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How To Start An Online Clothing Business From Home

How To Start An Online Clothing Business From Home

Sales from online clothing stores will have reached $713 Billion a year by 2022 It’s a booming industry that you’ve decided you want a piece of. 

With Covid-19 restricting our movements and driving even more retail online, being able to run your business from home seems like a pretty safe bet. You’ve probably spent the last lockdown dreaming of your very own clothing boutique without all of the faff of shop rental. Think of the money you could save!

But, as with all business models, things can go wrong, and it’s much better to learn from other people’s mistakes than to have to make them yourself. So we’ve pulled together the top tips for starting an online clothing business, so you can get off to the best start.

  1. Decide who you are

Like all businesses, you need to start by deciding what you’re going to sell and who you are going to sell it to. You need to choose a niche, and area that will be your speciality, whether it’s faitrade linen clothes, or screen-printed t-shirts. This niche will be your starting point.


Before you can choose the specific products that will sell successfully in your store you need to get to know the market, decide what products you love, which brands you admire. It always pays to do a little competitor analysis, and find out what is already out there. 


You also need to spend some time thinking about your ideal customer. When you picture in your mind the person who will be buying from you, consider the following questions:

  • What do they look like? 
  • How old are they? 
  • Where do they currently shop? 
  • What is their household income? 
  • What magazines do they read?

All these answers will help you work out what your online store is going to look like and who you will be reaching out to. This will include choosing a business name.

  1. Sort out all of the legal stuff

Running a business in Australia means adhering to ascertain regulations. The first of these is to register your business name and get an Australian Business Number (ABN). You will need this to register with wholesalers, and to file taxes. You can do both here


You also need to register for the relevant taxes including Goods and Services Tax, Pay as You Go Witholding Tax, and Fringe Benefits Tax. You can find a comprehensive guide to registering here.

  1. Choose an e-commerce platform 

It’s the 21st Century and everyown and her Aunt knows enough to make a basic website. If you’re planning to run an online business then your website has to look good, and has to be easy to navigate. Prospective customers will expect a professional-looking site when they visit, otherwise they will struggle to trust that you can deliver.

If you’re going to be selling products through your website then you need to make sure that it has eCommerce capability. Can it handle easy payments and provide good templates that showcase your products to their best advantage? Good options include Woocommerce, Wix, Shopify, Magento and Prestashop.

  1. Register your domain name 

To begin your online business, you need to find a domain name - what you customers will type in to come and find you. To find your name you can do an online search on the ecommerce platform you’ve chosen to see if your name has already been taken.

Making sure that your chosen name is available as a domain name is really important. If you have your heart set on being called Faye’s Fabrics, but someone else has a site called fayesfabrics.au then you may have to rethink. Domain names that don’t match business names confuse potential customers.

It’s also worth checking that the name is available on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest , and Facebook, even if you don’t immediately intend to use these platforms, because you might change your mind later.

  1. Use your eCommerce platform (all of it!)

You’ve gone to the trouble of choosing a platform that has great reviews and is easy to use, but don’t make the mistake of under-using it. Too many people ignore the capabilities of their platform, and how these can increase the performance and efficiency of your business.


Tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can give you valuable insights into where to focus your buying and advertising, who your customers actually are, and whether your site is working smoothly from visit to purchase.


A good eCommerce site will measure:

  • Conversion rates (how often a visit results in a purchase), 
  • Average order value
  • Shopping cart abandonment (as this can highlight problems with your checkout process),
  • Revenue on ad spend (whether your ad campaigns are worth it),
  • Customer lifetime value, and
  • Map overlay (where your customers are coming from).
  1. Find your suppliers

Finding the right wholesale suppliers is key to providing quality products to your customers at prices that make them (and you) smile.

You can search for Australian wholesaler clothing suppliers online, or you can do some detective work of your own. Look on the labels of clothes you love and head to the brands’ website to find out which wholesalers they work with. Often different wholesalers will work within different clothing niches, so you can narrow down your search this way. For example, Etika imports provides 100% Italian linen clothing from high-quality designers.so if you’re looking to buy your linen clothes wholesale then we should be your first point of call.

