how to sell more of your fashion product

“How Do I Turn My Product Business Side Hustle into a Full Time Gig?”

December 3, 2021 by Jane Hamill Leave a Comment

Blast from the past <— that’s the email I received from a family friend.

She asked if I could help her turn her side hustle product business into her full-time gig.

She wants out of the corporate world and believes her product biz could replace her job, but doesn’t know the steps.

She wants to sell a million dollars in products.

Challenge accepted.

This episode lays out the exact steps I gave her this morning.

And now you can have them too.

You can also listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Soundcloud

Want to Work Together?

If you need a bigger audience for your product-based online shop and want to make more money from your email list, you can join us in The Club.
If you want to start a profitable clothing line from scratch, we have a program for new designers, called Launch a Line.

Thanks for listening. I love hearing from you! Please tell me what you think about this episode in the comments.

I’m rooting for you!

Jane

VIDEO: Did Cambridge Analytica Get Your Data from Facebook?

April 23, 2018 by Jane Hamill Leave a Comment

Did Cambridge Analytica Get Your Data from Facebook?

So this happened…

“Would you be comfortable sharing with us the name of the hotel you stayed in last night?”

Mark Zuckerberg: “Um,” looooooonggggg awkward pause…. “No.”

>> eruption of laughter at Zuckerberg’s hesitancy to answer the question…

Senator Durbin: “If you’ve messaged anybody this week, would you share with us the names of the people you’ve messaged?”

Zuckerberg: “Senator, no, I would probably not choose to do that publicly here.”

Durbin: “I think that might be what this is all about — your right to privacy, the limits of your right to privacy, and how much you’d give away in modern America.”

mic drop…

Facebook, data breaches, privacy, marketing, retargeting… Where is it all going? Should you care? If you have a business and you use Facebook, please watch the video I made below.

Mentioned in the video:

How to tell if your Data got stolen from Inc. Magazine

Sell More Products Online (SMPO) program: https://janehamill.com/smpo/

So, is anyone thinking of getting off Facebook? Or is this just a fact of life nowadays? Let me know your thought in the comments.

Jane

P.S. In the video I mention this course for getting more online sales.

The Future of Retail and Online Shopping – 3 Things I Learned From a Retail Symposium This Week

March 9, 2018 by Jane Hamill 2 Comments

3 Things to Know About the Future of Retail and Online Shopping

Hi guys! I recently did a Facebook LIVE video (I’ve been busy over there on da facebooks and it’s a blast) about what I learned at an FGI retail symposium and wanted to share with you some of my takeaways. Before I drive in, this quote from Gwen Morrison, a retail expert from the conference, really stuck with me because it’s so on point.

“You can’t just put products on shelves and expect people to be happy for very much longer.” – Gwen Morrison

BAM. Having owned a boutique in Chicago for 14 years, I couldn’t agree more. People crave experiences, not just stuff.

Here’s what’s covered in the video:

The #1 thing people look at when they go shopping – definitely NOW what I thought it was!
Technology in dressing rooms and how they can help retailers’ buying decisions.
Pop-up shops done RIGHT with Samsung technology.
Traditional malls are dead, totally donezo. What brick and mortar locations are doing to bring people in
The expert panel’s advice on COLLABORATION.

Mentioned in the video:

Sew Heidi’s new book: The Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelance Fashion Designer: http://successfulfashiondesigner.com/freelance-fashion-designer-ultimate-guide/

The Sell More Products Online (SMPO) program: https://janehamill.com/smpo/

I’d love to know what YOUR takeaways are from this video. Let me know in the comments below. I LOVE hearing from you!

Jane

PODCAST: What’s a Realistic Amount to Sell Per Month from My Online Store?

September 1, 2017 by Jane Hamill 7 Comments

What’s a Realistic Amount to Sell Per Month from My Online Store?

Last night, I received a question from one of my students and VIP clients. It’s a tricky (loaded) question and I think the answer will help not just Grace, my client, but everyone.

