THE BEST WAYS TO START A PERSONAL SHOPPING SERVICE

Why is a personal shopping service becoming a necessity?

The race for time, in a competitive world, trying to maintain the delicate balance between the demands being made on people is getting more complex. Work, family, recreational activities, friends, self improvement, education, hobbies, errands and the need for quiet time leave their mark on an individual. The ability to function and maintain a feeling of self worth and accomplishment can suffer. You can earn extra money at home providing a personal shopping service and filling a need. If you get a sense of self satisfaction from helping others it will make this extra income idea even better.

Who uses a personal shopping service? And why?

Prestigious shops have maintained special personnel to do the shopping for celebrities and important customers. However, the widespread demand for this service has made it a rapidly growing home based business.

The upscale clients with an above average income looking for expertise and taste; the corporate client searching for perfect style; senior citizens who are shut-ins; to all of them the shopping service is a help.

How do you start your own service? You can start it from home. A home based business helps you to balance your time and to attend to your personal obligations. You do not need a high initial investment. As equipment for a start, you need a telephone and an answering machine. An electronic typewriter will make the documents look professional. Economic and dependable transportation is necessary.

You must have flair and a love for shopping

Your market has to be researched. There is no need to spend large sums on market surveys. You may begin with your community, friends and family. Find out basic facts about the personal shopping market. Access potential clients by telephoning companies and people, asking specific questions from them. Would they hire someone to do their shopping? What kind of shopping are they thinking of? What would they quote as a reasonable fee? The answers would help you to understand the market.

The opinion of your potential clientele will help you decide if you are going to focus on a segment of the market. Usually when you are starting out with a personal shopping service it is a good idea to be flexible as you are in a service business. When you are starting out if you offer different services to different people you will find out who needs what. At the beginning you cannot afford to ignore a less profitable niche like services to elderly people. They will be concerned with grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions. Your rates may have to reflect this market segment but seniors talk to other seniors, family and friends. You never know where more customers could come from.

Gift shopping is a specialty area. It needs creativity and understanding people. The clientele could be both men and women. Shopping for clothes will entail wardrobe consulting and the potential clients will be mainly women.

What ever the merchandise. You have to develop connections with retailers and wholesalers to keep costs down and start earning extra money at home.

Advertising and Pricing

The pricing of your services must be realistic. It could be a fixed or an hourly fee depending on the type of clientele you will have and the shopping that is done. A percentage of the amount spent could be fixed. The price of the merchandise, the overhead, your time, labor and profit must be included in the fee.

Decide on the way you advertise and the media you use according to your knowledge of the market. Some ideas should include seniors residences, local clubs and organizations.

Although setting up a personal shopping service will not bring you quick returns it could be personally rewarding and highly profitable in the end.

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