How do I sell a stationery or greeting card store?

A buyer of a stationery or card store is buying a set of arrangements as much as a shelf of paper. Card programs, standing accounts and print work all affect what the shop can do next. Your job is to make each one clear and written down. The steps below go in order.

Confirm what stays with the store

Begin with the card company. Ask whether its racks are yours or its own, whether the supply or display program can pass to a buyer, and what the company needs to see. Get the answer in writing if you can. A buyer who learns late that the fixtures leave will want to talk again about the whole sale.

Document your accounts and print work

List the school, office and business customers who buy regularly, how they order, and who your contact is. Do the same for any print, copy or engraving work, including what equipment you own and what you lease. Keep it factual. A buyer will want to confirm it, and will ask whether your customers will keep buying.

Time the listing

Back-to-school and the card holidays are busy, and a buyer needs time to learn the shop before the next one. Listing after a busy period lets the records show a full cycle. Talk to your broker about the listing date and the closing date together.

Prepare stock counts and supplier terms

• Count stock, and mark dated items such as planners and calendars separately.
• Gather your supplier terms, minimums and order habits.
• Collect equipment lease papers and service records.
• Ask your accountant how stock will be counted at closing.

Compare your plan with the retail steps in how to sell a music store, and read what happens to gift cards when a store sells before you list.