Sales are the most important part of any business. We all know that goes unsaid. But sales can be more than simply making money. Sales are supposed to help you increase brand awareness. That is one of the reasons why a lot of fashion brands do partnerships. That is also why fashion brands collaborate with models and influencers. I know that it is hard to find potential partnerships in a super competitive market, but as I said before in the INSIDE THE FASHION INDUSTRY – The Competitive Market blog post, whoever sees only competition, cannot see potential space to grow.
Partnerships can help you more than you know. Yes, they can be expensive, especially if you are hiring a supermodel or a top influencer, but the results of a smart partnership can help you in the long run and set your business up for life.
Cutting to the chase here, let me tell you a couple of reasons why you should look into partnerships and, mainly, how to create smart partnerships.
1. Show what your customers want to see
After the market research, you know your customers. You should know their lifestyle and what they like. Using an influencer that represents your brand very well is a great way to show what your customers want to see. Show a real person wearing and styling your garments.
Also, partnering with another brand can be a good idea to show what your brand represents and stands for. If you launched a new yoga line, maybe try a partnership with a brand that created yoga mats, maybe a green juice company.
Everything is possible when you keep your mind open and focused on one thing: show what your customers want to see!
2. Increasing sales
I know it is hard to sign up for partnerships with other brands. Especially when you are designing everything together. I know designers tend to be very attached to their creations. But the truth is that when you are open to working with other people and letting them add to your creativity, things flow naturally. And that can, not only result in sales but brand awareness.
3. Influencers are your best shot – but the right one
A lot of people think that working with influencers is easy. Especially when you have the money to invest, you want to hire the best influencer. That makes sense, but have to ask yourself, does this influencer represents my brand? This influencer wearing my clothes is something that will catch my customer’s attention?
It is not rocket science, but it is also not an easy decision when you are choosing the right person to work with, but influencers can put your name out there and increase sales in a way that is impossible to describe – this market keeps growing and growing. So ask yourself, what kind of influencer could actually become my customers and represent my brand and my market?
4. Keep your eyes and mind always open
As I mentioned: partnering with another brand can be a good idea to show what your brand represents and stands for. Ideas can come from very random places, as long as you know how to invest in them.
Partnerships might seem like a faraway decision to make. Especially when you are a startup business and you are just getting your name out there, starting a brand partnership will be hard since you do not have a sales database or much more to “bring to the table” for the brand that is partnering with you. That is why collaborating with the right influencers is one of the best shots to become recognized as soon as possible. But, at the end of the day, what you have to realize is that you need to keep your mind open. Sales are the most important part of any business, but without brand awareness, there are no sales (same thing with marketing: no marketing, no business!). When you can see a potential space to grow in the middle of this competitive market, you are seeing a potential most of your competitors are not. Take advantage of that.
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