New store in Chicago [Archive]

CreAm773

03-22-2009, 11:05 AM

So for the past month or so I have been working toward opening an urban clothing store. I have picked a location and all that already but what I'm wondering what brands people would like to see sold...

So people from Chicago, what brands do you have trouble finding in the stores?

Any help would be appreciated. I've been emailing companies that you can't find anywhere but Wicker Park and I thought HBs input might help.

Tommy Boy

03-22-2009, 05:17 PM

nudies and supreme

kvc06

03-22-2009, 05:18 PM

^ not

Tommy Boy

03-22-2009, 06:38 PM

Marc Jacobs, Polo, Alife, Alexander Mqueen

Citizen

03-22-2009, 07:11 PM

^That wont happen either....

kvc06

03-22-2009, 07:18 PM

we have a marc jacobs store man...
and its right in wicker park........
and plenty of places for polo, and alife
even mcqueen if you know where to look

Tommy Boy

03-22-2009, 08:48 PM

I was simply qouting your signature because of your harsh disapproval of my listings.

kvc06

03-22-2009, 08:56 PM

I was simply qouting your signature because of your harsh disapproval of my listings.

LMAO I didn't even notice you got that from my sig!

nah its cool man i mean we just have alot of places to get nudies and I guarantee this guy won't get a supreme acct (no offense to him)

CreAm773

03-23-2009, 02:16 AM

I guarantee this guy won't get a supreme acct (no offense to him)

I would have to agree.

Right now I'm talking to TITS and I sent and email to Crooks and Castles. I'm actually serious about this so any input is helpful.

AMuells

03-23-2009, 02:35 AM

Most of the accounts hypebeasters will want prolly wont be achievable. Try to get some quality denim like APC, Flat Head, Skull, etc. I have no clue how hard a Vans syndicate account is to get but ya, that would be good. good luck.

Citizen

03-23-2009, 02:42 AM

^^^That wont happen either....getting the japanese to sell some random store denim is like winning the lotto when you are dead.

Vans doesnt open new syndicate accounts anymore. Plus your store has to on that level plus you need to know people. Remember its not just what you got but also WHO YOU KNOW....

Plus APC is now all covered in CHI :)

AMuells

03-23-2009, 03:06 AM

^^^That wont happen either....getting the japanese to sell some random store denim is like winning the lotto when you are dead.

Vans doesnt open new syndicate accounts anymore. Plus your store has to on that level plus you need to know people. Remember its not just what you got but also WHO YOU KNOW....

Plus APC is now all covered in CHI :)

truf. so basically get a bunch of streetwear brands that none of us will want, but youngsters will buy.

CreAm773

03-23-2009, 03:44 AM

^^^That wont happen either....getting the japanese to sell some random store denim is like winning the lotto when you are dead.

Vans doesnt open new syndicate accounts anymore. Plus your store has to on that level plus you need to know people. Remember its not just what you got but also WHO YOU KNOW....

Plus APC is now all covered in CHI :)

It may be hard to get on the map but how do you think all the established stores started? They opened up a store and started from the bottom.

The people at TITS are actually very friendly and the way I see it is the worst that any of these companies that people want to see can say to me is No. The space that I'm looking at is right across the street from a mall so it's right off of Harlem Ave. so it's not like it a little shop on a side street.

I'm gunna contact all these companies no matter how many people tell me it won't happen so if you have suggestions I appreciate them.

Citizen

03-23-2009, 04:39 AM

^^^ Not true at all.

I been doing this for a minute. If you want me to read you how most of these stores that become big started it wasnt a ran everyday dude opening a store. The big successful ones have been in this game for way longer then you think.

Harlem and what?

PS TITS is some no name brand. The market is changing and if you want to sell Karmaloop type shit have at it but right now the consumer isnt about those brands, or at least the consumers I know.

Crooks is played out and dead. Tits is a t shirt brand that outside of KL is just another t shirt brand.....what else you got?

CreAm773

03-23-2009, 06:12 AM

I never said TITS was some huge brand and I dont disagree that Crooks isnt the most popular brand out. After talking to people I have decided to contact Alife and I'll be contacting Supra soon as well.

All I asked for was some suggestions from people in Chicago. If I open a store and it flops then it flops. You said you have been doing this for a minute... well I created this thread hoping some people would have some tips or suggestions and all you have said is that it wont happen. You started somewhere... If I wanna get into retail I have to start somewhere too...

Harlem and Irving Park. I'm looking at 2 different spaces near there. Both decent size, both have plenty of parking, both get plenty of foot traffic.

rtst102

03-23-2009, 10:52 AM

^you don't need to be defensive man. These are still suggestions.

If you want brands that are currently moving, you should look into the street & high fashion brands forum.

Tommy Boy

03-23-2009, 10:56 AM

I don't see people that far west wanting to rock street brands, most of them are a&f homos.

CreAm773

03-23-2009, 11:21 AM

I don't mean to sound defensive. It's just hard to reply to something basically saying "Can't do it" or "Wont happen". I don't know what to say other than it's worth a try

And yea... there are a lot of Abercrombie kids but in the neighborhood where this place for rent is is right across from a mall and a 5 minute car or bus ride from a Wright College and a lot of kids there wear streetwear or skateboard. I personally know tons of people that travel 20-30 minutes to Wicker park just to get the brands they like. The closest thing around this area that carries anything you would see on Karmaloop or similar sites is the Zoomies in the mall across the street and they are constantly sold out of anything worth picking up. Plus there's alot of people in the area that have to money to spend on the clothing.

