6 key steps you'll need in order to open a brick and mortar store: and why you should do it

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The answer is clear. Yes, they do! And they will for a long time. Not only are internet sales impossible for some entrepreneurs (delivering an ice cream though the postal service doesn’t seem like a very good idea), but also, physical stores might even be more convenient for them. What do you need to arrange before you start your traditional store?

Brick and mortar store vs. e-shop

Although the number of e-shops increases, brick and mortar stores still constitute approximately 85% of shops. And the curve of e-shop increase is slowly being equalized. More and more entrepreneurs are interested in brick and mortar stores. Why?

1. Customers can „touch“ your product (we don't recommend taking it literally especially if you’re selling food), they see everything clearly and they are more inclined to make a purchase.

2. Less competition – on the internet you compete with hundreds of shops at the same time. Plan properly and you will avoid that with a physical store.

3. Personal contact makes perfect marketing! You’ve got a big advantage with a brick and mortar store. Smile, be kind and customers will be much more faithful to you than to a website.

1. The product and the market research

A good product sells itself.

Your business is standing on the product and it is the first thing you should arrange. Bring your product to perfection and figure out the sales plan.

What will you offer? It is appropriate to have a wide range of products, to be able to meet the needs of most of the customers, but remember, having too many products looks chaotic and a customer might get discouraged.

Find out what the demand and supply are. In other words: Get to know your target group and competition.

2. Arrange the supply of your brick and mortar store

It's not just selling the product, but also acquiring it (or the materials for its production). Build relationships with wholesalers and ensure the stability of your business. Without supplies you can rely on, you won't even look like an entrepreneur.

When you already have the necessary suppliers, it will be necessary to arrange the transport (the wholesaler mostly provides it, but it's good to make sure and arrange details) and the storage.

Beware – according to law, some types of products require specific storage conditions!

3. Decide where to open the store.

The placement of your store is essential because it affects things like customer base, prices, supply, rent, etc. Different things you need to bear in mind before opening:

Rent – How high is rent in the area? And specifically in your chosen field? Can you afford 100% of the rent?
Purchase – Do you prefer ownership instead of rental? Do you have enough capital? Is a mortgage worth it?
Location – Even the city and the specific quarter play a role. Imagine the difference between Gran Vía and Valdebebas.
Building – In what kind of building are you going to do your business? How will it affect the customer? Are there any other businesses in the building and/or neighborhood?
Competition – who are your competitors in the area and why should the customers prefer you?

Permits and legislation: how to open a shop within the law

Before you open the shop you must arrange a lot of documents. What specifically?

The first thing you’ll need will be the commercial license: Probably the fastest step with which to start but not to finalise. The activity license is a document elaborated by a technician (architect and/or engineer) that reflects the characteristics and conditions of the physical store. The license is handled and processed by the Town Halls, and must contain a technical report, technical specifications, a set of standardized drawings and plans and the budgets and measurements. The cost varies from 600€ to 3000€, depending on the business activity. Shortly put, these are the procedures to be carried out:

Defining the activity.
Apply for a certificate of compatibility at the town hall (in order to have a declaration that states the activity is apt to be carried out).
Hiring the services of a technical office, in order to have a report made by an architect/engineer.
Having a document of the existing electrical installation.
Having a maintenance contract for the fire extinguishers.
Adapt the premises according to the technical specifications set out in the report or technical project.
Present the documentation and the application for the communication of the activity at the town hall.
Pay the fee to the town hall in order to obtain the license.

Be it during the opening process, in which you will have plenty of expenses, as well as when the activity has started, you need to register all of the sales and expenses and see what payment methods to use: cash, card, transfer, etc. and what devices you’ll need, like a POS. We recommend Trisbee, especially when you are just getting started, as your customers will be able to pay you without needing a POS and all your sales will be registered in the platform. 100% free and without any commision or fee.

4. Find the best way to receive payments at your store

The traditional and most well-known solution is a cash register and a payment terminal (POS). Cash payments still form a large part of transactions in Spain, followed by credit and debit cards.

Cashless payments are a bit different, and maybe still unknown to some people. However, these have seen the biggest increase in the past years. In developed countries, they already account for over 80 % of all payments and there are now many methods for cashless payments..

At Trisbee, we have created a replacement for unnecessarily expensive and unreliable payment terminals, which makes the whole process faster and easier. Neither you nor your customer needs anything other than a mobile phone - no more broken terminals and forgotten wallets. Just download our application and register. It's done in 6 minutes!

Then you just show the customer your own generated QR code (it doesn't matter if it’s printed or digital form) and you have your money in your account within 24 hours - even over holidays and weekends! Find out more about the benefits of a mobile terminal with Trisbee.

5. Who is going to work in your brick and mortar store?

It's not easy to work alone in a physical shop. You’ll probably need help. Now, the question is how to find employees?

1. Find out, who you’re going to need – how many people, for which positions and what they should achieve.

Find the candidates – ask on recommendations from family, acquaintances… Use LinkedIn or other online services.
Talk to the candidates - invite the candidates who passed the first round for an interview. It should be civil (not an interrogation) and focused on topics related to the position.

6. Marketing for owners of brick and mortar stores: the best 3 methods

Of course, marketing is not just the privilege of large corporations and politicians with PR teams. Everyone does marketing, and so should you. How to approach the marketing for a traditional physical store? Things like billboards and signs will help a lot, but nothing can’t beat matched with these three methods:

Online marketing – Just a few people go to the library when they are trying to find something. Use the potential of the Internet (even if you sell in a brick and mortar store): social networks, online maps, a website…

Brand - A good name simply sells. Focus on inventing it, don't take the first thing that comes to your mind right away. It should be striking, easy to remember, and tell something about your services / product.

Word of mouth marketing - it focuses on marketing, which your customers do by themselves when they talk about you with friends! It is very typical for brick and mortar stores because the customer has a deeper relationship with you and the purchase creates a much more intense experience.

Opening a brick and mortar store, like any other business, requires time and proper planning. The article you have just read should offer you a helping hand in doing so. At Trisbee, we know how demanding business is and we have set ourselves the goal to help entrepreneurs as much as we can. Thanks to our pos terminal on your mobile, you don't have to worry about having a physical POS, its constant malfunction and high prices and fees. The Trisbee payment gateway offers first-class speed (we guarantee you money transfer within 24 hours) and security.

Save yourself any and all worries and offer your customers an outstanding payment experience… or maybe one of the many benefits of our completely personalized loyalty programs that you can launch in the Trisbee app for FREE!