How to create personalised apparel or shoes with a several thousand euro-investment

The online environment has allowed investors in a hand-made shoe and apparel business to test the market. The opening of a real store was just one step away and investments rose to several thousand euros and the number of clients doubled. ChouChou brand was launched on the market last year at a very difficult time, given the ongoing crisis but sold 75 pairs of shoes in two weeks. The business was started with 6,000 euros and a team of nine people. A further investment of 5,500 was subsequently needed in a physical store. "Estimates are that in around 6 months or less ChouChou should cover investments in the opening of the physical store and start calculating its profit," ChouChou designers say. Another similar business, Interesart, started with 10,000 euros as a jewellery and hand-made decorations company and then expanded to apparel design and design workshops, is expected to bring around 50,000 euros in 2010, up from 2009.