If you have ever scrolled through Instagram, Pinterest and watched catwalks on the TV… you might have a little bit of a fascination when it comes to fashion and everything it entails. Fashion is a huge industry in the world and there are hundreds of brands in every country who are making products for us to flaunt in our everyday lives. If you want to dip your toes in the fashion world and be able to share all of your ideas with the world, here are some of the ways you can do it.
1. You don’t have to be rich
It is important to remember that you don’t have to be insanely rich in order to start a fashion brand. Sure, if you want to start working on a huge production and release tonnes of products at once, a good investment will help. However, for the start of your business, all you need is some fabric, a sewing machine and the skill to make a few pieces yourself. You can build on your profits as you make sales and this will allow you to make more as you profit more.
2. Identify a gap in the market
Fashion is a broad spectrum which can entail a lot of different styles and types of clothes, however, it is also an incredibly competitive market which has a huge population of brands working in the same area. If you are going to succeed as a new fashion brand you need to find a gap in the market and be able to exploit it for your own gain.
For example, think about finding something which sets you apart from every other brand out there. It could be that you use 100% recycled fabric, it could be that you use lots of colour in every piece that you design… if you are able to find a gap in the market which you can fill, you will be much more likely to succeed.
3. Get to know your target audience
Ahh, target audience. It’s a buzzword in the marketing world and it is always one of the first things you have to consider when creating a marketing plan or a business which will be a great success. In fashion, there are many different styles you can choose from for your pieces and these will determine your target audience.
What kind of clothing do you want to make and who is it that will wear it? If you are thinking of making sequined clothing for all occasions, your target audience will likely consist of females in the age range from 16-28. Once you have a target audience in mind it will make it a lot easier for you to create the right pieces.
4. Hire quality over quantity
When you first start out as a fashion brand you will likely be working on your own. In order for you to progress with your career and make a brand grow and develop you will need to think about hiring some staff. Don’t worry about hiring a huge team right away, you can easily run a small business with a small team of 3-4 people to start off with. As long as you make sure to get the training you need to be better you can develop pretty well.
5. Hire great people
It is crucial when it comes to hiring staff to Hell you run your business that you hire the RIGHT people. Don’t just hire people because you need to up your numbers because this won’t give you the quality you need to be successful. Make sure that you conduct solid background checks on everyone who you want to hire and be sure before they sign a contract that it is the correct decision for you and the company as a whole.
Keep in mind that this is your livelihood so you need as many hands as you can to make sure you can grow. You also need to get along with the people you work with so if you have a good rapport, this is a good sign that you are making the right choice.
6. Find a factory you trust
It is incredibly important once your business starts to get off the ground that you choose a great company or factory to take care of the manufacturing of your clothing. For example, you could use a company like use woven labels or a factory in China which are actually very efficient and can be a great asset. Take your time doing some research with this because it is incredibly crucial for you to do.
7. Promote, promote, promote
Promote absolutely everything you can do and make sure that you promote it in every way possible. When it comes to promotion for your business there are a lot of ways to do it including some of the following:
- TV commercials – you can hire models and a film crew to help you with this, or you can use your own staff and create a commercial yourself for a lower price
- Social media – think of Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to reach your ideal demographic and to make sure that you can really share your content with people who will engage with it
- Email promotion – email promotions and newsletters can be amazing because they give you the chance to offer exclusive content and offers to your subscribers and you can also introduce new products and ranges to people as soon as they are released
- Influencer marketing – sending clothes to bloggers in return for reviews and social media images is a clever way to market yourself and it can bring your brand to the attention of a lot of new people
Take a look at as many different areas of marketing that you can and see how you can create wonderful content and spread the good word of your business to the world.
8. Hone Your Business skills
When it comes to running a business in any capacity, you need more experience than just your creativity and ability to promote your products. There are a lot of things involved in running a business and you could do with having some training in different fields. For example, you can think about taking a finance course, a management course and even one in technology to allow you to really make an impression in your business for the better.
9. Look to the future with excitement
When you are running a business it is important for you to always have one eye in the present and one on the future. The future of your business will always be in the forefront of your mind because it is what you are working towards and it will give you direction in your work.
Think about for example creating a five-year plan with everything you want to achieve in your business. It could be followers on social media, it could be anything to do with your website views and content, or it could be to do with any future ranges you want to add to your arsenal. Having an eye on the future allows you the motivation you need to work towards your goals and it allows you to be incredibly productive.
10. Be you
Whatever you do, be yourself when you open up a business. Allow your own passions and loves to leak through into your work and this will enable you to really succeed in the fashion world. Have fun with your designs, do what you love and this will ensure that you always stay true to yourself and your brand.