How to Build a Successful Clothing Store [Atualizado 2021]
📱
Searching tips on how to build a clothing store from scratch? So here’s what it takes to open your own and start planning your own business.
With all the attractions of the clothing market, opening a clothing store is one of the best business options for anyone wishing to undertake.
This is because the segment is consolidating itself more and more in the Brazilian scenario and has several success stories.
Avoid Making the MISTAKE of 1st Trip Entrepreneurs!
Know what the 3 questions you must answer before starting the business to protect your investment and increase your chances of success. Know more.
Absolutely, clothes are essential for a good personal appearance and, in addition, they are great gift possibilities.
Over time, the pieces gained many additional attractions, for example:
- varied styles;
- fashion news and trends;
- adaptations to different seasons of the year;
- creative design and more!
Due to the extreme creativity of the fashion world, there are a variety of clothing products on the market.
Setting up a business in the sector to sell clothes, therefore, it’s a great way to earn money. Whether opening a virtual clothing store or a physical establishment.
Check out below how to open a successful clothing store with the step by step I prepared for you.
Profile of the entrepreneur to set up a clothing store
First, it is important that you find out if you have the suitable profile to be a shopkeeper. Anyone thinking about selling clothes in a store should do this analysis before starting a plan.
So please answer the following questions:
- Do you have the characteristics of an entrepreneur?
- Do you like the fashion and apparel segment?
- Are you dynamic and interested in fashion variations and trends?
If your answer is yes, you can continue your search for information to set up a clothing store.
Overall, the success of your business will be primarily determined by these three factors:
- entrepreneurial profile;
- Local market;
- business plan.
If you still haven’t figured out exactly what type of business to start, there are tools that can help. The New Business Kit, for example, brings a practical worksheet capable of helping in this decision.
He considers not only the capital available to invest, but also the characteristics of the idea and the region. Also, you should calmly think about the brand name and other aspects when opening a clothing store.
Then, you will know everything you need to undertake in the sector.
10 Steps to Opening a Successful Clothing Store
Just like any type of business, setting up a clothing store requires thorough planning.
In the end, what is needed to open a store in the clothing segment?
We’ve prepared this walkthrough especially for you, so that no tips are left out. Enjoy!
1. What kind of clothes do you sell in the store?
It’s likely that you have a preference for the type of clothing you want to sell. However, before deciding, you must observe the micro-region where you intend to open your clothing store.
Try to identify, at first, competitors who are apparently doing well. Visit the region on alternate days and times, in order to get an idea of the sales volume of these clothing stores.
Once you’ve made this observation, you’ll be able to pick the niche that looks most attractive and promising. Afterwards, make your planning and find out if it is really feasible to set up your business.
Niche Options for Clothing Store
Among the various types of clothing stores that you can choose to build yours, some ideas are:
- stores dedicated to a single type of clothing, such as women’s clothing stores, men’s clothing stores or even children’s clothing stores. It is possible to offer various styles of garments and pieces in these specific areas!
- establishments that offer clothing, shoes and accessories from different brands to different audiences. In this case, it is more suitable for people from class B onwards;
- sporting goods stores, recommended primarily for locations with many gyms and/or local exercise-oriented culture;
- setting up a famous designer clothing store can also be an excellent option, especially if you intend to work with class A consumers;
- according to the size of the city and the profile of the inhabitants, there may be space for an evangelical clothing store;
- underwear stores, with a choice of garments for both women and men;
- establishments focused on pregnant fashion;
- used clothing stores;
- beachwear stores.
2. Define the target audience for the clothing store
You must know your future customers before setting up a clothing store, whatever the chosen segment. In other words, understand the profile of the clientele that will be approached.
When defining the target audience of the business, look for data on:
- purchasing power;
- social class (A, B, C…);
- Consumption habits;
- place of residence;
- income; family size, among others.
Ideally, you conduct market research in order to find out exactly who your target audience is. However, if the resources are not available for this, observation and common sense will be of great help.
3. Choose the ideal commercial spot
In this type of business, also called “point business”, choosing a commercial location is essential for success..
Remember that your establishment needs to be close to the customer.
Therefore, check aspects such as: types of stores in the surroundings, pedestrian profiles and vehicle flow through the location.
Sometimes, at least in the apparel industry, setting up a clothing store next to similar stores is better than choosing an isolated region with no competitors.
