What should I check before buying a home decor store?

Decor is a trend business. What sells in one season can sit in the back room the next, and customers often come because they like how the owner chooses things. A buyer is taking on a taste, a stock position and a calendar of orders already placed.

Seasonal stock and markdowns

Ask for a stock list sorted by age and by season. Holiday and seasonal pieces lose their value fast once the season passes. Ask how often the store has marked items down, how deep those markdowns went, and whether the books carry old stock at its original cost. Walk the store with the owner and ask which items they expect to move and which they hope will.

Buying-show commitments

Many decor stores place orders months ahead at trade shows and showrooms. Ask what is already on order, the delivery dates, and whether any deposits have been paid. Decide, before closing, who takes on those orders and who pays for them. Record the answer in writing before closing.

Vendor terms and exclusives

Find out which suppliers give the store exclusive lines, special terms or free shipping, and whether those arrangements carry over to a new owner. Speak with the main vendors before you commit. A line that anchors the store may be tied to the owner’s relationship rather than to the business.

The owner’s taste as the draw

Ask who picks the stock, who styles the displays and who customers ask for by name. If the owner is the draw, plan for how the store will look when you choose the pieces, and ask whether the owner will help with a handover. Our page on what to check before buying a paint store covers a similar question about relationships that follow a person.