If you’re passionate about shoes and have always dreamed of starting your own online shoe boutique, then this blog post is for you!
In this post, we’ll show you how to start an online boutique and discuss some things to consider before launching your business. It’s important to find the right vendors, understand shipping and create a website that will help your business stand out from the competition.
So, if you’re ready to start an online shoe boutique, keep reading!
Finding Your Target Customer
Shoes come in a variety of styles and popularity shifts with the seasons. So before you decide what you’ll sell, you should be clear on who you’re selling to.
This will help you determine what inventory you’ll stock, as well as the tone of your marketing and website design. It’s all about what your customer values.
Are they looking for comfort and style? Or are they fashionable and on the hunt for the latest trends?
That will influence how often you re-stock as well!
Want to learn more about how to choose and understand your target customer? Read this post.
Choosing Vendors For Your Online Shoe Boutique
Once you know your target customer, it’s time to start finding vendors. It’s important to find reputable brands that align with your aesthetic and offer quality products.
You also want to make sure that you qualify to purchase wholesale. Depending on your state, you might need a reseller’s license. That will require you to set up a legal business entity.
But that process has gotten simpler as most things can be done easily online.
Shoes at wholesale prices are generally more expensive than clothing. So you want to make sure that you have a reasonable inventory budget to be able to carry the key sizes you’ll need to sell.
Need funding to start and grow your online boutique? Learn more about business credit here.
Pricing Your Products
One of the things you need to take care of when starting an online shoe boutique, is that you’ll need to factor in shipping when choosing vendors. Some companies offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount, while others charge a fee for shipping.
Those costs need to be factored into your retail pricing so that your business makes a profit every time a customer makes a purchase.
Profit is what you’ll use to grow your boutique. That lets you reinvest in inventory, purchase supplies, spend more on marketing and hire help.
Want to learn more about pricing products for your online shoe boutique? Click here.
Creating Your Website
Your website is the foundation of your online business. So it’s important to take the time to create a site that is user-friendly and reflects your brand.
If you’re not a web designer, there are plenty of templates and platforms available that make creating a professional website and processing payments easy and affordable.
You also want to make sure that you have high quality photos and accurate size charts to make it easier for shoppers to purchase.
Return rates in footwear can be as high as 35% according to an Inbound Logistics report. That’s three times more than the overall eCommerce return rate!
So it’s important that customers have all the information they need to be confident while shopping from your boutique.
Once your site is up and running, you need to attract new customers and keep them coming back.
That’s where marketing comes in.
Marketing Your Online Shoe Boutique
Once your website is live, it’s time to start marketing your online shoe boutique. This can be done through a variety of online and offline channels.
Social media is a great way to reach potential customers and connect with existing customers.
You can also use email and SMS marketing to stay top of mind.
That way, customers are always aware of your latest promotions, new arrivals, best sellers and special deals.
Want to learn more about marketing your online boutique? Click here to read this post.
You can also distribute flyers and postcards in local businesses, or set up a booth at local events where you’re target customer would shop.
The possibilities are endless, so be creative and think outside the box!
Processing And Shipping Orders
When orders come in, you want to have the right supplies. A shipping scale, boxes, and tissue paper are just some of the things you’ll need. It’s all about making the most of the space you have.
So being organized is key! Thing about bins or shelving that can help you with stacking items and making them easy to find. That can be a system you create where things are organized by sizes, styles and/or colors.
You want to make the process as quick and simple as possible. So that you’re not scrambling to find products and packaging when you need to put an order out in the mail.
Starting an online shoe boutique is exciting! It can also be a bit scary with everything you have to take into account.
But long as you’re focused on your target customer (and showing up on the platforms and in the places that she engages with) then you’ll be well on your way to having a successful online shoe boutique!
What’s Next
The journey doesn’t end here! If you are hungry for more guidance on steering your online boutique toward success, I’ve got something special for you.
Dive into my free video training: How to Launch (and Grow!) Your Dream Online Boutique So You Can Leave Corporate Life Behind… (Without Taking *Forever* To Figure It All Out On Your Own!)
This training introduces my proven system that helps you make sales from Day 1. So, grab a seat, soak in the knowledge, and let’s elevate your online boutique game to new heights.
And the best part? It’s an on demand training — that means you can watch it on your own time!
Click here to sign up to get free video training and turn your boutique dreams into a thriving reality!