Online shopping is having its moment and it's said that it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. As people realize how convenient and easy it is to add to their virtual carts compared to physically browsing stores, e-commerce sites are getting all the love. Not to mention, they're also raking in all money from global sales and profits. If you have a passion for fashion, now's the time to earn extra dough through your hobby.
However, the fashion industry is somewhat saturated as e-commerce clothing stores sprout here and there. Yet considering how large the market is, there will always be room for a startup clothing business such as yours. All the more so if you're making your own custom design, as the trend for personalization is on the rise these days. The key is to earn the right tips in launching your venture off the ground.
Here are viable steps to start an online clothing business from scratch:
1. Pick Out A Domain Name
The first step of setting up an online clothing store is to choose a domain name. In a simple context, a domain name is a name you use as your website. In a web address, this is the phrase or words that come after www. And people can search your site by typing your domain on search engines.
To start your online clothing store, you need to launch a website and buy an available domain name. Most of the time, entrepreneurs use the same domain name as their brand name. But you need to check its availability first. In some cases, others might already use your brand name as a domain name, so it's essential to think of an available domain name. For unique domain names, you can use business name generators.
Domain names should be creative, concise, descriptive, and easy to remember. A maximum of three words should be used. People who visit your online store should be able to remember it easily. The name should be easy to pronounce and shared with others.
Once you've decided on a domain name, it's time to subscribe to a hosting web service. They’re the ones you subscribe to or work with for your website to be available online. Some providers start with startup packages that allow you to pay monthly subscription fees. You can scale up and pay more if you want to use advanced features and web hosting services.
2. Create A Brand And A Story Behind It
Now, you proceed to create a brand. As mentioned, your domain name and brand name should match together. But if it's impossible, you should keep both at least similar or close to each other. Clothes need a solid brand to sell and be marketable to your target audience. Competitors will easily rival your business if your brand doesn't relate to your target market.
Aside from creating a unique brand name, you should create a story behind it. Stories are the sparks that attract people to relate to your business and earn their sympathy and attention. Most of the big brand names out there usually have a story to share. You should do the same for your online clothing business. Think of why you came up with the business idea and make it an appealing story.
Embrace originality and creativity when formulating your brand and story. People will patronize a clothing store that stands out from the rest of other shops in the market. Consider your own experience and personality when deciding what your brand should be. Ideally, your brand should mirror your personality, business goals, and vision for the future. Don't shadow luxurious big brands, as this will only set your business to fail. In fashion, the more unique you are, the better you sell.
3. Decide What Clothes To Sell
Choosing your products comes next after you decide on your brand and story. Assess your fashion taste, style, and preferences. Check which audience you relate more with, and study what clothing products would sell most. Regardless of the niche you sell in; there are various styles and types of clothes to make money out of.
Nevertheless, focusing on one style is imperative as you launch your clothing brand first. You should always start small and slow when starting an online store and expand your product offerings as you grow. Choose a target niche and offer clothes that fit their wants and needs.
4. Select The Best E-Commerce Platform
Once you have a product to sell, you can start building your store. Since this is a virtual store, the most important decision is to choose an online selling platform. Fortunately, you won't have a hard time finding the right one, as many reputable e-commerce sites are available today. While you may already have launched your own website, it’d be helpful to use other e-commerce platforms.
Find a partner who’ll meet your needs today and provide you with scalable solutions. The right platform will provide you with the best seller terms, and you can leverage the number of users and visitors of that platform. The key is considering an online selling platform based on its UX design, checkout features, and payment options.
Conclusion
You might’ve been starting a profession in fashion, but you suddenly realize to go into a money-making venture instead. By following the tips and pointers above, it’ll only be a matter of time before you can start making profits from your online clothing store. The key to fashion success is understanding your market, deciding on a domain, creating a brand, telling your story, and choosing an online platform. Although these aren’t the only steps, they're crucial to getting your business off the ground.
