If you want to start a clothes store, the best way to begin is with an online shop. Although you can set up a brick-and-mortar store, they’re much harder to make succeed. By starting off online, you could build your reputation and open a physical store later on. You could sell things you make or design yourself, find independent designers or source your stock from wholesale suppliers. Whatever you choose to do, there are lots of things to think about to make sure you have the necessary resources for your new business. Don’t forget to think about these important factors before you start your store.
Suppliers
The first thing you need to think about is where to source the things you’ll sell. A lot of people choose to buy things from wholesale suppliers. You can use more than one provider, and select the pieces you like best. To make everything easier, you can use a drop shipper to handle shipping. But you might want to have a more intimate relationship with your stock. Perhaps you plan to make everything yourself, either from scratch or using recycled fabric. Or you could stock items from independent designers. You could even sell second-hand clothes, especially if they’re vintage.
Storage Space
When you know where your stock is coming from, you need somewhere to keep it. Your decision will probably hinge on how much stock you’re going to have. At first, you might decide it’s easy to keep everything at home. A spare bedroom, garage or shed can work, but try to keep everything organised so that it’s easy to find. The next step up is a self-storage unit, which will give you more room to keep your stock. If one gets too small, you can expand into further units in the same building. For a business with even more stock, you might consider renting some warehouse space.
Equipment
Your website will rely heavily on product images and descriptions to get people to buy. If you’re running your business from your home, investing in some photography equipment will help. Using a wholesale supplier may mean you have ready-made images, but you often will need to take photos yourself. First, your setup needs to include a clean background, such as a white back sheet. Then you need to display your products. You can use websites like http://my-mannequins.co.uk to source mannequins and stands to show off your items in the best light. And, speaking of lights, you’ll need professional lighting and a good camera.
Sales Channels
Don’t forget to consider your different sales channels. Will you run one website with your own integrated store? Or do you want to use some different sites like Etsy or eBay to sell your products in various ways? Remember that if you use third-party sites, you’ll probably need to pay fees to either list or sell your products. It’s important to think about SEO on your website to bring people in, so make sure you do some research.
An online store is a good way to gain exposure for a new fashion brand. Once you start to make a profit, a brick-and-mortar store could be your next move.
