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How to Write a Business Plan For a Retail Store: Complete Guide

• August 3, 2022
• Small Businesses

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank (like a SBA loan) for your retail store, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in your retail store business plan. Use this template to create a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary of a business plan gives a sneak peek of the information about your business plan to lenders and/or investors.

If the information you provide here is not concise, informative, and scannable, potential lenders and investors will lose interest.

Though the executive summary is the first and the most important section, it should normally be the last section you write because it will have the summary of different sections included in the entire plan.

Why do you need a business plan for a retail store?

The purpose of a business plan is to secure funding through one of the following channels:

• Obtain bank financing or secure a loan from other lenders (such as a SBA loan )
• Obtain private investments from investment funds, angel investors, etc.
• Obtain a public or a private grant

How to write your retail store business plan’s executive summary?

For any retail business, the following information must go into the executive summary:

• Business overview : include your business name and model (independent retail store or franchise model), the products you intend to sell (and whether you want to expand with additional product offerings), the legal structure of your business, etc.
• Market analysis : how many retail stores operate in your area and what do they sell? The estimated number of visitors your customers receive per week, target audience demography (the products you sell must fulfill their needs), purchasing power, etc. must also be included
• People : organizational setup and the management hierarchy along with retail store experience of the key people in the management
• Financial plan : how much profit and revenue do you expect in the next 5 years? When will you reach the break-even point and start making profits? It is ideal to include a chart depicting your key financials such as revenue, gross profits, and net profit
• Financial ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

2. Business Overview

The business overview is essentially the company description. The second section of your business plan, it should cover the following for a retail store:

• The products you will sell in your store
• The price range of the products
• The company structure
• Target audience information

Let’s look at different subsections that you must include:

Give a brief explanation of why you want to open a retail store. It must display two things:

• Your passion & interest for this type of business
• Feasibility of the business

There may be other retail stores in your area, but they don’t fulfill certain needs of the potential customers. Your business may fill in that gap. 

For example, there may not be any retail store in your area addressing the needs of cyclists. Even if there are competing retail stores, are they offering everything like electric bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes, BMX, folding bikes, etc.? Do they offer spare parts and customizations?

b) Business Model

This is where you will explain the following:

• Is your retail store independent?
• Are you buying an existing retail store?
• Are you settling for a franchise store of an established bike brand?

c) Products

Your retail store can sell various products. Lenders or investors must get a clear idea of the products you intend to sell. If you want to focus on one or two specific products, you must clarify that, too.

For instance, if you are opening a retail bicycle or bike store , do you intend to sell only assembled bikes or do you intend to sell spare parts, too? What about toolkits? Do you have plans to sell supporting products for cyclists such as helmets, pants, shorts, gloves, eyewear, etc.?

If you have plans to specialize in something (for example, mountain bikes with shock absorption, gears, disc brakes, etc.), mention that.

d) Pricing Strategy

It is important that you add a pricing list here. You don’t need to go into extreme details. Just an average range will be more than enough. 

For instance, mountain bikes can cost anywhere between $400 and $800 . Depending on the components used, the average price can increase or decrease.

A pricing chart for all major products you are offering can help the investors or lenders to tie your pricing strategy with your financial projections.

e) Target Audience

Knowing your customers is very important. That will give you an edge over your competitors. For example, if you are opening a retail bicycle store, you must know whether your potential customers will be enthusiasts, hobbyists, or professionals.

Another important aspect is to understand the type of cyclists you will focus on. The products you sell will depend on that.

Knowing your customers well help in two things:

• You can better retain your customers
• Lenders or investors will be more confident about your business strategy

f) Legal Structure

Finally, your business overview section should specify what type of business structure you opt for. Is this a corporation or a partnership (LLC)? Who are the investors? How much equity percentage do they own? Is there a Board of Directors? If so, whom? Do they have experience in the industry?

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis is the next most important aspect of your retail store business plan. You must demonstrate to the potential investors that you know your market. Investors must be confident that the retail store you are trying to open (or you are already operating) makes sense.

For example, if you want to open a retail store specializing in mountain bikes, it’d be better if you’re located in states like Utah, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, etc., because these states have ideal mountain bike destinations. Similarly, Texas isn’t really popular for mountain biking.

Again, you will never want to sell high-end bikes in a middle class neighborhood because they will most likely not be able to afford those items.

a) Retail Market Trends

You must also focus on the market size and growth opportunities . For example, if the location of your retail store doesn’t have enough cyclists, your bicycle business will probably not make enough profits. Again, if there are way too many competitors, the growth opportunities may be stifled.

Find market data for your city / area

It is always a good idea to get city-level data to get a clearer picture of the market size in addition to any national-level data you are providing.

Getting city level data might not be an easy task. In fact, you may have to get out and collect the necessary data. You may have to do some math. For example, if there were 30 bicycle retailers in your city in 2019 and the number grew to 33 in 2020, the annual growth rate will be 10%. 

You may want to investigate the factors leading to such growth. For instance, median income may have increased, there may be an influx of population, growing environmental consciousness, increased health awareness, etc., can be some of the factors.

However, you may actually notice a drop. In such a case, you must investigate the reasons. There can be varied factors like drop in income (and hence, sales that led to closure of businesses), decrease in population (may be younger popular moved out of the location), etc.

If there is a drop, you must explain the rationale behind opening a business, the industry of which is showing a gradual decline. It may also happen that the market may rebound back after a temporary decline.

b) Competition

Your competitor analysis is very important. Here are a few questions that you must answer:

• How many retail stores are there?
• How many of those stores are your direct and indirect competitors?
• What type of products do your competitors sell?
• What is the price your competitors are charging for the same or similar product?
• How many employees do your competitors have on an average?
• How many customers do they receive per month?

Some of the answers will end in approximation of data. That’s totally fine. For example, you may not be able to get the exact number of customers your competitors receive.

Draw a strong conclusion for your competitive analysis

Your competitive analysis must bring out the reasons why you are trying to open a retail store. For example (related to the retail bicycle store example):

• There are no specialised mountain bike retailers in the area despite a high percentage of mountain bikers
• Existing bike retailers offer only bikes and spares. No retailer offers clothing and protective gear

c) Customers

You already spoke about the target audience in the Business Overview section. Here, you must provide hard data that establishes the existence of your potential customers in the area.

This section must answer the following questions (with reference to the bike store example):

• What is the age group of the cyclists in your area?
• What percentage of the cyclists are women vs. males?
• What type of bikes are they mostly interested in?
• Do the customers also look for related accessories?
• Do they prefer online shopping or offline shopping?
• What is the average household income per month (and also their average disposable income)?

Much of this hard data will come from your competitor analysis. Also, the data must support your decision to open a retail store. For example, if people have a tendency to buy online, you may be better off opening an online retail store instead of a physical store.

4. Sales & Marketing Strategy

The 4th section of your retail store business plan is where you outline your customer acquisition strategy. Try to answer the following questions:

• What is your USP ?
• What marketing channels will you use (online or offline)?
• Do the marketing channels aptly grab the attention of your target audience? For instance, young adults will most likely not pay attention to TV ads. Instead, use social media
• How do you intend to track the success of your marketing strategy ?
• What is your CAC or customer acquisition cost?
• What is your marketing budget?
• What introductory promos and offers do you intend to provide for attracting new customers?

Let’s expand a bit on a few questions below:

a) Marketing channels

A few marketing channels retail stores typically use are:

• Email marketing
• SMS marketing
• Social media
• Pay-per-click campaigns (e.g. Google Ads, Amazon Ads)
• Partnerships (e.g. with companies to offer employees coupons, discounts, etc.)

b) What is your unique selling proposition?

In other words, how do you differentiate yourself vs. competitors? This is very important as you might need to win customers from competitors.

A few examples of USPs are (with reference to retail bike store example):

• Price : you may have cheaper prices than competitors
• Specialization : you may be specializing in some specific product
• Additional products : you sell additional accessories and safety gear that your competitors don’t
• Freebies : you may offer freebies like helmets or tail lights

Your USP will definitely depend on the products you are selling.

5. Management & Organizational Structure

You must address two things here:

• The management team and their experience / track record
• The organizational structure: what are the different teams and who reports to whom?

a) Management

Your store’s management will vary depending on the business type and size. For instance, if you are opening a franchise store, you may have to give a lot more details compared to an independent store.

You may have co-founders and/or senior managers. You must explain their roles, too. Apart from that, you must also explain their industry experience and why they are suitable for those positions.

b) Organizational structure

Note that even if you have not already hired senior managers and other team members, you must include the details. 

You must define their roles and the hierarchy of reporting. This will demonstrate to the potential lenders and investors the solid management plan you have in place to operate your business efficiently and successfully.

Create and attach an organizational chart for a visual understanding of your store’s staff and their reporting lines.

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any retail store business plan.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors, a solid financial plan will prove them your retail store is an attractive investment.

There should be 3 sections to your financial plan section:

• Your historical financials (only if you already operate the business and have financial accounts to show)
• The startup costs of your project (if you plan to open a new retail store, renovate your store, etc.)
• The 5-year financial projections

Historical Financials (if any)

In the scenario where you already have some historical financials (a few quarters or a few years), include them. A summary of your financial statements in the form of charts e.g. revenue, gross profit and net profit is enough, save the rest for the appendix.

If you don’t have any, don’t worry, most new businesses don’t have any historical financials and that’s ok. If so, jump to Startup Costs instead.

Startup Costs

Before we expand on 5-year financial projections in the following section, it’s always best practice to start with listing the startup costs of your project. For a retail store, startup costs are all the expenses you incur before you open the space to your customers. These expenses typically are:

• The lease deposit for the space you rent
• The design and renovation of the existing facilities
• The equipment and furniture

The total startup costs depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your store, the quality of the building (whether there is a lot or remodeling to do or not), the quality of the furniture, etc.

Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will now need to build a solid financial model over 5 years.

Your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in your business plan.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

• How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
• When do you expect to break even?
• How much cash will you burn until you get there?
• What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 5%) on your margins?
• What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

• The number of customers over time ;
• Your expected revenue ;
• Operating costs to run the business ;
• Any other cash flow items (e.g. capex, debt repayment, etc.).

When projecting your revenue, make sure to sensitize pricing and the number of customers, sales as a small change in these assumptions will have a big impact on your revenues.

7. Use of Funds

This is the last section of your retail store business plan. Now that we have explained what your retail store sells and to whom, the industry, management and your marketing strategy, this section must answer the following questions:

• How much funding do you need?
• What financial instrument(s) do you need: is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?
• How long will this funding last?
• Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

• What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
• What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

• What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
• What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any business plan should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment in paying your employees’ salaries and the inventory? Or will it cover mostly the cost for the lease deposit and the renovation of the building?

Those are very important questions you should be able to answer in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry, this should come straight from your financial projections. If you’ve built solid projections like in our retail store financial model template , you won’t have any issues answering these questions.

For the use of funds, we recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

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Grocery Store Business Plan

MAR.18, 2023

1. Business Plan For Opening A Grocery Store

Opening a grocery store can help meet the needs of a local community by providing a convenient source of fresh food and other staples. This can help improve the health and well-being of the community by providing access to affordable nutritious food.

With the right business plan, a grocery store can also provide employment opportunities to local residents, allowing them to gain valuable skills and experience while helping to build the local economy.

The Butcher Shop Business Plan can also serve as a community hub, providing a safe and welcoming place for people to gather and interact. A grocery store can become a valuable asset for the local community by providing these services and conveniences.

2. Executive Summary for Business Plan for Grocery Store

The business.

ABC Grocery Store will be a full-service grocery store offering various products, including organic and locally-sourced products. The store will be in a busy commercial area, featuring a modern, clean, and inviting atmosphere. In the Gourmet Food Store Business Plan , the store will have a self-checkout system and will offer online ordering and delivery services. The store will also offer various locally-sourced products, including fruits and vegetables, meats, cheese, bread, and other items.

ABC Grocery Store will exceed customer expectations for quality and convenience and provide a unique shopping experience that is focused on customer service, quality, and value.

Business Target

ABC Grocery Store will target the local residents of the area, as well as customers from the surrounding areas. The store will focus on providing high-quality products, excellent customer service, and competitive prices. In the Donut Shop Business Plan , the store will also focus on providing a unique and enjoyable shopping experience and will strive to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. The store will be open seven days a week, from 8 am to 9 pm, and will offer a wide range of products that will cater to the needs of all types of customers.

3. Company Summary

ABC Grocery Store is a new grocery store in the heart of downtown San Francisco. In the small grocery store business plan, we will offer a wide selection of fresh produce, dairy products, meat, canned goods, frozen foods, and a full selection of grocery items.

Company Owner

ABC Grocery Store is owned by Sany, a long-time resident of the area. Sany has extensive grocery business experience and a passion for providing quality products to his customers. Sany is firmly committed to the local community and is dedicated to making ABC Grocery Store a success.

Why The Grocery Store Business Is Being Started

The grocery store business is being started because there is a need for a grocery store in the downtown San Francisco area. The current mobile grocery stores in the area are not meeting the needs of the local population. We plan to fill this void by offering high-quality products at competitive prices.

How The Grocery Store Business Will Be Started

ABC Grocery Store will begin by securing a location in the local community. We will then purchase the necessary equipment and supplies to stock the store. We will also hire staff to help manage the store and to provide customer service.

We will market our business through local advertising and social media in the grocery store business plan sample. Finally, we will create a website that will provide customers with a convenient way to shop from the comfort of their own homes.

The experts estimate the grocery store business plan’s assets, investments, and costs.

In order to start a Coffee Shop Business Plan , you must meet the following criteria: total startup expenses, total assets, total startup funding, total funding required, total assets, total liabilities, total planned investments, total capital, total liabilities, and total funding.

4. Products

This mini grocery store business plan outlines the launch and operation of ABC Grocery Store, a full-service retail grocery store in San Francisco area. ABC Grocery Store will provide customers with fresh, high-quality, organic, locally-sourced food products, household goods, and health and beauty products.

• Meat/Seafood: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Fish, Shrimp
• Dairy: Milk, Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, Eggs
• Frozen Foods: Ice Cream, Pizza, French Fries, Frozen Dinners, Vegetables
• Bakery: Bread, Bagels, Cookies, Cakes, Donuts
• Grocery: Cereal, Pasta, Rice, Canned Goods, Snacks
• Household Items: Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Detergent, Cleaning Supplies
• Health and Beauty: Toothpaste, Shampoo, Conditioner, Makeup, Vitamins
• Beverages: Soda, Water, Juice, Coffee, Tea
• Pet Food: Dog Food, Cat Food, Treats, Toys, Supplies
• Organic/Natural Foods: Fruits, Vegetables, Meat, Dairy, Grocery Items

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5. Marketing Analysis

The grocery store industry is highly competitive and the success of a grocery store business depends upon its ability to understand the market, develop a competitive advantage and effectively differentiate from its competitors. To gain a competitive advantage, the grocery store must identify its target market, understand the needs of its target market, develop a unique selling proposition, and create a strong marketing strategy.

Market Trends

The growth of the grocery store industry is largely dependent on economic conditions and population growth. The industry is expected to continue to experience steady growth in the near future as more people are able to afford to purchase groceries. Other industry trends include

• Growing demand for convenient grocery shopping options.
• Expansion of e-commerce grocery services.
• Growing demand for healthy and natural foods.
• Increasing focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
• Growing demand for locally sourced products.
• Increasing emphasis on customer service and satisfaction.

Marketing Segmentation

The grocery store industry is comprised of a variety of different types of customers with varying needs and preferences. In the grocery store business plan template, to effectively target customers, the grocery store must determine which types of customers it will serve and create a marketing plan to reach them. The most common market segments that grocery stores target include:

• Households: Grocery stores typically target households with various needs and preferences, including convenience, health consciousness, budget consciousness, and more.
• Businesses: Grocery stores also target businesses, including restaurants, catering companies, and food service providers.
• Specialty Markets: Grocery stores may also target specialty markets, such as health food stores, ethnic markets, and more.

The grocery store must identify its target market and create a business strategy to reach them. To do this, the grocery store must determine its target customer base, understand its needs and preferences, and develop a unique selling proposition that appeals to them. The grocery store must also develop a marketing strategy to reach its target market, including traditional and digital marketing tactics.

Product Pricing

The success of a grocery store business depends on its ability to set competitive and attractive prices for its target customers. To do this, the grocery store must understand its target customers’ needs and preferences and determine the optimal price point for its products. The grocery store must also understand the pricing strategies of its competitors and use this knowledge to set its own prices.

6. Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy for our grocery store will focus on building brand recognition and creating a positive customer experience. We will use a combination of traditional marketing tactics such as print media, radio, and television, as well as digital marketing tactics such as email campaigns, social media, and search engine optimization (SEO). We will also leverage our relationships with local businesses and organizations to build our customer base.

Our main goal is to create a positive customer experience and build brand loyalty. We will focus on providing quality products and services, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service. We will also use our website and social media platforms to promote our store and engage with customers.

