Hey! First off, congrats on your brand _NEATA_. Getting those first few...

Hey! First off, congrats on your brand _NEATA_. Getting those first few sales is tough but it's doable. I went through this with my own line and here's what actually worked for me.

Stop trying to sell to everyone. Pick a specific story around your Ankara pieces. Is it for the bold woman who wants to stand out at brunch? For the office boss who wants to mix tradition with modern wear? That story is what people connect with. I started literally taking photos of my pieces in real life settings - at the market, at a friend's apartment, not staged studio shots. Realness sells better than perfection.

Also, direct message is your best friend. Don't just post and pray. Identify 15-20 local fashion influencers or fashion pages on Instagram. Send them a piece for free in exchange for a tag and honest review. That gave me my first 10 sales. Be bold about it. Worst they say is no.

Another thing that worked for me was small local pop-ups. I found a coffee shop that let me set up a rack for a Saturday. Paid 5,000 Naira for the spot. Sold 4 pieces that day and got 3 custom orders. Physical touch makes a difference.

Lastly, your pricing needs to make sense. Ankara ready-to-wear has a ceiling. Don't price too high for your target market. I learned that the hard way.

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Abe Marilyn @marilynabe8224

The pop-up at a coffee shop thing is genius. I've been trying to push my stuff online only and it's just crickets half the time. Maybe I need to just literally walk into a cafe and ask. Did you just walk in cold or did you know the owner?
9 days ago

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