Started a small women’s footwear business — getting inquiries but struggling to convert them into sales
I recently started a very small women’s footwear business in the US. I literally started with one pair/style, tested the response, and have slowly grown to four styles. So I’m still pretty much at ground zero and trying to figure out what actually works.
I’ve tried Facebook Marketplace and Instagram. I do get inquiries—people ask about price, sizes, availability, etc.—but very few of those conversations actually turn into purchases. I don’t have a physical store, and investing in one isn’t realistic at this stage.
For anyone who has built a footwear/fashion business from scratch, what helped you start getting consistent sales? Which channels actually gave you ROI rather than just views and engagement? I’m also trying to understand what I could be doing wrong when people show enough interest to inquire but don’t buy.
The other challenge is manufacturing. Right now I’m sourcing and reselling, but eventually I want to create my own designs and build my own footwear line. I haven’t been able to find a manufacturer who can offer good quality with a genuinely low MOQ that makes sense for a tiny business testing designs.
If anyone has gone through this stage, I’d really appreciate advice on low-MOQ manufacturing options, finding reliable manufacturers, and what you would focus on first if you were starting again with only four styles and a limited budget. How to get any customers?