Competitive Analysis

Our grocery store will be competing with a number of other stores in the area. Our competitors include local supermarkets, convenience stores, and online grocery store services. We will differentiate ourselves from our competitors by offering quality products, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service. We will also focus on building relationships with local businesses and organizations to gain their patronage.

Sales Strategy

Our sales strategy will emphasize customer satisfaction and quality service. We will train our staff to be knowledgeable of our products and services and to be attentive to customer needs. Our store is a zero-waste grocery store, and we will strive to deliver a positive shopping experience to our customers and to provide them with the best possible value.

Sales Monthly

Our goal is to generate $10,000 in monthly sales. To achieve this goal, we will need to attract at least 150 customers to our store each month. We will implement various promotional activities to reach our target audiences, such as discounts, loyalty programs, and special events.

Sales Yearly

Our goal is to generate $120,000 in yearly sales. To achieve this goal, we must attract a minimum of 1,800 customers to our store each year. We will continue to implement promotional activities to reach our target audience and focus on customer retention strategies to ensure that our customers continue to shop with us.

Sales Forecast

In the next five years, we anticipate an increase of 10% in sales per year. We will use traditional and digital marketing tactics to reach our target customers. We will also offer discounts and promotions to encourage customers to purchase from our store.

7. Personnel Plan

Company staff.

The personnel plan for the grocery store business will depend on the size of the store and the services offered. In how to find a location for the grocery store, Sany got help from brokers for the best location. The following positions are a general list of the positions necessary to run a successful grocery store business:

• CEO and Founder
• Store Manager
• Assistant Store Manager
• Shift Supervisors

Average Salary of Employees

The average salary of employees will depend on the services the store offers and the size of the store. Generally, cashiers and stockers usually earn an annual salary of between $20,000 and $30,000. Managers and assistant managers typically earn an annual salary of between $40,000 and $60,000. Salaries for deli workers, production workers, and other store personnel can vary depending on their experience and the services they provide.

8. Financial Business Plan for Grocery Store

The financial plan of this grocery store business plan is based on the start-up costs of $50,000. This includes the cost of rent, inventory, equipment, licenses, permits, and other miscellaneous costs. This start-up cost will be financed through a combination of personal funds, a bank loan, and an investor.

Important Assumptions

Grocery store business plan’s financial assumptions:

Changes in regulations or industries can have an impact on financial strategies.

Brake-even Analysis

The brake-even analysis for this grocery store business plan is based on the start-up costs of $50,000. This means that the store must generate $50,000 in sales to break even. This figure is based on the fixed costs of the store, such as rent, payroll, utilities, and other fixed costs.

Monthly break-even analysis

Projected Profit and Loss

The projected profit and loss statement estimate the expected revenue, expenses and profits over a certain period of time. This information can be used to make decisions about the store’s operations and investments.

Profit Monthly

Profit Yearly

Gross Margin Monthly

Gross Margin Yearly

Projected Cash Flow

The retail grocery store business plan also includes a cash flow statement, which will provide a snapshot of the store’s financial health at any given time. The following column diagram illustrates the projected cash flow statement and the sources and uses of cash associated with the grocery store business.

Projected Balance Sheet

The projected balance sheet will provide an overview of the store’s assets, liabilities, and equity. This statement will help to determine the store’s financial health and inform any potential investors. To create the statement, the store will need to calculate the value of its assets, such as inventory, equipment, and supplies. Additionally, the store will need to estimate the value of its liabilities, such as bank loans and debts.

Business Ratios

The business ratios are another essential part of a grocery store business plan. These ratios measure the performance of the business and provide valuable insight into the business’s overall health. As shown in the table below, the business ratios include profitability, liquidity, and efficiency measures.

• What is the most profitable part of a grocery store? The most profitable part of a grocery store typically is the center aisles, which are often referred to as the “center store” or “dry grocery”. These aisles contain items like canned goods, snacks, breakfast items, and other non-perishable food items. These items typically have higher profit margins than items located in the perimeter of the store, such as produce and meats.
• How hard is it to run a grocery store? Running a grocery store is a complex and challenging task. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication to ensure that the store is well-run and profitable. You must be familiar with retail operations and understand the needs of customers. You also need to be able to manage staff, keep up with inventory, and stay on top of financials. Additionally, you must be able to develop relationships with suppliers, create effective marketing strategies, and stay up-to-date with industry trends.

Download Grocery Store Business Plan in PDF

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Retail Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Retail Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your retail business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their retail companies.

Retail Business Plan Template & Sample

Below is a retail business plan template to help you create each section of your retail store business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Artisan Home & Decor is a startup retail shop located in Pasadena, California. The company is founded by Joyce Hernandez, a retailer who has worked as a store manager of a local home decor store for nearly a decade. Joyce has recently graduated from California University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Now that she has gained real-world experience managing a store and the education on how to run a retail business, she is inspired to start her own company, Artisan Home & Decor. Joyce is confident that her ability to effectively manage employees, customer relationships, and retail operations will help her establish a profitable retail store. Joyce plans on recruiting a team of highly qualified sales associates, accountants, and buyers to help manage the day to day complexities of retail – marketing, sales, budgeting, sourcing, and purchasing.

Artisan Home & Decor will provide uniquely curated home decor products created by local artisans. The home decor shop will be the ultimate choice for customers in Pasadena who value one-of-a-kind pieces for their homes. Artisan Home & Decor will provide its customers with a refreshingly personalized shopping experience they can’t get anywhere else. The shop’s sales associates will be able to help customers find the perfect pieces to suit their individual preferences and styles.

Product Offering

The following are the products that Artisan Home & Decor will provide:

• Lamps & Lighting
• Throw Blankets
• Photo Frames
• Cookware Sets
• Kitchen Gadgets
• Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures
• Waste Baskets
• Soap Dispensers

Customer Focus

Artisan Home & Decor will target home decor shoppers looking for a personalized experience and unique pieces in Pasadena. The company will target boomer, millennial, and gen z  consumers looking for unique decor for their homes, apartments, or condos. They will also target businesses looking for special pieces to furnish their corporate offices, waiting rooms, and lobbies. No matter the client, Artisan Home & Decor will deliver the best communication, service, and high quality products.

Management Team

Artisan Home & Decor will be owned and operated by Joyce Hernandez, a retailer who has worked as a store manager of a local home decor store for nearly a decade. Joyce has recently graduated from California University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Now that she has gained real-world experience managing retail stores and the education on how to run a retail business, she is inspired to start her own company, Artisan Home & Decor.

Joyce Hernandez has recruited her former assistant manager, Melissa Jacobs to come on board to help her manage Artisan Home & Decor. While Joyce will oversee the employees, day-to-day operations, and client relationships, Melissa will be the Inventory Manager. She will be in charge of sourcing, purchasing, and pricing all inventory. Melissa will work directly with suppliers to stock the retail shop with unique artisan pieces.

Melissa is a graduate of the University of California with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. She has been working at a local retail home decor company for over a decade as an assistant manager. Melissa has an eye for design and keen organizational skills that will allow her to effectively manage Artisan Home & Decor’s one-of-a-kind inventory. Her communication skills will enable her to establish and maintain working relationships with artisans and suppliers.

Success Factors

Artisan Home & Decor will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of sales associates and interior design experts that are able to provide a personalized customer experience and help each client find the right home decor pieces to suit their preferences.
• Artisan Home & Decor will bring fresh inventory into their retail store on a regular basis so there will always be something new for customers to check out. In addition to in-store sales, the company will sell pieces online through its website.
• Artisan Home & Decor offers one-of-kind pieces created by local artisans to suit a wide variety of home decor styles and tastes. By purchasing from the shop, customers are supporting these local artisans and getting fresh decor that no one else will have.

Financial Highlights

Artisan Home & Decor is seeking $210,000 in debt financing to launch its retail business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing and building out the retail space and purchasing the initial inventory. Funds will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for print ads, website and SEO marketing initiatives, and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Retail space build-out: $25,000
• Retail store shelving, displays, equipment, supplies, and materials: $40,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $120,000
• Marketing costs: $15,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Artisan Home & Decor.

Company Overview

Who is artisan home & decor.

Artisan Home & Decor is a newly established retail company in Pasadena, California. The new home decor shop will be the ultimate choice for people looking for uniquely curated one-of-a-kind furniture and other home products crafted by local artisans. Artisan Home & Decor will provide its customers with a refreshingly personalized shopping experience they can’t get anywhere else. The shop’s sales associates and experienced interior designers will be able to help customers find the right pieces to suit their preferences and styles.

Artisan Home & Decor will be able to provide a personalized shopping experience for serving customers in-store and online. The team of professionals and sales associates are highly qualified and experienced in interior design, home decor, and the customer experience. Artisan Home & Decor removes all headaches and issues of the home decor shopper and ensures all issues are taken care off expeditiously while delivering the best customer service.

Artisan Home & Decor History

Artisan Home & Decor is owned and operated by Joyce Hernandez, a retailer who has worked as a store manager of a local home decor store for nearly a decade. Joyce has recently graduated from California University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Now that she has gained real-world experience managing retail stores and the education on how to run a retail business, she is ready to start her own company. Joyce is confident that her ability to effectively manage employees, customer relationships, and retail operations will help her establish a profitable retail store. Joyce has begun recruiting a team of highly qualified sales associates, accountants, and buyers to help manage the day to day complexities of retail – marketing, sales, budgeting, sourcing, and purchasing.

Since incorporation, Artisan Home & Decor has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Artisan Home & Decor, LLC to transact business in the state of California.
• Has a contract in place to lease the retail space.
• Reached out to numerous local artisans to advise them on the upcoming retail shop in order to start getting supplier contracts.
• Began recruiting a staff of sales associates, interior designers, an accountant/bookkeeper, marketing director, and assistant manager to work at Artisan Home & Decor.

Artisan Home & Decor Services

Industry analysis.

The retail industry in the United States is valued at over $4T currently and is forecasted to reach $4.9T by the end of 2022. This is up from $3.8T in 2019. After a decade of retail decline between 2010 and 2020, the market is rebounding at a surprising rate. There were twice as many store openings as closings in 2021 alone. The number of brick-and-mortar retail establishments is increasing even as ecommerce shopping has grown by 70% in the last three years.

The role of retail stores is evolving and industry operators are discovering in-store experiences are still vital from the customer perspective. Successful brick-and-mortar industry operators are incorporating ecommerce into their business models. Trends include providing ship-from-store and buy online, pickup in store options to give customers more flexibility in the way they can shop. Key success factors include the level of customer satisfaction, product selection, prices, and convenience.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for Pasadena, California are:

Customer Segmentation

Artisan Home & Decor will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Millennial customers looking for one-of-a-kind home decor
• Boomer customers looking for one-of-a-kind home decor
• Gen z customers looking for one-of-a-kind home decor
• Businesses looking for unique decor for their offices, waiting rooms, or lobbies

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Artisan Home & Decor will face competition from other retailers with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Pasadena Home Decor

Pasadena Home Decor provides high-end home decor for the conscientious consumer. Located in Pasadena, California, the home decor retailer is able to provide a tailored shopping experience for its customers. The store’s list of products includes tables, chairs, wall hangings, rugs, vases, photo frames, candles, office decor, and paintings by local artists. Pasadena Home Decor sells online and in-store to give customers flexibility.

Pasadena Home Decor’s promise is to deliver high quality pieces that will stand out. Customers who purchase furniture and home decor from Pasadena Home Decor will be delighted with the customer service, cleanliness of the store, and personalized design services the company offers.

Home Shoppe

Home Shoppe is a California-based home decor retail store that provides outstanding pieces for discerning clientele. Home Shoppe stocks unique furniture and other decor items that are 100% hand-crafted. The owners of Home Shoppe are experienced craftsmen themselves, so they know how quality furniture and home decor pieces should be made. Clients can depend on their selection of products for durability, style, and eco-friendly materials. Choose Home Shoppe for your next home decor project and let the sales team take the stress out of the redecorating process by helping you select the best products for your home.

Redecorating For You

Redecorating For You is a trusted Pasadena retail company that provides superior home decor products for shoppers in Pasadena and the surrounding areas. The shop offers an extensive inventory of home decor items in a variety of styles so there is something for every taste. Redecorating For You is able to provide premium pieces that fill every space with elegance and style. The shop also eases the stress of redecorating by providing in-store pickup and delivery options for busy customers.

Competitive Advantage

Artisan Home & Decor will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Artisan Home & Decor will bring fresh inventory into the store on a regular basis so there will always be something new for customers to check out. In addition to in-store sales, the company will sell pieces online through its website.
• Artisan Home & Decor offers one-of-kind pieces created by local artisans to suit a wide variety of home decor styles and tastes.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Artisan Home & Decor will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Artisan Home & Decor will make redecorating easy for customers by providing in-store shopping, pickup, delivery, online shopping, ship-from-store, and buy online-pickup in store options.
• By purchasing from the shop, customers are supporting local artisans and getting fresh decor that no one else will have.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Artisan Home & Decor is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The company will use various social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Snapchat to promote the shop, feature artisans, and show off new pieces. The marketing director will oversee the social media marketing activities to grow the customer base.

Professional Associations and Networking

Artisan Home & Decor will become a member of professional associations such as the National Retail Federation, California Retailers Association, and the Home Furnishings Association. The company will focus its networking efforts on expanding its network of clients, designers, and artisans.

Print Advertising

Artisan Home & Decor will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events, in home decor publications, and direct mailers.

Website/SEO Marketing

Artisan Home & Decor’s marketing director will be responsible for creating and maintaining the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all of the products currently available for purchase online.

The marketing director will also manage Artisan Home & Decor’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that any time someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “Pasadena home decor retailer” or “home decor store near me”, Artisan Home & Decor will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Artisan Home & Decor will be premium and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the one-of-a-kind products.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Artisan Home & Decor.

Operation Functions:

• Joyce Hernandez will be the Owner and Manager of the store. She will oversee all staff and manage day-to-day operations. Joyce has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Melissa Jacobs – Inventory Manager who will be responsible for sourcing, purchasing, pricing, and maintaining the inventory.
• Robert Brown – Staff Accountant/bookkeeper who will provide all store accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Bill Johnson – Marketing Director who will provide all marketing and sales activities for Artisan Home & Decor including maintaining the website, social media, print advertising, and promotions.
• Julia Smith – Lead Sales Associate & Designer who will manage all sales associates and provide design services for customers.

Milestones:

Artisan Home & Decor will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

9/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease the retail space.

9/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the management team.

10/1/2022 – Finalize contracts for suppliers.

10/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan.

10/22/2022 – Begin moving into the Artisan Home & Decor shop.

11/1/2022 – Artisan Home & Decor opens for business.

Artisan Home & Decor will be owned and operated by Joyce Hernandez, a retailer who has worked as a store manager of a local home decor store for nearly a decade. Joyce has recently graduated from California University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Now that she has gained real-world experience managing a store and the education on how to run a retail business, she is inspired to start her own company, Artisan Home & Decor.

Melissa is a graduate of the University of California with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. She has been working at a local retail home decor company for over a decade as an assistant manager. Melissa has an eye for design and keen organizational skills that will allow her to effectively manage Artisan Home & Decor’s one-of-a-kind inventory. Her communication skills will enable her to establish and maintain working relationships with suppliers.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Artisan Home & Decor are the retail fees they will charge to the customers in exchange for their products. The shop will charge a healthy margin to make sure artisans are paid well for their products while ensuring a solid profit for the business.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a retail store. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, store supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

• Store shelving, displays, equipment, supplies, and materials: $40,000

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of items sold per month: 300
• Average sales per month: $90,000
• Retail space lease per year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, retail business plan template faqs, what is a retail business plan.

A retail business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your retail business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target market, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your retail business plan using our Retail Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Retail Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of retail businesses, some examples include: Specialty Store, Off-Priced/Used Goods Store, Department Store, Convenience Store, Drug Store/Pharmacy, Discount Store, Hypermarket, and E-commerce.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Retail Business Plan?

Retail businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

A solid retail business plan with comprehensive financial statements will help show investors your are well-prepared to start your own business.  A retail business plan template will help you quickly and easily get started.

What are the Steps To Start a Retail Business?

Starting a retail business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Retail Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed retail store business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include supporting market research, your potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, marketing strategy, your competitive advantages and detailed financial projections.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your retail business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your retail business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Retail Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your retail business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your retail business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Retail Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your retail business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your retail business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Where Can I Get a Retail Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free retail business plan template PDF here . This is a sample retail business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Ecommerce Business Plan Template Clothing Store Business Plan Template Beauty Supply Store Business Plan Template T-Shirt Business Plan Template

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How to Write a Retail Store Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a retail business? If YES, here’s a complete sample online retail store business plan template & feasibility report to help you get started. Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a retail store. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample retail store marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for retail stores. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Why Start a Retail Store?

There are times when one might not be disposed to buy stuff in bulk. This might be due to financial constraint or other contingencies. This is one of the reasons why retail outlets are scattered all over the world. They know the importance of reaching all and sundry, and that is why they want to provide services that can reach all classes of people.

