Houston needs a kilt shop!

[ggibby]

So, I'm working retail in Houston, TX now, and it seems each week I get more positive comments about my kilts, and more ladies telling their gents to get one. Even one lass asking me if I'd make some for her from tartan purchased by her granny twenty years ago!

But there's no place for a hundred miles around to even hire Highland Dress for a wedding!
Four million people and no Scottish shop. Travesty.

Somebody outgha jump on this. I imagine a fairly straightforward Scottish/Irish/English/Downunder gift & knicknack shop with kilt hire and custom order.
Call it, uh, Empirical? Commonwill? Magna Carta? Something clever. Unbifurcated Empire, maybe.
Here's the twist: alongside the tanks, display swatches and order forms from those contemporary (alterna-kilt) makers capable and willing. Samples, even.

Not being the enterprising sort and young and poor to boot, I'll not gather the lucre to make it happen, but I'll work there, no doubt!

How many kilted men does it take to start a shop?

Are ye with me here?

[The Wizard of BC]

ggibby,
Next spring, go to the highland games in Salado. Talk to some of the folks there. I'll bet you get a taker.

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Call it, uh, Empirical? Commonwill? Magna Carta? Something clever. Unbifurcated Empire, maybe....

Lone Star, Oil Patch, Armadillo, Double Eagle, ....

twist: alongside the tanks, display...

Stetsons!

[ggibby]

Lone Star, Oil Patch, Armadillo, Double Eagle, ....

I was going more for "Gifts from where the Sun Never Sets." If I was putting the inventory together, I'd look for stuff from the whole Empire. Don't see much swag from Barbados, BVI, Sri Lanka, or Downunder, but there's Irish wool sweaters to trip over in most English-themed gift shops. I'd carry Foster's Shandys and Redbacks. Oi!

And as far as hats, we'd carry the American Hat brand, as they're actually made in TEXAS.

[GMan]

Methinks Houston is ready for a budding entrepreneur who already is kilted and lives there already to start his own shop.

Just a suggestion Graham.

BTW I love your new avatar.

[ggibby]

Hey GMan!

I'm curious if we surveyed, how many guys named Graham we have on this forum. Hrm.

I'd LOVE to get in on the ground floor of this shop idea. Especially since it's mine.
But I have no business acumen, and I'd rather work for somebody else.
And from the few people I know who tried it, starting a small retail business in the 'disposable income' chain is asking for further poverty.
Can't pay my bills now. Ugh. Ain't I a ray o' sunshine?

Thanks for the avatar props. I've no idea why the background is blue (on my machine at least), as it was transparent when it came out of ImageReady. Huh.

[ggibby]

ggibby,
Next spring, go to the highland games in Salado...

Atchally, Salado is November 12-14, but ACH! 50 miles north of Austin! 200 miles from me!
I think I'll wait until next May and the Houston Games.
Maybe I'll get impatient, but that's quite a hike, especially since there's no beer on site.

Or perhaps call in sick and go to the Texas Renaissance Festival while it lasts...

Not likely, though, as days off work don't pay, y'know. Until this lottery thing pays off. Yeah.
THEN I'll open this shop I'm all afire aboot. Sure.

[Rufus]

Graham,

First: That's one awesome avatar! The G squared is a great idea!

Second: I can't believe there's no kilt store in Houston! Too bad you don't have the money to get one started.

Third: here's a site that might inspire some ideas for names of the store.
http://www.britishempire.co.uk/ It may stir up some ideas. Also, if you're going for the entire empire thing, you've got to have some Canterbury of New Zealand rugby jerseys!

[Graham]

I agree with Glen, why not start one, or initiate it?

find a sympathetic business, maybe one already selling celtic goods, and set up an agency working with an established kiltmaker.

Put a sign in the window and off you go!

[bubba]

Could check with the SBA and find sources for small business startup grants