There is so much to think about when opening a new apparel store. You should know the business, who your target customers are going to be, and have a good marketing strategy with which to reach them. You need to write a business plan, find a great retail location, and get together some start-up capital to launch. Then, of course, you need to find clothing suppliers and hire reliable employees to work your store. Fixtures, displays, signage, insurance, business license, a web presence: there are other essentials to think about.

With all that on your plate when opening an apparel store, it might be easy to treat packaging as an afterthought. But retail packaging is an integral part of your clothing store‘s marketing and outreach. By presenting a positive image for your store, retail packaging both attracts customers to your business and encourages return visitors and customer loyalty.

S. Walter Packaging has over 100 years experience providing high-quality retail packaging at industry competitive prices. Our team of customer specialists is ready to provide advice and coordinated packaging ideas to help you get everything you need when you open your apparel store. Here are a few essentials to get you started:

Shopping bags
The obvious first item on your retail packaging to-get list when opening an apparel store. There are many varieties of shopping bags, so take time to choose the type right for your store. Pick between paper and  plastic shopping bags, and then decide one of many materials and finishes, from simple natural kraft paper to high gloss laminated colors. The choices range in price, but choosing the right look for your store should be about style as much as economics. All these shopping bags are available in a range of sizes for different apparel types and most of them can be custom printed for brand advertising and free long-lived marketing.

Apparel boxes
Serving the dual purpose of protecting merchandise and conveying a positive brand image, apparel boxes are an essential part of the packaging program for any clothing retailer.  Made from up to 100% recycled paperboard and available in a range of colors, sizes, and styles, these boxes can also be custom printed. It’s easy to find the right style and color to match your shopping bag choice.

Tissue Paper
If you are opening an apparel store, you’ve paid attention when you purchased clothes. What do you notice lining apparel boxes and coming out the sides of elegant shopping bags? Tissue paper. Available in many solid colors and designs to match or coordinate with your bags and boxes, tissue paper is a packaging must for your apparel store. Sold in reams at wholesale prices, swalter.com is the place to go for your tissue paper needs.

Other Packaging Needs
Dress up that packaging with ribbons, bows, and gift wrap. Ribbons and bows (both available in many different colors to match your packaging style and company colors), provide an excellent finishing touch to apparel boxes or shopping bags. Wrapping paper can transform a clothing purchase into a clothing gift, and is a must for many apparel stores in the holiday period and at other times.

Other Retail Essentials
S. Walter also carries other retail essentials for opening an apparel store. We have a full range of clothes hangers, price and tagging guns, tape dispensers, spot and stain remover, garment bags, and shipping supplies. Things every clothing store needs, all at competitive wholesale prices.

Closeout Deals
If start-up costs are really tight, you might want to look through our closeout section. Here we offer inventory reduction items at incredibly cut prices. Get that apparel store up and running without breaking your budget with great packaging at low costs.

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For more on different types of retail packaging for apparel stores, check out our packaging guide. This comprehensive guide takes an informational look at various types of retail packaging — bags, boxes, and other retail essentials — looking at materials, styles, uses, and coordinating products to help you make decisions on which products are right for your business.