Does paying for Pro designs count as spending money in Able Sisters?

[Kicks]

I know I have to spend 8,000 bells in Able Sisters before getting the store Kicks, and so I made like a bunch of pro designs just so that I could rack up bells, but still no kicks. I'm not sure if I haven't spent 8,000 bells or if making pro designs doesn't count.

 

[jolokia]

I can't give you a sure answer, but I was in the same situation, making piles of pro designs, and I got Kicks very fast. I don't think I could've spent 8k on default clothes in there in that time, so I believe pro designs count.

If in doubt, just buy the place out for a few days, that'll get you to 8K anyway.