Is it worth it to start your own clothing line?
August 20th, 2007
I think that this question is the theme of the week. I received an email from a new reader yesterday, asking me if it would be worth it to go into the children’s clothing business at all. Today, I read this mom-entrepreneur’s blog post on how the entrepreneurial world is less-than-ideal.
As far as to whether it’s worth it to go into the children’s industry in particular – my main answer is that the decision is personal. Only you know what products you have in mind. You then have to do the research to find out if the market will take on your product. What is your niche? What will set you apart from the competition? How will you market your products and what price-point are you aiming for? Do you see yourself selling great designs at great prices or luxurious products for a higher price point? What sales and distribution channels will you use?
I definitely believe you have to have a niche. You have to have something unique and different enough to make people overlook your “newness” and take a risk on you.
As far as to whether it’s worth it to go into any kind of business for yourself, my answer is a hundred times over “yes”. Personally, I hate working for other people. Don’t get my wrong, I know how to play the game. I know how to hold a job and move up the rungs of the ladder. But I hated that life. I DO work a lot, a lot, a LOT harder now, but I get bigger rewards, and I see my kids about 800% more than I used to when I spent my days in an office building. And it’s humbling too!
I’ve made a zillion mistakes and have wasted a ton of money by starting my own business. But I’ve grown by leaps and bounds, and I’ve learned a zillion things from those zillion mistakes. I enjoy the journey, I enjoy challenging myself, and I’m starting to enjoy pushing myself outside of my comfort level.
All that being said, no business is worth going into if you don’t LOVE it. You have to love it to push yourself through years of hard work and little sleep.
Entry Filed under: About Me,The Startup Phase
12 Comments Add your own
1. Lisa NYC&hellip | August 21st, 2007 at 11:13 am
loved the linked blog!
And I agree…you have to LOVE it!
2. Jamie Lentzner&hellip | August 23rd, 2007 at 10:38 am
Ahh…yes I agree with you and I know I struck a cord! I would not could do it any other way – however it takes a “special” person I think you would agree to start a business. And being a female entreprneur with children is also a unique individual. Great post – I can not WAIT to hear how the ABC Kids Expo does! My fingers are crossed for you!
Jamie
3. amber&hellip | August 24th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Completely agree – it takes such a special person that I think it’s something like only 10% of Americans who will ever attempt to start their own business. No idea what percentage are nuts enough to throw parenting young ones on top of it !
And the feelings on starting a business fluctuate by the day. From joy to dread and back again. I know I talk myself out of quitting daily – although I now have the conversation down to simply saying “oh shutup” every time I hear “lets just drop this whole thing” in my head.
Yesterday I awoke to the immediate first thought of “what the hell did you sign up for ABC Show for?”. Sheer panic. Because we’re getting time crunched. But the only option is to put one foot in front of the other and move on.
And usually, something good (orders!) happens to balance the panic.
Jamie – your post was great because it’s so much of the REALITY of raising babies and businesses. There are so many things you don’t think about when you embark on this adventure. When you see the “getting started” checklists, it looks so easy. Some of it is. Some of it – like fax machines and fax numbers and logo design can somehow become incredibly involved processes. And web design, ugh the web design…
4. Jamie Lentzner&hellip | August 24th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
LOL – oh wow you say it so true sister! You will do great at the show, and do rememember sometimes it is not about what you do but WHO you meet. Talk to everyone, make connections – doing a trade show is HUGE with a capital H – you have accomplished much. Yes I thought of the analogy of raising a child and starting a business just the other day – such an unknown, but what a fun one! Thanks for linking to me – I did uh, well respond to everyone’s poo-pooing me! And one word of advice for the show – do not forget the price lists – I forget them EVERY time!
5. amber&hellip | August 24th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
At our last trade show it was the catalogs – we had them done but couldn’t get a decent print to save our lives. However, “we have an updated catalog coming out soon (TRUE)” was a perfect way to capture information.
I think I read somewhere in your blog about no telling how long until you hear back from people…this is so true. I’m blown away by how many months will go by before some people place an order -but it happens. This time I have to be better about following up with all of the leads I get.
btw- I didn’t mean to sound down on your post – what you said was all true.
6. Jamie Lentzner&hellip | August 27th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Hey – no worries, I love what I do – but I am HONEST to the 10th degree! I have to say I have followed up like crazy with all these stores – and I got three more leads this week. I hope the ABC show is good, because I do not know WHY these stores are not purchasing products. I think the industry is changing – and I think that online is the future. But what do I know? Thanks again – so nice to know other entrepreneurs that are going through similar things!
7. marlene&hellip | September 13th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Hi – I just happened to come across this page while surfing the net for a free bridal boutique business plan. It was so great to look your chats about the joys and trials of being in business for yourself. Ihave been toying with teh idea of staring a business fro a few years now and have not gotten anything off the ground yet, however I feel really good about starting a bridal boutique in my home town (Cape Town, South Africa).
This became obvious to me while searching for a wedding gown for my wedding at the end of this year – I stoped short of ordering a gown from USA and managed to find one about 2000 km from where I live.
There is a definite gap in our market for this type of service and Iif I’m priced right I will be such a hit.
Can you offer me advice, or even better sample business plans for a clothing boutique. I can always customise it to my own specifications. Your help would be much appreciated.
Warm regards,
MARLENE
8. Najeebah Tanzil&hellip | October 16th, 2007 at 10:34 am
I want to start a new baby line how do I go about doing it please help
9. GUGU&hellip | May 16th, 2008 at 3:41 am
HI
Thank you so much for all the informaion.
I would love to open a ladies boutique in Johannesburg,don know where to start.
Please assist.
THANK YOU.
10. Michelle&hellip | July 18th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Would love to start a new online baby line of unique clothing! How do you get started? How do you buy at whole sale prices? and where do you buy from?
Please Help
Thanks
11. MaddKiwi&hellip | August 25th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Hi, i’m from the UK, currently thinking about starting my own baby/toddler/children’s line of clothing, i have some ideas for designs and fabrics.stuff like that and a name for the actual brand but at the moment they are just ideas
I’m nearly 22 and would love to hear how similar people started from scratch, whether they own their own shop or just the clothing line them selves, any tips or pointers would help, been thinking about this for a while now and would like to know realistically costs and that kind of thing 
Thanks
12. Margaret&hellip | August 19th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
This blog has been incredibly helpful for me as I consider starting a business of my own with a 9 month old son. Your reflections, advice, and tracking of what you’ve done and what it takes to be successful have me thinking very hard about this decision. I have two questions:
–how do you handle or did you handle child care with a little one and a start up business? You posted that you get to spend 800% more time with your kids but that you’ve had to work harder than you ever have before. How do those two things fit together?
–how do you determine if there is space in the market for a new product? Going from kids shop to kids shop it seems like there are so many small label baby clothes producers out there. How can you tell if the market is completely saturated or not?
Thanks so much for any advice or guidance!
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