Have you noticed that all of a sudden everyone's talking about their side-gig?
That's because almost half of U.S. workers are earning side income outside of their main career.
Do you want to start a side gig that can grow into your primary income? Have you always loved trendy online boutiques?
Let's take a look at what you need to know to start an online boutique.
Make a Business Plan
The first thing you'll need for starting any business is a business plan. Starting trendy online boutiques is no different.
A business plan can sound like a big, scary, official document. Don't let it intimidate you.
Are you using a business plan to pitch for a loan or funding? Or are you just going to use it as a personal guide to keep you on the right track and on schedule?
If you're funding the project yourself, your business plan can be fairly lean. It can act as a guide and a timeline.
If you're looking for funding from the outside, your business plan will need to be full-length and formal. That being said, it doesn't have to scare you off, and it's the first step in your journey to starting an online boutique.
Choose Your Platform
The next step of how to start an online boutique is to choose which platform you're going to use to sell your wares.
There are a lot of options when it comes to platforms. Many people utilize the massive traffic received by Etsy, and maybe that's the right choice for you. Others want to have more control over their store and therefore host their boutique on their own website.
There isn't the same right answer for everyone. There are pros and cons to the different online platforms, and you'll have to decide what makes sense for you and your store.
Pick a Brand Name Thoughtfully
Picking a brand name isn't something that should be done on a whim. Your brand name should be something you're proud of, not something that makes you embarrassed when you're telling your friends about it.
You're starting a business, and the goal most likely is for that business to be enduring. You want to pick a name that can stand the test of time and that you will be happy with years down the road.
As an exercise, think about other online clothing boutiques and their brand names. Which ones stand out to you as cool, interesting, or intriguing? Which ones sound clunky, awkward, or just simply kind of lame?
Identify what it is that makes the cool ones cool and the not-so-cool ones unappealing. This can help guide you in picking out your own store name.
Develop Your Online Boutique's Brand
You'll want to create a decisive and consistent brand image for your store. This has to do with the aesthetic, style, product selection, name, and communication style.
One of the important things to focus on when you're developing your brand is understanding who your target customers are. Who are your ideal customers? What do they like, what do they hate, and what do they want?
Brands can be light-hearted, silly, funny, and bubbly. They can also be serious, classy, glamorous, and formal. Who are you appealing to you, and what kind of branding would appeal to them?
Make Your Products Stand Out
Of course, at the end of the day, you can have the best branding in the world but you won't be very successful if you don't give your products a chance to stand out.
The photography of your products is incredibly important. The lighting, backdrop, and quality of the photograph is super important. This is not a place to cut corners!
You'll also want to make sure your product descriptions are adequate. Have you ever been shopping online and looking at a product that doesn't give you enough information, to the extent that you have to move on and find what you want elsewhere? Don't let your customers feel this way about your store!
You can either hire copywriters and a photographer or do it yourself.
Find a Source For Your Products
Now that you've got your ducks in a row, you'll want to figure out where you're going to source your products. You can either pick an excellent wholesale jewelry vendor, connect with local artisans, reach out to Etsy sellers, or curate yourself by shopping at local second-hand shops. You can either pick an excellent wholesale jewelry vendor, or connect with local artisans.
Come Up With a Shipping Plan
This is another place where a lot of attention and research is required. You can start all the cute online boutiques you want but if your shipping costs are too high or the speed is too slow, your business will suffer.
Market, Market, Market
You've built your business, now it's time to spread the word. There is no shortage of trendy online boutiques out there, so you need to let people know why they should shop at yours.
Digital marketing is a whole field in itself. As a business owner, you will want to have a website, utilize social media, integrate SMS broadcast services, learn about SEO, and look into ways to generate both organic and paid traffic.
Now You Know How to Start Your Own Online Boutique!
Starting any kind of business is a lot of work. If you are willing to put in the time and energy, though, you can be the owner of your own company!
Did you find this article about starting an online boutique helpful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more informative and awesome content!
