Close your eyes and think about your reasons for starting your company.  Is it because you want to get rich, have a great design or concept, is there a niche to fill, want to be your own boss, or maybe its just a side gig for extra cash…I’ll give you a minute while you think.

If it’s just to get rich I recommend you think about your decision.  Can you get rich? Absolutely!  But if you don’t love what you’re doing you’re limiting your chances of success.  Obviously, money is awesome, and businesses must make money to be viable, but if that’s the sole reason you’re doing it, you’re really going about it the hard way.

Money is not the only indicator of success, and the happier you are and more in love with your business, the better employees, vendors, partners you will attract, the better ideas and concepts you will create, and the better your customers will react to your brand. You can’t fake that!

The best combination of a winning clothing line:

  1. You’ve recognized a gap in the market
  2. You’ve got a passion for creating something in a niche space
  3. You have (or know people) with large followings that are instant customers

 

Remember, you’re not starting a t-shirt line. You’re starting business that happens to sell t-shirts.  Things are much easier if this is your mindset from the beginning.

The best companies build a whole brand around them. They create the image of a lifestyle that people want to aspire to live.

Look at how TapouT did that around MMA.  Hurley, Quiksilver or Billabong in surfing, or Element in the skateboard culture. Their success did not happen by accident! They deeply integrated into those communities, the founders LOVED the niche markets they were selling to, and were deeply integrated into the communities.

Leave a comment below why you are starting or have started your clothing brand and what niche market you are going to dominate!

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