Is there anyone who has owned a store or ran a website that could give me any type of advice on how to get accounts with brands?

And thanks to anyone that has had a suggestion.

TheCityOfChi

03-23-2009, 06:03 PM

i live 5 mins from there, im not an af homo though lol just a normal one

Tommy Boy

03-23-2009, 07:52 PM

Word, I was just speculatin.

TheCityOfChi

03-23-2009, 08:06 PM

which spot are you looking at? Like where the gap is across the street? Or the other side by the mens warehouse? If it was me i would get a spot in the mall, like fuck it go for the gold if your going to. You would get alot more traffic by people just walking by. If it is one of the spots across the street you will have less people, but rent would be cheaper.

But like i said if you plan on doing it at the HIP say fuck it and get a spot inside the mall

CreAm773

03-24-2009, 01:08 AM

Last time I was at the mall there were no spots available. Rent isn't really and issue... I understand it takes money to make money.

I was looking at some spots near the mall because I would be staying open 30 minutes - an hour later than the mall so once the mall closes anyone who still wants to shop can come across the street or whatever.

For anyone that's interested... TITS emailed me back and already sent me order forms. They said they feel there is a gap in the market in Chicago and would be happy to supply me with their products.

riddimdriven

05-26-2009, 02:14 PM

anyone know some good mens streetwear blog/drop sites?

diaz77alex

05-26-2009, 09:23 PM

krew- C&C - Obey - rocksmith - 10 deep - tits

juanthrowdown

05-26-2009, 09:59 PM

from what i know, location is everything in a business and harlem and irving is for sure the wrong spot to open up any shop. the only thing those kids that actually live in Chicago and live around that area wear is a&f like tom already said. 75% of the teenagers that live in that hood go to my school and they could careless about any streetwear brands and the ones that think they're up wear zooyork and dc, basically anything that can be found in pacsun/ccs/journys.

so if you're planning on having your store be a success you would be better off supplying brands along the lines of:
dc, zoo york, affliction, american eagle, element...

diaz77alex

05-27-2009, 01:22 AM

true...

FSOverCrooks

05-27-2009, 02:27 AM

3sixteen has some solid stuff, Alphanumeric, Black Scale, Altamont. Check out Krew NS too.

Are you gonna be more in to skate or streetwear?

peabe

05-27-2009, 10:13 PM

I never said TITS was some huge brand and I dont disagree that Crooks isnt the most popular brand out. After talking to people I have decided to contact Alife and I'll be contacting Supra soon as well.

All I asked for was some suggestions from people in Chicago. If I open a store and it flops then it flops. You said you have been doing this for a minute... well I created this thread hoping some people would have some tips or suggestions and all you have said is that it wont happen. You started somewhere... If I wanna get into retail I have to start somewhere too...

Harlem and Irving Park. I'm looking at 2 different spaces near there. Both decent size, both have plenty of parking, both get plenty of foot traffic.

i used to live by there. kinda out there for a spot. a distance from the trains too. good luck tho dude.

shoejock773

05-28-2009, 07:22 PM

thats awesome your opening a new shop. i would like to see some crooks, some artful dodger, and some buisness before pleasure. where is it gunna be ??

shoejock773

05-28-2009, 07:25 PM

hey do you need any staff?

TheCityOfChi

05-28-2009, 10:59 PM

hey do you need any staff?

not if you think artful dodger is whats in. unless you plan on getting a job to make money to build a time machine to go back 3 years to when that shit was popular

kvc06

05-29-2009, 01:00 AM

not if you think artful dodger is whats in. unless you plan on getting a job to make money to build a time machine to go back 3 years to when that shit was popular

http://www.saint.org/blog/uploaded_images/burn-notice-season-1-dvd-738549.jpg

AMuells

05-29-2009, 02:04 AM

not if you think artful dodger is whats in. unless you plan on getting a job to make money to build a time machine to go back 3 years to when that shit was popular

Hey man if artful dodger is what he likes so he wears it, you gotta respect that. It's better than having the internet dress you...

that being said gimme some preme, sammies, and vans pulease.

mike c.

05-31-2009, 09:42 PM

Hey man if artful dodger is what he likes so he wears it, you gotta respect that. It's better than having the internet dress you...

that being said gimme some preme, sammies, and vans pulease.

but obviously artful dodger isnt selling, because its in the clearance racks at macys. the guy wants to find brands that are "sellable". I think the location could work if you market the store right, but it will definitely be a lot of work.

Apostile

06-01-2009, 04:55 PM

Hi,
i would like to suggest same All I asked for was some suggestions from people in Chicago. If I open a store and it flops then it flops. You said you have been doing this for a minute... well I created this thread hoping some people would have some tips or suggestions and all you have said is that it wont happen. You started somewhere... If I wanna get into retail I have to start somewhere too...good luck

FSOverCrooks

06-04-2009, 06:44 AM

What brands do you have lined up so far?