Whether you’re looking to start your own fashion brand or sell vintage clothing, selling clothes online can be a fun and profitable endeavour.
In this guide, we will explore the ins and outs of selling clothes online, including options such as buying clothes from a wholesaler, selling your own brand and dealing in vintage/second-hand clothes.
Defining 'Sell Clothes Online'
Before diving into the various ways to sell clothes online, let’s start with a clear understanding of what this phrase encompasses. Selling clothes online refers to the practice of marketing, promoting, and ultimately exchanging clothing items through internet-based platforms, such as an ecommerce platform like Little Big Shop.
Option 1: Buying Clothes from a Wholesaler
One of the most common ways to sell clothes online is to buy clothes from a wholesaler. Wholesalers are companies or suppliers that offer clothing items in bulk at discounted prices.
Research and Find a Reputable Wholesaler
The first step is to research and identify a reputable wholesaler that offers clothing items that align with your target market and niche. Look for wholesalers that specialise in the type of clothing you want to sell, whether it’s casual wear, formal attire, sportswear, or any other category.
You will most likely be required to create an account and enter your ABN to confirm you are a valid business to view pricing options.
Two examples of Australian wholesale sites are Whola and Style State.
Purchase in Bulk
Once you’ve found a suitable wholesaler, you’ll need to purchase clothing items in bulk. In the initial stages of selling clothes online, it might be best to buy the minimum amount required and monitor sales performance to see what does well. Whatever option you choose, purchasing in bulk often requires a substantial upfront investment, so it’s essential to plan your budget accordingly.
Set Up an Online Store
To sell your own brand, you’ll need an e-commerce website that showcases your clothing line. Little Big Shop allows you to do this in a few simple steps. Why not try our 14-day free trial to see just how easy it is?
Market Your Store
Marketing is key to attracting customers. Utilise digital marketing strategies such as search engine optimisation (SEO), social media marketing, and email marketing to drive traffic to your online store. Check out our blog post on Social media marketing tips for small business owners for some ideas!
Manage Inventory and Customer Service
Ensure you have a robust inventory management system in place to assist with managing your stock. With Little Big Shop, you can integrate your online store with one or more third party warehouses to help manage the storing, packaging and shipping of items. Check out this link to discover your options.
Option 2: Selling Your Own Brand
If you have a passion for fashion and a unique clothing concept, selling your own brand can be an exciting entrepreneurial venture. This will require a lot more time and effort than selling clothes you’ve purchased from a wholesale retailer, so be sure to allow yourself adequate time to achieve your goals.
Create Your Clothing Line
Start by designing your clothing line or collection. This involves selecting fabrics, creating designs, and possibly collaborating with manufacturers or seamstresses to produce your clothing items. You may decide to have your clothes made locally or outsource it to an overseas factory.
Develop Your Brand Identity
Define your brand’s unique identity, including your brand name, logo and brand story. Our blog post on making a logo for your business is a good start to get familiar with branding. A compelling brand story can resonate with customers and set you apart from competitors.
Build an E-commerce Website
To sell your own brand, you’ll need an e-commerce website that showcases your clothing line. Little Big Shop allows you to do this in a few simple steps. Why not try our 14-day free trial to see just how easy it is?
Quality Control
Maintain strict quality control measures to ensure that your clothing meets high standards. Customer satisfaction is essential for building a loyal customer base.
Marketing and Promotion
Use marketing and promotion to raise awareness about your brand. Once you define your target audience, use social media, influencer marketing and content marketing to reach your target audience. You may even want to create a promo code or special offer when you launch.
Fulfilment and Shipping
As with option one, establish efficient order fulfilment and shipping processes to deliver a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
Option 3: Selling Vintage/Second-Hand Clothes
For those who appreciate the charm of vintage fashion or have a collection of gently used clothing, selling vintage/second-hand clothes online is a way to combine your passion for fashion and sustainability with profit.
Curate Your Collection
Begin by curating a collection of vintage or second-hand clothing items. These could be items from your own wardrobe, thrift store finds, or pieces acquired from garage sales and estate sales. There are many Australian auction houses, like Lawsons Auctioneers, that often have vintage fashion catalogues where you can bid to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces.
Clean and Restore
Before listing items for sale, ensure they are clean and in good condition. Depending on the materials and era of the clothing, some items may require minor repairs or restoration.
Choose an Online Marketplace
Select an online marketplace to list and sell your vintage/second-hand items, like Little Big Shop!
Photograph and Describe Items
Take high-quality photos of your clothing items from various angles. Write detailed and accurate descriptions, including information on size, material, condition and any unique features. If you had to make minor repairs on the item, be sure to stipulate this.
Pricing Strategy
Research similar items to determine competitive pricing. Vintage and second-hand clothing can vary widely in value, so getting a good idea of how much to charge may increase your likelihood of selling the item.
Selling clothes online offers diverse opportunities, whether you choose to work with wholesalers, launch your own brand, or deal in vintage/second-hand items. Whichever path you take, success will depend on your dedication, business acumen, and commitment to meeting the needs of your target audience. By understanding the options available and implementing effective strategies, you can turn your passion for fashion into a thriving online business. Good luck with your journey to sell clothes online!
