearest store. Everyone will be happy with an original item, if only for the simple reason that the item will remind of a person and a memorable day.

When choosing a gift, people are increasingly visiting specialized stores where they can find anything, from comic figurines of animals or people to elegant vases or paintings. An important factor is the packaging of the product, tinsel, balloons and other small items. Presenting an item in its original packaging is not very convenient, so people turn to gift wrapping services and at the same time purchase additional inexpensive items.

Business Features

A gift store is a rather vague concept that includes a wide range of product groups. It is impossible to satisfy the demand of every customer, so you should decide in advance on the topic of the business.

There are several options:

1. A broad direction is gift products that affect all segments of the population. For successful implementation of the project, a detailed analysis of the market and target audience should be carried out.
2. Narrow direction - this includes types of goods that affect a specific celebration/event, product material, etc.
3. Specialized direction - souvenirs or collectibles. For example, figurines of porcelain elephants or cats.

Help: opening a retail outlet selling rare products is accompanied by a deep analysis of the target audience and demand for the product, otherwise the investment will be pointless.

Description of gift shop services

The main activity is the sale of souvenirs and gift products. In addition, we can offer the following services:

• sale of unique handmade goods - an agreement is concluded with local craftsmen who make soft toys, crafts from wood and other materials;
• packaging of goods purchased outside the store;
• festive decoration of premises;
• sale of goods to order;
• animator/event host services (in the future).

The number of additional services depends on the format of the business and the demand of the population.

Market analysis: assessment of the level of competition and risks

No business plan is complete without market analysis. Competition in the field of souvenir products is quite strong, but if you take into account all the pros and cons of existing retail outlets, you can get rid of many problems at the initial stage of work.

Market analysis includes:

1. Collecting data about competitors throughout the city - you can use Internet services, such as online maps, and identify 90% of operating points with addresses and telephone numbers. Another option is to choose a specific location in the city and personally visit competitors.
2. Collecting information - attention is paid to the topic of competitors' products, price category, location of the point, number of customers, etc. It is problematic to fulfill all the conditions alone, so you will have to hire several people to conduct so-called reconnaissance.
3. Data comparison – based on the results obtained, the most successful stores are identified. When comparing several types of business, you can determine the trend in their popularity, part of which you can implement in your own project. This includes the format and direction of the store, location and assortment.

Reference. Additionally, you can conduct a small social survey of the population in the area where the store is supposed to open. Based on this, it turns out that people most often choose as gifts for loved ones, friends, colleagues, how often they give something exclusive or get by with ordinary things.

Risks of a souvenir shop:

• Lack of demand - if a product is not sold, then the matter is either its irrelevance or the poor location of the point.
• Low turnover – the reasons are the same, plus the price segment. Sometimes it is better to set a minimum price, but increase sales volume, than to wait for products to be sold at an inflated price.
• Long-term payback of the project - on average, a gift store completely pays for itself in 1-1.5 years, which ultimately depends on the amount of investment. If a retail outlet has a small area, but at the same time satisfies 90% of customer demand with a wide assortment, then the business will pay for itself in 4–5 months.

Risks associated with the economic situation in the country and the world are present, but to a lesser extent than in other areas. The main suppliers are domestic manufacturers, so the delivery of goods within the country is not in danger. The financial crisis will also not affect cooperation with Chinese partners.

How to open a gift and souvenir shop

Registration, choice of taxation system, documents

The initial stage of starting a business is choosing a form of entrepreneurial activity. The best option is an individual entrepreneur, because a gift shop is not an area that requires a legal entity.

Advantages of IP:

• minimum package of documents - passport, tax identification number and application;
• state duty 800 rubles (for LLC – 4,000);
• simplified accounting.

To register a business activity, you must contact the Federal Tax Service and submit an application.

Tax system – simplified tax system 6%.

OKVED code – 52.48.34 (sale of souvenirs and gifts, as well as products of folk arts and crafts, religious and funeral themes).

When providing additional services, you must indicate the appropriate codes.

• premises rental agreement;
• employment contracts with employees;
• an agreement with a utility service for garbage and solid waste removal;
• certificate of registration of business activity;
• conclusion on sanitation, including extermination of insects and rodents.

Controlling organizations check documents and the store for compliance with established requirements, after which they issue the appropriate permit to conduct business.

Location of the outlet

Location is very important for a gift store because products are most often purchased spontaneously. High human traffic doubles sales.

The following places are selected as locations:

• shopping mall;
• railway station;
• market;
• a busy pedestrian crossing or street;

It is welcome to have nearby outlets of related products (household appliances, toys, stationery).

Purchase of equipment

For the souvenir shop you will need:

• counter;
• stands;
• showcase;
• cabinets;
• shelves;
• stands.

Don't forget about the cash register and furniture for the utility room.

Search for suppliers of goods

The main suppliers are wholesale warehouses in Moscow and the region. If there are local distributors, then you can start cooperation with them, while simultaneously studying the market and the cost of supplying products.

Partial orders in China are a convenient and profitable way to obtain a unique product if it matches the store format.