Those who are already in the trade know the huge profit levels which they attain always. If you have decided to start a retail business, then good news is that you are in a profitable trade, as nearly all the type of goods that are being dealt in is such that is important to all

A Sample Retail Store Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

When we talk about retailing, we talk about a business that deals in loads of consumer goods; which can be categorized into three major areas. These categories are: general merchandise, apparel, and furniture. In other words, retailers are engaged in the selling of finished goods; they get the goods from the manufacturers and they sell to the end users (consumers).

Retail goods can also be categorized into durable goods and non – durable goods. Durable goods are goods such electronics, computers and accessories, furniture, and other large appliances et al and non – durable goods are good such as food, toiletries, drinks, beauty products, jewelry, clothing and shoes et al.

The retail industry is a major sector of the economy of the united states which generates a whooping sum of well over trillion annually from more than a million retail outlets scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of well over 15 million people which is about 12% of the workforce of the U.S. eMarketer.com published that in 2014 alone, the retailing industry on a global scale generated a revenue of well over $22 trillion; it goes to show that the industry is indeed a very large industry.

It is a fact that an estimated two-thirds of the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP) comes from retail consumption. This is why the United States of America’s economy is measured with the yardstick of how well the retailing business is fairing in the U.S. In essence, when there is an unstable economy, purchasing power drops and it impacts the retailing industry negatively which may result in the closure of some retail stores.

In recent time, the retail landscape has seen tremendous changes in the last 20 years; it has grown from the usual mom and pop outlets to a more organized and far reaching venture. The introduction of franchise and online store makes it easier for a retailer to reach out to a larger market far beyond the areas where his physical store is located.

It is interesting to note that more retail shops; especially lager retail outlets have started to include self-serve checkout lanes in their stores. It creates shorter lines that appeal to consumers; the average customer would not want to stay longer on queue.

Over and above, the retail industry is a profitable industry and it is open to any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can chose to start on a small scale in a street corner like the average mom and pop business or you can chose to start on a large scale with several outlets in key cities.

2. Executive Summary

People’s Choice Retail Shop is a retail shop that will be located in one of the busiest streets in Columbus, Ohio. We have been able to lease a facility that is big enough to fit into the design of the retail shop that we intend launching and the facility is located in a corner piece directly opposite the largest residential estate in Columbus, Ohio.

Our retail shop will retail a wide range of durable goods and non – durable goods at affordable prices from different brands. We retail goods such as groceries, clothes, sports equipment, beauty products, jewelry, baby stuffs, children’s toys, home furnishings and home appliances et al.

We are aware that there are several large and small retail outlets all around Columbus, which is why we spent time and resources to conduct our feasibility studies and market survey, so as to offer much more than our competitors will be offering. We have sell service options for our customers, and our outlet is well secured with the various payment options.

Much more than selling the goods and products of top brands in the manufacturing industry, our customer care is second to none in the whole of Columbus, Ohio. We know that our customers are the reason why we are in business, and that is why we will go the extra mile to get them satisfied when they visit our retail shop and also to become our loyal customers and ambassadors.

People’s Choice Retail Shop will ensure that all our customers are given first class treatment whenever they visit our shop. We have a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers, no matter how large the numbers of our customers base. We will ensure that we get our customers involved in the selection of brands that will be on our racks and also when make some business decisions.

We are aware of the trend in the retail industry and we are not only going to operate a system where our customers would have to come to our shop to make purchase or whatever they want but we will also operate an online store and our customers can order goods online and they will get it delivered to their houses or any location they want us to deliver the goods to within Ohio.

People’s Choice Retail Shop is a family business that is owned by Bob Wesley and Family. Although the business is launching out with just one outlet in Columbus, Ohio, but there is a plan to open other outlets all around Ohio.

3. Our Products and Services

People’s Choice Retail Shop is in the retailing industry and we will ensure we go all the way to make available a wide range of goods and products from top manufacturing brands in the United States and other countries of the world.

We will have available in our store a wide range of durable goods and non – durable goods at affordable prices. We retail goods such as groceries, clothes, sports equipment, beauty products, jewelry, children’s toys, baby stuffs, home furnishings and home appliances et al.

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to establish a one stop retail shop in Columbus, Ohio and in other cities in Ohio.
• Our mission is to establish a retail business that will make available a wide range of goods and products from top manufacturing brands at affordable prices to the residence of Columbus, Ohio and other cities in Ohio.

Our Business Structure

People’s Choice Retail Shop do not intend to start a retail business like the usual mom and pop business around the street corner; our intention of starting a retail business is to build a standard retail outlet in Columbus, Ohio. Although our retail business might not be as big as Wal-Mart or Marcy, but will ensure that we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind while setting up the business.

We will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, honest, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
• Store Manager

Merchandize Manager

Sales and Marketing Manager

Information Technologist

• Accountants / Cashiers

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for recruitment
• Responsible for payment of salaries
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Store Manager:

• Responsible for managing the daily activities in the restaurant
• Ensures that the store facility is in tip top shape and conducive enough to welcome customers
• Interfaces with third – party providers (vendors)
• Controls the sales floor inventory
• Ensures that goods and products are properly arranged
• Supervises the entire sales staff and workforce
• Any other duty as assigned by the CEO
• Manages vendor relations, market visits, and the ongoing education and development of the organizations’ buying teams
• Helps to ensure consistent quality of goods and products on our rack
• Responsible for the purchase of goods and products for the organizations
• Responsible for planning sales, monitoring inventory, selecting the merchandise, and writing and pricing orders to vendors
• Ensures that the organization operates within stipulated budget.
• Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Manages the organization website
• Handles ecommerce aspect of the business
• Responsible for installing and maintenance of computer software and hardware for the organization
• Manage logistics and supply chain software, Web servers, e-commerce software and POS (point of sale) systems
• Manages the organization’s CCTV
• Handles any other technological and IT related duties.

Accountant / Cashier:

• Receives payments on behalf of the organization
• Issues receipt to customers
• Prepares financial report at the end of every working week
• Handles all financial transaction on behalf of the company
• Interfaces with our bankers
• Responsible for payment of tax, levies and utility bills
• Any other duty as assigned by the CEO / store manager
• Responsible for cleaning the store facility at all times
• Ensures that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Cleans both the interior and exterior of the store facility
• Any other duty as assigned by the restaurant manager,

6. SWOT Analysis

Our intention of starting just one outlet of our retail store in Columbus, Ohio is to test run the business for a period of 2 to 5 years to know if we will invest more money, expand the business and then open other outlets all over Ohio. We are quite aware that there are several retail stores all over Columbus and even in the same location where we intend locating ours, which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be welled equipped to confront our threats.

People’s Choice Retail Store employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in retailing to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives. This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for People’s Choice Retail Store;

Our location, the business model we will be operating on (physical store and online store), varieties of payment options, wide range of products and our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for People’s Choice Retail Store.

A major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a new retail outlet and we don’t have the financial capacity to compete with multi – billion dollars retail outlets like Wal-Mart and co when it comes to retailing at a rock bottom prices for all their goods.

• Opportunities:

The fact that we are going to be operating our retail store in one of the busiest streets in Columbus, Ohio, provides us with unlimited opportunities to sell our goods to a large number of people. We have been able to conduct thorough feasibility studies and market survey and we know what our potential clients will be looking for when they visit our retail outlets; we are well positioned to take on the opportunities that will come our way.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new retail outlet in same location where ours is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Retailing business has been in existence for as long as humans started trading goods, but one thing is certain, the retailing industry is still evolving. The introduction of technology and subsequently online retail store has indeed helped in reshaping the industry.

It is now a common phenomenon for retail outlets to leverage on technology to effectively predict consumer demand patterns and to strategically position their shop to meet their needs; in essence, the use of technology help retailers to maximize supply chain efficiencies. No doubt data collected from customers goes a long way to help retail shops serve them better.

Another common trend in the retailing industry is the pricing system. Aside from having varieties of products in a store, one of the easiest ways for retail stores to sell the goods on their racks as fast as they can and keep re – stocking is to ensure that the prices of their goods are a bit lower than what is obtainable elsewhere. For example; it is common to see items with prices in this format; $3.99, $99 and $199 et al as against $4, $100 and $200.

Retailers also engage in massive clearance sales and discount sales to attract customers. It is a strategy that helps them welcome new customers and also reinforce the loyalty of old customers.

8. Our Target Market

Perhaps the retailing industry has the widest range of customers; everybody on planet earth has one or more things that they would need in a retail shop. It is difficult to find people around who don’t patronize retail shops.

In view of that, we have positioned our retail store to service the residence of Columbus, Ohio and every other location our retail stores will be located all over Ohio. We have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to retail a wide range of products to the following groups of people;

• Corporate Executives
• Business People
• About to wed couples
• Expectant Mothers
• Sports Men and Women

Our Competitive Advantage

People’s Choice Retail Store is launching a standard retail shop that will indeed become the preferred choice of residence of Columbus, Ohio. Our retail store is located in a corner piece property on a busy road directly opposite one of the largest residential estates in Columbus, Ohio. We have enough parking space that can accommodate well over 100 cars per time.

One thing is certain; we will ensure that we have a wide range of products available in our store at all times. It will be difficult for customers to visit our store and not see the product that they are looking for. One of our business goal is to make People’s Choice Retail Store a one stop shop. Our excellent customer service culture, online store, various payment options and highly secured facility will serve as a competitive advantage for us.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

People’s Choice Retail Shop is in business to retail a wide range of products to the residence of Columbus, Ohio. In essence, our source of income will be the retailing of a wide range of durable goods and non – durable goods at affordable prices. We will retail goods such as groceries, clothes, sports equipment, beauty products, jewelry, children’s toys, baby stuff, home furnishings and home appliances et al.

10. Sales Forecast

It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies, market survey and also some of the assumptions readily available on the field. One thing is common with retailing business, the larger a retail store the larger the numbers of customers that will patronize them.

Although we may not be as large as Wal-Mart, but we will ensure that within our capacity we make available a wide range of goods from different manufacturing brands in our retail outlet. Below are the sales projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of operations;

• First Year-: $200,000
• Second Year-: $450,000
• Third Year-: $700,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and natural disasters within the period stated above. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Before choosing a location for People’s Choice Retail Store, we conducted a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market and become the preferred choice for residence of Columbus, Ohio. We have a detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the retail industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in Columbus, Ohio. In order to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell the products that are available in our store which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver.

In summary, People’s Choice Retail Store will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to win customers over;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters to residence, business owners and organizations
• Promptness in bidding for contracts
• Advertise our business in community based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
• List our business on yellow pages ads
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Direct marketing
• Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Despite the fact that our retail store is well located, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for the business. We are going to explore all available means to promote our retail store. People’s Choice Retail Store has a long term plan of opening outlets in various locations all around Ohio which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Columbus before venturing out.

As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for winning customers over but to effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise People’s Choice Retail Store;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, et al to promote our brand
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Columbus, Ohio
• Engage in road show from time to time
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Position our Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where our retail store is located.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Pricing is one of the key factors that give leverage to retail stores, it is normal for consumers to go to places (retail outlets) where they can goods at cheaper price which is why big player in the retail industry like Wal-Mart will attract loads of consumers. Products in their store are tagged with the cheapest price you can get anywhere in the United States.

We know we don’t have the capacity to compete with Wal-Mart or any other big retail store, but we will ensure that the prices of all the products that are available in our store are competitive with what is obtainable amongst retail stores within our level.

• Payment Options

Our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available in every of our outlets;

• Payment by cash
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
• Payment via Mobile money

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our payment plans without any itches.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

This is the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital;

• The Total Fee for Registering the Business in Ohio – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $1,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of People’s Choice Retail Store in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• Cost for hiring Consultant – $2,500 .
• Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• Cost for payment of rent for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
• Cost for Shop remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
• The cost for Start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of products) – $100,000
• Storage hardware (bins, rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
• Cost for serving area equipment (plates, glasses, flatware) – $3,000
• Cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
• Cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs: $10,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $4,000 .
• The cost of Launching a Website: $600
• The cost for our opening party: $7,000
• Miscellaneous: $10,000

We would need an estimate of $500,000 to successfully set up our retail store in Columbus, Ohio. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of all the staff for the first month of operation.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for People’s Choice Retail Store

People’s Choice Retail Store is a private business that is solely owned and financed by Bob Wesley and family. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources. These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $200,000 ( Personal savings $150,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $300,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If any of these factors is missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

People’s Choice Retail Store will ensure that all the factors listed above are reinforced on a regular basis and also we will engage in continuous capacity building of our workforce. As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more.

We will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of facility and remodeling the shop: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• writing of business plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Compilation of our list of products that will be available in our store: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – suppliers of all our needed raw materials: In Progress

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How to Start a Retail Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If you’re thinking about starting a business in the retail industry, you’re in good company. Although local retailers don’t get the same level of attention as nationwide brands do, small retail businesses actually make up the vast majority of all U.S. retail businesses.

In fact, researchers found that small retailers (with 50 or fewer employees) made up 98.6% of all retail businesses in 2019. To break into this vibrant industry and open a store of your own, therefore, you first need to understand how to start a retail business.

To help you through the process, we’ll guide you through all the steps required to start a retail business, as well as offer additional resources to assist you on your startup journey.

How to start a retail business in 10 steps

These steps will have you running your retail business in no time. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Find your niche.

The first decision you'll need to make in order to learn how to start a retail business is figuring out your company's niche. You may already have an idea of the type of company you want to form, or you may still be grappling to figure out where to focus your retail company. To determine your niche market, we recommend:

Explore your interests and passions: Determine what you love doing or what you'll enjoy selling.

Brainstorm potential conflicts: No industry is perfect, but figuring out what obstacles or issues you could encounter in your niche will help you plan ahead and determine if an industry is a good fit for your business.

Consider profitability: At the end of the day, you want to make money from your retail business, so you'll need to find a niche that has the potential for profitability. Generally, if your niche has absolutely no competitors, it's usually a sign there's no demand, and therefore, your focus will not be profitable. Use our guide to learn more about the most profitable business ideas.

Research competitors: Once you've found a niche market using the above three steps, it's time to research your competition. Figure out how they're marketing and selling and determine what you can learn from them and how you can improve upon what they have to offer.

Retail business examples

Deciding on your niche can take a long time. It requires significant research and the passion to work within a particular market. To help you get started in identifying your niche market, here are a few retail business examples worth exploring:

Coffee shops

Apparel shops (eyewear, sports apparel, undergarments, outerwear)

Restaurants and bars (determine a theme, whether that's the cuisine, small plates, a canteen, etc.)

Game centers (board games, video games, etc.)

Monthly box subscriptions

Pet supply shop

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Step 2: Write a business plan.

We don’t doubt that you have an amazing idea for a retail store, but an idea alone isn’t enough to turn a dream into a reality. By writing a business plan, you’re providing yourself (and, potentially, future lenders and other stakeholders) a physical roadmap detailing every step you’ll take to open and run your retail business.

Therefore, when you're crafting your business plan for opening a retail store, you can start by answering essential questions about your business model:

What kinds of products are you selling?

Will you open a brick-and-mortar location, an e-commerce website , or will you take an omnichannel selling approach?

Who is your target market, and how will you market to them?

How will you set your store apart from your competition?

You’ll also need to dig into details related to your processes, answering questions such as:

Who are your vendors? How will you store your inventory?

How much staff will you need?

What will your hiring process look like?

What will your startup costs be?

How much money will you need to launch?

How long will it take for you to break even?

How long will it take for you to make a profit?

Keep in mind, however, that your preliminary business plan is exactly that—preliminary. You can always return to your retail store business plan to make changes, updates, and additions as you gain experience with starting and running your business.

Create a business budget

Along the same lines, you should also create a business budget, to the best of your ability, well before you’ve opened your doors. At this stage, you should be paying especially close attention to your startup costs.

Unfortunately, if you're wondering how to start a retail business with no money, you're going to find it's extremely difficult. Although there a variety of ways to cut costs—selling online instead of opting for a physical location, for example—there will always be a handful of costs associated with starting and launching your retail store.

This being said, in addition to standard startup costs like equipment, business insurance, and payroll, if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar retail store, you’ll have to cover some specific costs, like a down payment, potential renovations, and monthly rent and utilities for your store. You’ll also be responsible for purchasing your merchandise, shipping and delivery costs, and storing excess inventory.

And don’t forget about the other tools and software you’ll need to run your business, including a POS system, retail accounting software, and a security system to monitor shoplifting and theft.

Step 3: Register your business.

With your business plan and budget in hand, you can now move onto the next step involved in learning how to start a retail business—making it official.

Come up with a business name

If you haven’t already, you’ll first need to come up with a business name. Choose a name that reflects your business’s purpose and brand identity, allows you room to grow, and, perhaps most importantly, is actually available for use.

Once you’ve landed on your dream business name, run your moniker through a Google search to make sure another entrepreneur isn’t already doing business under that name. Then, check for trademark filings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and conduct a Secretary of State business search to make sure there isn’t another business in your area with your potential name.

