Opening any sort of store or getting involved with a new business is as equally challenging as it is exciting. Being a business owner provides the opportunity to build relationships, gain new unique experiences, and most importantly, be your own boss. It can be very rewarding to see your own business or industry get off the ground and rise in terms of success. It’s what every aspiring entrepreneur wants in their career. But if it was easy, everyone would do it.
There are so many challenges that present themselves in the early proceedings for new business owners. Based on their niche, these problems vary. The problems you will encounter will be unique and new to you. So, unfortunately, your friend who owns the local butchers may not be of great help in every instance.
The world of fashion is a tricky one, and as new trends develop, it can be hard to keep up. The online shopping industry is booming, and Instagram influencers seem to be more relevant than A-list celebrities in terms of what’s hot. So it’s safe to say there are probably more complications in this industry than there were 20 years ago. However, there are some tips you can take into consideration to help boost your clothing store’s success.
Quality
This is a huge advantage that in-house retailers have over their online competitors. Many consumers are often put off from online shopping due to questions about the quality. After all, an article of clothing is as much about quality as it is appearance. You need to play this advantage to its strengths. You can offer low, competitive prices with some of the cheaper online clothing companies. But is it really going to be worth it? If you’re offering the same low quality as cheap online retailers, why should they shop with you? Your merchandise should be of high quality, even if this does mean selling at a higher price. This applies to shop owners receiving stock from manufacturers and to those looking to sell their own brand. Selling durable and reliable clothing will also make your customers more inclined to be loyal to you. If you bought a t-shirt from a shop and it showed signs of wear after two washes, would you be rushing back?
The quality within your shop should be of high standard throughout, not just the stock. You want to give consumers the feeling that this is a high-quality establishment. Having cheap displays and designs isn’t the way to go with this. You’ll also be doing yourself in the long run. The higher the quality, the more durable these products are going to be. Meaning you won’t have to be constantly replacing and repairing. It can be as simple as choosing Polymer Chemistry Innovations such as display shelves over cheaper alternatives.
Deciding on Your Niche
Unlike other businesses, you can’t really try to accommodate everyone as a clothing retailer. It’s best to do what you know best and stick to that. Trying to stretch your business into various brands and styles will just make your stock seem thin. You’ll only be able to offer so much of one niche, which is bad for business.
The niche you decide on should be based on what you’re passionate about. You yourself should have an interest to stay motivated. You should also look at the location and your competitors to see how well a clothing store of this style would fit in. Some common niches of clothing stores are the following:
Sports apparel – This is really aimed at all ages. You’re going to want high-quality clothing items for this. Shoes are also going to be a major selling point for you. If you’re not trying to market your own brand, try and get some respected sports brands like Adidas, Nike, and Puma. They will be worth the price.
Special occasion clothing – Everyone needs a fancy dress or nice suit at some stage in their life. Again, this isn’t really age or gender-specific. Your clothes should be high quality, and your customer service in-store should be fantastic.
“Trendy” clothes – You’re probably going to be aiming more at a younger generation here. Merchandising and keeping up with the trends are the really important aspects here.
Social Media
You’re going to need a really strong social media presence when being a clothing retailer. This includes frequent posting, interaction, and good digital marketing skills. A lot of people look online for their clothes, meaning you have to use this opportunity to advertise accordingly. You can try to collaborate with some influencers to show off your clothes and boost your following.