Working with a wholesaler will involve applying for a wholesale account (for which you’ll need your ABN). You can then gather information on the minimum amount of stock you can order from them, their wholesale prices, and their delivery timeframes.

  1. Have a logistics plan

As an online store, you’ll need to factor in getting your product to the customer. Some people work as dropshippers, not holding any stock but ordering it from their suppliers as soon as a customer orders it from their website. This can have logistical drawbacks, particularly a longer lead time.

If you are sending products from your own home to customers, then you’ll need to work out postage and delivery costs, as well as how you will handle this practically. Storage of the stock you’re holding will also be an issue you’ll need to consider.

  1. Decide on your prices

By now you will have done a lot of research and collected a substantial amount of useful information. You should know fashion wholesale prices and your business costs (including taxes and logistics), as well as what margins you’ll be happy with. Your margins will determine your retail prices - what you will charge the customer. 

  1. Promote your store 

Marketing is everything. There’s no point in having a fabulous product, or even a stellar website, if no-one knows it’s there. These days advertising is much more than putting an advert in a local paper, or up on a billboard. There are many different marketing avenues you’ll want to consider:

  • Search Engine Optimisation (placing words on your site that people are searching the internet for)
  • Blogging (writing interesting articles about your area of expertise, to give your customers added value)
  • Social media marketing (using Facebook or Instagram and hashtags to make people aware of your brand)
  • Online ads (you can pay to put ads on Google, or websites relevant to your niche)
  • Email marketing (as long as you have people’s permission, you can send out newsletters or offers via email)

It’s important to remember that a consistent brand image across all platforms means that customer know what they are getting when they shop with you.

Conclusion

So, as you can see, creating a successful retail business is possible without needing to manage physical space on the high street. Building your online clothing store brings the dream of owning your own business well within reach. So what are you waiting for? Get started!

You can apply for a wholesale account right now with Etika imports here





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Wholesale clothing trends to stock in your boutique in 2021

Wholesale clothing trends to stock in your boutique in 2021

When you’re thinking ahead about what you want to fill your boutique with this spring, it might seem like you have some hard choices to make. After all, there are so many stylish options out there, how do you narrow it down to the curated and personal collection you want to present to your customers?


Well, here we give you a rundown of the trends for wholesale clothing in Australia for 2021. That way, you can get ahead in your ordering and relax, knowing you have your purchases sorted.


Sustainable fabrics:

The fashion industry makes up 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and your customers are starting to wake up to the effect this has on their planet. Sustainable fabrics are a huge trend for 2021. Thankfully, there is a wide range of sustainable fabric options, that don’t cost the earth:

Linen

Linen is the perfect, rich feeling, sustainable fabric. It’s made from flax, which you can grow anywhere, without using much water. It’s resistant to bacteria as well as moths, biodegradable and so good for the environment. Our wholesale 100% Italian linen clothing is the perfect choice for your environmentally conscious customer.

Organic cotton

Cotton generally is not a great sustainable fabric due to the large amount of water it takes (20,000 liters) to produce a kilogram of the material. Organic cotton is better, grown as it is without pesticides or chemicals. Recycled cotton is even better. This is made from post-consumer and post-industrial waste, saving it from landfill. 

Silk

Another good choice for the eco-conscious, silk is harvested from silkworms living on mulberry trees. These trees can be grown without pesticides or fertilizers, require much less water than cotton, and the material itself is biodegradable. 


Tencel

A cellulose material made out of wood pulp, TENCEL needs less water and energy to produce. It’s 50% more absorbent than cotton and is anti-bacterial. The wood pulp required is taken from forests that are sustainably grown, and any waste gets recycled. It’s often used for activewear.


Econyl

Looking for a completely recycled fabric? Econyl is made from discarded fishing nets. First used for activewear such as swimsuits and leggings, it’s becoming more popular, with high-end brands like Gucci getting in on the action. Econyl can give you a nylon equivalent with a manufacturing process that results in 50% less C02.

