Blog 12 - Final Project Research

For my final project I am working on a website that deals with a small side business that I run on Etsy with my sister - Halo Halo Designs.  Its a women's fashion and resort wear company that offers specialty products in limited releases.

The main site is https://www.etsy.com/shop/Resortglam since its easy to market here as Etsy has a large customer base already.  This offers me the ability to sell products without having to pay for google ads, etc.

Similar companies include http://thebeachpeopleco.com though they really don't sell clothing they do sell beach blankets/towels.  There is also http://tolanicollection.com/ who offers a lot in womens fashion that could be used as beach and resort wear (though more on the pricey side).

Larger competitors are: EverthingbutWater and even stores like Nordstrom or Forever21.  However, since these are not small boutiques, I do not consider them as immediate competitors.

For this blog - I will specifically focus on Tolani as I believe they are the closest in competitor. Tolani offers a lot of different products and is very organized.  Their site is specifically set up as their own website whereas I use Etsy which is a template page.  There isn't a lot of "flavors" for those of us that use Etsy as the main page for their e-commerce.

Their site offers a lot of high end items and communicate travel, luxury and one of a kind items. It's similar to the  message I want to convey in my products; however, I try to curtail my products to a different price range.  I wanted to offer unique products but at a price affordable to the average woman. More expensive than forever21 but nothing like Nordstrom.  I think that Tolani competes in a higher end market against bigger designers found in some of those name brand stores.

Eventually Halo Halo would like to be on it's own e-commerce site but that requires more customers and followers who are going to shop your site directly by going to your www site.  I'm just not there yet.