Swimsuit Clothing Line: How to Start a Swimsuit Clothing Line Business

A swimsuit business is tough, profitable enterprise. Although the business is lucrative there are not many companies that focus only on swimsuit.

In many countries the industry is new and you can count the number of companies produce swim wear. This is greater news for entrepreneurs ready to cash into this virgin field.

A good swimsuit should be fashionable, trending, sturdy, high quality and practical. Designing them are rather challenging because the outfit needs to encompass all the above elements.

Other elements are effective sales, marketing, fabric choice and design.

Fund your Enterprise

Get funds from bank loans, cooperative loans, and trade/micro finance banks. Sell equity in your startup company to core investors. Try a partnership arrangement or target savings.

Write a Business Plan

Write a good business plan to cover funding, feature goals and feasibility study. Things included in the business plan are operational costs such as equipment, staff, product sales, and factory location.

Other modalities are target audience, age demography for your swim wear and pricing. Correct pricing is important to remain competitive and relevant.

Factory

To manufacture your swim wear you need a dedicated workspace. The business can work as home based business or in a factory.

The size of the enterprise and cloths production line dictates the kind of equipment and space needed. It also correlates with the number of staff hired in the production and marketing department.

You can run either an automated factory or hand sewn swimsuits. Lease a large warehouse or manufacture your outfits in a designated space at home.

The space should accommodate equipment like sewing machines, lots of fabric storage.

If you don’t want to do the manufacturing yourself buy directly from manufacturers and sell. Another way is to contract the production to other manufacturers who produce and package them.

Manufacture, Wholesale or Retail

There are three ways to approach swimsuit cloths business. You can focus on manufacturing and sell to wholesalers or enter the retail market. 

Manufacturers are at liberty to open a retail outlet for their products. To reach wider audiences sell your wears at departmental stores and shopping malls.

Staff

Hire an experienced designer and professional tailors to produce quality swim wear. You have factory staff, management team including the supply and account department.

You need sales representatives to market the outfits, drivers and security staff.

Equipment

Some equipment needed is sewing machines, desk, scissors, and mannequins for designing the outfits. Others are sketch pads, design templates and other items.

Swimsuit making is a highly specialized niche so you need adequate training and professional assistance. You need a cutting table, accessories and different fabrics.

Register your Business

Register your business as a limited liability company and select a good business name. You will need local government licensing and permits. Other recommendations are insurance corner for business and staff including tax considerations.

Make sure you have the patent for your designs to prevent manufacturers stealing your designs.

Marketing

To reach customers create an identity to differentiate the brand. Build a website to sell your designs and include a shopping cart. You website needs lots of traffic to attract enough sales.

You can generate traffic by search engine optimization techniques to increase visibility of your website. Other methods are through directory submissions, quality content and guest blogging.

You can use Google Adwords and FaceBook advertisement to get targeted traffic. Place advertisements in newspapers, and social media platforms.

Network with people in the same industry and join various associations. Join groups such as manufacturers associations, textile industry and cloths industry.

Create a colorful brochure with images of your swimsuits, description and useful information. Add your contact address, telephone number and business name.

Contact large retail stores in your country and offer your swimsuits to be displayed and sold in their stores.
Learn how to Open a Cloths Store

Steps to Starting your Swimsuit Enterprise

1.    Creating a business plan is essential to the success of your enterprise

2.    Study the industry and do lots of research

3.    Hire a designer to create sketches

4.    Get manufacturer to create your samples

5.    Learn everything you need to know about making swim wear.

6.    Focus on developing your business including future goals and growth

7.    Have a minimum order form and have specific payment terms

8.    Offer full package and offer custom prints

9.    Test your prototype extensively before rolling it out into the market

10. Build a search engine optimized website for your business

11. Have a good marketing plan