Selling clothing on Amazon? Thousands of European sellers are doing it successfully, and many more will join in the coming months.
But is it really a great deal?
Looking at the numbers, yes. After all, Amazon has over 300 million unique monthly customers who choose to shop here over other stores.
However, it’s always wise not to rely solely on summary statistics. The results that an individual seller will achieve depend on many factors, and what works for one retailer may not necessarily work for another.
That’s why, in the following lines, we’ll explore together the pros and cons of selling clothing on Amazon.
The advantages of selling clothing on Amazon
Without anticipating many of the conclusions we’ll reach in the following paragraphs, let’s start by sharing that the advantages of selling clothing on Amazon certainly outweigh the points of concern.
Let’s get started!
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Greater sales opportunities
As we’ve frequently mentioned on this site, hundreds of millions of sales are made on Amazon each month. That’s an impressive volume, especially when compared to other e-commerce platforms!
For many people, Amazon is the number one destination for shopping and finding information on their favorite products.
So, by listing their products on Amazon, every seller can potentially reach a massive audience interested in browsing clothing, automatically gaining the credibility and trust typical of the marketplace.
Many users are more inclined to buy a product from Amazon than from a store they’ve never heard of. Amazon’s high service expectations and excellent customer care encourage many buyers to shop here rather than elsewhere.
In short, if a customer has already had a positive shopping experience on Amazon, it’s very likely that your clothing store could automatically benefit from it.
In other words, Amazon can genuinely help you build a new and large customer base.
Moreover, once the first purchase is made, the rest is up to you. Based on how positive their experience is, they’re more likely to purchase from you again.
Possibility for International Expansion
Considering that Amazon is one of the largest and most reliable global sales and purchase platforms, it’s very easy to start selling in different markets.
Not only that, but using Amazon to expand globally is much simpler than with most alternative systems.
With Amazon, you can quickly test whether your clothing products are appreciated by an international audience. Additionally, you can rely on Amazon’s comprehensive services. The marketplace can handle international orders and localized customer support, eliminating the need to manage these complex activities personally.
Low Marketing Costs
As mentioned, Amazon attracts millions of customers to its website daily without you having to do anything.
So, depending on your clothing niche and market competition, you can start selling from day one with no marketing effort.
Remember that Amazon’s website functions as its own search engine, meaning that buyers looking for the products you offer can easily find you here.
Naturally, as we’ll see in the following lines, competition in the clothing sector is indeed fierce. Therefore, standing out from the crowd is essential.
A well-maintained presence and functional content will help you leverage Amazon’s vast customer database. Also, consider the possibility of running promotions. Especially in your early stages on this marketplace, having sponsored products can be a significant help in achieving your first sales.
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No Warehouse Needed
With dozens of fulfillment centers across Europe, a seller who wants to list their products on Amazon can simply send their goods to the marketplace. Amazon will then store the inventory, package it, and ship it to customers.
The Amazon FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) service can thus become an outsourced warehouse for each seller. The main advantage is that you no longer have to worry about the logistics of product shipping. Not bad, right?
In fact, you can instead focus on managing other important aspects, such as marketing or product refinement.
And there’s more! Besides freeing you from the hassle of personally managing storage and customer care, your products will qualify for Amazon Prime and the Buy Box—both of which can significantly impact your sales.
So far, we’ve seen some interesting advantages to consider if you want to sell clothing on Amazon.
But are there also disadvantages?
The Disadvantages of Selling Clothing on Amazon
Selling on Amazon, as we’ve seen, can offer enormous opportunities. However, there are also some points of concern that you should pay attention to so as not to underestimate the commitment required of sellers.
High Competition
The first point to consider is that all these benefits are highly attractive to many sellers.
Therefore, you’ll find plenty of competition on Amazon, especially in a crowded sector like clothing.
When multiple sellers compete in the same category, Amazon will decide which seller is most suitable, displaying the products it considers most functional first.
If multiple sellers offer the exact same product, Amazon will determine who is the most reliable and advantageous for its customers by awarding them the Buy Box—often a decisive advantage in the sales phase.
Given current mobile shopping trends, the Buy Box has become even more important, as people are less likely to scroll down and evaluate other sellers beyond the one Amazon prioritizes.
But how can you avoid being overwhelmed by this intense competition?
We’ve discussed some strategies on several occasions:
- Focus on a niche
- Ensure positive feedback
- Fulfill orders on time
- Provide excellent customer service
- Offer competitive prices
- Always ensure product availability
Sales Commissions
Understanding the sales commissions you need to pay to use Amazon’s platform is essential if you want to understand the profit margins from commercial activity on this marketplace.
