Have you always wanted to have your online clothing store but do not know how best to implement your idea? This article will tell you how to start an online clothing store, what essential stages it includes, and what seemingly insignificant nuances you need to pay attention to avoid pitfalls.
Many doubt whether to start an online store in 2024 when hundreds of companies of varying sizes are already offering their services? Yes, it is. What’s more, now is the right time. The market is constantly growing, and experts predict that the e-commerce fashion industry will increase to $1 trillion by 2025. Moreover, whereas a couple of years ago, potential customers were only willing to buy inexpensive items online, now people are not afraid to spend large sums for clothes and accessories they’ve only seen online.
It is worth remembering that this is a highly competitive niche, and you have to work hard to get your piece of the pie. However, nothing is impossible. The main thing is to have a clear goal and plan. Let’s start with them.
Check out IT Delight. Their team has excellent experience in e-commerce sites and will help you with all the technical aspects.
Table of Contents
Create a Business Strategy
Foremost, you need a clear strategy, a business plan of how to start a clothing store online.
You have to find your niche in the market. This means clearly understanding what you will sell. Many people make the mistake of trying to cover too many product categories from the very beginning. Don’t do that. If you are just starting and your budget is not bottomless, it is better to choose a specific segment where you will break down, such as lingerie, dress shoes, evening gowns, etc. In this case, the more specific, the better to start. Hence, the following question — who is your target audience, who might need your product?
In addition, you need to study potential competitors. This is necessary to identify their strengths and use their weaknesses as your opportunities, in other words, what you can do better than they do. You also need to understand what consumers want clearly. Many people wonder how to start an online clothing store without thinking about what consumers require and what problem they want to solve with this product.
Hence, you also need to find a supplier of the goods, unless, of course, you are a manufacturer and decide on the logistics of how your customers will receive goods.
After figuring out the business processes, you also need to think about a website.
Choose an E-commerce Platform
There are two basic options to create a site from scratch or use e-commerce platforms. Considering that you are just starting a business, the less expensive option is preferable — using the services of e-commerce platforms is your choice. There is a wide variety: Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and numerous solutions of the local scale. Which one to choose? In fact, they all offer the same services, but each has its pros and cons. For the right choice of platform and the subsequent launch and customization of the site, it is worth turning to professionals.
Pick a Theme or Customize your own Store’s Design
So, you have decided on a platform, for example, Magento. Now you need to select a theme, literally the user interface design of your store. You can use free themes or buy them at special marketplaces. Currently, there are thousands of different themes that are suitable for any online store, from jewelry to computer parts.
You may wonder how to start an online clothing store without standing out from the crowd because thousands of sites already use this theme? Good question. Themes can be customized, and you can change the color, layout of elements, etc. In addition, web developers can provide you with client-oriented widgets and features that your competitors don’t have.
Add Your Products And Set Up Payment System
Now you have an exceptional foundation, and there are still a couple of vital points: to fill the site with goods and connect it to the payment system.
One of the main places in your store where customers make purchasing decisions is the product card. There are several best practices for clothing stores that we do not recommend neglecting.
A product image is a king. The visual component is crucial when choosing clothing or accessories. Looking at the image, most customers make a purchasing decision. A Good product includes the following:
- Price
- Size range
- Features
- Description
- Option to choose of color, material if it’s possible
- Delivery terms
These components are mandatory elements in terms of user experience, don’t neglect them.
Let’s define the payment system
Internet acquiring
This option allows the customer to pay for the order by card. Then, the payment goes through the processing hub, which can belong to the bank or intermediary. This process involves the issuing bank, which owns the buyer’s card, and the acquiring bank accepts the payment.
Electronic money operators
Operators allow you to transfer electronic money without opening a bank account. This will enable customers to make payments using a familiar e-wallet or checking account without going to unfamiliar sites. To add this payment option, you need to sign an agreement with the operator and integrate with the service and the bank.
Payment aggregators
Aggregators offer several payment options — by card, through a terminal, and with the help of an electronic wallet. Thanks to this functionality, it is enough to connect only one service to the site. After that, aggregators will receive clients’ money by conducting them through their accounts.
Payment gateways
A gateway is an intermediary that processes payments. Services of this type do not interact with funds but send them directly to acquiring banks.
Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, which deserve a separate article. However, it’s worth asking the experts for help for the best choice.
Market Your Store And Keep Improving
Now you know how to start an online clothing store. But launching a site is only half the battle. The next task is to promote your site, to make customers aware of its existence. For this, there are many ways:
- Promotion in social networks (SMM)
- Email marketing
- Contextual advertising
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Affiliate marketing
- Media advertising
- Content marketing
Now, you are armed with at least a basic understanding of how to open an online clothing store. Expand your skills and knowledge in the topics that we have outlined, turn to professionals, and you are sure to succeed.
