Learn About Streetwear Style
The street style took off in the 1990s and is now mainstream fashion. The definition of streetwear has evolved over the years, but at its core is casual clothing that embodies elements of sportswear, sportswear, skateboarding, hip-hop, and some punk.
Before you launch your brand, it's wise to evaluate the styles you want to sell. You may find that your idea of streetwear is more high-end than your competitors. Or maybe you realize your style leans more towards sportswear than punk and leaves out some gritty street elements. There is nothing wrong with differentiating and serving a niche market, but you also need to make sure you represent your target market and ideal audience.
Broaden Your Field of Competition
Determining the scope of your competitors can give you insight into the streetwear industry, but it can also help you identify gaps in the market. Ask yourself what they do well and how you can create a better product and customer experience. Take note of the clothing they sell, how they market it, their photos, and how user-friendly their website is.
Spending time on your competitor's social media channels can also provide insight into what their customers are doing. Research which posts and photos their audience reacts to the most, and what they are saying. In addition to social media, you can also do some research to find online reviews. Review customer testimonials, both good and bad, and note how you can improve the customer experience.
Research Your Target Market
If you already sell clothing and other items on your eCommerce store, you're ahead of the curve. Send email newsletters, surveys or post feedback on your social media channels. Find out what type of streetwear they want, their favorite brands, and their favorite designs or customizations. The more details you gather, the easier the start-up process will be.
Even if you don't have a fixed audience, you can still research your target market to gather more information for your streetwear collection. Check out Reddit or Facebook groups as some places to start.
Keep Overhead Low
Starting or expanding a business takes time and money, and usually not much of either. Research shows that 66% of small businesses are dealing with financial challenges and 43% cite operating expenses as their most important expense.
There are always free and cheap ways to start and run a business. Print on Demand (POD) helps create high profit margins with premium products. Our production and fulfillment services are also reliable and quickly scale your eCommerce business. Best of all, you pay no upfront fees and earn when your products sell. No inventory to store or add fees.
Know Your Printing Options
It is critical to understand your printing options and how they can affect the quality of your designs and products. Otherwise, you could end up with a poorly designed product and high returns.
Make a Marketing Plan
Creating a marketing plan can be daunting, but you can start small and grow your streetwear line business over time. Start by spreading the word on social media or your existing email list. But to gain momentum, you need to be in front of an engaged audience that already fits your target market.
Collaborating with an influencer who already loves streetwear and posting product photos is a great place to start. Depending on the size of their audience, you can pay a flat fee, a percentage of sales, or swap products for exposure. Another option is to look for like-minded businesses that are not competitors.
Provide Exemplary Customer Service
The customer service you provide is just as important as the product you create. Research shows that 90% of Americans consider customer service when deciding whether to do business with a company. Offering a live chat option to check in with customers about their orders and do your best to make things right can go a long way toward building trust with customers.
Research Your Results
Even if your business is thriving, researching your results and data is essential. Otherwise, you will miss valuable opportunities to improve your processes and identify strengths and evidence in your business. the
Research which pages attract the most customers and from which channels. You may find that you can skip advertising on Instagram and focus on TikTok instead. Or you might see a lot of people not completing the checkout process. An abandoned cart app can entice customers to complete their orders or revisit the user-friendliness of the process, both of which can boost your sales.
Perfect Your Process
With your streetwear business up and running, it's time to perfect your process. See everything from what you sell to how you handle your finances to make informed choices about your business. You may find that you spend too much time on social media and not enough time following up with clients.
Also, rely on tools to keep your business organized and free up more time in your industry to save time and money.