Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Tips on establishing a brand and growing a clothing line
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Tips on establishing a brand and growing a clothing line

post #1 of 9
2/4/13 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 

Hello everyone!

 

I am brand new to SF and have been browsing around and so far I like what I see.   My wife and I started a clothing line in Ohio and are slowly growing it.  Now that we are in our second year I am hoping to really develop it to a full time career, however neither of us has built a business to that scale before.   

 

It would be really nice to have some feedback or advice on establishing a brand and growing a business.   Are there very many SF members who are also business owners? Maybe you can offer some advice? What makes a brand that people love?  I do not necessarily want this post to be about our business in particular but more of a general question.

 

Also for the dad's out there, how do you balance work, a business, and family. I am finding no matter what I do I do not have enough time for all three, and depending on the week I end up neglecting any of the three.

 

Thank you for your time!

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread
Follow Styleforum on Facebook for the latest news and our random ramblings
Styleforum Watch Appreciation Thread: show, tell, debate.
post #2 of 9
2/4/13 at 8:37pm
since you're not spamming, why don't you show us some of your work and ask for comments and critiques?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 9
2/5/13 at 2:00am
Thread Starter 

Acidboy, Below are some images that we have on our site for the last few months.  We are hoping to do some new images this month so harsh critiques will be very helpful. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 9
2/5/13 at 7:01pm

I wish you luck, but you will get roasted here for those belts. The more polite members probably won't respond to the thread. 

 

The belts seem over designed and made with cheap materials. Seems like something a man who's dressed by his wife might wear if she found it on sale at a discount department store in the middle of Indiana. 

 

I'm not trying to be an asshole or funny. Just my opinion. 

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 9
2/5/13 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoSamples View Post

I wish you luck, but you will get roasted here for those belts. The more polite members probably won't respond to the thread. 

 

The belts seem over designed and made with cheap materials. Seems like something a man who's dressed by his wife might wear if she found it on sale at a discount department store in the middle of Indiana. 

 

I'm not trying to be an asshole or funny. Just my opinion. 

@NoSamples,  I find your comment very interesting because the comments we get from people who touch our product is quite the opposite, however website feedback is much harder to get.   Could you possibly tell me what made you feel like they are cheap materials?  That might help me to change the site so the first impression is better. 

 

Also besides the sites that sponsor SF and places like Astor & Black, can you think of anywhere we can look to for examples on not looking cheap?

Reply
Reply
post #6 of 9
2/5/13 at 10:37pm
you should check out what the affiliated sellers are offering, those are the kind of belts that are liked around here. but best of luck to your endeavors, brah.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 9
2/6/13 at 11:25am

OP, you have to determine who you want to sell to and what their expectations are. I'm pretty new to this board but I've been lurking for years, so I know it pretty well. If you want to sell to the type of people here, you should definitely look at the affiliates and the threads on belts. 

Reply
Reply
post #8 of 9
2/6/13 at 11:59pm
I would concur with what the others here have said wrt the product and product imagery provided. I would also encourage you to ask yourself if the styleforum crowd is your target audience (I would say not, based on the photos, and after a perusing the site, you would likely agree). With that said, there are many successful companies distributing (and making lots of money) product that does not appeal to the readership here. The suggestions you will receive in this thread will lead you in an aesthetic direction completely off the mark of the product you are already producing. If you are happy with your aesthetic, abiding by your personal maxims, and are seeing positive results than proceed down that path. Best of luck regardless,
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 9
2/7/13 at 11:09am
I am no expert but these thoughts came to mind...
Be visible. Advertise where possible. People won't know you exist unless you do. Post a video tour of yor store on YouTube.
Use an eye-catching logo and colour(s) that people will immediately associated with your business.
Location. Study business locations or locations where fanilies go and get yourself located on those streets. This will earn you walk-in traffic.
Carry accessories for both genders that are under $20. Impulse buys lead to repeat customers and larger purchases later.
Find something that no one else is doing and try that.
Do at least one thing very well. This builds your name very fast by word of mouth.
Connect with the artist community. Plenty of starving artists out there that can sculpt custom belt buckles or make scarves, gloves, etc for you dirt cheap.
Make your store front as attractive as possible. Use lighting & props with your merchandise to encourage walk-in traffic.
Think about the demographics you are selling to.
Study what the giants are doing and emulate them.
Best of luck on your business endeavours.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: General Chat

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread
Follow Styleforum on Facebook for the latest news and our random ramblings
Styleforum Watch Appreciation Thread: show, tell, debate.
Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Tips on establishing a brand and growing a clothing line