Once you’ve established that your name is free and clear, you'll want to buy your domain name and create social media accounts with your name. That way, you can build a business website and launch your marketing strategy ASAP.

Determine your legal structure and register your business

Next, in order to register your business, you’ll first need to decide on your business’s legal structure. Your business structure determines how you’re taxed, the degree of legal protection you’re afforded, your business’s ownership structure, and your ability to receive business funding (in addition to allowing you to register your business in the first place).

There are lots of business entities to choose from—all of which we overview in detail in our guide to types of business entities. Additionally, we’d highly recommend consulting a business attorney or accountant to guide you through this crucial step.

Once you’ve landed on a business entity type, you can go ahead and register your business through your state’s Secretary of State website. After that, head over to the IRS' website to apply for an EIN (employer identification number) online. Your EIN is a bit like your business’s social security number, and it’ll help the government identify you for tax purposes. You might also need an EIN to apply for a business loan down the line.

Step 4: Obtain licenses, permits, and business insurance.

Some states require a general business license, while others require licenses and permits at an industry level. You may also need to acquire local permits and licenses, so consult your county or city clerk’s website for their particular requirements, too. The SBA is an excellent resource for licensing and permitting information at both the federal and local levels.

For those learning how to start a retail business, you’ll likely need to obtain multiple retail licenses related to your field, including a resale certificate, seller’s permit, and a certificate of occupancy. We also recommend partnering with a trusted business attorney during this step.

Additionally, you won't want to forget about business insurance. As a retailer, you should consider general liability insurance, a business owner’s policy, and business crime insurance; and as an employer, you’re likely required by law to carry workers comp insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance for your staff.

Take a look at our guide to small business insurance for more information on the types of coverage you need.

Step 5: Find a physical location and build an online store.

If your retail business will include a physical store, finding the right location is arguably the most important aspect of this process. Your location can make or break the success of your business: If you’re located in a heavily trafficked area, then your marketing efforts are practically built-in. If it’s in a tough-to-find location, or if parking is limited, then your bottom line might suffer.

The right location for your business depends largely upon who your target market is and where they hang out. If you’re opening an upscale boutique, for example, you probably want to choose a neighborhood that skews less toward students and cash-strapped millennials, and more toward people with some discretionary income to burn.

Of course, you’ll also have to keep in mind how much space you need for display areas, a back-office and break room for your staff, dressing rooms, and an inventory storage area. Your location will also depend largely upon how much room you have in your budget for renovations, store design, remodels, updates, a down payment, and your monthly rent and utility bills. That may mean opting for your second or third choice location to protect your budget.

Build an e-commerce store

Even if you always dreamed of a brick-and-mortar store with in-person transactions, we also recommend opening an online store to give your retail business as much exposure as possible.

Luckily, building and managing an online store is incredibly easy with an e-commerce platform. Here are a few recommendations to get you started:

Shopify: This platform provides an infinitely customizable, standalone store that you build and manage entirely on your own.

Squarespace or Wix: These business website platforms are simple to use and offer e-commerce functionalities.

Etsy, Amazon, or eBay: These popular marketplaces will provide you with plenty of built-in traffic and handy seller tools. On the downside, you won’t have as much control over your branding, customer relationships, or fulfillment process as you would with your own e-commerce store.

The combination of e-commerce and in-person retail is sometimes referred to as "bricks and clicks." You can use our guide to learn more about the bricks and clicks business model.

» MORE: How to start an online boutique

Step 6: Establish relationships with vendors and suppliers.

This is the next step to learning how to start a retail business—and beyond your store’s location, arguably one of the most crucial aspects of your potential success—is finding trustworthy vendors and suppliers. Your vendors might become your most valuable partners and a great vendor can present you with new merchandise, determine which products will sell best, and cut costs for you.

There are a few considerations to keep in mind as you’re searching for vendors.

Budget: Your vendors need to work within the supplier budget you’ve established.

Quality: The quality of their merchandise is crucial.

Reputation: You want to work with a supplier who is guaranteed to deliver your agreed-upon items on time and in good condition—every time you place an order.

Customer service: Remember that you’ll be working closely with your vendors, so their service team must be reliable, personable, and easy to contact in case you run into any issues.

We recommend establishing relationships with several vendors. Even if your vendor of choice is stable, reliable, and cost-efficient, you need to have a contingency plan in place—without merchandise to sell, you won’t have a business to run.

Step 7: Hire staff.

If you’ve never hired an employee before, take a look at our guide on how to hire great employees who’ll stick with you for the long run. When hiring for a retail position, make sure to interview as much for their attitude as you are for their experience. While you can train your employees to use your POS system and manage your inventory, you can’t teach them to be kinder, friendlier, or more trustworthy than they innately are.

In advance of hiring your first team member, make sure you understand your state-regulated employer requirements. Your state might require that you buy certain types of insurance for your staff. Additionally, you’ll probably need to complete some other steps, like creating a state withholding account for payroll, reporting new hires, and verifying your potential new hire’s employment eligibility as well.

Step 8: Find the right POS system.

Your POS system just might become your retail business’s best friend. It’ll certainly become your employees’ best friend—assuming you choose an intuitive, easy-to-use model, of which there are tons on the market right now.

A point of sale system combines hardware and software that enables your business to accept and process all kinds of payments. Most POS software is loaded with valuable back-end capabilities, like inventory management, employee management, CRM tools, sales reports, and vendor tracking.

If you’re opening a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll need a POS system that can accept cash, checks, contactless payments, and both chip and swipe cards. In addition, you’ll need a barcode scanner, receipt printer, and cash drawer.

For more flexibility, you might want to look into a POS system that allows on-the-go payments, too. For example, Square (and most other POS systems) has mobile card readers that plug into your phone or tablet so you can accept payments from virtually anywhere, whether that’s at a pop-up shop, craft fair, or trunk show.

Similarly, Clover also has a fully equipped, handheld POS device so you or your staff can ring up your customers from anywhere in your store.

Ultimately, you have options—a lot of them. To help you navigate the selection process, consult our guide on the best retail POS systems.

Step 9: Organize your finances.

As we mentioned earlier, it's nearly impossible to figure out how to start a retail business with no money—so, whether you have a large amount of startup capital or are operating on a tight budget, it's extremely important to organize your finances.

First, you'll want to open a business checking account . If you’re happy with your current bank, you may want to open a business bank account there. It’s logistically easier for you to maintain all your finances with the same institution. In addition, many banks offer discounts and other incentives when consumer clients open business accounts. If you want to compare your options, we recommend looking into our best business bank accounts guide.

Next, you'll want to get a business credit card . Most credit card companies allow business customers to apply for a business credit card online—which makes this step even easier than opening a business bank account.

If your business is too new to have any financial data, you can provide your personal financial information on your application. If you’re approved, you’ll receive your card in the mail in about a week or two. Use it for your business’s smaller, daily expenses, and be mindful of only using it for business-related purchases to maintain personal and business financial separation.

Get funding

Most entrepreneurs need a little (or a lot of) financial help to get their businesses off the ground. That may be especially true of retailers and brick-and-mortar business owners, who have a few extra startup costs to contend with.

Although it can be difficult to get a business loan as a startup, there are a variety of alternative options you can consider, especially as you start to run your retail store and become more established.

Finally, don’t forget to sign up for a good business accounting software solution, which will streamline, automate, and organize your business’s finances.

Step 10: Market your retail business.

At this point, you've learned the most important pieces of how to start a retail business, and now, you're ready to open your doors and get to work.

Of course, to get the word out about your business, you need to develop a small business marketing strategy, which provides you with an opportunity to get a little creative. The best marketing strategies, especially for brick-and-mortar stores, use a combination of SEO, social media, email marketing, paid online marketing strategies (if their budget allows for it), and analog marketing efforts.

At the very start of your venture, your time is best spent building a business website and creating social media accounts. Squarespace and Wix provide users with tons of customizable, professionally designed templates and built-in SEO tools. For social media, focus on creating diverse, high-quality content, posting regularly, and responding promptly to your followers’ comments and DMs—both the positive and the negative.

As a brick-and-mortar store owner, in-person marketing tactics are also important. We recommend:

Getting active in your local retailer community, networking with your fellow business owners, and participating in craft fairs and other events showcasing local businesses.

Partnering up with a local business whose target market is similar to yours and putting on an event together, or hosting pop-up shops or trunk shows in each other’s locations.

Using good sales incentives—like BOGO deals, giveaways, and free trial periods—to draw even more customers into your store.

To boost your marketing strategy, it's important to take some time to develop your brand identity. Establish your messaging, market positioning, and how your unique business can provide your customers with what they’re looking for—then create the materials to reflect those core values.

Start Your Dream Business

The bottom line

As you navigate the business formation steps, be careful not to lose sight of why you’re opening your retail business in the first place. If you remember the passion that inspired you to launch your business, you might even enjoy the finer points involved in the process—who knew finding a POS system could be so fun?

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

Retail Dogma

RETAILDOGMA

RETAIL EDUCATION & TRAINING SOLUTIONS

Retail Business Plan

A retail business plan is a document that gives you and your potential investors a roadmap on how your new retail business intends to get started and deliver its business goals over its initial few years (usually 5 years).

It is usually broken down into sections about the company, the industry it operates in, the competition it will face and a plan that covers marketing, financials and operations over the first few years in business.

Also check out this one-page Business Model Canvas for a retail business .

Retail Business Plan Template

You can download this free retail business plan template from the link below. You will be able to edit the word file and export it into PDF format afterwards.

In the coming sections, we will explain the different components that go into the retail business plan, which you can then apply to your own plan when completing the template.

Check out more free downloads .

Executive Summary

We recommend writing the executive summary at the end of the process, after you have filled out all the other sections in the retail business plan template.

In the executive summary you will cover the following points briefly:

• Types of products sold at the store
• Customers served by the store
• Company mission & vision
• Market share to be captured

You will also mention the total amount you will need to start this business, backed by the financial plan you prepared as part of this business plan.

The total amount that you want to borrow or have invested in your business will be the sum of pre-opening costs (initial inventory, equipment, rent,..) and the maximum negative cash flow as per your cash flow plan.

If you are writing this retail business plan for a financial institution to get a loan, mention how you expect to repay the loan, and you should have already included the loan installments in your financial plan.

If you are writing this plan for investors, mention how much equity they will receive in return for this investment and the expected return on investment, and expected cash distributions (dividends) based on your financial plan.

For example

An investment of 100,000$ in the business will result in the investor receiving 20% equity. We plan to distribute 50% of the profits every year, and based on our financial projections this will be a xx,xxx$ in the first year, xx,xxx$ in the second year, and xx,xxx$ in the third year,..etc.

Company Overview

Here you will write about your business and give a brief overview about the type of store you will be starting.

You can cover the following points:

• Store category (e.g. beauty store, toy store)
• Store location and brief description of the area
• Product categories carried
• Company legal structure

Industry Overview

Write an overview about the industry (retail/ecommerce) as a whole and the most recent trends specific to this industry.

Cover areas such as:

• Total retail sales
• Contribution of your retail category to the total sales (size of the market)
• Online vs. Brick & Mortar trends
• Recent industry trends and shifts in terms of products you are selling

You can find the most recent insights about retail in our Retail Statistics page.

Read Also: What is Retail ?

Target Market

Write about your target customers that you know will be interested in your products. Mention demographic and psychographic details in this section. This will help afterwards in drafting your marketing plan.

You can cover the following details:

• Age bracket
• Income level
• Educational level
• The specific needs that your products will fill for them

FOUNDATIONS OF MARKETING

• Learn the fundamentals of marketing
• See how they apply to buying, merchandising & pricing
• Real-life case studies and examples

Competition

List the current competition in the market that are serving your target customers. Mention your top 3 competitors in your area.

You can also include indirect competition, such as online stores or marketplace sellers, if you think this might affect your business.

Cover information about:

• No. of stores
• Size of stores
• Product categories they sell
• Pricing level
• Sales per day estimates
• Strengths & Weaknesses

You can also create a summary table like the one below

Competitive Advantage

What will make customers leave the competition and come to you? Use the weaknesses areas that you mentioned about the competition in the previous section, and mention how you will improve on them.

This could be by:

• Superior quality
• Better prices
• Convenience
• More variety
• Better shopping experience

Marketing Plan

Describe your marketing strategy for your store and which channels you are going to use.

Cover the following areas:

• Brand Positioning
• Branding Strategy (Persona, tone, language,..)
• Product Strategy (Key products and product features that will attract your customers)
• Pricing Strategy
• Promotional Strategy
• Marketing Channels

Operations Plan

Write how you will operate your store and include details about your manpower plan.

This will include the management that you will hire for the store, visual merchandisers, sales staff and cashiers.

Cover the following:

• Management structure (store manager, supervisor,..)
• Staff plan (3 sales associates, 2 cashiers, etc.)
• Brief role descriptions
• Compensation structure

Read Also: Retail Scheduling

RETAIL OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

• Managing Store Operations
• Areas of Responsibility
• Assessing & Managing Performance

Financial plan

List estimates for the capital you will need to start and financial projections for the following years.

Capital Needed

Start with how much capital you will need to start the business

This will include:

• Initial rent
• Initial product order (Inventory)
• Initial staff salary
• Store fixtures
• Store equipment

Read Also: How Much Capital You Will Need For a New Retail Store?

Financial Projections

Include a 5-year financial projection for the business based on your forecasted sales and costs.

• Monthly income statement (P&L) for the first year
• Yearly income statement for the following 4 years
• Monthly cash flow projection for the first year

Learn how to create a sales budget for a new store, and 3 years financial projections in our Retail Budgeting Course

RETAIL BUDGETING & PLANNING

• The step by step retail budgeting process
• Set monthly targets adjusted to seasonality
• Templates download & practice exercise

Break Even Point

Include a snapshot of the 5-year P&L plan here and mention the SPD (sales per day) you need to breakeven, based on your P&L numbers.

We have created a sample table with retail data in the business plan template, and you can fill it with your own numbers.

Key Assumptions

Mention the assumptions you used for creating your financial projections.

For example , you assumed that sales per day for the first year will be 1000$ and then will grow by 20% in the second year, 15% in the third year and 10% in the fourth year, etc.

Retail Business Plan Tips

Sales projections.

We recommend being very realistic about your initial sales per day projections, as your entire financial plan will be directly affected by it.

When you then forecast your growth for the coming years, you should also be realistic about how much you will grow year-on-year.

From our experience, retail stores typically see higher growth after the first year and then this starts to level off from the third year onwards.

Having said that, there might be other growth drivers that can affect your business and accelerate your growth in the following years. This could be for example that your new store is in an area that is still under development and will be fully developed by the third year.

What we want to say is, do your due diligence thoroughly and based on that set realistic expectations.

Inventory Projections

The biggest asset you will hold and the biggest part of the investment/loan you will need to start your retail business will go for inventory.

So it is important to calculate your inventory needs correctly.

This will be based on your sales forecasts and the inventory turnover rate you expect or the forward stock cover you intend to maintain.

For example, if your inventory turnover target is 2, this means you maintain a 6 months cover. If your inventory turnover is 3, you maintain 4 months stock cover,..and so on.

We recommend checking out the benchmarks we have listed for different retail categories for inventory turnover and reading our complete Open to Buy guide to get started with calculating exactly how much inventory you will need.

Good luck in your new venture!

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Grocery Store Business Plan Sample

This grocery store business plan will review how to start a grocery store business. Opening a grocery store can be fun and fulfilling if you have properly identified the appropriate grocery store business model to implement. Whether you plan to open a small grocery store, a mini supermarket, or a full-scale supermarket, a solid grocery business plan is essential to ensure your success. In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the key components of a grocery store business plan and guide you through the process of creating one.

If you’re considering starting a grocery store business, having a well-thought-out grocery store business plan is crucial to its success. A business plan serves as a roadmap for your business, outlining your objectives, strategies, financial projections, and potential obstacles. Here are some essential steps to consider when creating your grocery store business plan:

Before opening a grocery store, you need to decide on your business model. Will you be starting or opening a small grocery store, a supermarket, or a general store? Each model has different considerations, such as the size of the store, the types of products sold, and the target market.

Knowing your target audience is crucial in creating a successful grocery store business plan. Consider factors such as age, income level, and shopping habits when identifying your target audience. Understanding their needs and preferences will help you select the right products, set appropriate pricing, and design the store layout.

Market research is critical in understanding the demand for your grocery store setup in the area you plan to open. It will help you identify the competition, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and determine the unique selling points of your store.

Your marketing strategy should focus on attracting customers to your grocery store. Determine the best ways to reach your target audience, such as social media, print advertising, or flyers. Plan promotions, such as discounts or loyalty programs, to incentivize repeat business.

Starting or owning a small grocery store requires significant financial investment. Know how much to open or start a grocery store. Plan your finances carefully by identifying startup costs, fixed and variable expenses, and projected revenue. Determine how much you’ll need to finance the business and where you’ll obtain the necessary capital.

