How to Start a Successful Clothing Business in Nigeria (2024)

One thing is to open a clothing store in Nigeria. Another thing is to use the massive online platforms available to sell your clothes more quickly. This is what many Nigerian fashion designers, and clothing sellers are aware of. They want to learn more about selling and moving to these platforms. When we look at it, selling clothes online or any other product has many advantages.

Renting a shop and furnishing it in an area of high-end shopping is cheaper in the hopes that people will buy. You will also save capital by not having to hire employees in order to run your online clothing shop.

I know this is true because I’ve been in the menswear business for some time and have sold my clothes online alongside my 9-5 job. However, doing both has its disadvantages that I will share later if I have the time. Selling your clothes online also gives you the chance to meet hundreds, if not even thousands of potential customers at one time.

Recently, a friend of mine who is in the same business as me said he had delivered some clothing to a client in Abuja. This article will show you how to do it. Just stick with me until the end and see all the ways to sell clothes online in Nigeria.

IS CLOTHING BUSINESS PROFITABLE?

You’re probably asking this question because you are starting a business for the first time and want to make sure you know what you are doing. Yes, starting a clothing business in Nigeria is profitable if you are confident enough to approach customers and know how to get your clothes for cheaper prices so you can sell them at higher prices. Even though the prices of clothing vary according to the brands, you can make a lot of money if your store sells the most expensive brands.

Some men believe that the ability to sell at any price to anyone is a natural gift, while others think it’s a skill they can learn. That’s what I think. It is a ability that can be acquired. This is something I read years ago. Perhaps one day I will share this information on my blog.

If you have a friend who owns a boutique, they can reveal these secrets to you. But if not, don’t worry because we will reveal what you need to to start a successful clothing business in Nigeria. See the reasons why you want to start selling clothes

• In Nigeria, everyone wears clothing (jeans boxers t-shirts underwear, shoes and more). This makes your clothing business one that people cannot do without.
• Men today are very fashionable and they don’t play around with their clothes.
• Customers want to be able to order from the comfort of home. Since you’re going online, people will buy more from you than they would in a regular store. Other than the three reasons mentioned above, there are many others. But these are the ones I’m sure are valid.

WHERE TO BUY CHEAP CLOTHES IN NIGERIA

If you’re looking to buy affordable clothing in Nigeria, there are several options available to you. Here are a few places you can consider:

• Local Markets: Nigeria is known for its vibrant markets, such as Balogun Market in Lagos and Wuse Market in Abuja. These markets offer a wide range of clothing options at competitive prices. You can negotiate with vendors to get the best deals.
• Secondhand Clothing Markets: Also known as “okrika” markets, these offer gently used clothing at significantly lower prices compared to new items. Yaba Market in Lagos is a well-known hub for secondhand clothing.
• Online Marketplaces: Websites like Jumia, Konga, and Jiji offer a variety of clothing options at different price points. They often have sales and discounts, making it a convenient way to shop for affordable clothes.
• Thrift Stores: Thrift stores have gained popularity in Nigeria in recent years. These stores offer pre-owned clothing at budget-friendly prices. Look for thrift stores in major cities.
• Local Boutiques: Local boutiques can sometimes offer good deals, especially during clearance sales or festive seasons. You might find unique pieces at reasonable prices.
• Street Vendors: In busy areas and marketplaces, you’ll often find street vendors selling clothing items at lower prices. Remember to haggle to get the best deal.
• Factory Outlets: Some clothing manufacturers have factory outlets where they sell their products directly to consumers. These outlets can offer discounts on clothing items.
• Discount Stores: Some cities in Nigeria have discount stores or warehouse-style retailers that offer clothing at lower prices.
• Shopping During Sales: Keep an eye out for seasonal sales, such as Black Friday and Christmas sales, where many retailers offer significant discounts on clothing items.

Remember, while looking for cheap clothes, it’s important to ensure that the quality is still acceptable. Inspect the items carefully for any defects before purchasing. Also, be cautious when shopping online to avoid scams or purchasing counterfeit products.

HOW TO START A CLOTHING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA TO SELL ONLINE

These are the steps to starting a clothing online business in Nigeria.

GET YOUR CAPITAL READY

It’s not possible to start a clothing business, jeans, or ready-to-wear business without capital, unless you have an uncle or aunt who is already in the business and you can borrow clothes on credit. You will pay back after you sell your clothes.

You want to get your capital ready. What amount do you intend to start with? You want to start out small, then expand your business. You may have the money to invest fully. You can choose and your capital will determine which bracket you are in.

DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF CLOTHING TO SELL

Clothing comes in many different forms. It is important to choose the type of clothing you wish to sell. Decide whether you’re going to sell new clothes or thrift clothing, native wear, lace, etc.

