How to Start a Snowboarding Clothing Line
So you have decided to start your own snowboarding clothing line. Any business endeavor presents challenges, but yours is particularly tricky because it requires expert knowledge in two completely different fields: Snowboarding and fashion. In addition, you will need a bit of business savvy. So how can you bring these worlds together and create a snowboarding fashion empire that soars above the rest? Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose a name for your clothing line. Ideally you will want something related to snowboarding, or a name that at least conjures up images of snow, ice or extreme sports. When you have selected a name, check to make sure that it has not already been trademarked, and then trademark it yourself. This will potentially save you a great deal of legal trouble down the line.
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Experiment with fashion design software and find the best program for you. Popular choices include Digital Fashion Pro and Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design. When you have found a program that you like, begin designing clothes for your company. As a snowboarding line, you will want to emphasize garments that complement cold weather, including hoodies, sweatshirts, beanies, and to a lesser extent, t-shirts that feature your company logo.
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Write down your goals and decide on a budget. Make sure to have a clear picture of how much merchandise you want to begin with, and how much you can manage financially. Be sure to set goals for the future. This will help you to remain motivated and ambitious.
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Find a manufacturer. Unless you plan on sewing each garment by hand, you will need the aid of a company specializing in mass production to help you make your dream a reality. Since you have already figured out your budget, you will have no trouble speaking with manufacturers and articulating your specific needs.
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Make a plan for marketing your merchandise. You may want to pitch your product to local stores or open a shop of your own if your budget allows. The Internet provides a plethora of options as well, including eBay stores and popular clothing merchants like CaféPress. In addition, you will benefit greatly from registering your own Web site and selling to consumers directly.
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Tips & Warnings
Visit local boutiques and seek advice for your clothing line. Many small shop owners work directly with local fashion designers, and some are designers themselves. They can often point you to recommended manufacturers and may even take a direct interest in your product.
Know your audience. Have a keen sense of where snowboarders congregate, which Web sites they frequent, and focus your marketing at those places.
Make sure that all of your designs are completely original and that your company name is not already trademarked. These oversights can taint your reputation and get you into a great deal of legal trouble.
