The coronavirus has paralyzed many industries that have operated offline until now. Anyone who can is coming up with alternatives and moving their services or products online. Not everyone can or knows how to do this, but if you are in the group that wants to and can find their place online, here are a few tips from me.
I created the Baga travel accessories brand myself, and one of the models is registered with the Patent Office. But I will write about that in a separate article.
Baga is an original product line sewn in Poland from Polish materials. And in the context of what mistakes to avoid when running a store, I can only speak as a seller of one brand in the fashion industry.
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Positioning.
I realized too late that paid positioning and paying large sums of money only makes sense if you have a large budget and can verify the activities of the positioning company. Otherwise, it's just an unnecessary waste of funds that could be spent on other things that are more helpful in the early stages of operation.
Young brands with a small budget that want to sell their products in an online store should focus on building brand recognition in other ways. And I started each of them too late and not from the right angle.
I lacked reliable knowledge and skills, I only had a modest budget and a lot of enthusiasm.
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Social media.
Depending on the industry, you should create brand profiles on social media. LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok – these are just a few to choose from.
Building a community around your brand means constant contact with fans and sharing valuable content. This doesn't happen in a month or two, it's constant work, and the measurable results depend only on your commitment.
You need to show potential customers that you are an industry professional and expert, participate in forums, be passionate, and run a company blog with advice that will be valuable to readers and, at the same time, fantastically and freely position your store.
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Influencers.
It is worth establishing cooperation with bloggers, celebrities, or stylists. How to find them? You need to follow the press, the internet, seek advice on Facebook groups, and use recommendations and referrals.
To do the above well on a limited budget, you should search for and participate in online and offline training courses, attend various types of workshops, meet professionals from different industries, establish relationships, and seek contacts in the media (press, radio, TV). There is no better promotion for a store than this type of media.
How did the above activities translate into real success for the Baga store?
My products became recognizable thanks to these multi-faceted activities, and the store saw increased traffic and high sales. Baga was featured in several popular women's magazines, including Elle, laptop covers are sold by Komputronik, and some models, including shoe bags and IT accessory cases, were presented and praised by Pani Gadżet on TVN Style.
If you would like to see what the program looked like, you will find a link to it below.
https://player.pl/programy-online/pani-gadzet-odcinki,160/odcinek-1,S14E01,80120
In June, Baga will be featured on TTV in the program "Kto to kupi" (Who Will Buy It). It will air this fall.
If any of you have questions or need advice, please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to share my knowledge.