Are
you a small business person and want to start
a clothing line business in
Kenya? Are you in the dark about what activities you should do to ensure that your
clothing line business succeeds?
The
big question is: Are you willing to learn how
to start a successful clothing line business?
I bet your answer is a big “YES” because you navigated all your way here just to learn how to become a
better small business person.
Before
I start off, I wish ask you to feel at home and ask any question (s) where you
don’t understand or leave a comment at the end. This is not a college classroom
run by an intimidating tutor!
How to Start a Clothing Line Business in
Kenya
Free Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Basically, there are six steps. However, I would like to add
two more steps (to start with) that
have been overlooked, for a long time, by other writers before me.
1. Be in Your Right Mind
Clothing
line business is just like any other business. Competition
is rampant and there are numerous business challenges that you must overcome to
achieve significant success. If you are in your right mind, nothing is impossible.
Have
the enthusiasm and passion
to run your clothing line business. Moreover,
anticipate market changes and prepare to adapt to them quickly. Don’t be like “Hem” and “Haw” (characters in
the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson) who thought that cheese would always be at
Cheese Station C. Learn to move with the cheese.
2. Learn about the Fashion Industry
The fashion
industry is more like the technology industry. You sleep today and by the time
you wake up tomorrow, a new trend has emerged. In other words, the industry is
dynamic. It is always good to learn how your customers behave. Learn their
tastes and preferences. Always attend fashion shows and seminars to learn more
about the fashion industry from the experts. In addition, make Google
or Yahoo!
your best friend. This way, you will nurture your ability to foretell trends
months before they get into the market. As I said earlier, you will be able to
get cheese once it is moved to somewhere
else.
3. Build a Solid and Realistic Business
Plan
Every
successful entrepreneur understands that having a solid business plan is key
step to starting a business.
Here
is Wikipedia’s
definition of a business plan:
“A business plan is a formal statement of
a set of business goals, the reasons they are believed attainable, and the plan
for reaching those goals. It may also contain background information about the
organization or team attempting to reach those goals. Business plans may also
target changes in perception and branding by the customer, client, taxpayer, or
larger community. When the existing business is to assume a major change or
when planning a new venture, a 3 to 5 year business plan is required, since
investors will look for their annual return in that time frame.”
A business
plan will help you navigate through the following aspects successfully:
a)
Start-up
capital
A business plan will enable you to determine
the exact amount that you need to establish you clothing line business. You can raise capital from friends and family, angel investors, or bank loan.
b)
Operating
costs
A business plan will enable you project the
operating costs necessary to run your clothing line business. The costs of manufacturing,
supplies, marketing, and advertising among others add up to operating costs.
c)
Research
A business plan will help you pinpoint your
current and future competitor (s). It will enable you determine your target
market. The best way to do research is get a part-time or even full-time job in
a leading clothing store in your area. You will learn what customers want,
which designs sell well and for how much among others.
d)
Level
of profitability
A business plan will enable you project
expected profits. You can use these projections to approach a bank or angel
investor for funding.
e)
Legal
requirements to be fulfilled
A business plan will enable you choose a business
structure that best suits your clothing business
Kindly check out this sample clothing line business plan for further details.
4. Establish a Brand
Wikipedia defines a brand as:
“A brand is a "name, term, design,
symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as
distinct from those of other sellers."
Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Marc Jacobs are examples of successful brand names in the clothing
line business.
It is
important to note that a brand name should be unique, catchy, and different
from your company name. Remember to register it with the authorities to avoid
other people from legally stealing it.
5. Design Your Clothes
Your
designs will make or destroy your clothing line business. It is important that
you make sketches and present them to your customers or closest friends to get
their feedback. If they like your sketches, probability of success are high.
If you’re
not good at sketching, you can always use clothing design programs available.
Always
remember that designs vary from season to season. This will enable you choose
the best fabrics and materials.
6. Locate and Contact an established
Manufacturer
Once
you have the best sketches, find a manufacturer who will produce your clothes. It
is important that you present all the details to a manufacturer for best
results. In addition, ask the manufacturer questions to improve on your designs
and fabrics. You can shop around for the best and affordable manufacturers on
the Internet.
7. Build a Website
A professional
website will promote your designs and brand. It will enable your customers find
and buy their favorite collections. However, make sure that you create a
merchant account to enable clients purchase your clothes online.
8. Promote your Clothing Line
Promoting
a brand can be expensive especially in its first year. However, you are your
best promoter. Always wear your brand everywhere you go and ask how it looks. Use
other people’s feedbacks to add improvements. Approach celebrities and give
them your brand for free. In addition, you can place adverts and press releases
in local newspapers and fashion magazines. Your website too can be a promotion
tool; make good use of it.
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