It’s clear that the advantages we previously listed aren’t free. Amazon charges sellers a commission for every product sold through its platform. Therefore, it’s wise to have a good idea of the costs involved before you start selling.
While we’ve discussed this topic more extensively in other articles, it’s useful here to remember that when registering your account, you can choose between two types of accounts: a professional plan and an individual plan. Without diving too deeply, the professional plan becomes more economical if you can sell at least 40 items per month, as the fixed costs of the professional plan will be lower than the variable costs of the individual plan.
Regardless of the plan, sellers will need to pay a commission for each item sold. The amount of this commission varies by product category, and the complete list of these fees is available on Amazon’s Seller Central website.
Additionally, if you choose to sell via FBA, you’ll need to consider additional fees for storage and shipping.
Remember that monthly storage fees are calculated per cubic meter and vary throughout the year.
An Investment for Your Peace of Mind
In any case, don’t let the fees discourage you.
On most sales channels, you have to pay for each click, whether it converts or not. On marketplaces like Amazon, however, you’ll pay a percentage on each sale.
Calculate your margins and plan accordingly.
If you sell low-margin products, you may find it worthwhile to diversify your sales channels. On the other hand, if you have high margins, with proper planning, you can make Amazon sales work better for you.
Preventing and Managing Returns
One of the biggest challenges for online clothing sellers is undoubtedly handling returns. In the fashion sector, return rates can easily exceed 20%, making it almost mandatory for sellers to implement effective strategies to prevent product returns as a crucial tool for business sustainability. But how can this be done?
We’ve summarized ten actions you can take.
Product Listings
The product listing is your main tool for avoiding excessive returns. Include detailed and accurate measurements, such as:
- Precise measurements for each part of the clothing item;
- Total length, chest width, shoulders, and sleeve length;
- Measurements in both centimeters and inches;
- Fit notes (e.g., slim fit, regular, oversized).
Interactive Sizing
To reduce the risk of returns due to incorrect sizing, try to offer as many interactive sizing options as possible.
For example, you can provide comparisons with well-known brands, indicating how your product fits relative to theirs. You could also include comparative charts across different international sizes or specific guides for each product category.
Photos
Take pictures of your clothing from every angle (front, back, details) and, if possible, use models of various body types. Specify the model’s height and the size they’re wearing, and add photos of the clothes in everyday settings.
Material Information
Clearly specify the fabric composition and explain the fit characteristics of the material. Detail if the fabric is stretchy and to what extent, and provide washing and care instructions.
Fit
It’s important to specify whether the item fits regular, slim, or loose. Add size recommendations based on the desired style and notes on any specific features of the model. Indicate if the garment tends to shrink after washing.
Virtual Fitting
If possible, offer users the chance to view the item in 3D and implement virtual fitting systems to ensure a better match with the customer’s preferences.
Reviews
Encourage your customers to leave detailed feedback on the fit, which is often highly read by potential buyers. Simply ask buyers to specify their size and whether the product met their fit expectations.
Loyalty Programs
You can start special loyalty programs for customers who make few returns, offering discounts on future purchases. This could be a good way to reduce merchandise returns!
Pre-Sales Assistance
Always offer solid size consultation services and create detailed FAQs on fit. Provide phone support for specific cases, and consider implementing a virtual personal shopper service.
Post-Sales Assistance
After the purchase, ask for feedback on the fit satisfaction from the buyer and always analyze the reasons for returns to improve your service.
Order Management
If you’re selling your inventory on multiple marketplaces, order synchronization is one of the first things you should consider.
You need to ensure that Amazon orders are directly integrated into your management system for always up-to-date information.
Amazon doesn’t perfectly integrate with every checkout across various channels, which means you need to pay special attention to cross-channel order management.
However, third-party tools, like those available on ZonWizard, can make this much easier!
So, is Selling Clothing on Amazon Worthwhile?
Why Choose Amazon
Overall, we’ve seen that selling on Amazon gives you the incredible advantage of gaining more credibility as a seller.
Buyers immediately trust sellers on Amazon, especially if the product pages and listings are well-maintained.
Of course, we’ve also seen that you’ll need to pay reference commissions for the items you sell to gain these advantages. However, it’s generally worth it, considering the traffic it brings!
Overall, to maximize the benefits of selling on Amazon, it’s also wise to be present on other channels—especially your own website.
Selling on your own site gives you full control over your activities. You’ll be able to manage marketing efforts, customer communications, and much more entirely!
As we’ve covered in other articles, having a presence on both Amazon and your website can coexist and synergistically expand the advantages for your business.
In short, if you’re unsure whether to sell clothing on Amazon or your own website, you don’t have to choose. You can indeed get the best of both worlds!
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