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November 26, 2007

10 Things I Know About...

Opening a new clothing shop


By Carlos Silva
Director of operations for Rio & Co., a new Brazilian/American apparel store in Worcester.

As told to Cory S. Hopkins, Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer

10. PRICE, QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE KEY



It takes a long time to find a customer, but it's very easy to lose one.

9. CONSUMERS LOVE COUPONS



We initially offered 10 and 15 percent off coupons to keep the customers coming back.

8. FILL THE VOID



We're located on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, which is mostly restaurants. We thought, 'Why not try to attract new people here, too?'

7. INVENTORY IS EVERYTHING



Make sure you have a big inventory with a lot of items from a lot of different brands.

6. FIT THE SEASON



Brazil is a country of summer. But it's cold here. We try to be stylish like Brazil but practical like America.

5. BRING SOMETHING NEW



We're trying to get attention from Americans, while still keeping our Brazilian customers. We have designers here that are popular in Brazil, but nobody in Massachusetts knows.

4. ACCESSORIZE



We make sure the customer can get a full outfit here.

3. LISTEN TO CUSTOMER FEEDBACK



Change their tastes and change with their tastes.

2. TIMING IS EVERYTHING



We had this planned out for two years, but wanted to open just in time for the holidays.

1. DON'T PROCRASTINATE



Setting up our phones well in advance helped us start marketing two months before we opened, which built momentum.

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