How to Start and Grow a Vintage Clothing E-Store

So you’re a lover of vintage clothing and your collection continues to grow. Maybe you’ve always imagined having the perfect Vintage clothing store online but never quite knew how to go about getting started. Well, keep reading, you might have just hit the jackpot on finding the perfect guide to get you going on your journey. 

One of the best things about vintage clothing is that fashion, no matter how dated it is, always finds a way to repeat itself. The thrill of finding unique pieces along with the fact that it is a business focused on sustainability in its own unique way, makes it an overall great venture.

So what’s an E-store?

Let’s start by setting the record straight and being on the same page. An E-store is the same thing as an online store. The process of selling your products and services over the internet is known as eCommerce; a term we’re sure you’ve come across before. 

There are so many advantages to having your very own vintage clothing e-store with convenience and worldwide access to your unique products topping the list. 

Let’s now explore some of the important things you need to do to get started.

How do I get started?

First, Develop a Business Plan 

As long as you have a plan, it’s time to start building on it. This is where a business plan comes in. Your business plan serves as a detailed guide on how to turn your idea into something real and working. 

Here are the main areas your business plan should cover:

• Company overview
• Details about your products and services 
• A Market analysis 
• Your strategies and how you’re going to implement them 
• Your team of organizers and managers 
• A financial plan along with its projections 

Of course, there’s no right and wrong way to go about planning for your business, but you can use this guide to keep on track.

Build your brand 

Your brand isn’t just the name of your business. It’s so much more than that. The moment you realize how important it is to have a strong brand is the moment your business will thrive. 

A question to answer that gets you on your way to building your brand is: What makes your vintage store unique? By answering this question thoroughly, you’re able to identify your unique ‘value proposition’. 

Your value proposition is a simple statement that tells your prospective and current customers why they should choose your brand over another. By understanding the value you bring and being able to communicate this with your consumers in a simple and efficient manner you begin to position yourself as a trusted brand early.

One great way to get going is to consider building your brand with BPO services. The best part about going this route is that you do not have to operate a large business in order to access BPO services. 

Get yourself a steady inventory 

According to the teachings of IED Barcelona’s BA (Hons) in Fashion Design, it is important to develop an aesthetic style relevant to the international fashion industry. When it comes to finding great pieces for your vintage clothing store, there are no limits when it comes to suppliers. Usually, you have to go where the vintage clothes are and pick the best from among them or whatever it is that suits the style of your store. 

A trusted thrift shop or two or even three is a great place to begin. Going on the right days can also play a huge role as different stores get new shipments on different days. Going out of town is also a great way to snatch some unique pieces as well.

Localization is a must 

Now that you’re on the right track to having a successful vintage clothing e-store and establishing yourself as a brand in this field, it’s now time to take the next step and not only set up your e-store but also optimize it for an international customer base through the process of localization. 

In case you’re not sure what localization is, it is the process of converting information about your products and services to match the marketing trends, culture and language of a particular country. 

Naturally, you’re able to use website localization for expanding your brand, making it easier for your customers to shop on your e-store. 

Get the word out there

After carefully going through all these steps and taking your time to get through them, it’s now time to share the very exciting news about your newly opened vintage clothing e-store.

Taking exceptional photos of your garments and taking great care of them is a must. Using mannequins or live models also help to get the job done. 

Your pricing also comes into consideration when seeking to gain visibility. If your prices are too low or a bit too high it can cause you to not stand out the way you would want to in the market. Doing a little market research and observing the pricing on their items can give you a good idea of how high or how low you can go. 

You can create social media accounts and build your following and then redirect them to your website. Additionally gathering great reviews and testimonials from your current customers can help to boost your visibility. 

Although you’re operating an online clothing store, it won’t hurt to go out and do pop-up shops every now and then so that people can put a face and personality to your brand.

That’s a wrap!

Now is as good a time as ever to get started on launching your vintage clothing e-store, we hope that this road map that we’ve created for you can help you to get started. 

Don’t forget that the team here at Day Translations is here for all your translation and localization needs. There’s also Day BPO, a multi-language omniculture company providing customer acquisition and technical support services. Check us out today!