Does an alterations shop depend on a bridal shop referral to stay busy?

Request a breakdown of jobs by how the customer arrived: bridal referral, dry cleaner, walk-in, repeat client or online. Compare how much income each source adds, not just how many jobs. Bridal work often pays more per piece, so a small number of referrals can matter a lot.

Ask whether the arrangement is written or just a handshake. Find out who set it up and whether it rests on a personal friendship with the seller. Ask if the bridal shop would meet you before the sale. A short conversation can tell you much about whether the work will stay.

Check for seasonal swings, since wedding work tends to bunch up. Ask what fills the quiet times, and whether the shop does everyday repairs and hems as a base. If the referral is vital, ask your lawyer about building the introduction and a handover period into the purchase terms. Also think about how you could widen your sources afterward. Ask too how the bridal shop chose this alterations shop, and what it would take to lose that trust. Late or poor work can end a referral quickly. Learn what the shop does to keep the partner satisfied, and whether the current owner has a competitor nearby trying to win the same business.

Key takeaways

• Sort work orders by referral source and income.
• Ask if the bridal arrangement is written and transferable.
• Meet the referring shop before you decide.