Sell Traditional Wear
Selling traditional wear online can be a highly lucrative and rewarding business, as there is a growing global demand for ethnic and cultural clothing. Whether you’re offering Indian traditional wear like sarees, lehengas, salwar kameez, kurtas, or ethnic garments from other cultures (e.g., African, Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian), the key is to showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of these garments while making it easy for customers to purchase online.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you sell traditional wear online successfully:
1. Define Your Product Line and Target Audience
Before launching your online store, you must determine which traditional wear you want to sell and who your target customers will be. This will help tailor your marketing efforts and product offerings.
Product Categories
- Indian Wear: Sarees, lehengas, kurtas, salwar kameez, dupattas, sherwanis, ethnic jackets, etc.
- Global Traditional Wear: African attire, Middle Eastern dresses (e.g., abayas, kaftans), Southeast Asian garments (e.g., Batik, Kebaya), etc.
- Festival Wear: Clothing for specific occasions like Diwali, Eid, weddings, or cultural festivals.
- Custom Traditional Wear: Customization options for bespoke or tailored ethnic garments.
Target Audience
- Ethnic Communities: Focus on people from specific regions or countries who are interested in cultural attire (e.g., people of Indian, Pakistani, African, or Middle Eastern descent).
- Weddings & Celebrations: People looking for traditional attire for weddings, festivals, or cultural events.
- Global Ethnic Fashion Lovers: Customers outside of the region who love traditional wear as a form of expression, or as part of multicultural fashion.
- Plus-Size or Petite Wearers: Cater to customers looking for traditional wear in a broader range of sizes.
2. Choose an eCommerce Platform : Ordefy
To sell traditional wear online, you’ll need a reliable, secure, and scalable eCommerce platform.
- Excellent for all types of businesses, with customizable templates and powerful inventory management. Ordefy is also great for selling globally.
- A strong platform for growing businesses with complex needs like product variants, global shipping, and advanced integrations.
- A good platform for handmade, unique, and small-batch ethnic clothing. Great if you’re offering bespoke or custom-designed traditional garments.
- Easy-to-use platform with drag-and-drop functionality, ideal for smaller businesses or those just starting.
- If you’re targeting fashion retailers, Ordefy offers SaaS-based solutions for fashion eCommerce, including for traditional clothing lines.
3. Design a Traditional Wear eCommerce Store
User-Friendly Design
- Simple Navigation: Organize products by categories like “Sarees,” “Kurtas,” “Lehengas,” “Ethnic Wear for Men,” “Wedding Attire,” etc., so users can easily browse.
- High-Quality Images: Use professional images to showcase the craftsmanship, fabric, and details of the traditional wear. Lifestyle shots that show people wearing your products in real-life scenarios (festivals, weddings, etc.) can also help customers visualize the garments.
- Mobile Optimization: Many users shop via smartphones, so ensure your store is fully mobile-responsive.
Features to Include
- Size Guide: Since traditional wear can have different fits compared to Western clothing, make sure you include a comprehensive size guide that addresses specific measurements (waist, chest, length, etc.).
- Detailed Product Descriptions: Include information about fabric, origin, care instructions, and any cultural significance attached to the design.
- Custom Options: Allow customization for tailored garments, custom embroidery, or sizing preferences.
4. Set Up Payment Gateways and Secure Checkout
Your payment options should cater to a wide range of customers globally:
- Credit/Debit Cards: Accept cards from major providers (Visa, MasterCard, etc.).
- PayPal: A widely trusted payment processor, especially for international customers.
- Stripe: For secure and reliable transactions.
- Google Pay & Apple Pay: Offer fast checkout for mobile users.
- COD (Cash on Delivery): Especially popular in countries like India, Pakistan, and the Middle East, where people are more comfortable with cash payments.
- Multi-currency Options: If selling globally, make sure your website can handle multiple currencies and international payments.