Ethically made fashion

Everyone’s thinking about their impact on the planet now and, what started with replacing your plastic water bottles, has made its way to considering the fabrics we wear. Working out what fabrics are the most environmentally friendly and sustainable can be tricky for your customers. Thankfully, as we’ve mentioned, there is now a large range of ethical fabrics to choose from.

Our impact on the planet isn’t the only way we are re-examining our fashion choices. Your customers will be considering other ethical implications of their chosen blazer: the manufacturing conditions and how employees are treated, for example. 

Our collections in fresh and breathable 100% Italian linen, tick all the boxes when you’re ordering your wholesale linen clothing. A perfect pairing with the athleisure joggers that we just can’t let go of, or the jeans that we’re putting back into rotation.

Minimalist neutrals

Neutrals used to spell boring, no-one wanted head-to-toe blend-into-the-background beige. But this season’s neutrals don’t have to mean disappearing. Neutral tones combined with the structure of clean lines can be the most stand-out outfit in the room. Whether you’re looking at the more structured tailoring of an oversized blazer, over a tucked-in linen blouse in a similar shade, or layering a camel overcoat on top of a cream cashmere sweater this trend embodies relaxed chic. 

For those feeling even more daring, solid monochrome colorways make a strong statement. Opt for different textures to add more interest to your outfit, and high-quality pieces in natural fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, or silk. We’ll want to keep things simple in 2021, and this is the perfect way to create the base for that capsule wardrobe we’re all searching for.


Mustard and Camel color styling

Heading back to the 70s once more (the decade that keeps on giving!) mustard and camel color styling were prominent on the catwalks. A little bit more vibrant than some of the more gentle neutrals seen elsewhere, this combination is so flattering and versatile, lending itself to tailoring or more flowing, floral looks. 


You might find that a lot of your customers steer away from mustards, having been told that yellow washes them out. The truth is, there is a shade and a piece to suit everybody, whether it’s a relaxed shirt with delicate buttons to go with their faux leather joggers, or simply a baguette bag to bring a splash of color to an oversized camel blazer or trench for those rainy afternoon coffee dates.

 

Pantone color of 2021: ultimate gray

If mustard and camel isn’t for you, but you want something to pair your latest yellow purchase with, then look no further than Pantone’s color of 2021 - Ultimate Gray.


In fact, it’s such a perfect pairing that Pantone has nominated Illuminating (a bright, buttercup yellow) alongside it this year. Pantone’s Executive Director announced that:

“The union of enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude.”


Which is a message I’m sure we can all get alongside in the coming year.


Ultimate Gray evokes rich, natural fabrics: cashmere, wool, sumptuous silks. Offering a grounding to the lighter neutrals we’ve mentioned, pairing a flowing yellow dress with a gray cashmere cardigan, or chic mustard trousers with a gray turtleneck balances your silhouette and colorway perfectly. Steady, but optimistic, just like us all right now.


Where to go from here

When you’re considering which of these new styles to stock in your boutique, you can trust that etika is the best choice for wholesale women’s clothing in Australia. Providing your customers with the building blocks for the perfect 2021 wardrobe, and gracing your store with our stylish and versatile designs in Italian linens, cottons and silks in variety of fashionable colours.  Why not give us a call to discuss your needs?



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Is linen sustainable? All about linen clothing

Is linen sustainable? All about linen clothing

If you are beginning to have customers come in and ask about the sustainability of your products along with your style suggestions, then we have good news for you: you can stock your store with the finest linen clothing in Australia and assure them that it is one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly fabrics around. Grab a coffee, sit back, and learn all about linen.

A natural fiber

The linen in your favorite culottes begins life as a flax plant. 

flax linen plants

When they’re ready to be harvested, the flax plants are cut or hand-pulled out of the ground, the seeds, and then the plant stock is removed from the fibers. It is these fibers that are used to make the fabric. Sorted to find the longest pieces, the fibers are spun into yarn. That yarn is woven into the fabric we all know and love.