Staff

For one retail outlet with an area of ​​20–25 sq. m, two salespeople working in shifts are enough.

Requirements for employees:

• age – 18–35 years;
• gender – preferably girls/women, but ultimately depends on the direction of the business;
• neat appearance;
• grammatically correct speech;
• desire to learn;
• openness;
• honesty.

Advertising and Marketing

The scale of store promotion directly depends on the financial plan. If you exclude expensive commercials on TV and radio, then you can get by with a modest advertising budget, but still get the maximum benefit:

• Social networks - creating groups on VK, Odnoklassniki, Instagram. At the same time, it is necessary to promote public pages and products in popular urban communities.
• Outdoor advertising – signs, banners, billboards.
• Promotion services.
• Distributing leaflets door to door.
• Installation of the original sign.
• A memorable store name.

Financial part of the business plan

Investments and operating expenses

Investments at the start (in rubles):

• 10,000 – opening an individual entrepreneur and completing additional documentation;
• 20,000 – market analysis activities;
• 30,000 – conclusion of a rental agreement for premises with an advance payment;
• 50,000 – repairs;
• 30,000 – advertising;
• 100,000 – purchase of goods.

Total: 240,000 rubles.

Monthly expenses:

• 30,000 – rent;
• 50,000 – salary;
• 10,000 – utilities;
• 50,000 – purchase of products;
• 20,000 – other expenses.

Total: 160,000 rubles.

Profit calculation, profitability and payback of the project

It is difficult to determine the average bill of a gift store, because the price range is too wide - from 50 to 1,500 rubles and more. In this case, it is more appropriate to set the average value at 300 rubles.

The number of customers per day is 25 people.

Daily income – 7,500 rubles. Earnings per month – 225,000.

Net profit is 225,000 minus 160,000, which is 65,000 rubles.

Profitability is the ratio of net income to dirty income multiplied by 100%.

R=65,000/225,000*100=27%.

The payback period for the project is 5–6 months.

When planning to open a gift store, you should always take into account the population’s demand for products and additional services. The business area is quite specific, so every little detail affects the result. A well-drafted business plan based on individual business indicators is 50% of success.

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Souvenir and gift products are in stable demand. It is important for a novice entrepreneur to select an assortment and draw up a business plan on how to open a gift and souvenir shop.

People often buy gifts for loved ones, relatives or employees. There are a lot of reasons - from personal (birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, weddings) to public (New Year, Easter, February 23, March 8). Some people prefer practical, necessary things, while others love beautiful trinkets and unusual things. The owner of a gift shop should focus on the last category of consumers.

Business plan

In order to rationally manage time and financial resources, it is necessary to draw up a business plan for a souvenir shop:

1. Studying the characteristics of business.
2. Development of assortment.
3. Renting premises.
4. Business registration.
5. Purchase of equipment.
6. Selection of employees.
7. Advertising.
8. Calculation of investments and profitability.

Businessmen from resort towns have an additional advantage - every traveler is sure to take away a souvenir as a souvenir.

Business Features

Before you begin to seriously implement a project to open a souvenir and gift store, it is necessary to study the features of this type of business.

• There is high competition among gift sellers. Network markets have a large range and low prices. To stand out against this background, you need to look for special products that will attract buyers.
• Clearly expressed seasonality in tourist centers. In the south, the peak of activity occurs in the summer months, in ski resorts - in the cold season. When there is a long holiday weekend, there is also an influx of tourists and increased demand for souvenirs.
• Trade in themed products on the eve of national holidays. You need to prepare for such dates a month in advance, purchase and display products corresponding to the event in the hall.
• Gifts and souvenirs are not perishable goods and do not require special storage conditions. You do not need to obtain licenses or permits to trade.

If you take into account all the nuances, then it is quite possible to start a business in this area on your own.

You can download it here as a sample.

Range

Basically, the products of small shops can be divided into several categories:

1. Tourist oriented.
2. Handmade gifts.
3. Inexpensive souvenirs.
4. Designer things.
5. Dishes.
6. Decorations.
7. Interior items.
8. Business souvenirs.

In order not to fill the store with goods that competitors are already selling, you need to first study the market. It is not necessary to select a completely unique assortment; there should be products on sale that are in constant demand.

It is profitable to purchase consumer products in online stores at wholesale prices. They have a large selection of a wide variety of gift products. Souvenirs with local flavor are made by regional producers or folk craftsmen. You can enter into agreements with designers, artists, and representatives of various crafts for the supply of original items.

A non-standard way to get discounts from a supplier is to team up with competitors to form a wholesale purchase batch. It is advisable to purchase in such a risky way very popular gifts and souvenirs that will be sold out in any case.

On the eve of major holidays, the store needs to bring goods corresponding to the event: before the New Year there is a huge demand for Christmas tree decorations, before Easter - for religious symbols.

According to consumer protection standards, all products must have quality certificates, so documentation must be requested from suppliers in advance.

Room

In the developed plan for how to open a gift and souvenir store, the location of the store plays a key role in the success of the project. The best choice is at the entrance to a large shopping center. People purposefully go there to shop. And the higher the traffic, the greater the revenue. Competitors and inflated rental costs can create difficulties.