Also consider the following aspects:
- Is the chosen location easily accessible to consumers? Does it have parking?
- Is security adequate or are there constant burglaries and robberies?
- In the chosen micro-region, are there other retailers that operate in the same segment as yours?
- Is the flow of people who match your target audience good?
It’s no use, for example, having a designer clothing store next to a bus terminal, even though there is an intense flow of pedestrians.
As much as a lot of people pass through there, it is likely that no one is willing to pay for your product, in this case.
So think carefully before deciding.
4. Do a clothing store competition analysis
Right after identifying and defining the clothing segment that seems the most attractive, it’s time to start planning for real.
Continue your initial observation, but now focusing on the aspects below:
- How many competitors are there in the chosen micro-region?
- What is the sales volume in the specific area of expertise?
- Is the market size enough to support one more company and still be advantageous?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the top 4 competitors? Where do they get it wrong or right?
In order to get the numbers you need, visit competing stores, observe nearby businesses, talk to current and former employees.
It’s certainly worth taking the time to gather this information before starting a clothing business.
5. Financial planning for store opening
Through financial planning, you’ll know how long it takes you to get a return on your investment when you open a clothing store.
One of the most important steps in preparing a business plan to set up a clothing store is, without a doubt, the financial plan.
The numbers collected above will be your assumptions of sales volume, market size, and the size of your competition. They will serve as the basis for your calculations at first.
So you will have a forecast of results of your business idea, or rather, whether it will make a profit or a loss. It’s like peeking into the future!
In addition, the calculations will also indicate the payback from your clothing store. That is, in how many months the invested money will return to your pocket.
Finally, the financial plan will point out how much you need to sell in the month to stay at zero to zero, that is, the break-even point. In other words, it is the number of sales that generate neither loss nor profit.
6. How much does it cost to open a clothing store?
Within the financial plan, you must consider the costs to set up a clothing store or initial investment.
It is basically the money you will spend to start the business, as well as the amount needed to keep the store going for the first few months (working capital).
After all, is it possible to set up a clothing store on a shoestring? To answer these and other questions, calculating the initial investment is essential.
Include in it all the materials you will use at the point of sale, such as:
- service Desk;
- macaws, mannequins, mirrors and dressing rooms;
- shelves, shelves and display cases;
- telephones and computers;
- programs for issuing tax coupons and ERP (business management system);
- furniture, such as chair, table, file and office supplies in general.
The amount intended for the purchase of the clothing stock must also be included in the initial investment calculation.
Remember that there are ways to lower your investment value when starting a clothing business. Among them, we can highlight the parts sale over the internet, through an online store.
7. How to set up a clothing store and beat competitors
Once you discover the size of the competition and analyze strengths and weaknesses, it is time to draw strategies to beat them within your planning.
In general, in order for you to be able to outperform your competitors, your clothing store must offer better products and services.
Perhaps you ask yourself, “What do you mean better products and services? I’m going to set up a clothing store and not a service provider.”
It turns out that all businesses, in a way, provide services. Whether in customer service, home delivery or a call to let you know that the new collection has arrived at the store.
As for the products, you need to find good clothing suppliers, with quality and variety products. In addition, of course, to better prices and payment terms.
Try to include a differentiated service plan when writing your business plan. It consists in devising the actions that will make a difference in the services of your clothing store.
This way you will be able to attract more customers, beat the competition and, consequently, be successful in the business.
In your plan to open a clothing store, consider your competition’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as your customer’s profile.
8. Set up a clothing store with the right decor
When it comes to decor, think through all the details before opening your clothing store:
- furniture;
- showcase;
- painting;
- lighting;
- coating;
- facade;
- sidewalk, among others.
It is important to be aware of the aspects that can, in a certain way, influence the client’s actions.
Therefore, you must ensure that adequate social communication takes place with the clothing store.
In other words, you must choose the decoration of the store according to the customer’s profile..
Avoid, for example, setting up a designer clothing store with decoration and a facade that refer to popular stores.
Otherwise, your establishment will attract people who will feel uncomfortable with the price of the pieces and will say: “No,…
Find more articles in our categories Fashion & Looks & Luxe et encore 90s Outfits.
Thanks for visiting we hope our article How to Build a Successful Clothing Store [Atualizado 2021]
, help us and share the article on Facebook, twitter and whatsapp with the hashtags ☑️ #Build #Successful #Clothing #Store #Atualizado ☑️!
