Selling fashion items from home

Are you planning to find a job as a self-employed door-to-door salesperson (VDI) in the fashion sector in France? Whether you want to make this your main job or supplement your income, it's a very buoyant market. How do I become a home sales assistant? How do I start selling clothes from home ? How do I start a home shopping business? Elora, the reference in the fashion sector, has the answers to your questions.

Setting up a business to obtain VDI status

To be able to sell clothes from home, you need to have self-employed status, also known as autoentrepreneur. To do this, prospective VDIs need to set up their own company by visiting the URSSAF website. This online process is quick and easy. You will then receive your SIRET number and can start work.

It should be noted that although they have self-employed status, VDIs are generally linked to a company, which is responsible for producing the product collections that they will promote to their customers.

Finding a fashion company with products you like

Before making their choice, sales advisers need to analyse several important criteria. The first is the type of contract offered. The VDI can be an agent, which means that each item of clothing in his or her presentation kit is loaned to him or her. If, on the other hand, the contract offered is of the buyer-reseller type, then the sales professional will have to invest money from the outset to build up a stock of items. The Elora network's VDIs are all under an agency contract.

The sales assistant must also make her choice based on the products created by the company. Are they models that closely resemble those sold by other brands on numerous websites or in boutiques? Are they quality garments and accessories? How much do they cost? What is the style of these fashion items? Will many customers want to add them to their wardrobes? These are questions you should always ask yourself before setting up a partnership with a company. The VDI must also look at the brand's values to make sure that they are in line with their own.

Finally, the future sales consultant should take into account the benefits that the brand can offer: remuneration, gifts, training, etc.

Start building your customer network

Once the company has been chosen, it's time to start canvassing customers for the first meetings. It's essential to work hard on your sales pitch to convince hostesses to organise a meeting in their home. As the aim is to sell as many garments as possible, it's also advisable to prepare a sales pitch highlighting the various advantages of the products. The easiest way to do this is to start with the people around you and, little by little, expand to other circles. During the first few weeks, a mentor will accompany the VDI to give them valuable advice on how to present fashion items more effectively and generate more sales.

Interested in joining the Elora network of independent retailers? Get in touch online now. A consultant will get back to you to discuss your project. You will then be able to ask all your questions and obtain the information that interests you.