Whether you’re a retailer or a wholesaler, it’s high time you realize that you’re missing out on so much with an online presence. With around 550 million internet users just in India, the online marketplace can widen your reach to scales you could have never imagined otherwise.
With a constant inclination of users to buy online as well as the rising credibility of online selling platforms, it’s no surprise that every big or small enterprise wants to have an online store nowadays. And the internet has no particular range either; you’ll find a consumer base looking for every price range and brand.
We know the process might seem overwhelming at first, but we have got you covered. We have discussed ten steps to build an online clothing store, and you’d find out more with each step.
Understand how an online clothing business works
Whether you have an offline retail store or not, you would need to understand the working of an online retail store from scratch. If you’re new to the field, you’d first need to know how the products are made, packaged, and shipped. To understand the competition you’ll face, you should try to go out for designer dress online shopping on competitor’s websites and other eCommerce platforms.
Create a Plan
With a plan that considers all the factors, you might spend much more in operation you’d actually need to. You should have a clear idea of the products you are going to sell, your target audience, unique selling points, profit margins, additional costs, and so on.
Understand costs and earning potential
Your profits will depend upon the costs you incur, which will further depend upon your store’s model. If you’re drop shipping, you’d need to host a website and pay for the payment processing too. You’d calculate the affiliate commission you’d pay and then understand what your profit margins will be. In an actual online store, you’d need to consider shopping charges and web hosting, among other costs.
Plan your Budget
Of course, creating an online store is much cheaper than an actual retail store. You’d need to pay for a domain, web hosting, web designing, marketing, inventory storage, and shipping. If you are low on budget, you can choose free platforms like Etsy to start with.
Decide your product niche
Since the internet is filled with sell-it-all kind of platforms, it’s essential to build a niche for yourself. You must know what exactly your USP is going to be and what you’d be specializing in.
Finalize on a Style
You’d need to choose a logo, theme color, font, and so that signifies your brand. You’d then have to be consistent with it to ensure you build your brand and make your customers remember it.
Ensure Smooth Supplies
While you may not need to worry about furniture, clothing racks, and more in an online store, you must ensure you have a steady flow of product supply. You should finalize a printer or a wholesaler. You could provide you with the latest designs at reasonable costs.
Promotion
Contacting a digital marketing agency is the best way to promote your online store since they’ll be able to widen reach through a variety of channels all over the internet.
Build a Staff
While you can build an online store on your own, having someone to look after the inventory and so is always helpful.
Setup Accounting
Sites like Shopify ensure all your accounts are tracked and displayed in a user-friendly interface. Otherwise, you would need to keep track of expenses and returns to ensure you’re paying your taxes on time too.
While it may seem like a challenging task at the beginning, building an online clothing store is much easier than a retail one. All you’d need to is to be consistent with your customer service, promotion, and market research to be successful
