The home decor business is a financially rewarding venture in the UK for those ready to take the risk. The UK currently ranks 13th on the list of spenders for interior home design. Moreover, recent data estimates that citizens would spend about £13.8 billion on purchasing homewares to give their houses a makeover in 2022 alone.
If you’re talented in making selections to transform home appearances, you should consider immigrating to the UK to start your home decor business at once. We know setting out can be a daunting task, and that’s why we’ve put up this post.
Here is a step-by-step approach to starting your home decor business in the UK.
1. Study the industry and plan
The home decor business is broad, and there are so many businesses you’ll be competing with when you start. We are trying to underscore the need to plan so you won’t be intimidated into giving up even before you start. You must understand the market and the services associated with the business. Hence, you’ll need to answer the following questions during this research and planning stage:
· In which niche am I most comfortable? (Don’t be a jack of all trades)
· What products would I sell? (Furniture items, wall hangings, kitchen accessories, etc.)
· Who are my competitors? (Not for competition but to create your unique edge)
· What platform would I need to begin? (Online or offline)
· Who are my target customers, and how do I reach them?
After making these critical decisions, you’ll have a focus and should move to the next stage.
2. Decide on a unique business name and register it
Ensure your business name conveys the essence of your business and not some generalized one. At the same time, you don’t want a customer to forget your business name, so make it catchy, concise, and easy to pronounce.
You should register the business with the appropriate authorities in your state before commencing. Note that at this stage, UK law demands that you have a physical address in the UK for registration, whether the business will be online or on-site.
Your Birmingham immigration lawyer can assist you in searching for a property to rent if you’re still planning to move to the UK.
Meanwhile, this detail will be available on UK’s online register, so think carefully before using your home.
3. Connect with suppliers and contractors
How do you get your goods when clients order for them? Even if your pocket runs deep, you can’t afford to have too many home decor items in stock. Besides, it is unreal having a one-stop place for all home decor items.
Hence, scout and build a relationship with reliable suppliers and contractors that will deliver goods to you at the best price and earliest possible time. This step is even more crucial if you’ve chosen to run an online home decor business.
4. Open a website for the business
In this digital age, having a website for your business is non-negotiable, especially if you’ve decided to have an online home decor store. Choosing a suitable theme for the website is crucial to create an appealing online space. A well-designed website enhances the overall shopping experience for your customers. If you’re new to online ventures, then a WordPress tutorial for beginners can help guide you through the process of setting up your home decor store.
Also, include videos of some jobs you’ve handled and products you sell, as these are more convincing. If you haven’t worked for anyone yet, start with your home. A video of how you transformed your space would be handy. The idea is to use your website to build and communicate a strong portfolio.
You will also need a section showing your past jobs and testimonials from past clients. Use only crisp images on the website to pull attention. We recommend giving this task to a specialist for the best result.
5. Set your rate for operations
In the home decor business, service price rates can be hourly, a percentage project cost, fixed fee, and per square meter. Before doing this, you must have a general idea of what your competitors charge for their services.
Yours must not be too high or low. Too high means you must be super good at convincing clients to pay more, and a low rate could imply a lack of quality. We also advise you to have a contractual agreement form that clients sign before commencing a job.
6. Advertise your business
By all means, you must let people know about your business. Very few people care to know about a new start-up in their area. Again, except for paid promotions, websites don’t just pop up on people’s screens.
Use social media to let people know about your products and services. Tell friends and family about it, and use paid ads to reach your target audience.
Final Thoughts
Beyond capital, the home decor business also requires lots of creativity. Do well to attend programs that can broaden your horizon.
But have you considered how to get to the UK? You’ll need a £50,000 investment fund, among many things, to qualify for an innovator visa. Applying for a UK work visa is another means of legal entry.
The advantage of this permit is that you can save enough money working in the UK to start your home decor business after securing an indefinite leave to remain. Problem solved!
