The Do’s and Don’ts of Starting A Successful Clothing Brand

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The idea of starting your own clothing shop sounds both delightful and exciting. However, it  does take a lot of hard work and careful planning to turn the idea into a rewarding endeavor.  

The entire ordeal may seem overwhelming to any aspiring entrepreneur. Thankfully, there are  several key aspects you could pay attention to and several common mistakes you can avoid to  help propel your retail business forward. Below are the topmost important things you should do  and the most common things you should avoid when launching your very own clothing brand.

The Do’s

Identify Your Target Customer   

identify target customer
Get to know the people who are likely to wear your clothes

Customers are an important aspect in any type of business. Knowing who you’re selling to is  equally as important as knowing what to sell. This helps you build a brand identity which  relates to your market better. Once you’ve identified your consumer demography it will be  easier to understand their tastes, preferences, and buying habits. The younger generation for  

instance, are more drawn to what’s trendy and stylish while the older generation are likely to  prefer high quality pieces that are comfortable.  

Identifying your niche is also crucial especially if you’re still starting out since it helps you focus  on a specific range of products which then becomes your base from which you expand. You  can start by specializing in a few set of designs or garment pieces then gradually introduce  new items as your customer base grows.  

Pay attention to your demographic’s styles, gender, age, and occupation as these can help you  plan your clothing shop’s concept, brand messaging, as well as the optimal price range for  your products.

Choose the Right Supplier for You

choose the right supplier
A moodboard of fabric swatches and samples

The quality and flow of your products are highly dependent on how good your supplier is.  Working with a supplier that delivers good quality fabrics or clothing and is always up to speed  makes a world of a difference. It saves you time, money, and any unnecessary hassle.  

On the other hand, a supplier that fails to deliver good quality products can lead to lost  revenue, unsatisfied customers, and an overall unsatisfactory brand reputation. That said,  make sure to pick only the best suppliers you can find. Never hesitate to ask for samples,  discuss a clear time line and other expectations, and negotiate costs before anything is set in  stone. This may take time and a little patience but landing a good supplier is definitely worth it.  

Maintain Topnotch Customer-Service  

Whether you run a physical clothing shop or an online store, it’s always important to be  service-oriented. The quality of your products is what draws people in but the quality of service  you provide is what builds customer loyalty. Train your staff to give your customers the best  possible experience they can get. It helps build and maintain an overall positive reputation for  your brand.  

If you’re running a physical store, make sure your staff is well-trained. If it’s an online store,  make sure to use the right platform and tools to provide your customers a hassle-free and  seamless experience.  

Build A Solid Online Presence

build online presencei
Build online presence that drives more traffic to your online store

The past few years have affected consumer trends significantly. It has made smart shopping the norm. And while there are still consumers who prefer to visit a physical store, it doesn’t hurt to build an online presence. Being present in both only helps your brand. A traditional clothing shop can make it easier for customers to fit and try on the clothes you have on hand. It can also help build customer trust because seeing an actual store makes them less worried about shipments and orders not arriving. However, maintaining an online store along with a physical want broadens your reach and makes it feel safer for shoppers who are still not as comfortable to go out and shop. It’s one way to ensure the safety of your staff and customers while at the same time maximizing all avenues for your clothing shop to cash in more profit. Even the biggest retail brands like Zara and H&M are no longer confined to just physical stores, they’ve entered the flourishing and prolific world of  Ecommerce too.

The Don’ts  

Don’t Operate Without A Set Budget

Even when you’re working with a seemingly endless flow of capital, it’s still important to set a  budget for everything. This will help you gain more control over your business expenses. Set a  realistic budget by doing your research first. Be familiar with how much everything costs, i.e.  fabrics, equipment, labor, shipping costs, and others. A reasonable budget will help you  maximize your initial investment.

Don’t Ignore the Importance of Good Marketing

do good marketing
Aim to have a subtle yet resounding brand presence

This is very important for small clothing shops that are just starting out. It’s a crucial part of  your business especially today where the fashion industry has become a bit saturated. Failing  to acknowledge its importance can lead to poor planning, ineffective brand messaging, wasted  resources on advertising, and an overall weak brand image.

Don’t Be Tempted to Go Big Too Soon  

don't rush for success
A simple yet well thought off collection is better than having a clutter of mismatched pieces

Focus on your niche and the basics of your operations first before you even consider  expanding. Your first few collections should offer just enough variety to help you understand  your customers’ preferences better as well as to avoid wastage. When starting out, it’s better  to focus on one niche area, master it, and then expand. Cult

Don’t Hire the Wrong People  

This might sound obvious but a lot of new entrepreneurs make this mistake. Hiring the wrong  people can disrupt the flow of your business. It can even harm your clothing shop’s reputation  since your staff is your direct connection to your customers. To avoid this, make sure to plan a  foolproof hiring process so you won’t end up with the wrong team. Don’t scrimp on training  too. Invest a bit of time, patience, and resources to build the right team that would represent  your brand properly.  

The same thing should apply when choosing a team to build your website or app. Make sure to  pick a team that’s reliable and understands the importance of user experience. This is  important whether you do maintain a physical store or not.  

The Bottom Line  

Starting a retail business isn’t easy. It’s more than just the simple act of exchanging goods for  money. It involves a web of operations. As the owner, you should stand right in the middle of it.  Make sure to keep an eye on everything. Be thoughtful about what you do and keep in mind  that every decision you make will create a ripple, not just to your customers but to the people  

you work with as well. The success of your business relies on how well you can read the  market and how good you are in delivering exactly what they need.

And one more thing before you go, your retail business can benefit a lot from using an online  order management system tool that does the bulk of the e-commerce work for you. It connects  you to all the digital locations you need to be to build your brand on the internet. Broaden your  reach and maximize your operation with Page365. This nifty tool is designed with online sellers  like you in mind.

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