Places You Can Sell Your Clothes as a Boutique Owner

As you know, opening a boutique is not easy. You have to decide which brands you want to buy and sell, find yourself a wholesaler to provide these brands, how big should your inventory be, and so on. You probably did all of these, and now you are here. You are probably seeking ways to sell your clothes. There are many different places where people can meet with your items. In this blog; we present the different ways, both online and offline, of selling clothes to you.
Online Places
The major advantage of all online places is that they are relatively cheaper to obtain when compared with offline places. So starting your own business on an online portfolio can be a cost-effective strategy and less risky strategy for you. Nowadays, online shopping is a new trend. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, people became more intimate with online shopping in the past few years. Because of this, there’s never been a better time to launch an online boutique.
As you can see in graph above, Online business entries increased rapidly during the pandemic. Online selling can help you to reach more people, both national and international. Plus, it is easier and faster to set up an online business compared with a physical/offline business.
Moreover, these online options are much cheaper than stumping up for a physical location. Therefore they have less risk attached to them if things were to go wrong with the location. You can start your online business by making a website or using different online platforms.
Make a Website
Having a website is practically mandatory if you want to sell your items online. Conversely, when you have your website; you can provide information about your boutique, your contact information, social media accounts, and more.
Creating a website is very easy when you know the essentials. The first thing you need to know is; that doing everything from scratch is tough so you need to use an e-commerce platform to build up your business.
Shopify is a full-featured e-commerce platform that allows you to build, grow, and manage a company. Anyone may set up an online store and sell their products using subscription-based software. Shopify presents you with website templates both free and paid. You can select one that reflects the theme and look of your boutique the best way. After that, you can customize your website and online business more as you wish.
Also, there are additional products and services that you can use on Shopify. It gives you a chance to try all of those additional services in a 14-day free trial. For example, Shopify can collect data for you that shows customer statistics such as how much time they spend or how suitable your offered prices are for them. You can also hire Shopify experts that can help you to develop your business. Also, they show you a way for your digital marketing strategy.
Since you use your website, you do not have to pay any listing or selling fees that would eat your profit. Moreover, having a website gives you a more professional image to the visitors of your site. A well-designed website instills confidence in your customers and makes them feel more comfortable while they are shopping online from you.
Luckily, we have prepared a detailed guide on how to make a website to sell clothes. You can learn more by reading our blog here!
Instagram Shop
Instagram Shop, which was first released in 2019 for major businesses, allows many businesses to sell things on Instagram through videos, shorts, photos, Reels, Stories, and advertisements! It is a good opportunity for you to introduce a big audience with your clothes. It is the easiest method of marketing and selling products since most people are familiar with social media. Instagram is the best tool for visual marketing since it is fast and effective, you can add a photo in seconds.
You have to follow some steps so that you can set up an Instagram Shop. The first thing you have to do is check if you satisfy the eligibility requirements that are explained in a detailed way in Instagram’s merchant agreement and commerce policies. The next step is to convert your account into a business account from settings. After that, you have to connect your website and Facebook account with your Instagram account. Finally, you can upload your product catalog. Instagram Shop requires you to have a product catalog, which is a list of all your products, inventory, and descriptions. And then you are ready!
As you can see, it is not hard to use Instagram Shop. Plus, there are many advantages. You can connect with your customers via DMs. You can have conversations with them so that their trust in you and your brand would increase. Not only with your customers, but you can also connect with influencers via DM. So that they can advertise your brand and connect you with big audiences.
Moreover, hashtags make it easier to categorize your products so that your posts can reach other people who do not follow you yet search for your product.
Facebook (Facebook Marketplace)
Facebook is a crucial tool for businesses looking to sell their products to specific audiences. In your case, this audience is formed by women who are seeking daily clothes which carry of good quality and are affordable for them.
Facebook Marketplace helps your business to discover the appropriate customers by surfacing products that are relevant to them.
This ensures that your clothing is viewed by the target audience so that your chance of interaction will increase and this will lead to an increasing purchase.
