TIPS FOR AFRICAN DESIGNERS TO PROMOTE THEIR LABEL ( PART 3)

Bonjour Dolls,
This is my 3rd and final installment on the tips for African designers to promote their label. I am truly happy with the outcome . The first two are articles are still very popular on ciaafrique. So today we have a lot to cover. let's start shall we ?

USE YOURSELF AS WALKING BILLBOARD

What better way to promote your work but to wear it yourself.When you go to big events make sure you market yourself by telling everyone you are wearing your own designs. If your work is good trust me there will be at least one or more people asking you where you got it from. This is one of the best way to promote your work

PROMOTIONAL REFERRAL DISCOUNT

The promotional referral discount is just giving discount by referral. An example is if I buy something from you , all you have to do is to give the next person ( my friend)I refer to you 10% discount and use the same method over and over again you will be amazed about the number of people you get by doing that.Something I have noticed with a lot of African designers is that they don't put their items on sale. In fact I have been visiting some online shops and the same items have been there for the last 3 years ( yes I said 3 ). I just don't know why you will keep an item in your site for that long. If its not selling maybe the prices are not reasonable or your clothes are just not that great.

TRUNK SHOWS/POP UP BOUTIQUES
Because of the bad economy a lot of designers even big fashion houses have been doing pop up Boutiques. As a designer who is not yet well known participating in Trunk shows and Pop up boutique is a must.

BE CONSISTENT

If you are serious about being a fashion designer and stay in this business then the key is consistency.

I know a few Young African designers that have not made a collection for the last 2 or 4 years. I am not sure why but you better have a good reason. Once you are out then there are 100 of designers entering the business to take your place. Be consistent , be yourself and keep us interested.

SAY THANK YOU !!!!!

Last but not least a little thank you goes a long way . If you send your stuff somewhere to be posted online or to a magazine then don't forget to send an email to say thank you. I have seen a lot of emails in my days of blogging and posted about those fashion houses however I did not a get a thank you from certain people( not that i care much. ) but who do you think I will post about if I am given a chance to do it again. The one who said thank you or the one that just sent off their email and never send a thank you ? So trust me a little thank you goes a long way.

I hope that you will be using all the tips I have given you within the last 3 weeks to your advantage. The fashion industry is a very competitive industry so only the good ones stay. I am sure that there are still plenty of tips out there to help you get where you need to be however I covered the ones that I thought were really important. If you haven't yet you can read PART ONE AND PART TWO HERE