5 Ways You Can Grow Your Small Clothes Business

Covid-19 has been harsh on many industries and the world as a whole. Entire industries halted production and many businesses exited the market too. This is a time where it is incredibly difficult for new entries in the market. Especially, if those new entries lack the capital and expertise of older reliable businesses. The fashion industry gets many new entrants. If extra care and attention are not given then these businesses will fail too.

Fortunately, entrepreneurs know how to adapt and find success in any situation. It is difficult to start a new business at present but it is not impossible. There are some aspects of your business that need to be handled well. Small mistakes can prove to be highly detrimental even to the biggest of businesses. Below are a few ways you can grow your business in the fashion industry. Keep in mind these tips are designed for survivability first.

1. Customer Support

Every new business needs to have a reliable and excellent customer support system. There will be several mishaps and false orders during the first few months of your business. Expecting this beforehand and creating a fluid customer support system beforehand helps. The key is to prepare for the worst of scenarios even when you’re confident in the business. In the case of selling clothes, customer support is paramount. 

The customer support system needs to be designed around friendliness and reliability. Employees need to be available and treat the consumer like a friend and offer help. Scripts and predetermined responses may not always work. It also helps to have a less strict refund and exchange policies in the starting months. The effect will be impressed and loyal consumers that may turn out to be repeat purchasers. Word of mouth travels fast and it is better to have a reliable reputation than a negative one. 

2. Reliable Supplier

This early on in the business, agreeing to bad deals and unproductive relationships is common. It is very important to not settle for these deals and keep to a higher standard. Deals like this mean selling bad quality products for higher costs than profit. Products that are not up to the mark are significantly less likely to sell. Fewer sales will mean more storage and production costs. 

Take all the time it needs to secure a better deal. A good deal is what will make your business thrive in the long term. A deal you should go for includes a higher output of raw materials with adequate costs. The quality of the materials matters significantly too. The quality of the materials directly relates to the quality of the final product. 

3. Consumer Choice

A product strategy to apply early on when confused about new products is to ask consumers themselves. This means laying out surveys on the business website or social media page. The data you collect will be invaluable. Seeing products on sale that consumers themselves chose is going to lead to more sales too. 

Data collected will also teach businesses about adapting to early new trends and being first. The jacket business may be shifting towards a custom puffer jacket and surveys may indicate that quicker. Furthermore, data about existing products may also be collected. This helps the business decide between which products to keep and which to shelve. In the end, the products on sale may all be more likely to sell than those the company chose itself. 

4. Social Media Marketing

Spending significant amounts on marketing in the early days is a bad strategy. You should aim to build a loyal consumer base instead of targeting the masses directly. When it comes to marketing, already established businesses will always have more to spend. This means marketing is a department that should have fewer costs attached to it. Targeting niche markets is better for smaller businesses aiming for higher profit margins. 

Another way to go about it is to utilize social media marketing. The makeup industry has been thriving with social media marketing. Influencers everywhere are promoting products such as mega volume lashes on their profiles. Your business could just as well if not better on social media. It may be cheaper to invest in social media influencers promoting your products than mass marketing. 

5. Partnerships

Partnerships may seem unreliable however have promising potential for new businesses. Capital and market share are almost non-existent early on. This means new businesses will find it difficult to maintain cash flow and will incur most costs. Teaming up with a business that belongs to a different industry may be just what you need. 

Possible benefits include shared marketing, a wider audience, and an entirely new market segment. Better brand deals and reputations are also on the table when it comes to partnerships. You may be earning more via a partnership than alone in the market. The skincare industry works well with the fashion one. There is a large market for moisturizers and essential oils such as the ones available. Make sure to choose a business with management you can work with though.

Conclusion

Growing your business involves patience and smart decision-making. You need to be on your toes at all times and take calculated risks. Growth happens outside of your comfort zone and as such you need to be willing to sacrifice too. We wish you good luck with your business and hope it will thrive. 

📢 We are hiring writers!