4 Contacts You Absolutely Need When Opening Your Own Boutique Clothing Store
Many of us harbor the dream to one day operate our very own high-end boutique clothing store. However, before doing so it is important to realize that such an undertaking cannot be done successfully alone. Indeed, there are a great wealth of people who you will need to help you with such a project. Read on to find out about the most important ones below.
A good Atelier
Even if you plan to sell your own designs in the shop you will need someone with the skill and know-how to craft them for you. Indeed, being able to sew a quick hem is not enough to make commercially appealing clothing that customers will pay their hard-earned money for.
Of course, a good Atelier ( french for workshop) will handle this part for you. Although, choosing makers with whom you can communicate effectively, and that understand your vision, as well as your budgetary constraints, is vital here. Don’t forget that hiring storage units will help lighten the load if you are stuck for space as orders come in for your awesome designs.
The fashion press
Another contact that you will not be able to do without when it comes to opening a successful boutique is those working within the fashion press, both locally and on a wider scale.
Indeed, the overall goal here is to get national or international coverage for your line, as this will help raise the profile of your brand, and get customers through the door. However, do not underestimate the value of being on good terms with your local fashion press either. After all, they are the ones that will be best positioned to advertise to your most valuable demographic - that is people within the locality of your store that are likely to make a purchase.
Tradespeople
On the slightly less glamorous side of things, but no less important, you must ensure you have contacts with local tradespeople when opening a boutique fashion store. This is because it is tradespeople that will help you ensure the practical aspect of running your business go as smoothly as possible.
In particular, having people that can offer things like 24 Hour AC Repair on your books is vital. After all, you will want to create the most positive customer experience in your store, and this is very difficult to do if patrons find browsing or using the changing rooms too hot!
There are also people in the trade who can make sure that your products are ready to launch. In particular, you need to make sure that they meet the regulations and standards outlined within your industry and, to that end, you should learn more about the companies that can help ensure that. You can build the standardization processes in your business to make sure that you’re well aware of the standards you need to meet and how you test for them.
SEO / social media expert
Last of all, for boutique success, you need to have some solid contacts in the fields of SEO and social media. This is because marketing your business online is one of the most valuable ways to get customers through the door.
In particular, be sure that the SEO expert you choose to work with has a good grasp of how local SEO works, as this can help you get a much higher footfall into your businesses.
On the other hand, when it comes to social media, employing someone that can take professional flat lays, make videos of your product and write enticing copy is vital. If you want the work to spread about your designs, that is?
