Owning a business is the dream of almost every millennial today. However, achieving business success depends on how things are planned and implemented. For many (especially those uniquely blessed business ethics), starting an online clothing store or achieving is no more a complicated task. At the same time, millions of people keep exploring what it takes to start an online clothing store.
Let’s accept it: Starting an online business isn’t impossible, but it is equally difficult to achieve it. We are not intimidating you but giving you a wake-up call to come up with strong willpower, dedication, and passion for achieving impeccable success.
The basic things you need to start an online clothing business requires;
- Industry expertise
- Proper planning
- Unceasing dedication
- Passion to drive
And, the rest other things that we shall discuss in this article will be followed by. If you are prepared with the requirements we have mentioned above, you are halfway through your business success.
In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide to start an online clothing business. All you need to do is stay tuned to this article and explore your business’s success mantra. However, let’s begin with some;
Facts and Figures of Online Business
According to Shopify reports, the online fashion industry is expected to grow from $481.2 billion in 2018 to $712.9 billion by 2022.
However, according to the same report, the fashion industry’s clothing segment is expected to grow to $475 billion in 2022 from $317 billion in 2018.
The report published on the site is more than two years old. Hence, the data may differ due to the pandemic (COVID-19) that erupted in 2019. However, with the new data, we expect to be in favor of online businesses.
Now, let’s come to our core points and discuss in detail;
How to Start an Online Clothing Store
When it comes to an online clothing store, the first question may be floating around your mind, whether you should take your physical store online or not. Let’s brainstorm over this question first;
Should You Shift to an Online Platform?
If you want a single-word answer to this question, then we don’t want to waste your time too. “Yes,” you should move to the online marketplace from your physical clothing store.
However, if you want to understand this in detail, we can tell you that you get immense opportunities, which is evident with the recent health crisis —COVID-19. For example, you can get customers beyond geographical boundaries, while in an offline store, you would get limited customers (particularly those who can walk to your store). Besides, an online clothing store will help you attract more new customers, resulting in increased sales.
Similarly, there are plenty of benefits when you move online. A survey by Statista reported that 52% of people prefer to shop online, while 48% prefer offline. The data will help you understand people’s changing mindset as the number of online shoppers will continue to increase.
So, the online clothing store will boost your revenue as the trend will continue to grow further.
What Expertise You Need to Start Online Clothing Business
The more expertise you have, the better it will be for your business. However, one of the best skills you should have is “How do I work as little as possible for the most amount of money?”
Besides, if you are;
- Passionate
- Networking enthusiast
- Marketing major
- Capital equipped
- And, confident
Then, starting an online clothing business is for you. So, let’s build your online store with the steps given below;
#1. Understand how Online Clothing Business works
You must know the business, its every nitty-gritty and more that you want to start. If you want to start a clothing business online, then you should make sure that you know;
- Where does the product come from?
- How are these products made?
- How are these products delivered to the wholesalers and retailers?
- How much have you to invest? And more.
#2: Choose Product Niche
Even though you may not need to brainstorm more on this, there is nothing much to explore in the clothing segment. However, you can consider a few points, such as you want to start with;
- All types of clothing
- Trendy clothing
- Festival style clothing
- Mens clothing
- Baby clothing
- Women clothing
- Or others
You can take the decision based on the location where you want to start and your target market.
#3: Name your clothing store
Along with quality products, your store’s name also contributes to conversions. It should be unique, easy to remember, and attractive in a fashion sense. You can talk to your friends, family members, and business partners (if you have) arrange a few brainstorming sessions to come up with a name that creates a brand. The one thing that we want to suggest is that you never get impulsive with your name.
#4: Buy a domain name
When you are done with the name, the next step is to register with a domain registrar. The domain name should be unique, available, and brandable. Remember these three things while buying a domain name.
Meanwhile, you can also apply for your company registration with local and state administration to register your business name in the government directory. You may also need to register your company with a revenue agency and tax agency in the country and state you are starting your business. You can take the help of a legal expert in this matter.
#5: Create accounts across social networking sites
Create social media accounts across all social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. You can start branding your store even before you launch your store online.
#6: Create an effective business plan
If you are starting an online clothing business, funding is the most important thing, and if you are not financially equipped, you may need to source funding for your business. And, to attract investors, you need a full-proof business plan. You can connect with an expert to create a plan that helps you gain investment.
#7: Select a platform
When selecting a platform, you will find plenty of options, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and others, but you need to keep a few things in mind. Select a platform that provides the following benefits;
- Robust security
- Flexible cost/Cost-effective
- High performance
- Faster page loading
- Smoother navigation
- Mobile responsive
- Best built-in features
- Marketing tools
- Scalability
You can inquire about these things before you move. One of the most important things you need to inquire about, especially, is if the platform is mobile-friendly. The future is mobile, and having a mobile-friendly platform will provide added advantages.
#8: Build a website and mobile app
If you have a tie-up with eCommerce platforms, you choose not to invest in mobile apps but ensure you have a mobile-friendly website. As we have discussed earlier, a mobile responsive website or platform will gain maximum benefits. You can explore the future of mobile commerce and the benefits you will get with a mobile responsive website.
#9: Source your Suppliers and Order Stock
It depends on your business model. For example, if you are doing stock on hand, you can find some independent labels, stores, wholesalers, agencies for your state or country, or locality. However, if you have selected the dropshipping model, you should sample the products before you stock them. You can check through the quality and if they are matching to the requirement of potential customers.
You can also do some Google research, Instagram research, and apply other methods to find wholesalers.
#10: Product Listing, photograph Items, and descriptions
Your customers essentially buy photos when they shop online. One of the biggest challenges you have to tackle in online business is to gain customers’ trust. Your customers cannot see or feel the products and the photograph along with proper descriptions are the only way to convince them. Give as much information as you can and as needed. Clearly mention the products’ size, material, ideal for, and other relevant information.
#11: Finalize your website, review it and launch
Once you are done with all these things, you can take a final look at your website, take the help of friends, family, and partners to review the website. Proofread it again, and you are all set to launch your online clothing store.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to starting an online clothing store, reliability and trust are significant factors to success. Quality products, timely services, and customer supports are some things that help you win the online business success battle.
Go through the steps suggested here, explore online to get more ideas, and get started. If you still feel stuck, don’t take much time to connect with industry experts to get a guide. They can help. Good luck.
