What happens to customer dress orders and deposits when a bridal shop is sold?

In a bridal shop, much of what looks like stock is really a set of promises. A bride has paid a deposit, the shop has ordered her gown from a designer, and fittings are still to come. When the shop is sold, those promises go with it. The sale agreement should say exactly what happens to each one, so that nobody discovers the gap a month before a wedding.

Make a complete list of open orders

Ask the seller for a list of every open order: the bride, her wedding date, the gown, the designer, what she has paid and what remains. Check it against the designer orders and the shop’s bank records. Orders that are paid but not yet placed, or placed but not paid for, are the ones that cause trouble, so ask about them directly.

Decide who holds the deposits

Money paid by brides is held against gowns the buyer will now deliver. Ask your lawyer and accountant how deposits already collected are dealt with at closing, since the buyer may take on the cost of fulfilling the order. Whatever you agree, put it in writing and have your lawyer review the wording and how it fits the sale.

Keep the brides informed

Brides should hear of the change from the shop, in a short, warm message, before they hear it elsewhere. Say who they will deal with, that their order is on record, and when the next fitting is. A seller who stays for a handover period can help the transition feel steady. Ask each designer whether it needs to be told of the new owner.

Points to settle before closing

• Who answers for an order that arrives late, damaged or incorrect?
• Who pays for alterations already promised?
• How are refunds handled if a bride cancels?
• Does the designer treat the buyer as the same account?