Much like any other business, getting your feet off the ground takes a lot of time and energy. When you first start moving forward it's easy to think you're going farther than anyone else. Especially when you hit traction within the first few months of starting. The problem that so many small business owners face is that the world is keeping up with trends.
The fashion industry has always been a loose canon. With fashion constantly evolving and and new styles every season it gets difficult to keep up, especially when dealing with your everyday business owner chores. Not only that but one day you kind of wake up with a failing business and an online world that is soaring, you wonder what the heck? When did this change even happen?
Well, it is happening and businesses need to find a way to market themselves online. You can't expect to get new traffic this day in age without a website. Especially fashion boutiques that millennials want to see. My theory is to enjoy it, you can look at clothes online and see how they would look in person! That is if you are choosing a good photographer and models that have a range in sizes.
" .....my business model was to sell online directly to the public, all those women had to do was click through to the site, and effectively I had them ‘through the door’. From there, I could establish my own database, free of charge, of women who had personally and genuinely expressed an interest in my product. As with any business, I then needed to convert those interested parties to buying customers, so the product needed to speak for itself and woo them once they were in front of it." Kim Winser
She has the right idea. Think about it, you need to stand out and the way to do so is online. Get your branding down and market yourself in an affordable way that looks good. You don't need a million dollars to go out and get recognized online, you need someone to take good pictures, model your clothes the way you envision, and create an easy and mobile friendly website.
The worst part is when people deny these very minimal expenses and go out spending more money of inventory that is outdated and gets thrown to the back of their shop because no one is buying those anymore. If you were online and kept up to date yourself you would be able to accurately gauge what your shop should be carrying.
"An image can quickly tell your story to the user. It can convey who you are as a business and what they can expect from you.
An artistic photo of well-presented food on a plate with a background of a white tablecloth and a glass of wine tells one story, while a burger on a stainless steel counter surrounded by bright colors tells another. Each one can instantly tell the user what they can expect from that restaurant. Is your business elegant? Fun? Sophisticated? Quirky? Photos can convey any of these descriptions.
When used correctly, images can create the right impression about your business, engage your customers and tell them a story about your business and why they should care. But low quality photos or poorly chosen ones can have the opposite effect, driving people away from your site, so give careful consideration to each piece of art that goes on your site." Matt Beargie
Well said Matt, one of the best ways to get yourself out of the google abyss is to deliver exceptional content, pictures, and a story. There is not denying a brand that stands up for what they believe in and aren't afraid to tell the world who they are. If you are not online, get online and start making the right moves for your business.
