So many entrepreneurs are launching their private label clothing business.
Are they all succeeding? Likely not!
While few manage to turn their ideas into reality with smart decision-making, many fail. If you've just started on this path, which direction do you see yourself heading towards?
The biggest obstacle for a startup clothing brand is marketing. Gone are the days when you would shell out quality and consumers would just flock. In the mix of high competition, you've got to bring killer promotional strategies on the table that not only levels you up with your top competitors but also out do them on every front.
Because the growth and sustainability of your business is only as
good as your marketing approach!
So you have launched your apparel line. (Congratulations!) It's time now to prevent it from going the other way and stride it to the higher echelon.
Here are 7 killer marketing strategies that will seamlessly (and cost-effectively) boost the sales and recognition of your clothing brand:
Approach Your Niche Influence
The influencer doesn't have to be an A-list celebrity. We're living in an era of Instagram celebrity—finding a good and friendly one won't be difficult. If you're offering fitness apparels, look for those who always post pictures of them working out. If it is fashion wears, approach the ultimate fashionistas.
Once you have a handful of names, offer them free goodies. It so happens, if they like your free product, they are going to post about that on their social accounts.
You can also ask them to promote your product to their followers directly. You're going to have to pay for that though.
Start A Referral Program
Many top e-commerce platforms do this, including Amazon. You should too. Launch a referral program. Give concessions, discounts and money back to those who bring you more customers.
It's very affordable. And unlike PPC, you only pay when a sale is made.
Offer festive season discounts Your pricing strategy will be a game-changer for you. That, only if you manage to hit the chords perfectly though.
Discounts always attract eye-balls. And when it's a limited time offer, it triggers shoppers to make their purchase immediately. And there's not better occasion than festivals like Christmas and New Year.
So, do your calculation and offer cool festive discounts on your apparels. Don't hesitate to compromise on your return expectation in the short-run.
Focus on Customer Retention
Sadly, many business owners obsessively focus on acquiring new customers by investing all their resources. When in reality, customer retention should have their just as much of attention.
Customer acquisition cost anywhere seven times more than retention and delivers much less result. If you know how to keep your existing customers happy, they will not only purchase from you again but also recommend their friends and family to do the same.
So at the cost of just one acquisition (and small retention), you can make multiple sales.
Be Sassy on Social Media
Social media platforms have emerged to be an ultimate source to build brand recognition and shape its identity. Again, sadly, many fail to leverage on it.
Just posting about your products won't be enough. To attract, engage, covert and delight the target audience, you need interesting messages for them.
Being cheeky with your posts can be a big sale-booster. Publish interesting images; memes are a craze right now. Start conversation with the audience, Host contests. In short, have your brand an appealing and glue-like persona on the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
Take Video Marketing to Next Level
More video contents are being published today than ever. In fact, more than 500 million hours of videos are watched on YouTube each day and 72 hours of video are uploaded every one minute.
So join this bandwagon and make cool videos that not only blatantly promote your clothing line but also engage the audience. Do away from the traditional approach, publish interesting videos. Whiteboard videos can instructional, interesting, engaging and promotional all at a same time.
So scribble down some ideas and create a good story-telling video.
Appeal A Specific Target Audience
Don't make a mistake that majority make, which is trying to target everyone. Instead, have a targeted approach. When starting, target only a specific set of audience before expanding to other segments.
Have your custom wholesale clothing designed specifically for a selected group. This segregated approach not only provides you the opportunity to grow systematically, but also keep the marketing effort convenient and cost-effective.
There are plenty more promotional steps you can take to take your business few levels up in immediate capacity, like investing in Facebook ads program, connecting with other complementing brands, pulling PR stunts, distributing bumper stickers and more.
It all depends on how unique and smart your strategies are, and how intensive are your efforts to outdo the competitors.