Conference moira::parenting

    
    I think it's a great idea.  Although I'm not the best judge of those
    kind of things since I am a telecommuter and never really had to wear
    grown-up clothes to work before that.
    
    But if I did, I would certainly rent suits and stuff as long as they
    were kept up nicely.  There are a bunch of formal-rentals around here
    (PA) that seem to be doing well.  They charge a % of the original price
    for rental and you have the option to purchase it at a specified price
    (the sale price drops each time is is rented).  
    
    Good luck!
    

    I believe there are some businesses in the greater Boston area that do
    just this.  It is a very good idea.
    
    Nancy

    I'd bite, if I were in that situation.  Check the Yellow Pages and
    local Chambers of Commerce to find out if there are any similar
    businesses.  Although I doubt that the market is saturated!!
    
    The key thing is, you have to have a range of sizes (everyone knows
    someone who went from an 8 to a 14 during her pregnancy!) and you'll
    have to source top-quality clothes, if you want to focus on business/
    professional women.

    
    Thanks for the input.  I called every Maternity store in the Boston
    yellow pages, and asked if they "rent" maternity clothes.  The response
    was a bewildered "no".  One person suggested a place in NY City.  The
    closest I have found is "uniform" rentals.  I will give them a call and
    see if I can get some industry information from them.  I agree the
    clothes would have to be top-quality.  One advantage of maternity is
    that the sizes are usually small/medium/large, thus the range would be
    minimal.  The next step is a business plan and some
    marketing/statistical analysis on the customer base.
    
    ..rke
    

    
    
    
    
    
    
    You will also need to factor in dry cleaning bills upon each rental
    period, as well as repairs, unless you expect the customer to return
    the clothes already cleaned.  Further, the yearly life span/season span
    of each outfit will probably not be 12 months a year.  Wool suits, for
    example, will be worn during winter/early spring, etc.  As a lot of
    consignment shops already sell maturnity clothes, you will have good
    competition. (Although the quality is often not there).  As you said,
    your target market would need to be more of a cosmopolitan/urban area.   
    As the trend in business dressing has been moving toward more of an
    'elegantly casual' style, you would need to stock clothes accordingly.
    I'm sure your market research/analysis would uncover most of this..
    Good luck!
    
    

    Your location would certainly need to be quite metropolitan. You need
    to find woman who have the types of jobs where maternity fashion is
    going to count.  
    
    Gail

    
    A big mall seems like it'd be a great location .... maybe you could do
    some sort of "special" parking so the later along women were, the
    closer they could park.  Ya know - instead of handicapped, just "Real
    pregnant!"

    
    Well, actually, I had been thinking of a different approach.
    I had thought of visiting the women at their home, describing the
    program, and getting a chance to view their wardrobe, to understand
    what type of clothes they would be comfortable with.  I would purchase
    10 items, show them to the client, they would select "X" number and the
    remainder would be returned.  (This is initially till there is a
    clientele built, and an inventory of clothes).  At some point I would
    be recycling the clothes with clients, instead of new purchases.  So, I
    would not need a location.  I am hoping to save the overhead of
    "rent/lights/ht" and use it rather as travel/distribution expense.
    
    ...rke
    

    
    Size is a big factor and cleaning.. When I was pregnant I tended to be
    more hot and sweaty...Also I am short so items to rent would probably
    be too long.
    
    Another idea which is done by locally (NJ) is a consignment shop...or
    service (by appt) which this woman buys and sells used maternity
    clothes..I am thinking of calling to sell my better outfits..
    
    Good luck 
    
    

   Neat idea!  If you're looking at not having a store front, that sounds
   good too.  It shouldn't be too hard to outfit a minivan to accommodate
   this - take out the bench seats and replace them with clothes
   hangers... sort of a mobile walk-in closet.  Bring along a lightweight
   full length mirror just in case, and you've got a traveling clothes
   store.  
   
   What about shoes to match?  I know my wife was banished to the realm
   of wearing loose sneakers because she wasn't going to spend the money
   on larger shoes for such a short time.  Though shoes may be a little
   harder to keep looking good...
   
   Not sure about sizes, but the last comment about height is valid... my
   wife is 5' tall and did have a little trouble finding maternity
   clothes her height... but then petite women have always had that issue
   to some extent.   In that line, though, don't rule out oversized
   (non-maternity) clothes for shorter women.  My wife found a nice wool
   jumper that she wore while pregnant - it wasn't maternity clothes, it
   was just bigger than she normally wears.
   
   Once you get things going, you could even do stuff during the day -
   sort of like in-flight refueling that the military does - meet women
   at the office to exchange outfits for larger sizes, or outfits that
   are clean, or... the possibilities are interesting...
   
   Good Luck!

   - Tom