Reproduction Furniture
Staying with the theme from yesterday, it is possible to get very high quality craftsmanship in some countries at a very low price. You don't have to buy standard local furniture styles and can get pretty much anything made at a fraction of what it would cost in the US or Europe.
When I lived in Vietnam I designed, and had made matching solid wood bedside cabinets with brass fittings for about $300 total. I could probably match the cost at home, but the quality would be nowhere near as good. In this instance I was paying full retail price and not in a position to negotiate bulk order discounts.
Many people want furniture that looks old, or has a certain style to match their house, or their other furniture. Sometimes an original piece that would fit in cannot be found, or if it can is priced prohibitively.
You will need to find a good furniture supplier, and to advertise your services. You should be able to find a supplier who will provide you with pictures of work that they have done so that you can show your clients the kinds of things that are possible. This may be in a flip book, sales catalogue, or simply on a website that your customers can browse.
Many customers will want to specify the size of their new piece, make sure that they are clear about the measurement unit, and be equally clear with your supplier. Also make sure that your customers understand the need for accuracy on their part in supplying these measurements. You can provide them with a piece accurate to within a fraction of a millimetre but if they gave you the wrong measurement to start with you cannot provide them with what they want...well not first time anyway.
There are a number of ways that you can find buyers either as individuals,
or business to business customers. Some examples include: -
Property Developers
Shop fitters / Interior designers
Catalogue
Website
Most property developers will build a show unit for people to walk around, and much of the furniture is custom made to maximise the impression of size. For higher end units an antique feel may be just what they are looking for. Write to all the property developers that you can find in your area telling them about your custom reproduction antiques service. Let them know that you are able to work with their designers to produce pieces that will increase the feeling of quality in their developments.
Shop Fitters and Interior designers all know that an old feel can be created either purely from reproduction pieces, or by mixing reproduction and genuine antique pieces. Offering to work with them on projects to provide a cheaper alternative to local suppliers should bring you some one off jobs, and if you get the quality aspects right may lead to a steady stream of business.
It will be relatively straight forward to get a simple catalogue, or brochure put together from pictures that the manufacturer can give you. If you explain what you are doing they will be very happy to help. Most printers will also help with design and layout work if this is not your forte. Circulating your brochure can be as straight forward as handing it out to friends, family and colleagues and asking them to pass it on when they are done, or you can market it more actively by leaving copies in your doctors¡¦ surgery, or working with antique shops in your area on a commission basis. There are numerous ways to get your pictures and price lists in front of potential customers and with a little imagination you will soon see orders coming in.
Building a website is a must, your customers will want to see extensive photo archives and look for ideas as well as understanding whether you have already built something similar to what they are looking for. This is of course best done at home, or in the office as opposed to in a shop, or sales environment. You will need to market the website in order to draw traffic, and remember to focus on local advertising unless you can find a manufacturer who will ship direct to your clients worldwide.
If you have a chance to travel to Asia before you start your business then try to visit some retailers and see whether they will work with you. You will lose some margin this way but they have experience of dealing with quality control, and shipping that will initially make the additional cost worth your while.
There are thousands of furniture manufacturers on the Internet, sites like www.alibaba.com can provide you with direct leads but you will need to ask questions and find out what experience each manufacturer has with reproduction furniture, shipping, taking bespoke orders etc. as well as checking pricing on some basic items for comparison purposes. Make yourself a checklist and work through it with 6-10 companies from at least 2 countries.
Opening a furniture store is very expensive, primarily because of the stock. This is a way of getting into the furniture business with low risk, and big potential upsides.
If you are importing from overseas you will need to pay import duty and other taxes. Seek advice on this before you start to ensure that you understand the correct processes and minimise any delays for your customers.
Stuffed furniture such as sofas, mattresses etc are regulated in many markets. If you decide to provide these furniture types then ensure your supplier can meet your country's regulations.