What should I check before buying a bridal shop?
Check whether the designer accounts will carry over to you, how old and worn the sample gowns are, what the appointment book shows, whether alterations are done in-house, and how the year rises and falls. These are the bridal-specific points that a general boutique checklist does not cover.
A bridal shop looks like a clothing boutique, but it runs differently. Brides book appointments, designers decide who may sell their lines, and a gown can take months to arrive. The general steps in the clothing boutique due diligence guide still apply. These are the extra checks for a shop that sells wedding dresses.
Designer accounts
Bridal designers may sell only through approved retailers, and the account belongs to the shop’s owner, not automatically to a buyer. Ask the seller which designers the shop carries, and ask each designer whether it will keep the account open for you. Read any written terms on minimum orders, territory and display. Losing the main line can change the shop more than any other single thing.
Sample gowns and the appointment book
Sample gowns are the shop’s working stock. Look at how many there are, how recent the styles are, and how worn they are. Ask what happens to old samples. Then ask to see the appointment book: how far ahead it is filled, how many appointments become orders, and how many brides come through referrals. The book is one record of future business.
Alterations and the seasons
Alterations are part of the service, and one skilled seamstress can be the shop’s hidden dependency. Ask who does the work, whether she stays, and whether her time is a bottleneck. Bridal business is also seasonal, so ask the seller how the shop manages quiet months and what cash it needs to carry stock between them.
A short list to bring to the seller
- Which designers will confirm your account in writing?
- What is on order, and what has been paid for?
- Who does alterations, and will they stay?
- What does the busiest and quietest part of the year look like?
Related reading
13 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Due diligence
Buying
- GuideBuying a clothing boutique in Canada
- Expert answerWhat should I check before buying an alterations or tailor shop?
- Expert answerWhat happens to customer dress orders and deposits when a bridal shop is sold?
- Expert answerDo supplier rebates and loyalty programs transfer when I buy a retail store?
- Expert answerHow do I find a bridal shop for sale?
- GuideBuying a retail business in Canada
- Expert answerHow is buying a franchised clothing store different from an independent boutique?
- Expert answerWhat should I check before buying a gift shop?
- Expert answerWhat should I do in the first months after buying a tailor or alterations shop?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentMajor pitfalls to avoid when negotiating a purchase agreement
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