The operational plan outlines how your grocery store will function on a day-to-day basis. It includes the store’s hours, staffing requirements, inventory management, and customer service policies.

The store layout is critical in attracting and retaining customers. Consider the flow of the store, the sections and placement of products, and the overall aesthetic of the store. A well-designed layout can help customers find what they’re looking for and increase sales. 

Starting a grocery store requires compliance with numerous legal requirements, including obtaining the necessary permits and licenses, registering for taxes, and complying with safety regulations. Ensure that you understand and comply with all legal requirements.

If you’re considering opening a supermarket, mini grocery, or retail store, the steps outlined above are also applicable. However, there are some additional considerations specific to these types of businesses.

When opening a supermarket, you’ll need to consider factors such as the size of the store, the number of employees required, and the range of products offered. You may also want to offer additional services such as a pharmacy, bakery, or deli to attract customers.

Mini groceries are typically smaller than supermarkets and may specialize in certain types of products such as organic or gourmet foods. When opening a mini grocery, it’s important to carefully consider the product selection, pricing, and target market.

Retail stores can sell a wide range of products, including clothing, electronics, or home goods. When creating a retail store business plan, you’ll need to consider factors such as inventory management, staffing requirements, and marketing strategies. Regardless of the type of business you plan to open, a comprehensive entrepreneurship business plan is essential. It should include market research, financial projections, marketing strategies, and operational plans. A well-crafted business plan can help attract investors and secure financing.

In summary, opening a grocery store, supermarket, mini grocery, or retail store requires careful planning and consideration of various factors. By creating a comprehensive business plan and following the steps outlined above, you can increase the likelihood of success and achieve your entrepreneurial goals.

1.0 Executive Summary

“Jolly Groceries Ltd. ” operating as “Jolly Groceries” (The Company), was incorporated on January 5, 2021, in the state of New York by Neil Stallen and Tim Wilson. Jolly Groceries is a specialty grocery store founded to meet a strong neighbourhood need for quality, Middle Eastern grocery options in the Brooklyn and Downtown New York area. 

The Brooklyn area of Downtown New York currently lacks any good grocers or reliable shops to get fresh or specialty products from the Middle East. Mr. Stallen and Mr. Wilson currently operate another grocery store on the other side of town (Macky Market, 837 Bidwell Street, New York) and regularly talk to downtown residents about their need for a specialty ethnic grocery store in their communities. Aside from offering hard-to-find grocery products in Jolly Groceries, their pricing will be more competitive with 0.5% less mark-up on most international products in the store. 

Mr. Stallen (15 years of grocery experience) and Mr. Wilson (with 10 years) will be co-owners of the store with 51% and 49% share respectively. Their combined experience and leadership will contribute to the success and rapid growth of the Company.  Jolly Groceries’ target customers include Turkish, Iranian, and Arabic immigrants who now live in Downtown New York. They crave the nostalgic tastes of their home country that they can’t find anywhere else locally.  

Jolly Groceries is currently seeking a $250,000 loan under the SBA Loan Program to help with launch activities and essential capital and equipment purchases. The shop plans to open in June 2022.  The Company seeks to contribute to a world where everyone has access to their favourite foods from their home country or region, no matter where in the world they live. These foods from home will be affordable and easy to find or sourced through Jolly Groceries.

2.0 Business Overview

Jolly Groceries is a new specialty ethnic grocery store opening in June 2022 in the trendy Downtown New York neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The store will carry local and international foods from the Middle East and open seven days a week from 9 am to 10 pm to serve the local community and local Middle Eastern Immigrants.

The Company will be a partnership between Mr. Neil Stallen (owning 51%) and his business partner Mr. Tim Wilson (owning 49%). Mr. Stallen currently owns another grocery store (Aria Market) in New York, where Mr. Wilson is the manager. The two partners have a combined 25 years of experience in the grocery industry. 

The store is for the whole community, but the main draw will be for the specialty Middle Eastern products that Aria Market doesn’t have room to stock. It will be physically larger than their Bidwell location, with over 7,000 sq ft of retail space plus 3,900 sq ft of back office, food prep, and inventory storage in the back. 

Jolly Groceries will fill a local need for a local grocery store for residents and tourists alike.  During the summer months, as the tourist population in New York increases, the market expects to see increased demand for their products, which will lead to a growth in sales.  

The Company plans to become a local hub for the local Middle Eastern community. As such, the Company will: 

• never compromise on freshness
• always provide friendly customer service
• Focus on sourcing the best diet-specific foods (including keto and gluten-free products) options for their customers. 

2.1 Industry Overview

The grocery industry is not expected to become obsolete anytime soon. Consumers are looking to get all their everyday grocery staples and specialty items from one place. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants were shut down, so customers turned to more fresh food and produce, so grocery stores saw a dramatic increase in success and profitability. 

Now, as we’re coming to the end of the restrictions put in place by the pandemic and restaurants are beginning to reopen, the industry is expecting a temporary drop throughout the rest of 2021 as people buy fewer groceries and eat out more. All economic indicators and predictions show this drop to last no more than one to two years before average growth returns for the industry. 

Jolly Groceries keeps a close eye on how consumers’ grocery buying habits are evolving. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and are looking for healthier produce, organic products, and gluten- or GMO-free groceries. This is a need that Jolly Groceries can cater to. 

2.2 Mission & Vision Statement

Jolly Groceries’ mission is to create a world where everyone has access to their favourite foods from their home country or region, no matter where in the world they live. 

Jolly Groceries’ vision is to become a hub for the Downtown New York community to get fresh local produce and specialty grocery items from the Middle East without travelling far or paying a premium. 

2.3 Goals and Objectives

In terms of business growth, the Company has set the following revenue goals:

• Earning $200,000 per month by the end of year one
• +15% growth during year two
• +25% growth during year three

Jolly Groceries also hopes to become a hub for Middle Eastern immigrants in the neighbourhood. 

2.4 Core Values

Jolly Groceries staff and managers will make all business decisions and day-to-day operations with the Company’s four core values in mind:

• Customer-focused : Jolly Groceries’ priority is satisfying its loyal customers.
• Quality : The Company provides quality, fresh produce and offers personalized, quality service that you expect from your neighbourhood grocer. 
• Compassion : In today’s world, a little kindness can have a considerable impact.
• Goal-oriented: Jolly Groceries believes that goals are an effective growth strategy in business and personal lives.

2.5 Key Success Factors

The success of Jolly Groceries is dependent on the following key external drivers : 

• Per Capita disposable income : As the economy begins to bounce back after the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, the unemployment rate will decrease. This will create a situation where families have increased disposable income to spend on specialty and imported groceries. 
• Consumer Price Index for Food : Food and grocery costs skyrocketed in 2020 during the pandemic. Low oil prices and the depressed value of the American dollar played prominent roles. This index is expected to rise 2.3-3.3% annually for the next five years, parallel to the rise in costs of consumer products in general. 
• External Competition for Supermarkets and grocery stores : With online grocers (like Amazon) and the increasing number of brick-and-mortar grocery stores, there is often intense competition in this sector. Retailers who offer specialized or niched products (ethnic-focus, vegan, gluten-free) will stand out from the competition. 
• Population trends : Population has a direct correlation to the success of grocery stores. As of the last available American census data from 2016, New York’s population was estimated at 633,000 people. About 42% are immigrants , and 6.2% are from West Central Asia and the Middle East.  
• Proximity to key markets : A critical success factor for grocers is opening shops in key neighbourhoods and heavily populated areas . Clear exterior signage and access to parking can provide additional access to food traffic. 

Internal factors that will be pivotal to the success of Jolly Groceries include:

• Maintaining an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction
• Always providing low-price/high-quality products
• Hiring the right staff to help make the Company a success. 
• Maintaining good relationships with suppliers and distributors.

2.6 Staffing

Many staff are required to keep the store operational. In their experience operating Aria Market on Bidwell Street in New York, they found most of their qualified applicants through in-store signage. For Jolly Groceries, staff will be recruited the same way.  

A few key staff member positions for the store include:

• Cashiers : Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work in a fast-paced environment and keep their cool in the presence of customers. Proven success in providing excellent customer service will be critical, and they must have a collaborative spirit to become a great team player. 
• Cashier and Produce Supervisors : We require store supervisors to have at least three years of experience in a grocery store. This experience means that they understand the inner workings of a grocery store and likely also have valuable leadership skills, which is another requirement for any applicant in this position. 
• Prep Room and Produce Workers : Applicants for this position require a proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment. They must work well with others and can lift up to 50lbs. 

Staff will be paid between $15.65 and $18 per hour in the first year, $16.25 – $19 per hour in year two, and $17 – $20.50 per hour in year three of operation.

2.7 Management Team

Mr. Stallen started his experience in the grocery industry as a convenience store manager for two years. He went on to be the owner of Aria Market for 15 years. He has experience in all aspects of grocery store operations. 

Mr. Wilson will be the store manager as he has extensive experience as the store manager for Aria Market. He will be paid $60,000 per year in year one, $72,000 in year two, and $78,000 in year three. 

Mr. Tim Wilson

I am an efficient and experienced retail sales manager capable of assessing customer needs, managing a team and preparing staff schedules. I am a fast learner who is good at multitasking, prioritizing tasks and ensuring all targets are met or exceeded. 

Academic Qualifications

• B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering| University of Isfahan, Iran | 2009-2013.
• Leadership Preparation Diploma with CO-OP|ISS Language & Career College of BC| 2019.

Work Experience

Retail sales manager | Iran | 2010-2016

• I managed a successful sales territory that showed consistent sales growth of 20% per year.
• I was responsible for managing a team of staff in the place.
• I was responsible for creating employee timesheets and handling requests for time off.
• I was interviewing new staff and determining their suitability.

Store Manager | Aria Market, New York, US | 2018-2020

• I liaised with customers and suppliers daily.
• I am responsible for ordering stock and stock control.
• We are maintaining the high standards of the place.

3.0 Products & Services

To be competitive in the market, Jolly Groceries will reduce its product mark-up. Competitors typically mark-up grocery products 2x, but the Company will only mark up 1.5%.

It is expected that meat and produce will make up the majority of revenue, at 40% and 25% respectively. General grocery sales will contribute 20% of the total business revenue. Overall sales for the first few months are expected to be slower as Jolly Groceries becomes known in the community. Within six months, the Company plans to double its average monthly revenue to coincide with the busy winter and holiday months. 

3.1 Products

Jolly Groceries will mix local and international (mainly Middle Eastern) produce and grocery products. This includes departments for Halal meat, general grocery, nuts, deli, and bakery.

The Company is planning to stock popular, reliable brands of Middle Eastern grocery items, including: 1&1, San Remo, Sadaf, Krinos, Badr, Golestan 

To offer customers the best possible prices, Jolly Groceries will purchase from several reputable wholesale suppliers, including: Krinos Food, San Remo Rods, M&H, Baloot Bakery, Saman Bakery, Van Whole Produce, Fresh direct

To ensure a good mix of local and imported products, we will also offer locally grown produce, including Ambrosia apples, tomatoes, berries, and beets.

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4.0 Operations

The grocery store will open in June 2022 in the trendy Downtown New York community of Brooklyn.

Business Address : 120 Tanker Street, New York, BC

The owners choose this location due to its proximity to a main transportation route in and out of the downtown core. Its corner location includes large windows to entice and attract people from anywhere in the intersection. 

The purchase of this location includes over 10,700 sq ft:

• 7,000 sq ft of retail space
• 800 sq ft office space
• 1,200 sq ft prep room
• 2,700 sq ft storage room

4.1 Equipment

In addition to spending $350,000 on renovations to the existing space, Jolly Groceries plans to make the following purchases: 

• Walk-in cooler and freezer: $18,000
• Lightning: $14,000
• Security cameras: $6,000
• Security alarm system: $7,500
• Shelving: $80,000
• Prep room equipment (scales, sealer, label printer, computer): $7,000 
• Cashier station (software license, computer, scale, printer): $16,000 
• Freezer (purchase and installation): $32,000
• Fridge (purchase and installation):  $90,000

4.2 Inventory

The Jolly Groceries location includes 7,000 sq ft of retail space for inventory and a 2,700 sq ft storage space. The stock kept on-site will change seasonally and will be purchased based on demand. 

Initially, the Company will use $180,000 from the SBA Loan Program to purchase inventory for opening. 

4.3 Health & Safety Guidelines

As a grocery store, all employees and Company will always follow WorkSafe NY guidelines, local laws and bylaws, as well as any particular recommendations and regulations by Public Health. This includes:

• Federal Government food safety laws
• New York Provincial food safety laws
• Local municipal legislation

5.0 Market Analysis

The need to buy groceries isn’t going away anytime soon. However, how and where consumers get their produce and groceries is changing. During the global COVID-19 Pandemic, grocery spend increased by 12% as expected. However, the industry is preparing for a -7% dip in 2021 as the economy reopens and many consumers start eating in restaurants again. This drop will be short-lived until 2023 when the market shifts back to a growth phase.

IBISWorld predicts that supermarkets and grocery stores will begin increasing their stock of ethnic foods over the coming years as the immigrant population in US grows:

“In addition to organic foods, IBISWorld expects supermarkets and grocery stores to increase their stock of ethnic foods. US is culturally and ethnically diverse, with a large immigrant population from Europe and Asia. As immigration is expected to be the primary reason for overall American population growth, demand for ethnic foods in US is expected to increase over the next five years. Consequently, industry participants that devote more retail space to ethnic food products are anticipated to outperform their competitors over the coming years.” IBISWorld

Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in US (NAICS Report 44511CA)

Industry profits are expected to remain relatively stable over the next five years. A key driver for future earnings in this market is the projected increase in consumer’s disposable income. In addition, Americans are becoming more health-conscious. There is increasing demand for specialty produce and products to cater to niche foods, high-end foods, organic items, gluten-free, and non-GMO foods. These products often come with a higher sticker cost, so as disposable income increases, so will spending on these items. 

5.1 Competition

IGA Food Stores https://www.igastoresbc.com/  

Nesters Market https://www.nestersmarket.com/  

Choices Markets https://www.choicesmarkets.com/  

5.2 Competitive Advantage

One of Jolly Groceries’s most significant advantages is that its prices are lower than most of the Company’s competitors. Competitors mark up most products by 2x, whereas Jolly Groceries will only be 1.5x. This extra 0.5 % savings can be passed on to customers. 

Other key differentiators include:

• Always fresh produce : If it’s not fresh or expires before it’s purchased, it will be taken out of the store’s retail area. 
• Unique Middle East Products : The Company plans to sell specialty Middle East grocery products that you can’t find anywhere in Downtown New York. 
• Focus on Quality : The Company will provide high-quality fresh produce and provide quality customer service as the neighbourhood grocer. 

5.3 Risk Analysis

Risk: In a business that provides fresh produce and groceries, rodent control is paramount. Rodents on the premises could mean being shut down by Public Health and could cause health issues. 

To mitigate this risk, rodent traps will be installed in inconspicuous areas of the shop, and fresh produce will be covered overnight.

Risk: The summer months and November through December are commonly busy times for grocery stores. Jolly Groceries expects to see higher revenue during these months. In the lower revenue months, the Company could experience cash flow irregularities. 

To mitigate this risk, extra profits from the busier months will be saved to cover costs during the slower months if necessary. 

Risk : Retail stores are at risk of being hit by vandals and thieves. Stolen goods and damage to the property can be expensive and tarnish the reputation of the business. It can also put the safety of staff and customers at risk. 

To mitigate this risk, Jolly Groceries is installing state-of-the-art security cameras and alarm systems in the shop. These measures are likely to deter or eliminate any thefts or break-ins. 

Risk : Improperly managed stores risk stock building up faster than it can be sold. Excess stock not only creates a mess in storerooms but can also expire more quickly than it can be sold, leading to un-saleable merchandise and a loss of profits. 

To mitigate this, the Company is using the expertise of both partners who understand the buying cycles of grocery products to reliably predict when to reorder products to minimize overstocking and storage complications, especially when it comes to fresh groceries and produce. 

6.0 Sales & Marketing Plan

The Brooklyn area of Downtown New York, where the shop will be situated, has a growing Iranian population. People and families from throughout the Middle East (including Turkish, Iranian, and Arabic) also live in the nearby neighbourhoods of Olympic Village and Chinatown. The store’s primary target customer will live within 20 km from the store, but those from outlying communities who come into the city for work may also stop by for groceries on their way to or from work. 

As much as they love their new home in the US, they have a deep love of the food and grocery products from their home countries. And, when they have relatives visiting from back home, they want to show them that New York has some of their favourite foods.

Some of the foods they find challenging to buy in New York include some authentic dried fruits, dates, spices, herbs, teas, and fresh vegetables. Now that the pandemic is nearly over, their disposable income is increasing, and they can afford to get these specialties from the grocery store again. 

Family is a key value for Jolly Groceries’ target customers. They enjoy eating great food with their friends and family. They may also want to introduce Middle Eastern specialty meals and foods to their American friends. 

