Starting a business..

[SuBMiSSioN]

Assalamu 3alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh

Ok.. this is more a personal adventure.. so hopefully you guys can help me out a little

I've been thinking over the past few days about starting a business.. obviously this isn't something that is easy to do nor is it easy to carry through with it. My thoughts are to start off very small (from home) and gradually work my way up. What type of business would I open? A bookstore

The only problem is.. there are quite a few bookstores in and around my area. IISNA is up the road, IBC isn't far off and Ahlan wa Sahlan is also pretty much around the corner. My idea is though is to have a look at what people like to read, check if these bookshops store books on such topics, and then have a look through a few websites and see if I can find such books available. Also, since I'm thinking of starting up from home.. I was thinking of keeping it open to sisters only.. if brothers wanted anything they could get their sis/mum/wife etc to come or they could tell me what they want and I'll ship it out to them.

Now.. keep in mind that these are all just ideas.. who knows.. I may not even go through with this lol

Some questions I've got that I would like answered.. what kind of books would you ppl be interested in that you may not find out in the bookshops? (and no one mention anything about how to make a bomb ). Also how much would it roughly cost to start off something like this? Is there an estimate? Any tips anyone would like to share?

Um yeah.. ideas.. pass over some ideas ppl

wa assalamu 3alaykum

[Lena]

Sell Abayas too..

This is a great idea mashallah, Good on you I think book stores are very common in the area, maybe try nice islamic clothing for the youth..

[Islam_Junkie]

LOL Meme, try to follow...Submission would like to open a BOOKSTORE to start off with.

[Khaled]

Ikhti, instead of asking people what type of books we would like to read, why don't you ask what products the Muslim community is in need of? Books aren't the only beneficial products for us wAlhamdulillaah. There are many avenues to Islaam

[SuBMiSSioN]

What would you define as "good clothes"?

See.. there are many bookshops already open in and around the area.. but.. how many sisters are comfortable rocking up to these bookshops when they're usually full of brothers during the day??

Again, they're just thoughts. Throw some ideas at me.. don't just crush my dreams without providing an alternative.

[SuBMiSSioN]

Khaled, I started off with the idea of a bookshop, but I'm open to other ideas. This is why I'm asking for your opinions, what you ppl would like..whether it'd be books, clothes etc etc etc

[Lena]

I think Islamic Clothing, but clothes that we would actually wear, and that appeal to the younger generation... I need a nice abaya :/

[Muslimah_*]

I agree with Lena, its hard to find nice Islamic wear for sisters.

[Amina]

Ikhti, instead of asking people what type of books we would like to read, why don't you ask what products the Muslim community is in need of? Books aren't the only beneficial products for us wAlhamdulillaah. There are many avenues to Islaam

That is true habibty. think outside simple.. i know you can think about your abilities and what you would benefit from and see if other need or would like the same. Don't just look at books, abaya or material busniesses, MAybe its something you might have to study for a year or so to be able to open a certain business or put it into stages like what would i so for a starting point and once ive gain such and such move to stage two and then final stage. Patients InshAllah and will be be succesful

[one.muslim]

Spoken like a true business man.

[Lena]

Nah marriage is a great solution to opening a business.lol

Yepz houda, how hard is it to find clothing thats loose but nice. Everything in the shops is so tight that you cant breath if you wear it.. So I think maybe see who can supply you with a few sample of clothing, as in tops, dresses, skirts, in a range of colours, and see how you go.

[Islam_Junkie]

By the way, best to do your research, know your target market and your competitors. Most of your competitors (IBC, IISNA etc) would be willing to help you Inshaa-Allah so perhaps even ask them.
My thoughts on this subject is that if you're starting a business of this nature from home, then your initial start up cost wont be extravagant, you're really only looking at registering a business name and then your marketing material/advertising. I dont know what you've currently got to work with, but you may also need to reserve some money for furniture like bookshelves or things like that. Also, who is supplying your books? Will you be getting these books at a distributor price? Are you able to make a margin on it? To be honest I dont see this business venture as a potential revenue generator, but then again, what's your objective? If its for the sake of Allah and less for profit, then Khair Inshaa'Allah, all the best to you.

[SuBMiSSioN]

Ok.. clothing..

One problem. Who's gonna start to sew?

[Muslimah_*]

Import.

[Lena]

YESSS Meme! I agree lol I'm so sick of taking clothes and having to shorten almost half of the item.

My cuz in Sydney has just opened up her own business selling islamic clothing. Maybe she maybe able to direct you faten, or even supply you with some samples for you to start off here.

[Islam_Junkie]

By the way sisters...never fear about the Abaya situation, I'm planning to do business with some sisters in Sydney who design their own Abaya's and would like to tap the Melbourne market. Inshaa'Allah I would like to plan a trip to Sydney and stock up, if business takes off who knows where it will lead Inshaa'Allah.
And Khalid the marriage option isn't necessarily up to us! We cant wait around for our knight in shining armour to look after us, Alhumdullilah us sisters are self sufficient and need to fend for ourselves!

[aussiemu]

assalamu alaikum,

Anything like books/clothing/any kind of product will require you to have money to buy the stock and other things.

I recommend if you are going to do a business think of an idea then contact Centrelink and enrol in their NEIS program. The NEIS program is for people who want to start a business.

The advantages are:

- you do a Cert IV in Small Business Management and during that you draw up a proper business plan
- you get paid newstart allowance for a year (approx 350 per 2 weeks if you live at home) regardless of how much income you make. That's a huge help.
- you get a mentor (someone who runs a business) to help you out.

I've done the program and think its a great program. I went overseas though after doing it so didn't continue on.

You need to be motivated though and think outside the square on how to do things if you want to make a successful business.

wassalamu alaikum

[Islam_Junkie]

LOL the audacity!!! Btw congrats to your bro and M&M's!!!! Lol how cute! BTW was that the one at IISNA...I thought it was for a turkish brother?

[Islam_Junkie]

Ameen, and to you too Inshaa'Allah. Anyway lets not turn this thread into a marriage one LOL.

[theory]

I think three very good comments were made.

1- The comment by aussiemu about the centre link support

2- Starting the business at home is also a very good idea so you don't have to waste money paying rent at the start

3- Importing (I think) is a good way to get clothes at a reasonable price.