When it comes to setting up a business in Dubai, knowing where to start is to survive. Whether you have a degree in furniture design or manufacturing or have learned how to design and manufacture unique items, if you want to sell your designs, you need knowledge of business, marketing, and finance. Here’s a quick guide on how to set it all up.
Find Your Niche
You have to decide which piece of furniture you want to make. Whether it’s home upholstery, office furniture, or kitchen cabinets, you need to determine the material you will use, such as wood, metal, bamboo, and other suitable materials. This goes hand in hand with identifying your market. At the same time, you need to decide whether to sell locally or expand to a wider market. Market analysis can assess the demand for your type of furniture and identify competitors and their range.
Select a Location
If you want to set up a brick and mortar business in Dubai, you need a space that fits your customers’ needs. For example, when creating a custom living room set, you need enough space to showcase the different options. If you offer your furniture for a family, make sure the room is suitable for parents with children and strollers. A study of the zoning laws in your area will tell you where to run your business. Even if you decide to work purely online, you will need space for your workshop and storage space.
Write a Business Plan
As a business owner, you need to invest time in writing a business plan that will give you a roadmap to success. Even if you see yourself more as an artist, you should still take the time to consider business practices such as defining a marketing strategy, developing financial projections, and perhaps expanding. It also defines your corporate structure as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, which is important for tax implications.
Purchase or Lease Machinery
With basic machinery and specialized equipment, you can streamline your production process and make it more efficient. A chop saw is necessary for cutting larger pieces of wood, while a band saw is necessary for cutting corners and curves. Reliable automatic saws with metering stop systems enable significant reductions in work and cutting intensity with solutions for cutting aluminium, steel and wood. Among other things, you’ll need a stitching machine to drill square stitch holes and a liner to sand the edges and surfaces of the wood.
Find Motivation for your Designs
For a skilled craftsman, inspiration can take many forms. Nature is full of shadows, shapes and silhouettes that can be transformed into the shapes, lines and colors of your designs. Everyday objects like windows, food, and buildings can also generate ideas for table legs, cabinet layouts, and other pieces of furniture. After all, inspiration can always come from the needs of your customers. In general, the design and aesthetics of your furniture will be determined by the style you choose, e.g. contemporary, rustic, and traditional, etc.
Make a Website
Even if you work entirely in a brick-and-mortar shop, you still need a quality website to showcase your work. Feel free to hire a good web designer who will make your online presence look professional. You must regularly update your website with new titles. You may also want to add a blog page to post project updates and photos of your best work, taken from professional photos. To run a successful bespoke furniture business set up in Dubai, in addition to great manual skills, you’ll need a bit of entrepreneurial gain and entrepreneur knowledge to make it profitable.
License for Business
Business licensing is one of the most important aspects of starting a business in Dubai which should not be neglected. Obtaining the necessary licenses will go a long way in avoiding future problems. Licensing will allow the company to carry out certain activities. Some regulatory bodies will expand while others will limit the scope of business.
Get an Office Space
Apart from rent, there are many important factors to consider when choosing an office space. If the company is licensed in the free zone, it cannot rent an office on the beach. Likewise, terrestrial companies licensed by the Ministry of Economic Development (DED) cannot occupy space in the free zone.
Local Partner
Every foreign company operating outside the Dubai Free Zone needs a local partner (individual or company). This local partner will own at least 51% of the company’s shares. So if you are planning to start a business on the beach, finding a local partner is one of the most important steps you need to take. However, it is important to understand that the process of starting a business in Dubai can be complicated. Using the services of a trusted business consultant in Dubai will make it much easier for you. Dubai Business Consultants are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to successfully start a business in Dubai. From finding local partners to solving legal issues, these consultants offer a wide range of services that can help companies establish themselves successfully in Dubai.