You can also launch a clothing line. Fashion designers can do this. Your capital will also determine the type of clothing you sell. Selling new clothes is much more expensive than selling thrift clothing.

You can choose the type of clothes you wish to sell based on your capital, interest and other factors.

GET THE SUPPLIERS FOR YOUR CLOTHING BUSINESS

The next step in starting a clothing business after deciding on what type of clothes you want to sell, is to find suppliers who can supply the clothing itself. In Nigeria, finding suppliers is relatively easy.

You can, for example, go to a the market to find suppliers for your apparel business. To ensure that you have a steady supply, it is important to find reliable suppliers. This will help you earn your customers’ confidence. When they receive the clothing they want in a timely manner, they will gain their trust.

BUY THE CLOTHES IN BULK

After you have gathered your capital, the next step is to buy clothes. You need to buy shirts if you want to go into the shirt business. If you want jeans, you will have to buy jeans.

Where you live in Nigeria will determine where you buy. The price ranges will depend on whether you are selling clothing or brands, as well as the gender. Buy at the lowest possible rate to sell at a higher rate. For instance, buying a piece of clothing for ₦2,500 and then selling it at ₦5,000

ADD YOUR PRICE TAGS TO CLOTHING

The price tags on the clothes displayed in the mall are there for a good reason. They can be found on jeans, shirts and boxers. It is done to ensure that clothes aren’t mistakenly sold at a lower cost. The next step after bringing the clothes home from the store is to attach price tags.

SELL TO CUSTOMERS

You need to be encouraged to continue your business, so my best advice is to start by selling to your family and friends. You can sell your products to anyone you know who likes fashion. This could be your mother, father, aunt, brother or friend.

The next step after exhausting these people is to meet new people. This can be done through a one-on-one approach, be it online or offline.

SELL THE CLOTHES ONLINE

You can sell clothes on different social media platforms in Nigeria.

• SELLING ON INSTAGRAM

Instagram is at the top of our list as it is now the most popular social media platform that people are using and spending more time with. Facebook used to hold this position, but due to recent security issues and other problems, many people have switched over to Instagram.

You can run a successful fashion line on Instagram by creating a profile. Then, you will upload pictures of the clothes that you have snapped. Tag your friends and Instagram influencers as you do this. Your products will show up on their profiles even if they never comment.

You should then run a systematized advert after a period of time to reach more users on Instagram. I use the term systematic to mean that you should choose the best day, time and age range of users who will see your product. It is a waste of resources and time to run your advertisement at any time.

• SELLING ON FACEBOOK

Facebook still has its uses despite recent ups and downsides. You might not even need to pay for an ad if you already have 2,000 or more friends. The time and day that you post the pictures will determine how far they go.

Posting my photos on Saturday evening gets more views than Wednesday. And I’ve noticed why. Nigerians have a busy schedule during the week and when they return home, they want to sleep, eat and watch TV.

• SELL CLOTHES THROUGH BLOGS

This is different than the others because it’s a platform that doesn’t use social media. If you own a blog, you can sell clothes on it. You just need to create a webpage and upload your clothing to it. This only works if you have a blog that has a lot of traffic and has gained enough trust among Nigerians. You can advertise your clothes in this article to avoid stress.

MARKET ON ONLINE SELLING PLATFORMS IN NIGERIA

You can sell your clothes online on a variety of platforms.

• SELL CLOTHES ON JIJI

Jiji remains the easiest online marketplace to sell in Nigeria. It’s free. You don’t need to spend much time creating your profile so that customers can see and contact you. Google shows it. Google has led me to Jiji where I met the sellers of many products that I have Googled. To speed up the process, you can pay for an advertisement. You can pay for an advertisement.

• SELL CLOTHES ON JUMIA

Jumia also has a great platform, but it can take time to have your product listed in their online store. You will also need to pay a fee and provide documentation. I also heard that you’ll need to pay them a certain percent each time someone purchases your product on their platform.

I don’t know if this is true. Please let me know if this is true in the comments. This platform can be very expensive if you are just getting started.

• SELL CLOTHES THROUGH KONGA

Jumia is the same Konga, because they both do the exact same thing. I also heard that they have the exact same process to allow you to sell in their mall.

PARTNER UP WITH A LOGISTICS FIRM

These companies help you pick up and deliver your goods to your customers. These companies can help you deliver your goods to customers. You can also get the delivery fee at a discounted rate, which will result in more profits for you.

CONCLUSION

Start a clothing business as a part-time job or a full time business is very profitable. Majority of people run it full-time. It becomes a career that lasts a lifetime as you grow your brand. It is easy to start a clothing business in Nigeria, but it will require dedication and marketing strategies.