Almost everyone appreciates stylish designer shoes, and the hunt for them is more intense than ever.
But if you intend to sell them at your online store, the conflicting question arises: How can you procure these shoes?
This is made difficult due to the multitude of suppliers available in the market, as finding the right supplier and ensuring quality becomes a juggling act.
So, what is the best approach to procure designer shoes that guarantee authenticity along with good margins?
This article discusses different sourcing techniques, best supplier search locations, and important considerations.
By the end, there will be a well-defined plan to target high-quality designer shoes for sale online with your business.
The Market
Before looking for suppliers, you need to consider a very simple yet fundamental question: who are your potential clients?
Do they want high-end designer labels – Gucci and Jimmy Choo- or would they settle for limited edition sneakers? Understanding your customers is fundamental for product and supplier selection.
Utilize tools such as Google Trends to understand what people are interested in. Use social media platforms and forums to see what people who are passionate about shoes are talking about.
Observe what others in the industry are doing. Which styles seem to be the most popular? How much are they charging?
Understanding the marketplace can help you make informed decisions about which shoes to stock and what risks to avoid.
Also, keep in mind that picking a niche is equally as crucial. Avoid trying to sell all sorts of designer shoes and instead, select an area to dominate.
Perhaps you deal with only vintage designer footwear or maybe you specialize in upscale sneakers.
Targeting a specific market segment allows your store to build a strong following which simplifies advertising. It makes the job of sourcing much easier when you know exactly what your clients want.
Where Can You Find Designer Shoes?
Locating a trustworthy source is perhaps the most challenging part of running an online store. But let’s ask the question: what are the options available?
a). Wholesale Suppliers
What do you think about the idea of bulk ordering? The prices charged by wholesale suppliers for a bulk order are much lower than those provided for smaller orders.
Opting for this method is great to consider if you plan on maintaining complete control over your inventory. BrandsGateway and Stock Blue Box offer online access to world-renowned brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Prada.
But take caution! Not every seller or distributor is good. It is wise to ask for samples before making a big purchase so you can check on the quality.
Check with other sellers and attempt to negotiate other offers such as better return policies. Once you have built some rapport with wholesale suppliers, you may gain access to new collections earlier than other retailers.
b). Dropshipping
What if you do not want to purchase and keep the shoes in stock? Listing designer shoes in your store without keeping them in stock is possible with dropshipping business models.
The supplier will store the product and ship it as sold. Oberlo is one of the platforms that can link you to dropshipping suppliers for various designer shoes.
But there are also disadvantages. You forfeit control over the shipping time as well as product quality. Some suppliers are known for tardy deliveries and that can lead to dissatisfied customers.
Exercise caution when choosing your dropshipping partners, and maintain regular communication with them.
c). Reselling Unused Designer Shoes
Have pre-owned designer shoes crossed your mind? There are many buyers who look for unique styles, and secondhand shoes can be a tempting cosmetic niche.
High quality used shoes are easily found on eBay and TheRealReel, and on rare occasions, new ‘deadstock’ four star rated shoes pop up too.
As long as you remain authentic, you will not encounter any difficulties in finding success. Your shoes should always be real and in great condition.
Aim for scarce and limited edition styles as they are the ones that tend to hold value the most. You can also find great exclusive pieces by partnering with estate sales and consignment stores.
d). Private Labeling
If you are looking to sell your own designer brand, then you will want to utilize private labeling. It lets you collaborate with manufacturers so that you can create your very own branded footwear.
This approach has a higher cost but enables an individual to have control over the design and price.
For success to be achieved, one must understand current fashion trends and what the customers want.
Ensure that you use reliable manufacturers so that the quality is not compromised. If executed well, private labeling has the ability to make you unique in the competition of the footwear market.
What Are The Steps To Build Good Supplier Relationships?
Building rapport with suppliers is as challenging as finding one. How do you ensure your suppliers do not become untrustworthy?
To begin, you should go to trade shows or industry seminars to look for possible suppliers. Meeting them directly might help you close better deals. Second, avoid having sole-sourced suppliers. Maintaining backups can ensure your store’s smooth operations in the event that your primary supplier gets blocked.
Effective communication is crucial. Always get samples, talk about returns, and review them before placing large orders.
Update contacts frequently to learn about new collections and stocks. Favorable relationships with suppliers provide you with exclusive pricing and deals.
How Do You Safeguard Product Authenticity?
Low-quality or counterfeit designer shoes will do serious damage to your store’s reputation. What steps do you take to ensure authenticity?
Always get the required documents from your suppliers. Depending on the product, those should include certificates of authenticity, description of product samples, and regular quality checks.
If feasible and the supplier allows it, go to their warehouses and inspect the inventory or use video verification.
Feedback from customers is equally vital. Motivate users to post feedback and integrate their suggestions to enhance your quality management system.
A good return policy builds confidence and guarantees customer satisfaction.
Do You Manage Risk and Create Budgets as Expected?
Failing to control spending on inventory can spell disaster for your business, but having too much does not help either. What can you do to strike a balance?
Begin with small numbers. Try out suppliers with smaller purchases before committing to a larger bulk buy.
This proves useful in assessing their quality before significant investment. Combine different procurement techniques, for example wholesale together with dropshipping, to lower the financial risk.
Pay attention to your stock levels, as they can pose a risk. Excess stock can be costly, but inadequate stock can result in missed sales opportunities. Adapt your sourcing strategy to shift in demand and overall market conditions.
It’s important to have an alternative plan at all times. If one supplier does not deliver, is there someone else who you can get stock from? Being proactive guarantees that your store never goes offline.
What Is Your Business Legal Liability When Selling Designer Shoes?
There’s more to selling designer shoes than simply sourcing products; there’s the law to consider, too. Is your business legally safeguarded?
Ensure that your suppliers hold valid legal contracts or documents that authenticate the products they claim to sell.
This way, you do not fall into the trap of selling fake product, which can land you in loads of legal trouble.
In case you sell used shoes, make sure they are appropriately marked as used shoes. Abide by platform rules regarding condition grading and be honest to the buyers.
Honesty goes a long way in establishing trust and keeping your store in good standing.
Always monitor industry rules and regulations to avoid these issues. Knowing the laws surrounding intellectual property is vital in controlling trademark issues as it allows business to run smoothly.
Closing Remarks
Finding designer shoes for your online store may prove difficult, however, it can also be very profitable when approached in the correct manner. Understanding your market, developing effective sourcing strategies, and maintaining good relations with suppliers will lead to success.
Keep your scope narrow initially, test out your methods, and grow your business. Whatever the focus of your online business may be, the possibility of building a successful store is ever growing.
Your first order of business is finding a reputable supplier, so make sure you start working on it right away!