5. Shipping & Delivery
Since traditional wear is often bulky (especially wedding garments), you’ll need to ensure smooth, reliable shipping:
- Domestic Shipping: Offer multiple shipping options (standard, expedited). Work with trusted couriers such as DTDC, India Post, BlueDart, FedEx, etc.
- International Shipping: For international customers, use DHL, FedEx, or Aramex for cost-effective and reliable delivery options.
- Free Shipping: Consider offering free shipping for orders above a certain value to encourage larger purchases.
- Tracking: Ensure that customers can track their orders through automated notifications and tracking links.
- Packaging: Since traditional wear is often delicate, use premium, protective packaging to maintain the garment’s quality during delivery.
6. Marketing Traditional Wear
Social Media Marketing
- Instagram: Highly visual and ideal for selling fashion. Share high-quality images of your traditional wear, styling tips, behind-the-scenes content, and user-generated content (customers wearing your products).
- Facebook: Create a Facebook page to showcase your products, run ads targeting people interested in cultural wear or specific events like weddings and festivals.
- Pinterest: This is a great platform for visual inspiration, and it works well for fashion. Create boards for different types of traditional wear (e.g., “Sarees for Weddings,” “Festive Wear,” “Traditional Men’s Wear”).
- TikTok: If your target audience is younger, you can create short, engaging videos showing how to style your traditional wear for various occasions.
- YouTube: Create lookbook videos, styling tips, or behind-the-scenes videos showcasing how the garments are made.
Influencer and Celebrity Collaborations
- Partner with fashion influencers or cultural figures who resonate with your target audience. These collaborations can help promote your brand and build trust.
Email Marketing
- Newsletters: Share information about new arrivals, seasonal collections, and exclusive discounts with your customers.
- Abandoned Cart Emails: Send follow-up emails for customers who leave items in their cart, with a reminder or special offer to encourage them to complete their purchase.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
To attract organic traffic, use SEO strategies:
- Keyword Research: Focus on keywords like “buy saree online,” “traditional wear for weddings,” “ethnic wear for men,” or “Indian bridal lehenga.”
- Product Descriptions: Use relevant keywords in your product titles, descriptions, and tags.
- Blogging: Write blog posts related to traditional wear, such as “The History of Sarees,” “How to Style a Lehenga for Weddings,” or “Ethnic Wear Trends in 2023.” This will help your site rank better in search results.
7. Customer Engagement and Retention
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
- Allow customers to leave reviews for your products. Positive reviews and testimonials can help build trust with potential buyers.
Loyalty Programs
- Create a loyalty program where customers can earn points for purchases, referrals, and social media engagement. Points can be redeemed for discounts or free shipping.
Live Chat Support
- Offer live chat for real-time assistance. Provide customers with quick answers about fit, customization, or availability.
8. Tracking, Analytics, and Scaling Your Business
- Analytics Tools: Use tools like Google Analytics or built-in analytics on Shopify or BigCommerce to track customer behavior, monitor traffic sources, and optimize your marketing strategies.
- Sales Trends: Analyze which products perform best and adjust your marketing efforts accordingly. You might also identify seasonal trends for certain garments (e.g., wedding wear or festival-specific items).
Once you establish your presence, consider scaling your business:
- Wholesale Orders: Offer bulk pricing to retailers or boutiques that want to carry your traditional wear.
- International Expansion: Consider expanding your reach by selling to international customers, especially if you offer garments that have cultural or global appeal.
9. Offline Presence & Pop-up Events
While your focus is online, you might also consider offline methods to expand:
- Pop-up Stores: Attend cultural festivals, weddings, or fashion events to showcase your products in person.
- Collaboration with Stores: Partner with physical stores that align with your brand, where they can sell your traditional wear in-store.
Conclusion
Selling traditional wear online offers a unique opportunity to tap into the growing demand for ethnic and cultural fashion. By setting up a well-designed eCommerce store, optimizing for mobile shopping, offering a range of payment and shipping options, and focusing on digital marketing, you can create a strong online presence. Engaging with your target audience, providing excellent customer service, and building brand loyalty are all key factors for long-term success in this niche market.