Hiking gear has become an incredibly popular market in recent years. More and more people are heading off into the great outdoors to stretch their legs or explore nature, and you might be one of them. If you are, and you want to make this passion a career, then creating an apparel brand might be the way forward.
There are numerous factors to think about when doing this, though. It won’t be an easy task, but it can be incredibly worthwhile if the right steps are taken. To learn how to turn your hiking passion into a successful apparel brand, read the three tips explained below.
Define Your Niche in the Market
Outdoor apparel is a relatively saturated market, with big brand names like The North Face leading the way. It can be difficult to find an opening in such a competitive space, but it isn’t impossible. There will be available niches, and you should take advantage of one of them. This will ensure you can develop a unique value proposition (UVP) as well as a brand image that customers understand. But how do you achieve this?
Defining your niche in the hiking gear industry will require thorough market research. Looking at the current market enables you to see where other companies excel and where they fall short. Similarly, you should research to create buyer personas. These personas should be detailed by considering motivations, online behaviors, pain points, preferred hiking activities, and skill levels.
However, you must also reflect on your own expertise. There will be aspects of the hiking world that excite you or that you have knowledge of. Such areas are key areas for you to focus on. If you have once experienced a problem when purchasing gear, then this could be a pain point you want to overcome by creating a solution.
Partner with Reliable Suppliers and Manufacturers
After outlining your brand, you will need to bring your ideas to life. As an apparel brand, this involves searching for high-quality partners that can provide excellent materials, consistent manufacturing, and value for money. After all, hiking gear needs to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, so cutting corners is an absolute no-no.
Clothing and accessories used in the great outdoors need to be durable. When products are consistently produced, customers are more likely to trust your brand. This can lead to an increase in loyalty, a decrease in warranty claims, and more positive word-of-mouth. You might even take into account factors that are important to your demographic, such as ethical and sustainable practices or locally produced products.
For example, if your business primarily caters to hikers taking on the Canadian Rockies, then you might consider partnering with a Canadian company. Ambler, which specializes in made in Canada custom toques, could be a suitable option. The merino wool blend used in Ambler products means they are durable, moisture-wicking, and eco-friendly.
Using a combination of online and in-person search methods will ensure you choose the right suppliers and manufacturers for your outdoor brand. This might include attending trade shows and using online directories. Either way, it is crucial to vet all potential partners before finalizing your decision; this will enable you to create a strong partnership later down the line.
Establish a Strong Online Presence
While the products you produce are vital in the success of your brand, how are people supposed to find them without an online presence? Not only that, but your presence online must be strong enough to engage with your target audience and drive sales through community building. If you have ever doubted the importance of this, though, it is worth knowing that Yell Business found 80% of small businesses surveyed viewed their social media and website presence as the most important factor for generating leads and sales.
Fortunately, the previous step of defining your niche is beneficial here. This helps to narrow down your efforts and target a specific niche, instead of appealing to all hikers. Additionally, the platform and website you use must be professional and mobile-responsive; the latter is considerably important as many hikers research on their phones. All aspects of the website must be optimized, from the product descriptions and images to the navigation and checkout process.
The social media platforms you use to create an online presence should be selected with your target audience in mind, too. As some outdoor enthusiasts will utilize Instagram and TikTok to share their adventures, these are two options to select when establishing an online presence. To conclude, when turning a passion for hiking into an apparel brand, there are several aspects to consider. It can be a rewarding career, but you will also face numerous challenges. Following the tips outlined in this post can help you overcome these issues and create a successful brand.