The customers living in Brooklyn are also craving more local choices for fresh produce, regardless of their ethnicity. The store will cater to that need in the local neighbourhood. 

6.1 Key Channels

While a large portion of Jolly Groceries’ customers will be walk-ins who pass by on the street from the local neighbourhood, the Company will also be engaging in several marketing tactics to attract customers and keep them up-to-date about the business. 

Social media will be a primary channel, and Jolly Groceries will start with a Facebook Business Page and an Instagram account. The primary goal of these channels is to build up a sense of community by sharing valuable information about the store and community. Mr. Wilson will manage these accounts.

Jolly Groceries will also create a Google listing, so the Company appears on Google Maps. The Company will run Google Ad campaigns to target more specific and localized demographics. 

Print flyers and ads will be created and distributed through US Post to local residences in Jolly Groceries’s target neighbourhoods. 

6.2 SWOT Analysis

Have questions looking to get started, 7.0 financial plan, 7.1 income statement .

7.2 Cash Flow Statement

7.3 Balance Sheet

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Table of Contents

A clear blueprint is key in building a successful grocery business, 1. initial costs and investment, 2. projected income, 3. customer loyalty, retention, and upselling strategies.

• 4. Grocery Marketing Plan

5. Efficient Systems and Processes

Finding the building blocks to execute on your grocery store business plan, 5 steps to build the ideal grocery store business plan.

A highrise can’t be built without proper foundation, and your grocery store won’t see the success you want unless you take the proper steps to build and grow it correctly.

Statistics say a small retailer closes every 12 minutes. Starting any new business is a daunting task, and competing with big box stores makes the grocery industry even more difficult to survive.

With the right grocery store business plan and point of sale system, your store can thrive and find success in the market. We’re here to help provide you with five key steps that can help you build a solid strategy to help your grocery store or market get off the ground.

The right business plan and strategy must take into account key considerations, including: 

Cost structure 

Calculating projected income 

Attracting prospective customers 

Creating a marketing plan 

Employing the right systems to optimize grocery efficiency

Putting together a growth plan from conception to building to execution is important, as it can help you with considering all possible outcomes or challenges. Running a grocery store comes with specific challenges and processes that can be made easier with the right planning and systems in place.

Operational costs play a central role in balancing revenue and expenses for your grocery store. Initial investments to consider include: 

Building costs or rent deposit, 

Registration fees, 

Licensing fees, 

Developer costs, and 

Product inventory costs. 

Creating a budget and planning for any obstacles or surprise costs is important in setting yourself up for success. Working with contractors and developers to find cost-efficient ways to get your store looking the way you want it to, whether you’re leasing a space or building from scratch, is a  great way to cut costs. 

Investing in a top-of-the-line POS system from the start can also help to optimize efficiency for your store from the get-go, and can help you save money from having to deal with any sort of hardware or software transition in the future. Moving from one system to another requires downtime, and downtime (no matter how big or small) leads to reductions in profit.

Taking into consideration how long it might take you to pay off any loans or debt is also an important factor. This is a great exercise in being able to manage money in versus money out. On the opposite side of budget are income calculations and revenue projections, which are vital parts of the success equation.

Investing in a trustworthy grocery POS system from the start is key. Learn how IT Retail can help get you started with a demo . 

Cost of goods sold and labor expenses are the key cost drivers for grocery stores. Profit margins should be considered and assessed from the start — calculating your business’ profit margins will give you insight into potential revenue or income. Creating a sales forecast will assist with anticipated monthly revenues, and a careful study of your potential market will help you arrive at realistic numbers.

Comparing your total revenue against labor, maintenance, and other operational expenditures can help you assess whether you’re on track to be profitable. Revenue projections and estimated income also come from identifying foot traffic and average sale per customer. 

An efficient grocery POS system like IT Retail can help provide you with the data points in order to put together revenue projections, and better understand how products are moving on your shelves.

Maintaining traffic and revenue rely heavily on attracting new customers, and developing customer loyalty. Simply put, bring in more people and keep them there. 

Loyalty programs can help you identify and reward “good” and loyal customers, and can direct you to who you need to focus your attention on retaining. This can look like offering new customers discounts, coupons, or perks for coming back.

For returning and loyal customers, the next step is to increase their average order value. Are they coming in to buy a single loaf of bread every couple of days? Information like this can help drive strategies to increase their spend. Position those items close to other items that pair well with it, or set up an enticing display, to test if the average order value increases.

Grocery-specific POS systems like IT Retail can provide you with the right customer data points — increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of promotional activities in order to continue attracting net new business. Develop promotions strategically and seasonally, and use analytics tools to assess how successful your targeted promotion was at attracting new customers and increasing the order value for repeat customers. 

Everyday low pricing, zone pricing strategies, and loyalty discount programs are great campaigns to test on your customers and their habits.

4. Grocery Marketing Plan  

A marketing plan for a grocery store can provide guidance for any new business owner, and help them find a niche or loyal following. Potential marketing tactics include paid advertisements, sales promotions, public relations, and pricing and customer service initiatives. 

Combining these marketing disciplines with your store’s specific strengths or unique offerings can help you pursue the right kinds of customers. Local newspaper ads, social media , direct mail, and email marketing are great ways to invite new customers to your store.

You may want to start with a fixed budget before developing your strategies in order to give yourself clear boundaries to work within. You can also determine a budget after coming up with campaign ideas. 

Regardless, calculating the cost of implementation and execution on your marketing strategies is necessary to work within your financial means, and not burn more cash than you can afford. Budgeting, combined with key customer data points and information to drive marketing campaigns, will help you attract, retain, and grow your customer base.

A full scale all-in-one grocery POS solution can significantly improve the growth and performance of your store. A solid system is a core piece of the other steps we’ve listed to create a solid business plan. 

Reporting and analytics can help you see top-selling items, and create noise or promotional campaigns for popular products. Grocery point of sale systems like IT Retail come with inventory management and analytics that give you insightful data and a clear picture of potential promotions to run.

Sales reports and customer loyalty are also key functionalities that can help set you up for success in attracting and retaining customers. IT Retail also provides a simple, easy-to-use system so your employees can focus on providing a world-class customer experience.

Now that you have a better understanding of the five core elements a grocery store business plan should include, constructing one for your small business should seem like a more accessible reality. Systems like IT Retail make execution significantly easier by providing an entire full scale end-to-end solution that can help you manage every area of your business with ease. Inventory management, reporting and analytics, and marketing campaigns can all provide actionable insights to help you optimize your business plan for success. 

IT Retail also has a dedicated support team to ensure you have no issues with hardware or software. If you want to get started with planning for your grocery store, or if you already have one and you want to execute on a business plan or strategy, get in touch with us and we can help you supercharge your grocery store’s success with our full- scale grocery store POS solution.

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How to create a retail store business plan

By Andrea Nazarian

A successful retail business starts with a well-thought-out retail business plan. While you may think you have your business ideas all figured out in your head, putting them down on paper in the form of a business plan is crucial for several reasons. 

In this post, we’ll explore what a retail business plan is, why it’s different from other business plans, what to include in it, common mistakes to avoid, and how to make your plan stand out.

What Is a Retail store business plan and why do you need one?

A retail store business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines your business model, identifies your target customers, and lays out a roadmap for turning your retail store or online shop into a profitable business. 

It’s a planning and forecasting tool that provides clarity and direction for your business. With a good business plan, you’re more likely to achieve success. 

Here’s why having a retail store business plan is essential:

Planning and forecasting

A retail store business plan helps you plan and set clear goals for your business’s short-term and long-term success.

Planning helps you set goals, allocate resources wisely, and stay on track. It ensures that day-to-day operations run smoothly. Forecasting, on the other hand, helps businesses anticipate future trends and challenges, allowing them to make informed decisions and adapt to changing circumstances. 

Together, planning and forecasting help you avoid costly mistakes, reduce labor costs , seize opportunities, and achieve both short-term and long-term objectives. In essence, they’re like a GPS for your retail business, guiding it towards profitability and sustainability.

Securing investment

A retail store business plan helps secure investment by demonstrating a clear and well-thought-out strategy. It shows potential investors that you’ve done your homework, understand your market, and have a solid plan for success. 

The plan outlines your business goals, target market, competitive analysis, and financial projections, instilling confidence in investors that their money will be used wisely. It also highlights your commitment and professionalism, making you a more attractive investment opportunity. 

Essentially, a strong retail business plan reassures investors that your venture is a sound investment with a higher likelihood of delivering returns on their capital.

Guiding business operations

A retail store business plan serves as a roadmap for guiding business operations. It outlines your business’s goals, strategies, and tactics, providing a clear direction for daily activities. 

It helps you make informed decisions about product offerings, retail staff scheduling , pricing, local business marketing , online marketing and staffing. The plan also includes financial projections and budgeting, ensuring you manage resources effectively. 

Regularly reviewing the plan allows you to track progress, identify areas needing improvement, and adjust strategies accordingly. Overall, it keeps the business focused, organized, and aligned with its objectives, making day-to-day operations more efficient and effective in achieving long-term success.

Get your team in sync with our easy-to-use, all-in-one employee app.

How is a retail business plan different from other business plans?

Retail businesses are unique in many ways, and your business plan should reflect that. Unlike other businesses, retail operations involve factors such as inventory management , supply chains, order fulfillment, deliveries, and customer returns. 

Here’s how a retail store business plan differs:

Inventory management

Unlike other business plans, retail plans must handle challenges like seasonal sales variations and predicting what customers will buy. Inventory management in retail business plans is about keeping the right amount of products in stock to meet customer demand while avoiding excess or shortages. 

They also need to explain how they get products, where they store them, and how they restock when items run low. In contrast, many other businesses don’t deal with these inventory issues.

Retail store business plans focus more on handling and controlling inventory to make sure they always have what customers want and don’t waste money on too much stock.

Marketing strategy

Marketing strategy in retail store business plans, compared to other business plans, often emphasizes attracting customers to physical or online stores, creating appealing displays, and running promotions like sales or loyalty programs. 

Retail plans typically prioritize reaching a broad consumer base and enticing them with visually appealing products. In contrast, other business plans might focus on more specialized marketing, like B2B partnerships or online advertising. 

Retailers also consider factors like store location and layout, which are less significant for many other businesses. So, simply put, retail business plans concentrate on tactics to draw in shoppers and make their shopping experience enjoyable and memorable.

Growth strategy

Growth strategy in retail store business plans, unlike other business plans, often centers on expanding to new locations, introducing new product lines, or attracting more customers. Retailers aim to increase sales by opening additional stores, going online, or diversifying their offerings. 

In contrast, some businesses may focus on improving internal processes or targeting specific niche markets. 

Retailers typically rely on broadening their reach to fuel growth, making strategies like franchising, adding new store branches, or exploring e-commerce crucial components of their plans. So, in simpler terms, retail business plans tend to emphasize expanding the business footprint and customer base as a primary path to success.

What to do before you start writing your retail store business plan

Research your market.

T horough market research is essential. Investors look for evidence of a healthy market and an unmet need that your business can address.

You’ll want to gather data on who your customers are, what they want, and where they’re located. Analyze your competition to see what makes your business unique. This research helps investors see that there’s a demand for your products or services and that your business can thrive in the market. 

It’s about proving that your idea is well-informed and has the potential to succeed. So, in simple terms, thorough market research shows investors that your business plan is based on a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding.

Understand your competitors

 Know your competition inside out. Understanding what sets you apart is crucial.

You need to know who you’re up against and what makes them tick. Research your competitors thoroughly: their strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. Identify what sets your business apart – your unique selling points. 

Investors want to see that you’ve done your homework and can explain how your retail store will outshine the competition. Maybe it’s better prices, superior quality, or outstanding customer service. 

This knowledge not only helps you stand out but also shows investors that you’re ready to face the competition head-on, which can boost their confidence in your business’s potential success.

Have a growth strategy

Define a clear growth strategy to demonstrate how your business will expand once it’s up and running. It shows investors that you’re not just focused on starting your business but also on making it grow in the long run. 

You can outline different growth strategies like market penetration (selling more to existing customers), product development (creating new products for existing customers), market development (selling existing products to new markets), or diversification (introducing new products to new markets). 

This helps investors understand your vision and how you plan to increase your business’s value over time, making your retail venture a more attractive investment opportunity.

What to Include in your retail store business plan

Business overview.

Provide a high-level description of your retail business, including your company’s structure, location, and the products or services you’ll offer.

Business goals

Explain your business goals, whether they’re related to market share, product ranges, or online expansion.

It should give a clear, simple picture of your retail business. Explain whether your business will operate in a physical store, online, or both. 

Mention the legal name of your company, where it’s located, and briefly describe the products or services you plan to sell. Keep it straightforward and easy to understand, so anyone reading your plan can quickly grasp what your retail business is all about. 

This section sets the stage for the rest of your plan, helping readers get a sense of your business from the get-go.

Your industry experience

In the “Your industry experience” section of your retail store business plan, it’s your time to shine. Tell the readers about your background and expertise, especially if you’ve held important positions in recognized retail businesses. 

If you’ve previously led successful growth initiatives or managed to open new stores that flourished, this is the place to mention it. Basically, this section is all about showcasing your qualifications and experience in the retail world.

It helps build trust and confidence that you’re the right person to turn your retail business idea into a thriving reality. Keep it concise but impressive.

The “ Marketing strategy ” section of your retail store business plan is where you paint a picture of how you’ll present your store to the world. Explain your store’s image, the strategy for your brand, and how you plan to market your products or services. 

Don’t forget to dive into the 4Ps of retail marketing:

• Product : Describe what you’re selling and what makes it special.
• Pricing : Explain how you’ll price your products and why.
• Place : Tell where you’ll sell your products, be it online, in-store, or both.
• Promotion : Detail your strategies for promoting your store and products.

This section gives a clear roadmap for how you’ll attract customers and make your business a success. Keep it straightforward and compelling.

Financial strategy and forecast

The “Financial strategy and forecast” section of your retail store business plan is where you show the money side of your business. Investors want to see the numbers, so include things like:

• Estimated capital requirements : How much money do you need to get started and keep going?
• Profit and revenue models : Explain how you plan to make money and what your sales goals are.
• Sales volume projections : Predict how many products you expect to sell.
• Financial statements : Include balance sheets, cash flow projections, and any other financial documents.

These details help investors understand your business’s financial health and potential. Make sure your numbers are realistic and based on careful research and planning.

Management structure

In the “Management structure” section of your retail store business plan, you’ll provide details on how you intend to organize your team and manage your business effectively. This section involves explaining several key aspects:

Firstly, you’ll specify the number of team members you plan to hire. This is essential to understand the size and scope of your workforce.

Secondly, you’ll describe the roles and responsibilities of each team member. This clarification ensures that everyone knows their specific duties and contributes to the smooth operation of the business.

Lastly, you’ll illustrate how each team member fits into your overall business plan. This section helps investors and stakeholders comprehend how your team will collaborate and work together to achieve the business’s goals and objectives. 

A well-defined retail management structure assures potential investors that you have a competent team ready to execute your business plan effectively.

Homebase offers user-friendly employee management tools to streamline team communication , time tracking, and scheduling , helping you refine your management structure. 

Common mistakes to avoid when making your retail store business plan 

A successful business plan is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Too much detail

Avoid long, rambling text. Use visuals and graphics when possible and attach heavy content as appendices.

Poor financial planning

Account for growing expenses, taxes, and market influences in your financial projections.

Poor spelling and grammar

Basic errors can undermine how partners and investors view your plan.

Strengthening your business plan

To strengthen your business plan, consider your audience, which may include potential investors, business partners, and financial institutions. Be transparent, avoid exaggerations, and demonstrate the value of your idea.

Conclusion: Finishing your retail store business plan

A well-crafted retail store business plan is more than just a guide; it’s a tool to attract investors, secure funding, and set the foundation for a successful retail business. Leveraging tools like Homebase can help you stay competitive and efficient in the retail industry.

Don’t delay writing your plan—it could be the first step towards realizing your retail business dreams.

FAQs about writing a retail store business plan

What is a retail store business plan, and why is it important.

A retail store business plan is a comprehensive document outlining your retail store business’s model, goals, and strategies. It’s crucial as it provides clarity, attracts investors, and guides daily operations for success.

How does a retail store business plan differ from other business plans?

Retail store business plans are unique due to their focus on inventory management, marketing tactics to attract shoppers, and growth strategies centered on expanding customer reach.

What should I include in my retail store business plan’s business overview section?

In the business overview, provide a concise description of your retail business, including its structure, location, and the products or services you intend to offer.

How can a retail store business plan help secure investment?

A retail store business plan demonstrates a well-thought-out strategy, outlining business goals, target market, competitive analysis, and financial projections. It reassures investors, making your venture a more appealing investment opportunity.

What common mistakes should I avoid when creating a retail store  business plan?

Common mistakes include excessive detail, poor financial planning, and grammar/spelling errors. To avoid these, focus on clarity, accurate financial projections, and proofreading.

