This part of the clothing course covers what is discussed in section one of the Start A Clothing Line ebook. I begin by discussing who is your target market and who you will be selling your products, clothing to. I then go into detail about understanding your customers and your competitors. The section is then concluded with an insight into the 'design calendar' and takes a look at what a typical clothing company will be doing in the year ahead.
The first thing you need to do before planning your clothing line is to know who your customers are. Work out who your market is, the segment within that market and then your specific target market within that segment.
In section one of the ebook I explain the importance of understanding your customers, what the useful aspects are to know about them and why you need to know them. Take some time to think about what you particularly need to find out about your customers.
One way to obtain information about your customers is to ask them. For this exercise you are going to make a survey based on the list that you made in the previous exercise.
Once you have gathered the information on your customers, analyze the data and develop a profile of your customers.
From your customer profile, gathered information and from other data sources as explained in the ebook, you should now be able to identify potential competitors to your brand.
Now analyze each of these brands as explained in the ebook. Also use the information published in the ebook to determine which of these brands are actual direct competitors to you.
When you have analyzed your customers and your competitors and taken a look at the market you are launching into, you should reflect on your own ideas for your clothing line and answer these questions.
Now find out as much as you can about your direct competitors. For a better understanding of what you should be finding out and a checklist of questions about your competitors, take a look at section one of the ebook.
Section two covers developing a product that you can sell.
