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So, you’re looking for the secret to success as an apparel entrepreneur?
Fantastic—you’re in the right place.
If there’s one thing we have experience in, it’s creating an apparel business from scratch and turning it into the thriving business we have today.
We care about your success as much as our own. We respect your hustle and want your entrepreneurial dreams to come true, too.
So, we decided to write a list of 10 things you should do if you want to be a successful apparel entrepreneur. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Prioritize the customer experience.
Succeeding in a customer-centric business is simple—just keep your customers happy.
Don’t believe us? Good luck selling to the people who rate you 1/5 on Google. Your business will suffer if you consistently have bad reviews and unhappy customers.
Creating a positive experience for your customers will keep them happy. Here are a few ways to make their day:
Optimize your website and make it easy to navigate.
Run a site speed test to make sure your site loads quickly. If you notice any issues impacting your user experience, fix them ASAP.
Take a look at your navigation and make sure all the important links are easily accessible. After all, your customers won’t buy from you if they can’t find what they’re looking for!
Add detailed info about each of your products.
Make sure your product descriptions answer all the important questions customers might have. Be sure to include size, weight, dimensions, materials, and care instructions.
Offer fast and free shipping.
Include free returns or exchanges in case something doesn’t fit quite right.
Make the ordering process as easy as possible for your customers.
Your customers will remember the great experience they had on your site. They’ll be more likely to become repeat buyers or recommend your brand to others.
The customer experience is important, but so is responding to your customers’ questions or concerns. That leads us to our next point, which is…
2. Provide quality customer service.
We’ve all been there—we’ve had a question or concern about a product we’ve ordered, but the company’s customer service is nowhere to be found.
It’s frustrating, right? As an apparel entrepreneur, you need to be available to your customers when they need you. Here are a few tips for providing quality customer service:
Make sure your contact information is easy to find on your website.
Include an email address, phone number, and/or live chat option.
Respond to customer inquiries as quickly as possible.
The sooner you can address their concerns, the better.
Be friendly and helpful in your responses.
Your customers will appreciate it!
Offer a solution to the problem.
If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, offer a refund or exchange.
Follow up with the customer after their issue has been resolved.
This shows that you care about their satisfaction and want to make sure they’re happy with your brand.
Sure, there are lots of other apparel brands out there, but if you can perfect your customer service, you’ll be one step ahead.
3. Always. Prioritize. Quality.
We know that when you first start a business, money can be tight. Trust us, we worked many side jobs when we first started Scrappy because it took a while for us to see the fruits of our labor.
However, if you’re going to order custom apparel, keep your long-term success in mind. Good quality materials often cost more, but think of them as an investment that will come back to you in the long run.
If you establish yourself as a premium brand from the start, you’ll have an easier time raising your prices. Your customers will also be more likely to return to you for future purchases.
4. Make connections.
Want to know how to get the best materials without breaking the bank? Connections are your friends. Networking with other entrepreneurs or business owners will open many doors for you.
You never know who you’ll meet. Maybe you’ll run into the owners of the best custom apparel company in the U.S. (Wait, that’s us.)
Over time, your connections may talk about your brand to others, which will help you attract new customers.
5. Offer multiple garment options.
T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, hats… the more options you have, the better. Not everyone is going to want the same thing, so offer a variety of apparel items for your customers to choose from.
This way, they’re more likely to find something they like and are willing to buy.
6. Educate buyers on their options.
Options are great, but they get even better when your customers know exactly what they’re buying.
Trust us, lots of people come to our site and don’t know what the hell all over sublimation printing is. We educate our customers on exactly what the process entails so they can make informed decisions for their projects.
Demonstrating the pros and cons of each product or service will help customers make a purchasing decision. Clarity is key!
7. Go above and beyond with your offers.
Listen, the hard truth is that opening a business in the apparel world as an entrepreneur won’t be easy. There are tons of other apparel shops out there. You need to find a way to stand out from your competitors.
What can you offer that others can’t? Think about it from the customer’s perspective. They want to know what they’re getting out of buying from you rather than someone else.
Do you have a loyalty program?
Free shipping on orders over a certain amount?
A free gift with purchase?
Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that will attract customers to your brand.
8. Create an unforgettable pitch.
You only have a few seconds to make a first impression, so you better make it count. Whether you’re giving a presentation or just chatting with someone at a networking event, your pitch needs to be on point.
What are the most important things you want your audience to know about your brand?
What makes you different from other businesses in your industry?
What are your long-term goals?
Answering these questions will help you create a pitch that’s impossible to forget.
9. Stay focused on your goals.
If being an entrepreneur was easy, everyone would be the next Elon Musk. It’s the people with the strongest mindsets that make it in the business world.
You need to set goals and know exactly what you want from your business. Whether it’s hitting revenue milestones or acquiring a certain number of customers, your goals will allow you to measure your success.
10. Take care of yourself, too.
You’re not going to be able to run your business if you’re not taking care of yourself. It’s important to find a balance between work and life. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising regularly.
Your business will thank you for it!
Why Choose Scrappy?
Scrappy Apparel is a bulk manufacturer for custom apparel. We offer luxury-quality products at pocket-friendly prices. You’ll get the best of both worlds when you choose us.
Here are a few reasons why you should work with us:
- We offer private labeling—the ultimate way to take true ownership of your brand.
- We fold and polybag every order before shipping it out.
- We add SKU stickers to each order.
- We coordinate with our clients’ fulfillment centers and deliver our goods based on their requirements.
Let’s take your custom apparel to the next level!
