If you surf the internet, you will find many quality website builders that will help you start an online boutique website. However, choosing the right website builder could be overwhelming. Moreover, only some website builders will provide you with the desired tools and features. Your decision-making could be the difference between your brand skyrocketing or never seeing the light of day. With the convenience and the availability of the Internet service, it isn't surprising that people would check out the online store through their mobile phones rather than traveling to the store via car.
More importantly, eCommerce stores make it easy for individuals to start a business and make money rather than invest in a physical store. But, of course, this doesn't change the fact that you would need to invest a lot of time and energy to get your firm off the ground.
Tips to Open an Online Boutique
1) Pick Your Niche
Many individuals need help to start their business plans because they cannot develop the right business idea. However, it is not as big an obstacle as you think.
In your life, you will likely have many passionate things to consider, such as skin care, gardening, cycling, etc. If you open a business around things you are passionate about, it will only be a matter of time before you start an online boutique. To find the best niche market for your boutique plans, you must ask yourself the following questions:
- What are your habits during your spare time?
- What is the common frustration that you have?
- Are there any available products related to your hobbies?
Image taken from Strikingly User’s Website
By exploiting different ideas, you are on your way to building your business. It would be best if you do market research and see how to position your online boutique for success. Although your business plans still matter, your passion for your work is critical for long-term success.
Select a small but evolving market and learn everything about it. Then, if you can create content that connects with your audience, you are well-equipped to grow your online boutique.
2) Identify Market Gaps
When you open an online boutique, you shouldn't assume that it will grow based on your passion alone. As a business owner, you should identify aspects in your niche market that need to be filled. For example, it can be a skincare cream that tackles eczema or a line of handcrafted tableware from local artisans in your location. Identify the products that are being offered by something other than big and small competitors. Your business plan will be pivotal in your long-term success.
Identifying market gaps is more than just a random thing for entrepreneurs. For example, you should always look for new clothes to sell according to the demands of the brand's ideal customers.
3) Write a Business Plan
A business plan will be a guiding principle when creating an online boutique from home. It validates your business idea through a variety of things efficiently. As a business owner, you should take your time to improve your strategy, overcome potential obstacles, and clarify your business idea before launching. Your business idea will also help you maintain your finances as your business grows. When you build your business plans, ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the objectives of your online boutique?
- Do you want your brand sold in retail outlets like Urban Outfitters?
- Do you want to be a high-end brand sold exclusively in my online store?
4) Develop Your Products
When you start an online boutique, you have a lot of choices on the table. Apart from the products you sell, the biggest decision you would make is what business model you should follow. Your business model will determine what products you will offer and what your future business operations will look like. Common business models for developing products are as follows:
- Dropshipping: A third party develops a product and completes orders. You don't have any say in the inventory.
- Manufacturing: An overseas organization develops your products and ships them to your house or warehouse
- Reselling: Involves buying other brand products through wholesalers and selling them in your store.
- Handcraft: Manufacturing products or delivering orders on your own.
- Print-on-demand: It is similar to drop shipping, but the difference is that in this case, you make the products (such as merchandise), and the third party completes the orders.
Most of these models will be involved when you open an online boutique website. You can create a combination of different business models to match your needs. If your boutique is highly dependent on manufacturers, here are some of the tips to identify the best fit:
- Search on Google and manufacturing directories to find local producers
- Reach out to a few candidates immediately and call them directly to set up an appointment
- Meet your producers with professional prototypes. Communicate with them in a way that they are convinced about your business vision
Searching for suppliers and manufacturers can be overwhelming, but it is at the expense of starting an online boutique business. However, you will eventually find the best partners for your boutique with patience and perseverance.
5) Choose a Brand Name and Logo
Although your business plan is important, your brand name and logo carry equal weight. In addition, customers always like brands with captivating stories, so you must mention that in your brand profile.
Image taken from Strikingly
Make sure your brand name is attractive and not taken by one of your competitors. The last thing you want is to see your customers move to another website with the same brand name.
Previously, business owners used to put in hours to build the best logo for their brand. However, digital tools have made it easy for them to create the best version of their brand logo.
6) Price Your Products
Creating an effective product pricing strategy is one of the most important decisions you make during your business journey. It affects every part of your business plans, such as profit margins, sales tax, and the expenses you can manage.
You must align your pricing strategy with the target market. Of course, it would help if you finalized your prices that fund your production costs, but you shouldn't confuse your audience before launching your online boutique.
7) Market Your Boutique
The ultimate goal of your boutique marketing strategy is to promote brand awareness. Therefore, it would be best if you created a reputation as the best seller for a particular product or niche. Your reputation is based on the skills, personality, and mentality that none of your competitors can compete with. From SEO to social media, here are some of the options to consider:
- Instagram marketing: This social media platform is preferable for boutiques to show new products and attract new customers. You will also find many Instagram influencers to promote your brand and products.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): It allows people to find you when looking for products in search engines like Google. As these buyers have high intent, you will find relevant traffic on your website and increased sales.
- Facebook ads: Help you find the perfect audience segment that fits your profile.
Build an Online Boutique Website on Strikingly
Strikingly is a website builder on which you can easily build your online boutique website. After registering on our platform, you will find your way to a range of pre-designed templates. Strikingly enables you to quickly convert every template into categories to identify what you are looking for.
Image taken from Strikingly
If you are building a website for the first time, it is very easy to get confused regarding how to implement your ideas. For ease, you can look at the previously published websites and understand how they have implemented their ideas. Then, once you identify the right template for your boutique website, you can use it immediately.
On your online store, you can add the store and product sections. Once you finish the store section, you can start adding your products.
Most Strikingly website templates contain a contact section, which you can change to suit your preferences. In the contact area, remember to include your contact details and the map (in case you have an office or a working station).
Best Online Boutique Examples on Strikingly
1) Bohemian Traders
Image taken from Bohemian Traders
Bohemian Traders is a good website to start your research if you want to understand how to start online boutique websites. Visitors to this online boutique can easily navigate between the clothing products based on the latest arrivals, accessories, and sales products. The interface of this website has a Bohemian vibe with quality navigation and user experience.
2) Bahia Blanca
Bahia Blanca is one of the best websites established on Strikingly across all niches. This online boutique contains a social feed section, which allows the user to display its social media feed to the visitors.
Image taken from Strikingly User’s Website
Bahia Blanca offers a variety of women's wear and clothing accessories. The diverse product lines and attractive website designs benefit the website and the overall business.
The merchant can update its online boutique easily. If you want to own a similar online store that maintains it without difficulty, make sure you build one today on Strikingly.
Conclusion
Start an online boutique today and run it with careful analysis, innovative financing, and little hard work. Take your time studying local legislation, developing your brand, and creating a high-quality product range. By following all these things, you will be on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Your startup costs could be high, or you may have a lot of competition for your boutique startup. However, you don't need to worry because these challenges are there only to elevate your business plans.
Like every other business, you must focus on finding the right niche and getting your products in front of the right target audience. It is normal to start an online boutique as a side hustle and convert it into a successful remote business. If you want to start a new business today, head to Strikingly and make your online boutique business a reality.
