How do you get inventory for an online boutique?
- Attend wholesale clothing trade shows to get new items.
- Work with clothing manufacturers directly.
- Buy wholesale clothing online.
- Organize your inventory by season or item type.
- Store inventory properly to prevent damage.
- Ship purchased inventory to customers promptly.
To start a boutique, estimate $50,000 to $150,000 for initial costs like inventory, store location, marketing.
- Consider your niche, write a business plan, get funding before opening.
- Buy enough sizes and quantity to meet demand.
- Sell boutique clothing, accessories, jewelry, handmade crafts, vintage items.
- Price products at double the wholesale cost.
- Market to your target audience.
- Update inventory frequently.
- Provide excellent customer service.
- Locate near similar, successful boutiques with steady foot traffic.
Boutiques get their inventory from the following sources:
- Wholesalers
- Direct-to-consumer distributors
- Dropshippers
- Imported products
- Private label programs
To manage boutique inventory:
- Use point of sale software to track sales and inventory.
- Create a labeling system for inventory bins and items.
Wholesale online boutique vendors allow boutique owners to access new inventory dimensions unavailable to average shoppers. Fashion shows, garment events and sourcing agents also offer inventory sources.
Click for a list of American wholesalers and marketplaces where you can source boutique inventory.