20 Ideas for Clothing Stores You’ll Love
Looking for ideas for clothing stores?
I created a list of 20 ideas for clothing stores.
These ideas can be combined. That is, you can take different ideas and put them together.
These ideas for clothing stores are valid for both physical and virtual stores.
Here is the list.
#1 — Multi-brand women’s clothing boutique
A boutique is a small or medium-sized store that has an intimate atmosphere, as if it were a living room in a house.
And a multi-brand store is a store that sells several brands of clothing. These are brands that are not exclusive to the store, and can be found in many more stores.
Multi-brand women’s clothing boutiques are the most popular type of clothing store.
Women’s clothing is the best seller, and as multibrand stores do not have to make their own collection, as they buy from other collections, they are easier to maintain.
Although there is a lot of competition from this type of store, it is possible to earn money. I know many cases of multi-brand women’s boutiques that manage to make good profits.
The secret is to be able to have a well-defined customer and have a choice of products that pleases these customers. If you try to have products that appeal to all types of customers, you won’t be able to please anyone.
#2 — Multi-brand menswear boutique
The difference with the previous idea is that this store sells to the male audience.
There are fewer stores of this type because the market is smaller. Men buy far less clothes than women.
They serve the same advice as for the female case: choose a specific type of customer, and don’t try to sell to everyone.
#3 — Multi-brand children’s clothing boutique
There aren’t many multi-brand children’s clothing boutiques. And the main reason is that there aren’t many children’s clothing brands where you can go buy the store.
Therefore, the biggest difficulty in opening a store like this is to find suppliers that have a children’s clothing brand. So maybe #6 store type is a better idea.
#4 — Own-brand women’s clothing boutique
The second most frequent type of store is the boutique with its own brand.
Most women’s stores in malls are private label boutiques.
There are many advantages to having private label clothes in our store:
- Higher margins (we don’t have to share profits)
- We can create our models according to our customers’ taste
- No other store has clothes like ours (or at least our brand)
Some examples of private label women’s clothing boutiques:
#5 — Private label menswear boutique
Although men don’t buy as much clothes as women, and therefore the total market is smaller, the truth is that there is more space for new men’s boutiques.
And the reason is that most men’s boutiques sell products that are too classic and traditional. It’s true that most men prefer more discreet clothing. But there is a part of the male audience that likes to be different, and is more daring in the way they dress. And as there aren’t many stores with different products, whoever manages to have different products will have a big advantage.
Some examples of private label menswear boutiques:
#6 — Private label children’s clothing boutique
There are few children’s clothing stores. And there is undoubtedly room for more stores.
The reason that there are few children’s clothing stores is that it is easier for anyone who opens a clothing store to open a store that sells products to people like shopkeepers.
That’s why men shopkeepers tend to open men’s stores. And women shopkeepers tend to open women’s stores.
And so, there is a shortage of children’s clothing stores.
Example of a children’s clothing private label boutique:
#7 — Teenager Clothing Store
Although teenagers don’t have a lot of money to spend, the truth is that they make up for it with a huge desire to buy.
Teen clothing stores are the most competitive stores out there. That’s why it’s a very difficult market.
But as teenagers are always looking for different things, if you have a different idea and that you like, you can succeed.
New teen clothing stores are either very successful or very unsuccessful. Teenagers tend to follow others. And so, either the stores have a lot of customers, or they have almost none.
If you want to learn more about selling to teenagers, read this article as well:
How to sell to teenagers.
Examples of clothing stores for teens:
#8 — Adventure and sports clothing store
With this point, we start ideas for clothing stores that are more specific.
I love these types of stores, because they are stores that can be very specific. And the more specific a store is, the less competition there is, and the more customers like the store.
A specific store, unlike a generalist store, is a store that has very specific products for a customer or for a specific use.
For example, a yoga clothing store is a very specific store because it only caters to people who use those products.
There are many variants within these clothing store ideas. Here are some examples:
- Clothing and surf equipment stores
- Skateboarding clothing and equipment stores
- Women’s Gym Clothing Stores
- adventure clothing stores
- Etc.
Examples of adventure and sport stores:
#9 — Ceremonial clothing store (bridal dresses and groom’s clothing)
These are stores that sell clothing for ceremonies and events. The main one is the wedding dresses, which have a high value.