Remember:  This is not legal advice. If you have questions about your particular situation, please consult a lawyer, CPA, or other appropriate professional advisor or agency.

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Grocery Store Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Grocery Store Business Plan Template

If you want to start a Grocery Store or Supermarket business or expand your current Grocery Store business, you need a business plan.

The following Grocery Store business plan template can be used to create a grocery store business plan, supermarket business plan, or a small grocery store business plan.

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Below are links to each of the key sections of your Grocery Store business plan:

Grocery Store Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

Click below to see each section of our free grocery store business plan template. You can also click here to get our small grocery store business plan pdf .

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Sample Retail Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a retail business. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring retail business owners, having access to a sample retail business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own retail business plan.

Download our Ultimate Retail Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful retail venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A retail business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document.

The retail business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your retail as Growthink’s Ultimate Retail Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a retail business plan of your own.

Retail Business Plan Example – MarketMosaic

Table of contents, executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

MarketMosaic is a dynamic retail enterprise, poised to redefine the shopping experience by offering an extensive selection of retail items, from the latest tech gadgets to essential household products. Our commitment to competitive pricing, backed by efficient procurement and inventory management processes, ensures that our customers always receive the best value. Situated in the heart of Bakersfield, CA, our goal is to establish ourselves as the go-to shopping destination by being a one-stop-shop for diverse customer needs, thereby setting a new standard in the retail industry.

Our success hinges on our ability to offer a wide range of products at competitive prices and our dedication to exceptional customer service. By training our staff extensively and developing a user-friendly online platform, we enhance the shopping experience both in-store and online. These efforts, combined with our strategic location in Bakersfield, CA, and our focus on leveraging technology to meet customer needs, have positioned us as leaders in the retail sector. Our accomplishments to date include establishing a comprehensive inventory, securing a prime storefront, and building a robust supply chain, laying a strong foundation for future growth.

The retail industry is experiencing rapid transformation, driven by changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. Customers now seek convenience, variety, and value in their shopping experiences, trends that have been accelerated by the rise of e-commerce. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities for traditional and online retailers alike. By understanding these dynamics, MarketMosaic is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for one-stop shopping solutions that blend physical and digital retail spaces. Our approach is designed to not only meet but exceed the evolving expectations of today’s consumers.

Our target customers are diverse, spanning various demographics yet unified by their desire for a convenient, one-stop shopping experience. They value variety, quality, and affordability in their purchases, ranging from tech aficionados looking for the latest gadgets to busy families in need of daily essentials. By recognizing and adapting to the unique preferences of our customer base, MarketMosaic aims to create a retail environment that caters to the needs of each shopper, ensuring satisfaction and fostering loyalty. Our commitment to understanding and meeting these needs is central to our customer acquisition and retention strategies.

Top competitors include established retail chains and e-commerce platforms. Despite the competition, MarketMosaic’s advantages lie in our wide product range, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service. Our omnichannel approach, combining an intuitive online platform with a welcoming physical store, sets us apart, allowing us to offer convenience, efficiency, and a personalized shopping experience that surpasses that of our competitors.

At MarketMosaic, our product strategy encompasses a wide variety of high-quality items at competitive prices, ensuring we cater to the diverse needs of our customers. We are dedicated to maintaining a balance between offering the latest trends and stocking everyday essentials, thereby positioning ourselves as a comprehensive shopping destination. Our promotions plan is multifaceted, incorporating local advertising, social media campaigns, and community engagement events to build our brand presence both online and in the Bakersfield area. By leveraging these channels, we aim to attract a broad customer base and foster strong relationships within the community, driving traffic to both our physical store and online platform.

Key operational milestones for MarketMosaic include securing a prime location in Bakersfield, obtaining necessary permits, designing a welcoming retail space, developing efficient supply chain and inventory systems, and hiring a high-performing team. These steps are critical to launching our retail operations successfully and achieving our initial goal of reaching $15,000/month in revenue. Additionally, our focus on customer feedback will allow us to adapt our product offerings and store layout to better meet market demand, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty as we establish a strong community presence.

Our management team brings together seasoned professionals with extensive experience in retail, operations, and customer service. This diverse skill set is crucial to our mission of redefining the retail landscape by combining technology with a customer-centric approach. Each team member’s expertise in their respective fields ensures that MarketMosaic is not only equipped to navigate the challenges of the retail industry but also poised to capitalize on its opportunities, driving growth and innovation.

MarketMosaic is a new Retail serving customers in Bakersfield, CA. We are a local retail business, stepping into an arena where high-quality local retail options have been notably absent. Our mission is to fill this void by offering a diverse range of products that cater to the needs and preferences of our community. With our strategic location and a keen understanding of the local market, we are poised to become a staple for shoppers in Bakersfield.

Our product lineup is meticulously curated to meet the wide-ranging needs of our customers. At MarketMosaic, shoppers can find an extensive selection of Apparel and Fashion Accessories, ensuring that the latest trends are always within reach. For tech enthusiasts and those looking to upgrade their gadgets, our Electronics and Technology section offers the latest innovations. Home and Furniture is for customers aiming to add a touch of comfort and style to their living spaces, whereas our Beauty and Personal Care products cater to those who prioritize wellness and self-care. Last but certainly not least, our Groceries and Food Products aisle provides the essentials and specialties alike, making everyday shopping convenient and enjoyable.

Located in the heart of Bakersfield, CA, MarketMosaic serves the local community with pride and dedication. Our strategic location is not just about geographical convenience; it’s about being an integral part of the community we serve, understanding its needs, and evolving with its changing dynamics. This local presence strengthens our commitment to providing a shopping experience that is both enjoyable and rewarding.

MarketMosaic is uniquely qualified to succeed for several reasons. Firstly, our founder brings a wealth of experience from running a successful retail business in the past. This experience is invaluable in navigating the competitive landscape and ensuring that MarketMosaic stands out from the competition. Moreover, our diverse range of retail items is not only more extensive but also priced more competitively than what’s currently available in the market. This combination of experience, variety, and value positions us for success in Bakersfield’s retail sector.

Since our inception on January 5, 2024, as a Limited Liability Company, we’ve made significant strides in establishing our brand. Our accomplishments to date include the creation of our logo, which encapsulates our brand’s essence and values, the development of our company name that resonates with our target audience, and securing a prime location that offers accessibility and convenience to our customers. These milestones are just the beginning of our journey towards becoming the go-to retail destination in Bakersfield.

The Retail industry in the United States is a massive sector that plays a significant role in the country’s economy. As of now, the retail market in the US is valued at over $5 trillion, making it one of the largest industries in the country. With a large and diverse consumer base, the retail industry continues to thrive and show strong growth potential.

Market research indicates that the retail industry in the US is expected to continue growing in the coming years. Experts forecast a steady increase in market size, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3-4%. This growth is driven by factors such as consumer spending, e-commerce expansion, and technological advancements that enhance the shopping experience for customers.

Recent trends in the retail industry, such as the shift towards online shopping, personalized marketing strategies, and sustainability initiatives, are all positive indicators for MarketMosaic. As a new retail business serving customers in Bakersfield, CA, MarketMosaic can leverage these trends to attract and retain customers. By staying ahead of industry developments and embracing innovative practices, MarketMosaic has the potential to carve out a successful niche in the competitive retail market.

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

MarketMosaic will target a diverse customer base, with a significant focus on local residents who are always on the lookout for unique retail experiences. This segment is composed of families, young professionals, and elderly residents who value convenience, quality, and a personalized shopping experience. MarketMosaic will tailor its offerings to meet the specific needs and preferences of these local customers, ensuring a loyal customer base.

The store will also attract customers who are eco-conscious and interested in sustainable living. This segment is growing rapidly, as more people are becoming aware of the environmental impact of their purchases. MarketMosaic will offer a range of eco-friendly products and will emphasize its commitment to sustainability in its marketing efforts, appealing to this environmentally aware customer segment.

In addition to local residents and eco-conscious consumers, MarketMosaic will target tourists visiting Bakersfield. The store will feature locally made products and souvenirs that reflect the culture and heritage of the area, serving as a unique shopping destination for visitors looking to take a piece of Bakersfield back home. This strategy will not only diversify MarketMosaic’s customer base but also contribute to the local economy by promoting regional artisans and producers.

Customer Needs

MarketMosaic aims to cater to the discerning customers in its area by providing high-quality retail items. These consumers expect nothing less than premium products that stand the test of time. By focusing on quality over quantity, MarketMosaic ensures that its customers have access to goods that reflect their desire for excellence and durability.

In addition to offering high-quality products, MarketMosaic understands the importance of a diverse product range. Customers can find a wide variety of items that not only meet their practical needs but also cater to their unique tastes and preferences. This diversity in product selection allows shoppers to enjoy a one-stop shopping experience that is both convenient and fulfilling.

Moreover, MarketMosaic places a strong emphasis on customer service. The staff is knowledgeable and ready to assist, ensuring that every customer’s shopping experience is seamless and enjoyable. This level of service, combined with the quality and variety of products offered, positions MarketMosaic as a retail destination that truly understands and fulfills the needs of its customers.

MarketMosaic’s competitors include the following companies:

Shop Spoiled Boutique offers a curated selection of women’s fashion, focusing on trendy and upscale clothing items. Their price points are moderately high, targeting consumers looking for unique and fashionable pieces that aren’t widely available. This boutique generates revenue primarily through its physical store in Bakersfield, CA, and an online platform that extends their reach to customers nationwide.

The customer segment for Shop Spoiled Boutique includes fashion-forward women, typically aged 18-35, who are seeking unique, stylish, and high-quality clothing. The key strength of Shop Spoiled Boutique lies in its unique selection of products and personalized customer service. However, its key weakness is the limited variety of sizes, which may not cater to all potential customers.

Macy’s , a nationwide department store chain, offers a wide range of products including clothing, accessories, home goods, and beauty products. Their price points vary widely to accommodate a broad spectrum of customers, from budget-friendly options to luxury brands. Macy’s generates substantial revenue from its extensive network of stores across the United States and a robust online sales platform.

Macy’s serves a diverse customer segment, from young adults to elderly customers, offering products for every age group and for both men and women. The key strengths of Macy’s include its wide variety of products, strong brand recognition, and nationwide presence. However, Macy’s faces weaknesses such as competition with online retailers and the challenge of maintaining a compelling in-store experience.

Action Sports specializes in sporting goods, athletic wear, and outdoor equipment, catering to sports enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Their products are priced to offer value for quality, appealing to those who prioritize durability and performance in their sporting and outdoor gear. Action Sports generates revenue through its brick-and-mortar location in Bakersfield, CA, and an online store that serves customers across the country.

The customer segment for Action Sports includes individuals leading an active lifestyle, ranging from amateur sports enthusiasts to professional athletes. The key strength of Action Sports is its focus on high-quality, durable products, and knowledgeable staff. However, its key weakness lies in its limited product range compared to larger, more diversified competitors.

Competitive Advantages

At MarketMosaic, we pride ourselves on offering a broader selection of retail items compared to our competitors, thereby catering to the diverse needs and preferences of our customers. By ensuring a wide variety of products, from the latest in tech gadgets to everyday household items, we make it our priority to be a one-stop-shop for our shoppers. This vast selection not only enhances customer convenience but also positions us as a market leader in providing a comprehensive shopping experience. Furthermore, our commitment to competitive pricing ensures that our customers receive the best value for their money. By leveraging efficient procurement and inventory management processes, we can offer high-quality products at prices that are hard to beat, thus providing a significant cost advantage to our customers.

In addition to our wide range and competitive pricing, another key competitive advantage lies in our customer-centric approach. We invest heavily in training our staff to provide exceptional customer service, ensuring that every customer leaves satisfied with their shopping experience. Our intuitive, user-friendly online platform complements our physical presence, enabling customers to shop with us from the comfort of their homes. This omnichannel approach not only expands our reach but also enhances accessibility for all our customers, making shopping convenient, efficient, and enjoyable. By integrating technology with personalized customer service, we set new standards in retail, distinguishing ourselves from the competition and cementing our position as a leader in the industry.

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products and Services

At MarketMosaic, customers can discover a wide range of products and services designed to cater to diverse needs and preferences. From stylish apparel to the latest in electronics, this retail destination is committed to providing quality items at competitive prices. The following is a detailed overview of the key products and services available at MarketMosaic, along with the average selling price for each category.

In the realm of Apparel and Fashion Accessories, MarketMosaic offers a variety of clothing items and accessories for men, women, and children. Shoppers can find everything from casual wear to more formal attire, ensuring a selection that suits any occasion. The average selling price for apparel items hovers around $35, while fashion accessories are typically priced at $20, making stylishness accessible without breaking the bank.

For those interested in Electronics and Technology, MarketMosaic is a treasure trove of the latest gadgets and devices. From smartphones and laptops to home entertainment systems, the store provides cutting-edge technology to enhance daily life and productivity. The average selling price in this category is approximately $250, offering customers high-quality electronics at reasonable prices.

When it comes to Home and Furniture, MarketMosaic presents an array of options to beautify living spaces. Whether customers are looking for contemporary furniture designs or cozy home decor items, the store caters to various tastes and budgets. On average, furniture items are priced at $150, while home accessories can be purchased for around $30, ensuring that every home can be a haven of style and comfort.

Beauty and Personal Care products at MarketMosaic cater to a wide range of grooming and wellness needs. From skincare and makeup to hair care products, the store offers an extensive selection for both men and women. Customers can expect to find their favorite beauty essentials at an average price of $15, making self-care both affordable and indulgent.

Lastly, the Groceries and Food Products section at MarketMosaic is stocked with a variety of food items, including fresh produce, packaged goods, and gourmet specialties. Whether planning a meal or looking for a quick snack, shoppers can find what they need at an average price of $5 per item, making mealtime both delicious and economical.

MarketMosaic is dedicated to providing a shopping experience that combines quality, variety, and affordability. With a wide range of products and services available, customers in Bakersfield, CA, can enjoy a one-stop shopping destination that meets all their needs.

Promotions Plan

MarketMosaic will utilize a comprehensive promotional strategy to attract and retain customers in the competitive retail landscape. At the core of these efforts is online marketing, a powerful tool that will enable MarketMosaic to reach a broad audience efficiently and effectively. Through the use of social media platforms, search engine optimization (SEO), and email marketing campaigns, MarketMosaic will engage with potential customers by showcasing their unique value proposition, special promotions, and the wide range of products available.

Beyond online marketing, MarketMosaic will also implement traditional advertising methods, including print media, billboards, and local radio spots. These tried-and-true approaches will complement the digital strategy by increasing brand visibility in the local community of Bakersfield, CA. Furthermore, MarketMosaic will leverage public relations activities, such as press releases and community events, to build a positive brand image and foster strong relationships with customers.

In-store promotions and loyalty programs will be another key component of MarketMosaic’s promotional efforts. Special discounts, loyalty points, and exclusive offers for returning customers will encourage repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals, which are invaluable in building a loyal customer base. Additionally, MarketMosaic will host in-store events and workshops to engage with the community and provide an interactive shopping experience.

Partnerships with local businesses and influencers will also play a significant role in MarketMosaic’s promotional strategy. By collaborating with complementary businesses and influential personalities in Bakersfield, MarketMosaic will tap into new customer segments and enhance its market presence through co-marketing efforts and cross-promotions.

To ensure the success of these promotional methods, MarketMosaic will consistently monitor and analyze the performance of each strategy, adjusting tactics as necessary to maximize return on investment. By implementing a dynamic and multi-faceted promotional approach, MarketMosaic expects to attract a wide range of customers and establish itself as a go-to retail destination in Bakersfield, CA.

Our Operations Plan details:

• The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
• The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of MarketMosaic, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform.

• Inventory Management: We will continuously monitor stock levels to ensure that popular items are always available, while also identifying slow-moving items for promotional sales or clearance.
• Supplier Relations: We will maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of goods, negotiate better prices, and stay informed about new or trending products.
• Customer Service: We will prioritize exceptional customer service by training staff to be knowledgeable about products, friendly, and helpful to create a positive shopping experience.
• Store Presentation: We will regularly update store layouts and displays to make shopping intuitive and engaging, and ensure the store is clean and well-maintained at all times.
• Marketing and Promotions: We will implement targeted marketing campaigns and in-store promotions to attract new customers and encourage repeat business.
• Sales Monitoring: We will use point-of-sale (POS) systems to track sales data, identify trends, and make informed decisions about inventory and marketing strategies.
• Staff Management: We will schedule staff efficiently to cover peak times while managing labor costs, and provide ongoing training to improve skills and knowledge.
• Financial Management: We will meticulously manage finances, including monitoring daily sales, expenses, and cash flow, to ensure profitability.
• Compliance: We will ensure all business operations comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including health and safety standards.
• Feedback and Improvement: We will actively seek feedback from customers and employees to identify areas for improvement and implement changes to enhance the shopping experience.

