How do I move my alterations shop’s customers to the new owner?
Introduce the buyer while you are still at the counter. Customers of an alterations shop trust the hands that fit their clothes, so plan a handover period where you work alongside the buyer, tell regulars in person, and hand over fitting notes so nobody has to start again.
Your customers usually trust a person, not a shop. If you plan to leave, the most useful thing is time with the buyer at the counter. Let regulars see the new owner pinning a hem while you stand beside them, and say plainly that you are vouching for the work. If you take in garments through a bridal shop or a dry cleaner, ask those partners how they would like to be told. A friendly handover to them often protects more income than anything in the window.
Gather the fitting notes before you go. Measurements, past adjustments and quirks, such as a customer who always wants sleeves a little shorter, are what make the new owner look as if they already know the client. Ask the buyer how they want the information kept, and agree what you are allowed to pass along.
Think about your busiest relationships first: wedding parties, tailoring for work clothing, and any dry cleaner or boutique that sends you garments. A short call or visit to each, with the buyer present, does more than a notice in the window. Agree in the sale terms how long you will help and what happens if a key customer leaves. Your lawyer can draft that.
Key takeaways
- Work beside the buyer so regulars see you vouch for them.
- Pass on fitting notes and customer preferences in an agreed form.
- Visit referral partners together before you step away.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to minimize negotiations when selling your business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is succession planning?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernment7 steps to increase your business’ value—before you sell it
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