The central area of ​​the city, the vicinity of local attractions, train stations, airports, and busy streets are also suitable for opening a souvenir shop. If the gifts in the store are special and rare, then you can save money by renting a space in an inexpensive area and using part of the funds for advertising. However, this scheme excludes casual visitors, whose share in crowded places is 30%.

As a very economical option, you can consider selling it from a tray or in a tent. Mobile commerce allows you to take part in city fairs and entertainment events.

It is possible to open a souvenir shop on an area from 5 to 20 sq.m. It will be necessary to renovate the room, decorate the point inside and outside, and provide bright lighting. The design attracts the attention of buyers, and it is not necessary to spend a lot of money on design. It makes sense to use commercial products for these purposes, because among the gift souvenirs there are quite a few beautiful things suitable for decoration, the main thing is to use a creative approach.

It is best to organize the space in the sales area in such a way that customers can pick up the item they like and examine it carefully. It is much more pleasant for people to make their own choices rather than through a salesperson behind the counter. And although there will certainly be losses from damaged goods, the likelihood of attracting customers outweighs the risks.

Registration

After the premises have been found, it is necessary to legalize the enterprise. It is beneficial for the owner to register a small business in the form of an individual entrepreneur and choose a simplified taxation system. No special permits or licenses are required to open a gift shop.

An exception is if the point is located in close proximity to a landmark. Then local authorities issue a sanction for trade in the area where business activity is restricted.

It is necessary to obtain a certificate from the fire inspection and sanitary epidemiological station that the commercial premises comply with safety standards.

Equipment

It is impossible to place hundreds of items with free access in an empty hall, so the minimum list of retail equipment includes:

1. Shelving of various types - wall-mounted, open, closed, free-standing, wooden, glass.
2. Cabinets.
3. Stands.
4. Counter.

To show souvenirs and gifts to customers in an attractive way, you need to create a bright lighting system with additional lighting of individual areas in the room. To protect the store and comply with fire safety requirements, an alarm system is installed.

To maintain records and reports, you need a computer, office equipment, cash register equipment, and stationery.

You can save on equipping your shop by purchasing furniture from thrift stores or sales.

Employees

Even the smallest store needs a salesperson. If you plan to organize work seven days a week, then two sellers. At first, it is useful for a businessman to stand behind the counter on his own in order to study all the nuances of demand and trade in souvenir products. At the same time, there will be savings on the salary of one shift worker.

In addition to the duties of selling goods, there are many other things to do in the store:

• selection and updating of assortment;
• work with providers;
• employee control;
• accounting and analysis of activities.

All these functions can be performed by the shop owner, or by hiring a manager and accountant.

No special education is required to sell gifts and souvenirs. It is advisable to have experience in retail trade, be interested in the history and culture of your native land, be able to unobtrusively attract the attention of customers, and help make a choice.

You can start an advertising campaign for a souvenir store even before the actual opening, at the stage of purchasing goods. It is enough to take high-quality photographs of original products to start attracting buyers.

1. The most popular and effective way is through the Internet. If the budget includes funds for advertising, then it is reasonable to spend it on concluding an agreement with a marketing agency. Creating a website, promoting it to the top of leading search engines, posting information on social networks, and banner blocks gives good results. By monitoring the effectiveness of different types of advertising, experts draw conclusions about the advisability of using these methods. The online ordering function implemented on the website will expand the circle of potential buyers. Among them are wealthy people who do not have time to go shopping, but buying a gift via the Internet takes 5 minutes. You can arrange the delivery of goods to customers through a taxi or courier service on a contractual basis.
2. Traditional outdoor advertising pays off its best just before the opening of a store and on the eve of major holidays. Then it makes sense to invest money in purchasing space on billboards, banners, and transport. At the same time, distribution of leaflets, business cards, flyers, and advertisements on the radio and in the press are used.

During the operation of the store, it is worth periodically holding promotions, offering discounts to customers, and issuing discount cards and certificates to regular customers.

Video: business plan for a gift store.

Economic calculations

The amount of investment in a gift and souvenir store depends on the location, size of the retail space, and price category of the goods. The average numbers look like this:

№	Naming of expenditures	Amount, rub.
1	Business registration	10 000
2	Rent of premises for 2 months	40 000
3	Repair	60 000
4	Equipment	150 000
5	Purchase of goods	300 000
6	Advertising	60 000
7	Other	50 000
Total		670 000

Planning the store's fixed expenses in the first year of operation:

Predicting business income is even more difficult than forecasting expenses. The trade margin on gift items does not exceed 50%. Presumably, on a weekday, 5 people make purchases in the amount of 5,000 rubles, and in the weeks before the holidays, revenue increases 3 times. Annual income is 2,200,000 rubles. In this scenario, the store will receive a net profit of 590,000 rubles. per year, which will recoup the initial investment by 88%. Business profitability is estimated at 8-10%.

If the entrepreneur managed to find his niche and consolidate his position, then in the future the profits can be invested in the development of the store, expanding the range or creating a network of souvenir shops.

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