Everybody loves shoes. We all have different tastes when it comes to the shoes we wear. The shoe business has always been on demand and will always be on-demand. Depending on the location of people, people prefer different shoes.
You might have that one or two pairs of shoes that you love. Has it ever crossed your mind that you can start your shoe line? If it has, then this is the article for you. In this article, you will get more insights on how to start a shoe line business and how to make it grow.
Advantages of starting a shoe line business
Starting any type of business has its advantages. Staring a shoe line is advantageous. Here are some advantages:
- You will be able to retain your customers. Once you start your shoe line business, customers will be drawn to your products. If your shoes are of good quality, they will be more drawn to wearing more and more of your shoes.
- Having your shoe line will mean you will have control of your workload. Being the shoe line owner, you can choose when to work and when not to. You are also able to decide what to prioritize and when to do so.
- Starting your shoe line will give you more flexibility. You will be flexible to do whatever you want at whatever time. You will also be able to balance your work and personal life.
- Starting your shoe line will make you enjoy all the profits alone. When the shoes you produce are good, you will have more sales. This will make you have more than the expected income and you get to enjoy it alone.
- Having your shoe line will mean that you can decide on the advertising platforms and methods you will use. When working for someone, you follow what he or she tells you. Working and starting your shoe line will enable you to explore the different advertising and marketing methods available.
- There is a high possibility of getting referrals when you own your own business. Advertising will help you do this.
These are just some of a few advantages that you can get when you start a shoe line. What do you then need to start the shoe line?
Have a business plan
A business plan is a document that describes how the business will achieve its objectives and goals. A business plan is usually available to the customers and stakeholders. Through a business plan, the customers can know what the business is about. A business plan should have the following things
- A summary: a summary will give a brief explanation of what your business is all about. In this case, it will tell the potential customers that yours is a shoe line business. The summary should also have a list of any partners and their roles.
- Your business plan should contain the business description. You should explain what the business will be doing
- Financial plan: the customers and shareholders if any will want to know your financial plan. The financial plan should state how much you intend to use while carrying out your business, the capital you have, and the sources of your business income.
- A business plan should also have the marketing strategies you will use. Your business plan should explain how you would market your shoes.
- Your business plan should have the products and services you will be providing. Listing the products and services, you will be providing will help your potential customers to know more about the products you do.
Do your research
When you want to start your shoe line, you must do your research before you start. You need to understand how the shoe line industry works and the challenges you will likely face. You also need to know the trends that are there currently. Remember, different seasons require different types of shoes.
You can also decide to produce a specific type of shoe using specific materials. Doing your research will help you to know which raw materials you can use and which ones are readily available in the market. When you do your research, you will also know the preferred type of materials people are willing to have in their shoes.
Have specific designs in mind
Once you have done your research and have identified the type of shoewear you want, you can draw sketches. Draw sketches of the designs you want to try out. You can draw the sketches on the computer then print them to get a physical drawing. Once printed, cut out the sketches and you can put them on a board. This will help you to have easier access to them.
The things and people around you can also inspire you. You can ask around from your family and friends. They might tell you of a design they might have in mind. Think about the color and the materials you will use and find the most suitable material or fabric for the shoes you want to make.
Once you have a design in mind, you can go ahead and enroll in a shoe-making class if you do not have the experience to do so. Going to a school will help you get the knowledge you need while making your shoes.
Make your business legal
Before you start your shoe line, make sure you are legally registered. You can do so by visiting Seed Formations to find out how to register your business. Different types of businesses can have different requirements.
You should also have a name for the business. Do your research and pick a name that is not in use by any other business. A business name will make your brand known easily. Choose a name that is easy to remember.
Get insurance for your shoe line
Insuring your products is important. You should have insurance against risks like fire, accidents, and bad weather elements like floods and hurricanes if where you live experiences such. You can reach out to any insurance company and check if they have policies that will suit your business. Since your business is just starting, you do not have to take an expensive policy for a start.
Have a business account
Separating your shoe line business from your assets should be one of the first things you do. Set up a business account of your choice and ask for an account to be opened for you. You should also ask for a credit card in the name of your business.
Having a business account will help you get loans for better interests. Having a separate credit card will also help you to limit the usage of your funds. Make sure to channel all the monies you get from your business to the business account.
Get the raw materials
Different designs of shoes will look good in different materials. When you are choosing the materials and fabric for the shoes you will make, you should first check the comfort. Nobody will want to wear uncomfortable shoes. People will want durable shoes, that have good soles and are light.
Here are some materials you can choose from:
- Synthetic leather: this material is less expensive than real leather. It is also less durable. Synthetic leather is available in a variety of colors. Shoes made of synthetic leather do not last long and should not be worn every day
- Rubber: rubber is used to make soles of shoes. It is durable and comfortable. Rubber is made out of polyester.
- Textiles: these are materials that come in different colors. If you are more inclined to make creative shoes, this is the best material to use. While making shoes, you can decide to use different textiles like cotton, wool, and polyester among other materials.
- Leather: leather is elastic. It is the most preferred material. Leather is also durable. The durability of leather makes it one of the best materials to make shoes with. Leather can also come in some colors.
Marketing and advertising
For people to know about your shoe line business, you have to market and advertise your brand widely. Advertising and marketing can take many forms. Below are some ways you can advertise and market your shoes
- Through family and friends: spread the word out to your family and friends. Tell them of the shoe line business that you are starting. You can even issue out some shoe samples to them and ask them to give you feedback on what they think. They can also act as your referrals to others.
- Advertising through newspapers: you can also decide to put an advertisement in your local newspaper. Put a picture of you’re the shoes you have designed.
- Use social media: we live in an era where almost everybody is on social media. Why not take advantage of this? You can open an account on the different social media platforms available like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Meta. People will be able to see your products and buy them. Make sure you post clear quality photos.
Pricing
Once you have designed your shoes, you should put a price on them. Do some market research and decide on a favorable price. Make sure you do not put the lowest price so that you can be able to sell more shoes.
Set prices depending on your target market, the raw materials you have used, the labor you have used, and the average market price of the shoes you are making.
Have a website
Having a website will help you to advertise more your shoe line business. You can create the website on your own or have someone make it for you. On your website, have good quality photos of the shoes you have made. You can also have descriptions of the goods you offer.
You should put prices for the shoes on the website and if someone is interested in buying a pair, give direction on how he or she can do so. Your website should also contain your contact details. Have a working phone number and email address. That way, your potential customers can be able to reach out to you with ease.
How to design shoes
The shoe designing process is not hard. With the right tools and skills, you will be able to make beautiful shoes. The process is as follows
- Deciding on the design. This is the first step when you want to make a shoe
- Having the measurements: the measurements should be exact. If you are making a size 4 shoe then the measurements should be that of a size 4
- Making the shoe mold
- After you have made the shoe mold, the next step is to cut the pattern and ensure it is the right one.
- Once the pattern has been decided on, the pieces of materials are assembled on the mold and put together.
- After completion, the shoe is tried on to see if it is perfect.
- The shoe is checked for any defect
- After it is confirmed to be perfect, the shoe is advertised and sold.
Conclusion
Starting a shoe line business is easy. It might have its challenges but once you start, you will reap its benefits. Starting your own business will make you become your own boss. Following the steps above will help you to start and run a successful shoe line business. When you start your business, make sure you advertise and market it well. Make sure the quality of the shoes you make is top-notch. You will be able to retain customers if you do so.