But these stores can (and should) have other types of clothing:
- for bride and groom
- for baptisms
- for communions
- for weddings (guests, groomsmen, bridesmaids, etc.)
- for formal parties (long dresses, tuxedos, etc.)
#10 — Popular Clothing Store
Of all the ideas for clothing stores, this one is perhaps the least appealing. But in any case, it should be mentioned as it represents a large share of total clothing sales.
Example of popular stores:
#11 — Fashion Accessory Store
These are stores that sell fashion accessories that are not clothing. Although they may have some types of clothing. But usually these are clothes that don’t need to be tried on.
Examples of products sold in these stores:
#12 — Specialty stores
Specialty stores are stores that specialize in one or a few types of products. Usually they only sell one product category. Examples:
- shirt stores
- Shirt and Tie Stores
- Boxer shorts stores
- T-shirt stores
- Suit stores (suits, as they say in Brazil)
In most cases, specialty stores are stores for the male audience.
#13 — Bespoke clothing stores
The bespoke clothing stores are stores that can make clothes from scratch, in other words, the customer chooses:
and then the clothes are made to measure.
Or they are stores that already have clothes made, but then accept that the clothes can be changed. Many boutiques also have a clothing arrangement service. But these stores are different, because they advertise that clothes are always tailored to the customer.
#14 — Oversize clothing stores
These are stores that are geared towards customers who wear large sizes. And the big sizes can either be for big people, or for tall people, or for big and tall people.
In reality, most customers are obese people. But as there is still a certain prejudice, the stores opt for a different designation:
- For men, they say stores for strong people.
- For women, they are called plus size stores. Currently, the term “curvy” has also appeared, which means “with curves”. It’s a term that is more likable than plus-size, and that gives a little more sensuality to women who wear plus-sizes.
#15 — Small Size Clothing Stores
Of course, there is also the reverse. Shops for small old people. In Portugal, this is not a very big market. In Brazil maybe it makes more sense because it has more population. But there is some potential, since adult people who are small have to dress in children’s stores. And this brings up two problems:
- models are not suitable for older people.
- people do not feel comfortable shopping at children’s stores.
In the USA, these types of people are called “petites”.
And there are stores that combine the plus size clothes with the small size clothes.
#16 — Used clothing stores (vintage)
This is one of the latest clothing store ideas. And in many countries, these types of stores are in fashion.
And most people who shop at these stores are not about saving money. Many people shop at these stores because it’s chic to buy vintage (old) clothes. It’s a way of being more ecological and of using clothes with materials and details that are no longer manufactured.
#17 — Lingerie Stores
Lingerie stores are the stores that sell underwear. Most also sell nightwear (pajamas, robes, slippers, etc).
A more recent trend is also selling loungewear clothing. “Loungewear” is clothing for living at home. In other words, it is comfortable clothes to walk around the house. And in practice, these are clothes that are a mix between pajamas and sportswear. It is a growing sector.
#18 — Beachwear stores
These are stores that sell:
- bikinis,
- swimsuits,
- Beach shorts,
- towels,
- pareos,
- flip flops
- etc.
In Portugal, as beachwear is only used in less than half the year, beachwear stores also usually sell lingerie and nightwear. Or, in the beach areas, they are only open for a few months of the year.
#19 — Clothing rental stores
We are almost at the end of the list of ideas for clothing stores. And at number 19, we have the clothing rental stores.
These stores rent clothes for people who need clothes for just one occasion.
These occasions can be:
- weddings
- formal dinners
- formal parties
- graduations
But there are stores that, in addition to this, still rent clothes for Carnival and Halloween. And some also rent clothing for movies, plays, and television. But of course, this already implies a bigger stock of clothes and a bigger investment.
#20 — Pre-Mom and Baby Clothing Stores
The last type of clothing store ideas are pre-mom and baby stores.
It’s a very profitable market. But in recent years, clothing for pregnant women has stopped being boring clothing. And you can specialize in a certain type of premommy, such as executive premommy.
Would you like to learn how to create a clothing store?
Image manual of a clothing store
Find more articles in our categories Fashion & Looks & Luxe et 90s Outfits.
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