So, going on a stock buying trip will be easy? It will be fun? In fact, surely it will just be a big shopping trip?
WRONG!

I went into this aspect of my business totally blind! Mainly because I did not think to ask anyone for advice (I would not have know who to ask to be honest).

So, I turn up at the address that I was given, an office block in a city, I go to the doorman and explain that I am here for an appointment. So far so good. I get to the destination without any troubles, then the fun begins.

I met with the sales person (who is lovely, is a sales person and thinking of their cut!!!). They explain that the current range is laid out in a style similar to a shop, I then can pick out the pieces that I like and we will take it from there!

I know that this all sounds very straight forward and easy, it was up to this point!
I got my empty rail and pushed it around, just taking in what was on offer first. Pieces jumped straight out at me, I was excited by the fabrics, the colours, the styles. Before I knew it I had a pretty full rail and felt that I had a collection.

Next step was to place the order, the sales person let me know of cost prices, retail prices and what percentage of mark up I was getting. As he was giving all of the afore mentioned information he kept telling me what the delivery date was!
After the third item I had to ask, what did he mean the item was delivering in December?? It was August!

He kind of chuckled, and explained that the lovely collection that I had picked out was delivering late winter/early spring!
Blind panic set in! What was I going to do? My shop was opening that month, not in December!
He clearly saw what was going on and managed to soothe the situation. He produced a rail crammed full of things, and he explained that everything on the rail was available immediately.

Panic over I got my (small) collection. After placing all of the various orders I asked for some honest advice. Was I the only person who that had ever happened to? Were the lines that I picked ok? Should I take it as an omen, and that as I had clearly not researched my market enough, I was doomed to fail?

Very kindly (I think he realised I was on the verge of tears) he re-assured me that he had seen the same thing happen before, the range would be great and that it was all going to be fine, I just had to have faith in myself and my shop.
He gave me some other tips for my future buying trips, which have helped a huge amount and I still use.