Side Note: I use Slack with my team and VIP clients to communicate quickly – I only work with 6 coaching clients at a time so it works GREAT! I’m not an affiliate, I just love the app because it reduces my # of emails.

Here’s how the discussion went down…

graceA [7:50 PM] @grace I have a goal go sell 800-1000 units at new price ($125) per month – is that unrealistic?

janehamill [7:50 PM] @grace at the moment it’s probably unrealistic but it may not be in the future. Are you talking all of these sales to come out of your retail store? If so, write that down into the number of units per month, per week, per day. And, of course, not all months are created equal so consider that as well. Then figure out if I need to sell 10 dresses per day how many people need to enter the store to have a conversion of 10 units per day.

graceA [7:55 PM] @janehamill No, I want most to be online sales.

janehamill [7:57 PM] @grace Ohhhhh – that changes everything! For the better…OK. To sell that much online, you can work it backwards… 800 units sold = $100,000 in sales per month. Absolutely doable but not quickly. You need to determine some key numbers and in all honesty, you’ll be guessing at a lot of this in the beginning (planning is guessing – but it’s a good place to start. What % of web traffic will place an order, what’s the total # of unique visitors you need per month. What’s the dollar amount of each order? If you want to sell $100K/month, you need to know the average purchase amount from each customer, and how many of your web visitors will become actual customers.

janehamill [7:59 PM] @grace Wait a sec…how about I do a Podcast and explain this in detail?

So here we are, taping a podcast with the answer…

Download this episode on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. You can also click here to download it to any device as an mp3.

Want this as a PDF?

There’s math involved in this episode. While I LOVE crunching numbers – # of visitors needed to site, conversion percentages, average pricepoint, # of units per sale – I know it’s not everyone’s favorite thing. So I put together a handy PDF for all of you visual learners.

Download the handy PDF

Here’s what’s cover in this episode…

The 5 things every online store needs to get consistent sales
The actual math around driving enough traffic and getting enough conversions
Organic growth vs. fast growth including what your budget has to do with it
The 4 main factors to growing your site organically for long-lasting success
“Typical” conversion rates for an online apparel store and what Grace can expect from HER Shopify site

Now it’s YOUR turn.

Was this episode helpful?? Let me know what you think in the comments – I LOVE hearing from you!

Jane

What’s Working for E-Commerce? Six Product Sellers Share Their Secrets

May 25, 2017 by Jane Hamill 6 Comments

What’s Working for E-Commerce? Six Entrepreneurs Share Their Ninja Secrets for Getting Online Sales

Do you ever wish you could be a fly in the wall in the office of another entrepreneur and pick their brain about what’s actually WORKING in their business? Lucky for us, I asked 6 of my favorite e-commerce entrepreneurs for their best e-commerce selling advice.

Today you’re going to hear from 6 online product sellers as they share their BEST advice about what’s working NOW to get sales.

Q: What’s the ONE thing that’s working for you to get more online sales from your e-commerce site?

1. Networking, Facebook and a Discount: Eric Olsson from Olaf Olsson

“As a newbie the most luck I’ve currently had with online sales has been networking with family and friends. Since so many people I knew were asking about my ties I created a family and friends discount code for my Shopify site.

Between talking directly to people and letting people know about the site on Facebook I generated about $3K in online sales.

These initial sales also really helped me get a hand on fulfilling orders with a more forgiving audience. 🙂 I’m still really trying to figure out strategies around PPC, how to monetize social media, how to get influencers to review my products, etc.”

Olaf Olsson is a boutique maker of curated, small batch neckwear and men’s accessories based in Northampton, Massachusetts. They focus is on making the world’s most interesting, limited edition neckwear and accessories that add stories and texture to what you’re wearing.

