Increase Online Sales :: Design Your Own Fashion Apparel

What better way to increase online sales than to offer your customers the option of creating their own apparel?  Athletic companies like Nike and Vans have been offering their customers the option of creating their own shoes for a while now, but to find a fashion shoe that you could design yourself was tough. 

But, as recently reported by the New York Times, sites like Tupli and SteveMadden.com are changing all that.  Both websites offer their customers the option of "create your own" shoes.  Tupli, started just three years ago by two women who were leaving their careers in banking behind, is a bit more expensive than SteveMadden, but their client list includes A-list stars like Susan Sarandon.  Their shoes offer you a choice of leather or suede, as well as an assortment of embellishments such as rhinestones and personal logos.

Increase Online Sales :: Custom Designed Shoe at Tupli

As much fun as designing your own shoes can be, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart; especially if your heart races at the thought of spending more than a few hundred dollars on something that will grace your feet.  Although shoes are often the splurge that many of us can justify, a custom designed pair from Tupli will run you $750.  Want boots instead? Be prepared to fork over $1450.  And you can expect to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Yet Tupli gets rave reviews for their shoes and it seems that once you’ve bought from Tupli, you’re a customer for life.

Now, for those of you that can’t afford $750 for a pair of shoes, there is an alternative.  SteveMadden.com offers a design-it-yourself option for both shoes and handbags; now that’s something to get excited about.  Shoes start at $90 and cap out around $170.  And he’s got a HUGE variety to choose from in the women’s section; men’s he only offers 3 styles, but there are many ways to customize those.

Increase Online Sales :: Design Your Own Shoes from Steve Madden

The price point of these shoes in addition to the selection make this a fantastic choice for the young professional just starting out.  It also a great option for those of seeking out and working at internships in the fashion industry; being stylish at an affordable price is a wonderful trait my dear!!

Custom Dress :: StyleShake

So now, you’ve got the shoes and the handbag - what could be missing?  A custom made dress of course!  Head to StyleShake where you can create your own and have it delivered in 10 days.  If you’re going to be a one-of-a-kind fashionista, you might as well ago all the way.  StyleShake has so much to choose from, you could spend months designing a whole new wardrobe.

But what does all this have to do with fashion marketing?  It’s simple really.  These companies are putting the controls in their customers hands.  Generally, there is a little bit of designer in all of us.  We want unique.  We want our authentic selves to shine through, not just in our chosen professions, but in the clothes we wear.  We want our personalities to scream from the rooftops!  And according to Jeffrey Van Sinderden of B. Riley Co. in LA, the choices are only going to expand.  Think custom pants, shirts, even lingere……the biggest obstacle for most companies in getting the operation set up is the large dollar investment it takes to set it up and the process of finding a way to manage the distribution. 

If you can figure the logistics out, and you have a product that can be custom designed, you’d be well advised to start considering your options.