The lengthy nature of this manufacturing process is why linen is a little more expensive than other fibers but also why it feels so very luxurious. Taking a white linen shirt and pairing it with even the simplest pair of jeans, will take your look from casual to special.

Full of benefits

Far back in history, linen was the preserve of the wealthy and important. Saved for Emperor’s robes, or to wrap the mummies of the Pharoah’s, ordinary people couldn’t hope to include such soft and rich fabric in their wardrobes. Now, however, we can all enjoy linen’s many properties.

Twice as strong as cotton, its versatility enables it to be used for ship sails as well as soft draping pieces of clothing. But we’re here to talk about gorgeous linen clothing, and there is plenty to talk about.

As we’re all aware, linen is traditionally considered to be a summer fabric, due to its breathability and the way it can wick moisture from your skin. A piece of linen fabric can absorb up to 20% of its dry weight in moisture before it feels damp itself. This also means that it dries faster; goodbye sweat patches!

However, linen is great for colder temperatures too. It’s thermoregulating, and so it conducts heat. It will keep you warm as your body temperature falls, but then, as it rises again, it will let out the heat you don’t need. You’ll have your very own thermostat in the shape of the most stylish dress you own!

Aside from being perfect in all weathers, linen is anti-bacterial (this is the reason why it has been popular throughout the ages for bandages), which makes it great for home accessories that will get a lot of use, like throw pillows. Its hypoallergenic nature makes it perfect for those with sensitive skin, who should avoid more synthetic fibers.

The porous nature of the fiber results in it holding dye very well. This is why you can find our Italian linen clothes in such a variety of beautiful colors. Linen is no longer simply about creams and khakis (although there are many stylish examples of those colors), it can also mean vibrant sunshine yellows and deep cranberry shades.

It’s moth resistant, so you can invest in pieces that can be stored over the winter and taken out in warm weather again and again without worrying that they’ll be damaged. As an added bonus, the material will soften over time, so your gorgeous blouses will become even more comfortable the more you wear them.

Caring for your linen

Even a favorite blouse can be left hanging in the wardrobe because dry cleaning seems like far too much hassle. Linen, however, can be machine washed (in cool water to stop it from shrinking), is much easier to care for than silks or wools, and stays relaxed and elegant with just a quick iron on high heat with spray starch to keep collars crisp.

Looking after our planet

 

Flax is easy to grow and has been cultivated in almost every country in the world, even in poor soils. It needs less land, less water, and no pesticides or chemicals to grow well. The sustainability of linen is much higher than that of synthetic textiles such as polyester, and even than wool or cotton. 


This trend continues through the manufacturing process. A linen shirt will use 6.4 liters of water across its lifecycle, compared to the 2,700 liters of a cotton shirt!

Turning to the issue of waste, the whole of the flax plant is used for something. Flaxseed oil is rich in Omega 3 and popular with health food stores, Linseed Oil is great for wood varnishes, and Flax seeds themselves are a popular baking ingredient.

Linen is also one of the most biodegradable fabrics out there, able to totally break down in only 2 weeks at the end of its lifecycle  A synthetic fiber, such as polyester is made from petrochemicals, resulting in a 500-year wait for it to fully decompose!

So you can be sure you’re taking care of the planet in your sustainable linen clothing, whilst looking unutterably stylish, and keeping cool.

Conclusion

We hope that now there is no doubt that linen is the perfect sustainable fabric. With a production and manufacturing process that has a low environmental impact, properties that make it perfect for summer and winter seasons, and a ridiculously short decomposition time, linen is a fabric you can be sure is keeping our planet happy. You can reassure your customers that their eco-credentials will remain intact, and they will be wowed by the beautiful designs that we have to offer.

Etika Imports is the go-to company for sustainable wholesale clothing. Our linen clothing feels luxurious and is stylish. Our designs are perfect for the most discerning fashionista looking for something special to wear for brunch or the perfect jumpsuit for after-work drinks, as well as the country mouse who likes to enjoy pruning her roses in a beautiful linen shift.  

Why not give us a call today and let us show you the chic designers and versatile pieces that we have to offer?

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