2. Consistency and Copywriting: Erika Ehrat from Rare Dirndl

“OOOOoooo… It’s a tie between these two.

a) Consistency, consistency, consistency! I had a graphic design teacher in college that probably said this every dang day and I find that his words of wisdom are so relevant to just about everything from emails, social media, to design and customer service. My customers and followers know what to expect from me because I’m consistent. I commit to doing WHAT I CAN (and not over doing it) and doing it well and consistently.

b) Being lighthearted and funny with my web copy and my message. In the beginning the voice of my business (emails, product descriptions, social, etc.) was very proper English and “professional”. However, when I started to relax, get REAL with the customer, and take myself less seriously (I mean I sell dirndls for Pete’s sake!) I started selling more.

I don’t think it was just because more people knew about me (although it helped!) but being more relatable, less stuffy, and easier to like seemed to make people trust me more and thus trust that I wouldn’t send them an inferior product. Also, I always make sure that my photos, my execution, and customer service are always very professional and as high-quality as I can get.”

Rare Dirndl makes and sell dirndls and dirndl accessories that women want to wear whether they have a German event to go to or not. Note from Erika: “If I feel confident in the audience, then I say that my dirndls are “SO BADASS that women want to wear them for yada yada…”

3. Email Marketing: Tom from Mimobee

“Okay, here goes: What’s working for us right now is email marketing. We’ve slacked off in the past, but now are focusing on that with promising results. Why? Your existing customers are a goldmine where you can apply the 80/20 rule and really build lifetime value for each customer.

Mimobee is a kids brand focused on premium contemporary basics made in sunny southern California.

4. Deliver Amazing Customer Service: Marisa Cerveris from SteelCore

“What’s working right now can be described as ‘Customer Experience and Accessibility’. I’ve been trying, across all platforms and sales channels, to be quickly accessible to my customers (or potential customers). No matter whether they have landed on any of my social media platforms, blog, website, or Amazon store, when they reach out… I’m there. And for every package I have a message embedded in my shipping list that is general, and then I handwrite and additional personal note to make the customer feel really special and highly valued.

Backstory… Recently I had a new customer on Amazon email me because her package had not arrived in her mailbox even though the carrier had sent a delivery message. I got the email from Amazon at 11 PM, and I answered it! The next day I initiated a claim with the carrier and again sent an email. I also told her not to worry, that I would be sure she got her order even if the first shipment was truly lost.

We began an email dialog, and by the time the customer found her order had been delivered to a neighbor’s apartment, she was a loyal fan. She has ordered three more times this month!

Conclusion… People want to feel special and taken care of. If it’s feasible to do so, connect with them. And who knows… you may make a friend along the way :)”

Steel Core makes yoga, Pilates, dance and streetwear. It’s organic, ethically produced, made in USA. Designer and founder, Marisa Cerveris, is a former professional ballerina with the New York City Ballet.

5. Having a Community: Marcy Budwick from Kaiya Designs

“Creating a community and a sense of urgency has really propelled my brand. I’m having great success with my Facebook Group. I find that people want to connect with the person creating their style. Be transparent and open and love your customer. Creating that connection has been priceless. In a world of mass production, creating really great items in very limited quantities – even if once a quarter – will truly drive sales. People like unique and or one-of-a-kinds…they’re even willing to pay more for them.

Kaiya Designs make stylish, effortless and most importantly comfortable clothes for busy moms.

6. Blogging, Newsletters, and Email Drips: Jackie Ayres from Dyetology

“Consistency of the Trifecta!! The Trifecta being: blogging, newsletters, and email drips. Doing all these things consistently is paying off. As a result, I am getting traction in my business and building my audience.

Dyetology offers statement-making, unique hand-dyed accessories.

Huge thanks to all the makers / entrepreneurs…

…who shared their advice in this post. Tell me this, which tip stands out to you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Jane

P.S. If you’re ready to get serious about selling more from your online store, check out this podcast and check out my class here.

Getting Online Sales When You Didn’t Think You Could

December 16, 2016 by Jane Hamill 15 Comments

Getting Online Sales When You Didn’t Think You Could

I met with an accessories designer on Tuesday and the meeting didn’t go the way she expected. She was planning her next collection and wanted to spend our time focusing on the new color palette and and styles for next season’s collection. All the fun stuff.

