I meet people of all ages who complain how expensive it is to start their own retail business. And, unfortunately, I usually agree with them. But if you’re willing to share the overhead –and the floor space – with others in your position, you just might get your big break.

That’s what the young retailers in the collective store known as the Dressing Room are doing in New York. A dozen clothing designers are splitting the rent and displaying their wares in a space none could afford alone. This trend is just catching on in the U.S., but it’s already a huge hit in countries like Belgium and Japan.

At the Dressing Room, everyone shares in some common duties like working on the sales floor a certain number of days. But that also gives them access to a studio in the basement, where they can work on their designs.

We’ve all seen this concept carried out to the max in “antique malls” where sellers rent spaces and work on commission. But the Dressing Room and its competitors sound like the kind of place for those who want hands-on experience in the retail world. If you’re in that category, start networking and maybe you can get in on the ground floor. It could lead to a sales floor of your own sooner than you expected.