MarketMosaic expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:

• Secure a Prime Location in Bakersfield, CA : Selecting and securing a lease for a storefront in a high-traffic area that aligns with MarketMosaic’s target demographic will be crucial for attracting initial customers and establishing brand presence.
• Obtain Necessary Permits and Licenses : Completing all legal requirements including business registration, sales tax permits, and any specific retail operation licenses ahead of the launch will ensure compliance and avoid any legal hurdles post-launch.
• Build Out and Design the Retail Space : Creating a welcoming and brand-aligned store environment that maximizes product visibility and enhances the shopping experience will be key to attracting and retaining customers.
• Develop Supply Chain and Inventory Management Systems : Establishing reliable relationships with suppliers and implementing inventory management systems will ensure that MarketMosaic can maintain stock levels efficiently, reducing the risk of stockouts or excess inventory.
• Hire and Train a High-Performing Team : Recruiting a capable team and providing them with the necessary training on customer service, product knowledge, and operational procedures will be essential for delivering a positive customer experience and driving sales.
• Launch Our Retail Business : Officially opening the doors to customers with a well-publicized grand opening event will mark the start of business operations, aiming to generate buzz and attract initial customer traffic.
• Implement Marketing and Customer Acquisition Strategies : Developing and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes local advertising, social media engagement, and community events will help MarketMosaic build its brand and attract customers.
• Monitor and Adapt Product Offerings Based on Customer Feedback : Regularly collecting and analyzing customer feedback to adjust product offerings and store layout will help meet market demand and improve customer satisfaction.
• Reach $15,000/Month in Revenue : Achieving this financial milestone will indicate that MarketMosaic has successfully penetrated the market and is on a path toward sustainability and growth.
• Establish a Loyal Customer Base and Community Presence : Developing strong relationships with customers and becoming an active participant in the Bakersfield community will contribute to long-term success by building brand loyalty and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals.

MarketMosaic management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Aria Morales, President

Aria Morales brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to her role as President of MarketMosaic. With a rich history in the retail industry, Morales has demonstrated her ability to not only run a business but to do so with notable success. Her hands-on experience in managing a retail business has endowed her with a deep understanding of the market dynamics, consumer behavior, and operational efficiency. These skills and insights are critical in steering MarketMosaic towards achieving its business objectives and ensuring its long-term success in a competitive landscape. Morales’s leadership is characterized by a strategic approach to business growth, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, making her an invaluable asset to the MarketMosaic team.

MarketMosaic requires significant funding to achieve our growth goals, including securing a prime retail location, building out and designing our store environment, developing our inventory and supply chain infrastructure, and implementing our marketing strategy. This investment will support our operations until we reach our initial revenue target of $15,000/month, setting the stage for long-term sustainability and expansion in the competitive retail market.

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

[insert balance sheet]

Income Statement

[insert income statement]

Cash Flow Statement

[insert cash flow statement]

Retail Business Plan Example PDF

Download our Retail Business Plan PDF here. This is a free retail business plan example to help you get started on your own retail plan.  

How to Finish Your Retail Business Plan in 1 Day!

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Retail Store Business Plan

Things to Consider Before Writing Your Retail Store Business Plan

Build a brand image.

A brand image goes a long way for any business, especially for a retail store. It is crucial to pay attention to what people think about your store, what emotions they associate your brand with, and how they perceive your products in general. Above all, what qualities make you different from your competitors?

Pick the right location

A retail store’s location can make or break the deal. Hence, it is very important to pick a location that is both convenient and accessible for your customers. As people are always running short of time, they prefer a store that is on the way and takes less time to get to. It can also act as your USP over the bigger retail stores.

Plan a good store design

A good store design that follows the major principles of consumer psychology is essential for a retail store. The strategic placement of products influences a customer’s buying decisions. Hence, you need to pay attention to it and design your store in a way that maximizes your sales.

Build communities that promote your brand

Building communities that stand by and promote the idea of your brand can be extremely beneficial for your retail store. Hence, ensure that you work towards building one. These communities can be driven by anything from a common belief to a certain cause that your brand stands for.

How Business Plan Can Help?

Regardless if you’ve been operating for a long time already, by writing up a business plan for your retail store, you can get an overview of what you want to achieve with your business, and guidelines for how you’ll achieve your goals.

A retail business plan is a solid foundation for the success of your business, whether you seek funding or not. It helps you see clearly what your business looks like and how it’s positioned in your target market.

If you need to get funding, your retail business plan will work as proof that you and your business are good for investment. Studies suggest you can double your chances of securing a loan with a business plan and grow your business.

How to Write a Retail Store Business Plan?

Writing a retail store business plan requires a good amount of research, a thoroughly competitive and customer analysis, and a little bit of extra help.

You can get help for writing your plan either through a premade template on the internet or through an online business plan software which will help you write a customizable plan anywhere and at any time.

Before you start writing your business plan for your new Retail store business, spend as much time as you can reading through some examples of retail & e-commerce-related business plans .

We have created this sample business plan for you to get a good idea about how a perfect retail store business plan should look like and what details you will need to include in your stunning business plan.

Retail Store Business Plan Outline

This is the standard business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Company Profile Summary
• Market Research Summary
• Marketing Summary
• Finance Summary
• Business Overview
• Company History
• Legal Structure Vision & Mission
• Industry Profile & Market Size
• Local Market
• Target Market
• Competitor Analysis
• Keys to Success
• Customer Survey Summary
• SWOT Analysis
• Products and Services
• Pricing Strategy
• Marketing Strategy
• Primary Marketing Activities
• Positioning Statement
• The Sales Process
• Strategic Alliances
• Location(s)
• Legal Issues
• Insurance Issues
• Human Resources (Or Team)
• Process/Production
• Risk Assessment
• Startup Funding & Capital
• Start-Up Costs
• Sales Forecast
• Projected Profit & Loss

What to include in a Retail Store Business Plan?

A retail store business plan consists of several different aspects. The major ones are as follows:

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary gives an overview of what your business stands for the reader. It should be written in such a way that even an outsider could get an idea of what your business is all about.

This section mainly comprises your business summary, your vision and mission statement, and your financial summary.

2. Company Profile

The company summary or company profile section of your business plan would consist of everything about your company, ranging from its location to information about your team.

While the executive summary section consists of information about the functional aspects of your business, a company summary consists of information about the structural aspects of your business.

While writing a company summary, it is a good practice to take suggestions from your team, as this section represents you as a team of individuals more than representing you as a brick-and-mortar company.

3. Market Research

Conducting market research helps you understand what you are getting yourself into. It helps you understand your target market, your competitors, and the working of the industry in general.

You can conduct thorough market research by using tools like PESTEL analysis or SWOT analysis . These tools help you conduct research specific to your business and prevent you from wasting your time on vague data.

4. Marketing Plan

As a retail store, it is your primary job to let your customers know about your existence. And to retain them once they start coming to your store.

A good marketing plan would help you do just that.

Based on the information you have gathered about your target audience through market research you can design your marketing campaign and promotional offers that’ll appeal to your customer base.

5. Operations

As a retail store, a proper operations plan can prevent your business from turning into a chaotic mess. An operations plan consists of your business’s logistic and functional information. It helps an outsider see what a typical day at your business looks like.

It also consists of your long-term and short-term goals. As well as the milestones you’ll have to reach for achieving them.

As a retail store business, your operations plan would consist of your supply renewal cycles, your backup distributors, a plan for the working of your store, your daily sales targets, and your long-term expansion goals, etc.

6. Financial Plan

A financial plan ensures that your business sails smoothly through tough times and also generates maximum profits.

It would consist of your funding requirements, cash flow projections, and profit forecasts.

As a retail store, your financial plan would consist of the funding requirements for setting up your store, buying supplies, and hiring people. It would also consist of your projected profits and break-even analysis.

Download a sample retail store business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free retail store business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your retail store business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Retail Store Business Plan Summary

In conclusion, a retail store business plan helps you organize and manage your store better. It takes care of everything that goes behind the scenes of running a retail store, so you can greet your customers with a smile.

From angry customers to poorly stocked supplies, a business plan can save you from all of it.

After getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this retail store business plan template into your business plan and modify the required information and download your retail store business plan pdf or doc file.

It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

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Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Seven & i to list supermarket unit Ito-Yokado: report

Japan's Seven & i Holdings plans to list its supermarket unit Ito-Yokado, Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday, citing unidentified sources.

The retail conglomerate aims to focus on its mainstay 7-Eleven convenience store operation by having the supermarket business listed, Kyodo said.

Seven & i will likely announce its plan to list Ito-Yokado, a major general merchandise store chain, on Wednesday, when it is set to announce its financial results, Kyodo said.

Asked about the Kyodo report, a company spokesperson said nothing had been decided at this point.

Business daily Nikkei reported later on Tuesday that Seven & i was looking to set up a new intermediate holding company for general merchandising chains including Ito-Yokado as early as in 2026.

Seven & i is considering courting external investors for the new company, or potentially taking it public, to turn its superstore business profitable by the fiscal year ending February 2026, Nikkei said.

Ito-Yokado, which is struggling to compete with specialty outlets and discount stores, announced in February that it would withdraw from Hokkaido and some other regions.

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Lenta Opens 38th Supermarket In Moscow

Russian retail chain Lenta has announced that it has opened its 38th supermarket in Moscow.

The new store is a ‘large format’ supermarket located in the City shopping centre in Korolev City, Moscow.

The store features 1,447 square metres (924 square metres of selling space) and will operate from 8:00 am till 11:00 pm, seven days a week.

The store will be stocked by a ‘broad product assortment of 6,900 SKUs’, which have been specifically selected for residents of Moscow. Products include Lenta’s range of private labels, federal products and local produce.

Opening Rate

This is Lenta’s seventh store opening in 2017. It means that retailer now has 195 hypermarkets across and 55 supermarkets 78 cities. It just recently opened a store in Moscow this April .

Lenta's store multiplication process has greatly benefited their profits It recently revealed its total sales increase of 17.2% in Q1 2017 to RUR 77.9 billion (€1.29 billion), and a like-for-like increase of 1.7% compared to the same period last year.

© 2017  European Supermarket Magazine  – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click  subscribe  to sign up to  ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.

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San Francisco proposal would allow lawsuits over grocery store closures

A San Francisco lawmaker introduced a proposal that would require grocery stores in the city to provide six months of notice before closing a store and to explore a replacement supermarket at the vacated location.

Dean Preston, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, introduced what he calls the Grocery Protection Act – which is based on a proposal the board approved in 1984 that was vetoed by then-San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. 

Preston's proposal would require grocery store owners to provide six months written notice to the Board of Supervisors as well as the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). The store would also be required to post notices at all entries and exits as a means of informing customers and the general public. The rule wouldn't preclude closures due to a store being unprofitable.

"It was a good idea in 1984, and it's an even better idea now," Preston said in a press release. "Our communities need notice, an opportunity to be heard, and a transition plan when major neighborhood grocery stores plan to shut their doors. Meeting the food security needs of our seniors and families cannot be left to unilateral backroom decisions by massive corporate entities."

CENTURY-OLD BUSINESS LATEST CASUALTY OF SAN FRANCISCO RETAIL CLOSURES

The six-month notice requirement would be waived if the closure is caused by business circumstances that weren't reasonably foreseeable at the time notice would've been required, or if the closure was due to a natural disaster or emergency . 

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

It would also not be required if the business is in the process of actively seeking capital or business that would allow the closure to be postponed or avoided, and the business has a reasonable and good faith belief that giving the closure notice would've precluded the store from obtaining the capital or business needed to stay open.

SAN FRANCISCO HARDWARE STORE ESCORTS CUSTOMERS WHILE SHOPPING TO DETER RISING CRIME

Grocery stores relying on those exceptions would still be required to give as much notice as is practical before closing and also provide an explanation for having reduced the notice period.

The bill would also require that grocery stores "meet and work in good faith with neighborhood residents" and the OEWD to find a workable solution to keep groceries available at the location. Those solutions could include identifying strategies and resources to allow the store to remain open, helping residents organize and open a cooperative and identifying another grocery store operator to take over and continue grocery sales at the location.

Under the legislation, any person affected by a grocery store's failure to comply with the requirements could initiate legal proceedings for damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or a writ of mandate to remedy the violation. 

SAN FRANCISCO WHOLE FOODS HIT WITH 560 CALLS OF VIOLENCE, DRUGS, VAGRANTS BEFORE CLOSING: REPORT

Preston's proposal comes as San Francisco deals with a rise in store and office closures as the city deals with a crime and drug crisis that has made it more difficult for businesses to operate. 

Last year, a Whole Foods location in San Francisco closed a little more than one year after it opened. Records indicated that the Market Street location was the scene of 568 emergency calls in a 13-month period due to incidents such as vagrants throwing food, yelling, fighting and attempting to defecate on the floor, according to the New York Times. At least 14 arrests were made at the location.

More recently, Safeway announced in January that it planned to close a grocery store in the city this March, but rescinded that announcement and said it would keep the Webster Street location open until January 2025.

Original article source: San Francisco proposal would allow lawsuits over grocery store closures

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7 more states sue to block Biden's student loan handout plan as lawsuits pile up

18 states have now sued over biden's student loan plan.

Ted Cruz: Biden’s bid for student loan bailouts is a ‘vote buying scheme’

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joins ‘The Bottom Line’ to discuss President Biden pitching another massive student loan handout.

President Biden's administration faces yet another lawsuit as a growing number of states seek to block his student loan handout plan, with Missouri and six other states filing a complaint on Tuesday.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit argues that Biden's "SAVE" plan, announced in February, is illegal and would cost American taxpayers $475 billion. Bailey's lawsuit comes just weeks after Kansas and 10 other states sued the Biden administration over the same plan.

"With the stroke of his pen, Joe Biden is attempting to saddle working Missourians with a half trillion dollars in debt. The United States Constitution makes clear that the President lacks the authority to unilaterally ‘cancel’ student loan debt for millions of Americans without express permission from Congress," Bailey told Fox News Digital.

"The President does not get to thwart the Constitution when it suits his political agenda. I’m filing suit to halt his embarrassing attempt to buy the 2024 election in direct violation of the law. The Constitution will continue to mean something as long as I’m Attorney General."

MORE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS IS ON THE HORIZON, AS U.S. COLLEGES COMMIT TO COST TRANSPARENCY

President Biden's faces yet another lawsuit and a growing number of states seeking to block his student loan forgiveness plan, with Missouri and six other states filing a lawsuit on Tuesday. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Joining Bailey in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma and North Dakota.

Missouri and Arkansas both participated in the lawsuit that ultimately brought an end to Biden's previous student loan plan last year. The Supreme Court decided 6-3 that Biden's plan was unconstitutional.

BIDEN SANCTIONS ISRAELI SETTLERS IN WEST BANK AFTER SHOOTING OF US TEEN

"President Biden has already lost on this question once, and he is refusing to follow the law. The Supreme Court could not have been clearer: President Biden cannot unilaterally cancel student debt and force taxpayers to bear the multi-billion-dollar cost," Arkansas AG Tim Griffin told Fox News Digital.

Missouri and Arkansas both participated in the lawsuit that ultimately brought an end to Biden's previous student loan forgiveness plan last year. The Supreme Court decided 6-3 that Biden's plan was unconstitutional. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The lawsuit argues that Biden's SAVE plan is part of "a long but troubling pattern of the President relying on innocuous language from decades-old statutes to impose drastic, costly policy changes on the American people without their consent."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, but the Biden administration previously defended the SAVE program against the lawsuit led by Kansas.

"The Department does not comment on pending litigation. However, Congress gave the U.S. Department of Education the authority to define the terms of income-driven repayment plans in 1993, and the SAVE plan is the fourth time the Department has used that authority," an Education Department spokesperson said at the time. "The Biden-Harris Administration won’t stop fighting to provide support and relief to borrowers across the country – no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us."

SOME STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE GETTING REFUNDS ON TOP OF LOAN FORGIVENESS

President Biden has repeatedly tried to forgive student loans through executive action, only to be thwarted by the Supreme Court. ((Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)

Tuesday's lawsuit lands just one day after Biden announced yet another plan to cancel student loan debt. This latest one focuses on cutting loans that have exceeded their principal amount due to interest. It would cut up to $20,000 in accrued interest for borrowers, but borrowers who make less than $120,000 or couples who make less than $240,000 would be allowed to cut all of their accrued interest beyond the principal amount.

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The result would see roughly 23 million Americans having their loans cut down to the principal amount.

While Bailey has no legal action to announce regarding the interest cut, he said his office is monitoring it.

"We beat his unlawful student loan plan in court last summer, so he quickly rolled out Plan B. Now that we’re challenging that, he’s panicked and is rolling out a Plan C. We will continue to watch him closely and take action whenever he’s overstepped his authority," Bailey told Fox.

Read the full Missouri lawsuit below: (Mobile users click here)

Struggling UK fashion retailer Ted Baker to shut 15 stores, 250 jobs at risk

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Fitch downgrades outlook on China to negative, affirms 'A+' rating

Ratings agency Fitch revised its outlook on China to negative on Tuesday, citing increasing risks to the country's public finance outlook.