Just like Instagram Shop, there is an extended reach to customers because most people are spending a good amount of time on social media. Facebook does not charge anything for the Marketplace, it is also free to download. This means you can save a good amount of money and reach your potential customers at the same time.
Poshmark
Another platform that you can use to sell your clothes online is Poshmark. Poshmark allows active sellers to do their business by offering a platform for them to set up their shops, list items, and start their boutiques to supplement their income. There are some requirements to sell your items on Poshmark as a boutique, the first one is having a Boutique Certification.
Boutique items listed in your closet may help emphasize your closet, especially to buyers who are actively trying to acquire items that aren't preloved. Poshmark has a Posh Market devoted only to Boutiques, so having boutique items listed in your closet may help promote your closet.
Moreover, Poshmark has Boutique Posh Parties, where only boutique items can be shared and viewed. This gives you another chance to advertise your closet
Offline places
Offline ways are opening your store or a pop-up shop. These options will make it easier for you to contact your customers and gain their trust since they can touch and feel your products. Offline shopping has always been more reliable when compared to online shopping. Since customers can touch and feel your clothes, try them on to see whether it gives them their expectations, you would not have to deal with too many complaints after selling the clothes. 
If you want to start your business offline, you have two options: Opening a physical boutique store or a temporary pop-up shop. Let's see the advantages and disadvantages of both of these options.
Pop-up Shop
A pop-up shop, also referred to as flash retailing, is a trend where a brand randomly opens up a sales space for a short amount of time before closing it down. The pop-ups are usually themed, feature some kind of exclusive giveaway or product, and are unique and memorable.
Credit to: Blooming Rose
Pop-up shops are also a great tool to enter the offline market after you have taken your place in the online places. Not only does it give you a chance to reach your customers face-to-face and strengthen your relationship with them, but it is also a good advertisement for your online profiles. For example, you can gain more followers on your Instagram and Facebook profile after the people visit your pop-up shop.
Pop-ups are easier to open in terms of time and money than opening a physical store. In the end, a pop-up implies less risk, less space, a shorter renting duration, and no overhead expenses. No matter how much money you are willing to spend, you can make this strategy work.
They are also very efficient for constituting your connection with people and advertisement. Pop-up stores are more unusual and unique than other permanent physical stores so people would be willing to come and discover what is in it for them. Also, pop-up stores generate word-of-mouth interest because unique pop-up stores give people a reason to talk about this with their relatives and close friends. In other words, it is very efficient in terms of advertising. After closing your pop-up and opening your persistent store on a street, people you would already have customers beforehand.
Opening Your Physical Boutique Store
Physical stores especially carry advantages in terms of customer relationships. They give the chance to touch, feel, and try the clothes. Not only that but also physical stores are more convenient than online shopping. Sometimes customers cannot wait for a couple of days, even overnight, for the arrival of their clothes. So they prefer physical stores which can give them what they need in minutes.
Moreover, customers may need assistance while shopping for clothing just like you need assistance from them. You can help them to find what they need. In return, if they cannot find what they need, you can expand your merchandise according to your unsatisfied customers.
Of course, opening a physical store is more time-consuming, expensive, and risky when compared with starting an online business. You have to find a suitable place to attract customers with reasonable rent. If you open a store on a desolate street, your potential customers may not be aware of your boutique, which makes it harder for you to reach them. Or people may not see and just walk away from your boutique. That is why you should organize your showcase very well. Moreover, your customers may not only want to check up on the clothes, but they want assistance. That is why you need to take care of all of your customers one by one, privately.
All in all, there are so many ways to sell your clothing both online and offline. As you can see, there are other ways than opening your boutique store to sell your clothes. Pop-up shops are good to attract the crowd and prepare the ground to open your permanent store by forming your target customers. You can use the benefits of social media, and different platforms for creating your website and step into the online marketplace. We hope that our blog helps you to expand your view about selling your items and find the best way for yourself to introduce your items to your potential customers.