Jamaican carves out clothing niche online
TARIKE Clarke generates a significant amount in revenues annually from her online clothing business.
The Jamaican-born designer’s high fashion apparel has recently landed her multiple contracts on popular children’s clothing site, Zulily.com.
Clarke, owner of Boosh Limited and Baby Boosh Limited, invested US$5,000 back in 2009, to start operations of Boosh after migrating to Florida.
Boosh carries men’s and women’s clothing and accessories from different designers, while Baby Boosh carries children’s apparels based solely on Clarke’s designs.
She decided to launch into children’s clothing in 2012, when her daughter was born.
“The issue that I had after the birth of my baby girl was that I love to dress up and there was nothing cute for her to wear,” Clarke told the Jamaica Observer. “When I went on the road it was just normally onesy and that just never ever did it for me.
“Because my mother is a seamstress, I would design the items with matching headbands and have them made for my daughter, and people kept asking about the items.”
To date, the 34-year-old has manufactured over 24 designer items and is currently working on another 20 pieces. Her designs were off to a great start after Jamaican stores, Baby Bop and Babylicious Children’s Boutique decided to carry her line.
“I started my research and I found a factory in China to manufacture the items and I just started the process there,” she said. “I just sent the drawings and they would send me a sample of the material they planned on using. I would then confirm or reject the material if it’s not up to my standard.”
Clarke currently manufactures over 300 pieces of a particular style for her clients. The Immaculate Conception High graduate is now adamant that having a variety of styles to choose from encourages clients to revisit her online store.
“You’re not going to see a regular onesy on my site. If it’s for a boy, it has a tie and vest, everything is pretty much dress-up styles for kids,” Clarke told the Business Observer.
The entrepreneur, who identified Baby Boosh as the higher income generator, currently employs a single store clerk to manage her store room at 3 Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.
“Because I have an awesome web application system, if persons are viewing my website I can see and if the store clerk places an order I can see it too. It’s like I have a virtual office,” she said.
Clarke is now eyeing clothing websites through the Caribbean and has already made contact with online stores in Trinidad and Tobago.
The fashion designer also has an interest in maternity clothing and hopes to hit the market with that line of apparel next.
“I had a problem to find clothes when I was pregnant so I know persons will support it when I move into that area,” she said.