I interrupted the fun-fest to ask her about her online store and how sales were going before Christmas. She tried to divert me back to designing the line with a bright shiny green swatch of fluffiness. Not so fast…

So then she had to get out of her comfort zone and answer my “tough” questions about getting more sales NOW – rather than planning for the future.

Today’s quickie Podcast tells the rest of the story and what this maker did to get some quickie online sales – even though she sooooooo wanted to spend time planning instead of doing. I also tell you how she got quickie sales that she didn’t think she could get and really didn’t want to ask for.

Download this episode as an mp3 file here. It will be uploaded to iTunes and Stitcher radio soon.

Planning vs. doing

What I hope you take from this episode is that there is a place for planning. Absolutely. But it’s the DOING that brings in the money. Money that pays yourself, your team, supports your family, relieves your stress, and makes this whole small business thang a lot more fun.

Show notes

Get your marketing plan in place (for e-commerce) “Sell More Products Online”

“Your Comments are my oxygen.”

Did you like this down-and-dirty quickie Podcast? LMK what you think in the comments below. YOU are the reason I do this and as Gary Vee says, “Your comments are my oxygen.”

Thanks for listening,

Jane

How to Make Your Show Booth the Coolest One at Your Next Selling Event (Steal This #6)

October 14, 2016 by Jane Hamill 3 Comments

How to Make Your Show Booth the Coolest One (Steal This #6)

Recently I started a new series on my blog, called STEAL THIS. If you’re new here, check it out. The idea is to watch the videos, and ask yourself…

“How can I use this for MY business? How creative can I get to try something different with my marketing?”

Today’s video is about how to get MORE people to come to your booth.

More people means more sales. And that’s what we all want, right?

The course I mention in the video is “Holiday Marketing Sales Formula”. You’ll learn what I did to DOUBLE my sales at direct-to-consumer selling events. Bam.

TAKE $30 OFF with coupon code JHBLOG. Just click here to get started.

Now it’s your turn. Has this video inspired you to try something new at your next Holiday Market? What will you do?

Or answer this…What have you done at previous shows that’s worked for you? Leave me a comment below – I LOVE hearing from you!

As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Jane

P.S. The course for selling more at markets, craft shows, and art fairs is right here. 🙂

How Do I Write the Website Copy for My Startup Clothing Line?

May 15, 2015 by Jane Hamill 5 Comments

How Do I Write the Website Copy for My Startup Clothing Line?

I just hung up the phone with a womenswear designer in San Francisco. She’s getting ready to re-do her website and start focusing more on e-commerce. Here’s what she asked me..

“Jane, I am dreading the website re-do. I mean, what do I even SAY on my site? I just want the clothes to sell themselves and don’t feel like writing all the copy and having to try to explain how great I am and how great my line is. Ugh!”

I totally get it. What she really wants is to slap the site up and wait for orders to roll in. Not gonna happen.

So I told her to re-watch a clip from our Marketing Program. It’s all about reading the mind of your customer and using THEIR OWN WORDS in your copy. I just sent it to her and I decided to post it up here for all to see.

Watch this video clip about crafting your marketing message by getting into the head of your ideal customer.

One mistake I made in the beginning, and I see it all the time with fashion brands, is to use “marketing speak”. We’re all trained to write like it’s an English paper which just makes people’s eyes glaze over.

After watching the video, do you see how your customers can actually WRITE some of the copy for you? It’s a lot easier to start with THEIR words and fill in the blanks with your own, right?

So tell me this…

Are you using “marketing speak” on your About page? On your blog? On social media?

In the comments below, let me know what you think of the strategy laid out in the video, OK? Stop lurking and talk to me! I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

Thanks for reading and watching,

Jane

P.S. Ready to start your clothing line but don’t know the steps? This fashion startup program will help.