Niche Exit Planning Tactics

Selling a Watches Retailer

Is the economy still a little shaky for a business sale? Sure it is. Yet watch retailers haven't heard the news and are reporting steady action on the business-for-sale market.

Business buyers are a timid lot, even more so now that they are facing an uncertain economic landscape.

Watch Retailer

In our opinion, that kind of thinking doesn't make sense. In fact, this might be the perfect time to sell a watches retailer. We'll tell you what you need to know to achieve a successful sale outcome

When the Sale Goes Off-Course

Many watches retailer are tempted to save brokerage fees by selling their businesses on their own. Without brokerage, the risk of your sale going off-course is increased. As a rule, no business should sit on the market for more than six months without attracting the interest of at least a handful of qualified buyers. Lack of buyer enthusiasm or persistence indicates that something is wrong. The remedy is professional brokerage or a consultation with more experienced sellers.

Preparing Your Employees

As a business owner, you want to keep you employees informed about your plans; as a seller it's in your best interest to keep your employees in the dark for as long as possible. You're concerned about confidentiality, and rightfully so. However, the longer the selling process drags on, the more likely it is that rumors will begin to circulate throughout your workforce. Consider informing your key employees first, followed by the rest of your workforce later in the process. Maintain a positive tone in your conversations and answer your employees questions as completely as you can without jeopardizing the sale.

Maintaining Objectivity

Emotions run high during the sale of a watches retailer. Sellers typically overvalue their companies compared to the rest of the marketplace. Although it may be a hard pill to swallow, you need to find a way to introduce objectivity into your sale. Many sellers create a negotiation team to minimize the effect of their personal emotions on negotiations. More importantly, this team can perform a reality check on your expectations for the sale.

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