Thank you for inviting me.

My first question is: How many times will someone buy furniture in his life but more designer furniture?
Designer furniture is more expensive so those able to buy it are limited. Did you calculate how many in your country can afford to buy this?

It will be hard to find customers and if you start online the first step is promoting even if you have nothing to sell. Next to that the only way to "earn" might be a good contact/contract with the designers who will send what is ordered directly to the customer.

You will need a lot of capital since you have to prove you can pay and can be trusted. Can be you need to start next to a job that can foresee the costs of living (also if you are ill). In many cases, the only way is to work hard yourself for at least 5 years without employers to save the extra costs of salary (so you are the employer, employee, bookkeeper, cleaning lady, sales department and so on).
Warranty is what people will ask for especially if you sell designer furniture one may expect will last a lifetime.

It will be very hard work and listening to what your customers want will be time-consuming, most likely more time-consuming than you can imagine but like you mentioned it is the most important because what you need is satisfied customers who will spread the word that the best and most exclusive furniture can be bought with you (a good customer service is also a way to engage and if the customer likes you they will forgive your mistakes).

Furniture is the last I would start a business with.
I know from experience how hard it is to find a good sofa where the back and neck don't hurt, not too hard, too soft, the colour or size, the cloth, the design, not able to clean underneath, the cat should not damage it and so on. A showroom for furniture has to be huge and you have to accept people will sit and even lie down on it to try it out and not just for 5 minutes but longer. Also important is a fast delivery so people will not have to wait for 8 weeks and change their mind.
This all will bring extra costs.

I believe selling food or clothes would bring more success since these are the only things people will always need the rest is luxury.

I wish you good luck with the contest and if you intend to start this your business.

#wewrite & #comment