Heather Gillbanks ⋅ Houston , TX General Electric ⋅ 26 years experience

Agree Etsy is a decent place to start, but it caters to OOAK items, not mass produced. So it depends what you make.

If you are mass marketing, there are established channels and networks ... mainly controlled by consortiums (largely in China). I read an article on this topic the other day and was surprised to learn that the "seasons" of clothing approach is largely gone ... these consortium people are changing lines within days, as consumer tastes change. Which is changing how the sourcing is done. Apologies that I cannot recall where I found the article (the main thrust of it was around how companies TRY to be compliant with international labor and other laws, but it is labyrinthine these days). They talked quite a bit about the fire in Bangladesh, etc.

Also try this McKinsey article. Perhaps it will help you understand how the supply chain is working these days. http://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/dotcom/client_service/retail/articles/perspectives%20summer%202014/09%20apparel%20sourcing.ashx

If you have a more boutique-friendly approach, I have a friend in Canada who has launched a children's clothing line. She may be willing to speak with you regarding her experience. PM me if you'd like me to connect you.

-heather

Deb Miller ⋅ Bardstown , KY US Postal Service ⋅ 16 years experience

Hit the social media sites like a Facebook page with pics and info, LinkedIn networks you with local business persons in your area. Connect with your local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Associations (Federal/state/local), rotary clubs, and other organizations which can help you grow your business. In some states, there are several retail outlets which stock only state produced items. It brands you within your state and can be a great source to network for other venues. Don't be afraid to sell internationally - over half the purchasing power is Outside the US.

Stefan Beyer ⋅ Kirkland , WA Wipro Ltd ⋅ 12 years experience

Selling it on an online marketplace like Etzy would be a good place to start, as it's a site people go to when they want something different. Be sure to also have your own website with a sales page (there are quite a few ecommerce plugins out there); that way you won't be entirely dependent on somebody else for sales. Having your own website will also let you direct marketing to yourself instead of the marketplace company.

Once you get to the point where you sell a lot, it would be good to sell to a distributor instead of relying on direct sales to the public, as it'll give you more time to focus on other aspects of your business besides shipping products.

mike harper ⋅ Lodi , CA manracks.com ⋅ 40 years experience

put it on ebay start with auctions then fixed price then switch to your website then dump ebay