Start A Fashion Business
Tip 1 – Find a studio
It can be a room in your house or you may be lucky enough to have a studio where you already have space to build your new design business.
If you are choosing a room in your house declutter everything in there you will not need for your new business. Clean lines are always best when starting a new business.
Get a large pin board and a wipe off board for the wall infront of the desk.
You will need a female mannequin torso or gents whichever you will need for your business. Shelving – you will need a large amount to place all your design brochures and magazine copies.
On the pinboard, you can put designs, projects – anything you’ll be working on at the time and it will keep you focused on what needs to be done each week.
On the other wipe off board – put the days of the week – and along each one write anything you need to remember for that week.
Oh, and don’t forget your camera, if you’re taking your own photographs which is always a great money saver when starting out.
Tip 2 – Entrepreneur Mode
Put yourself in an Entrepreneur mode –
Start your day with a nice cappuccino to get those brain cells pumping…
Get a smart journal/diary so you can make notes of what tasks you need to action for each day, as well as putting everything on your wipe-off board, and encourage yourself to dig deep and release those inner passions you have.
When your surroundings are in zinc with you, you will work much better.
From now on you must think and behave like an entrepreneur, start making a list of all networking events in the area, and reserve a space at the first 5.
Tip 3 -Network
If you’re a bit uneasy about going to your first networking event, then it always helps to do a five or ten-minute mindfulness breathing practice beforehand, it will calm your nerves and put you in the right place for the event.
Networking can be so useful for new companies its definitely what you need to do to be able to start getting business coming in through your doors.
You will make alot of contacts and get to know other new businesses outhere in your area that may need you or be able to help you grow in the future.
Tip 4 -Source Clients
It helps to target the correct customers and clients that you require to move your fashion business forward and get noticed .
The fashion industry is vast and you are just starting out, there will be a large selection of clients from all ages and all vary with different projects.
Start by doing some research – who are your customers?
What trends are in for that nich category?
What styles?
What designs are in for next season?
What is the price that a person would pay for your service or product?
Build a customer profile and keep it to hand to return too whilst designing.
Tip 5 -Start With One niche product /service
It sometimes helps if you pick a niche category to start such as womenswear – / swimwear or high-end blouses and design according to that.
Along the way, you will find different projects that may be asked of you and you will expand your talent that way, but to start definitely choose what type of category you want to start your design business with.
You could be designing furniture or fabrics, pick a niche that you love to start and it will make the process much easier along the way.
Tip 6 – Get your prices right
Another aspect of starting your own business in the fashion design industry is setting the right prices. Take a moment to find out the amount that your target customer is willing to pay. Then, calculate how much your business would spend on raw material and manufacturing.
This way, you can then set the prices in between the highest prices a customer can pay for your fashion product/service and your overall cost you would pay for production, oh, and don’t forget to add in enough to make you a decent profit.
If your looking for an exclusive bespoke project why not contact us –
Here at the Surface Pattern Marketplace we have a members only marketplace where all designers are on hand for any projects that come in, we send out weekly briefs to them and we also have an inhouse design studio that creates design collections for your next season.
Contact – cathy@surfacepatternmarketplace.com
