Ecommerce offers exciting options for entrepreneurs. Combining the easy access of technology with your passion for clothing creates an opportunity for an online clothing boutique. The fashion and clothing industry is always evolving, which makes it a great arena in which to start a boutique.
Online clothing boutiques can be very profitable. Attending to details, including thorough planning, before you launch your venture will provide more opportunities for profitability.
Ten tips to be successful start with developing a clear and unique focus for your boutique.
There are many clothing stores offering an incredible array of products. Developing a clear core for your boutique will help you stand out from the competitors. Continue reading for ten tips on opening a successful online clothing boutique.
Develop a Focus
Your online clothing boutique must offer products and/or services that make you unique. Ideally, the sector of the clothing market should be items, or a line, or service about which you are excited and knowledgeable.
Begin this step by listing your favorite clothing items or services. Take that list and narrow it down to your top ten. When you have your top ten, take each item and list ten more specifics about it. You should now be seeing ideas that you can use to create a niche market segment for your online boutique.
Gather your focus items and now group them by core customers. When your customers visit your site, you want more than one item that will interest them. Start your boutique small with a focused items and customer base.
Choose a Domain Name
Use your list of focus items and core customers and brainstorm business names. You want the names you catalog to capture the essences of your emerging product line. Other factors to consider are names that are easy to recall, say, and spell. You do not want to lose customers because they cannot remember your store’s name, or they misspell it.
Now you need to take your options for names and search on websites that sell domain names for what is available. If yours is not available, frequently the website will suggest options. Any names that are used, check out their websites for ideas!
Decide on a Business Model
There are five paths from which many select to start their own boutique. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. When you explore the options, be sure to stay focused on the market segment that you selected. That may determine which of the business models will be effective for you and your brand.
- Purchasing from different wholesalers
- Printing on demand
- Buying and then reselling private labels
- Designing and sewing your own clothing
- Dropshipping and utilizing others to maintain your inventory
Create your Business Plan
Building from your domain name and focused market segment, create a mission statement. This statement should encompass what the purpose of your business is. Use your mission statement to frame decisions about your business including its business plan.
A business plan that brings your mission statement to life will help you develop the details needed for a profitable online boutique. Include the following components.
- Details about your market segment
- Listing of your products
- Pricing per item and anticipated profit
- Data about your competitors
- Order fulfillment plans including cost of shipping and packaging
- Branding information
Through these steps, your brand’s personality should emerge.
Pick a Platform
Now you need an e-commerce platform. Without this step, you cannot open an online boutique. E-commerce platforms are technological means to connect you, the seller, with your customers. These software applications replace the brick-and-mortar stores.
There are a number of different platforms that you can select from to operate your business. Before you spend time researching your options, reflect on who you are as a technology user and creator. Some platforms will provide only the basics, which means you need to be able to add the other features to sell your brand. Many e-commerce programs offer options that you can build upon.
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Design your Webpages
Once you have selected a platform, it is time to work on the design of your online store. Just as with any physical store, when a customer ‘walks into’ your online store, it should set a mood for them. This atmosphere should bring to life your brand. You need to capture the attention of your customers quickly until they are repeat clients.
Often you can select from templates to start your online presence. You can start with these templates and add your own personality. Colors, fonts, and font sizes are all means that you can employ to attract customers. For patrons to remain on your website, your webpages need to be easy to navigate. If they are not, customers will quickly close-out of your site.
Select your Products
Time for you to do some shopping! Going back to your focus products, you now need to select what you are going to offer for sale in your boutique. Remember, anyone can truly access your online store, so clearly defined seasons by temperature might not be as important as it would in a physical location.
How you display your products is essential. Shoppers have become accustomed to viewing clothing on models. Be sure to photograph models that will assist your target customers in making decisions to purchase your clothes. Pictures need to be displayed that are taken from different vantage points. Close-up images are important for customers to see the textures of the fabric. Professional quality photographs should be used to demonstrate that you are a true entrepreneur.
Build your Online Boutique
Great work so far! Next step is to write descriptors for your products. Production descriptions should be clearly written in a voice that continues to bring your brand to life. The writing should sound like you are talking to your customers. These captions should let customers know why they should purchase from your boutique.
Infuse SEO, search engine optimization, terms in your details. These keywords are used by search engines to find results for potential customers seeking products with those attributes. An additional search feature should include an on-site ability to look for products.
Open your Boutique
All your hard work is visible when scrolling through your store. It is almost time for your grand opening. Before you fully open to the public, try a soft launch. Gather family and friends to an online shopping party. Have them explore your website, search for items on your boutique, and make purchases. Use feedback from your test group to make any alterations to your site.
Now it is time to celebrate and invite customers to your shop. Social media can be a great asset in promoting your store. Before using your social media for the launch, think through marketing after the opening. You will want to utilize these same accounts and initial followers in the future. Be sure to gather email addresses for continued marketing.
Market your Boutique
Congratulations, you are now a boutique owner! Go back to the social media you used to open your store. Send emails or post on social media thanking everyone who helped with a successful opening. Offer incentives for follow-up purchases to ensure a continual flow of traffic to your site. Plan mini launches to announce new products or services. Be sure to keep your social media current with weekly updates. Keep your website and products fresh and appealing.
Licenses You Need To Start A Clothing Line
Related Questions
What does the business model called private label clothing mean?
A private label business model means that for your online store, you will purchase clothing from a wholesaler. You can then add your own design and sell the clothing as your own brand. This option does limit what you can offer as part of your options to customers.
What does the business model called custom cut and sew entail?
Custom cut and sew business models, you will design your own fashions. Starting out, many designers also sew all the clothes. This entails a significant commitment of time and money. You need to build an inventory before you can start selling your clothing. As you grow, you can outsource the sewing.
Can I purchase from wholesalers and resell on my online boutique?
Yes, you can purchase from wholesalers and resell their products on your online boutique. This is similar to what many brick-and-mortar boutiques offer in their shops. You select items from various wholesalers that complement your brand and sell them through your website as part of your online boutique.
What is ReCommerce?
ReCommerce is an online retail store in which the owner of the store sells products that have already been used. This model is gaining attention since it encourages the reuse of materials instead of adding to the landfills.
What does it mean to upcycle clothing?
Upcycled clothing is when a seller uses either unused material and/or clothing as well as reusing material and/or clothing. The base apparel is redesigned into a new garment. As with ReCommerce, upcycling reduces waste sent to landfills.
To learn more about how to start your own fashion clothing line check out my startup documents here
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Fashion Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a designer or boutique owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Fashion Business Boss: I want to help fashion business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.