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How to Start a Waist Trainer Business

A waist trainer business is a business that designs and produces waist trainers for a target demographic or market. These waist trainers are sold in boutiques, retail locations, and/or online stores. The purpose of a waist trainer is to give the user a slimmer, smaller waist. Usually, a combination of firm fibers and tough fabric makes up waist trainers.

The size of the global Body Shaper market was estimated at US$ 2,246.5 million in 2018 and is projected to develop at a CAGR of 6.91 percent from 2019 to 2023. The size of the worldwide shapewear market was estimated at USD 1.9 billion in 2020, and it is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 8.0 percent from 2021 to 2028.

Steps on How to Start a Waist Trainer Business

  1. Conduct Market Research

The first step in conducting market research for your waist trainer business is to develop market-based research questions that are consistent with the overall goal and objective of your company.

In this regard, you should look for information that will provide you with accurate data about what your potential market will be seeking from a waist trainer business, the designs, and styles that people will be willing to pay more for, information that will help you run your waist trainer business stress-free, and help you get the business to profitability in the shortest amount of time.

a. Who is the Target Market for a Waist Trainer Business?
  • Ladies
  • Men
  • Waist trainer wholesalers and distributors.
b. Is the Waist Trainer Business a Profitable Business?

Yes, the waist trainer business is a profitable business. Statistics show that the waist trainer market was estimated at USD 1.9 billion in 2020, and it is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 8.0 percent from 2021 to 2028 in the United States of America.

c. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?

No, there are no existing niches when it comes to the waist trainer business. This is because the waist trainer business is a niche idea in the shapewear and lingerie production industry.

d. Who are the Major Competitors?
  • Nike, Inc.
  • Adidas AG
  • Spanx Inc.
  • Triumph International Corporation
  • Leonisa
  • Wacoal America, Inc.
  • Ann Chery
  • 2XU Pty. Ltd.
  • Under Armour Inc.
  • Skins International Trading AG
  • American Shapewear
  • Perfect Shape
  • Lingerie Mart.
e. Are There County or State Regulations or Zoning Laws for Waist Trainer Business?

Yes, there are zoning laws and county or state regulations governing waist trainer businesses. Participants in this industry are expected to comply with these regulations in the county or state where their business is based.

f. Is There a Franchise for Waist Trainer Business?

No, there are no franchise opportunities for the waist trainer business.

g. What Do You Need to Start a Waist Trainer Business?
  • A Feasibility Report
  • Business and Marketing Plans
  • Business Licenses and Permits
  • A Good Production Facility and Showroom
  • EIN (Employer Identification Number)/Federal Tax ID Number.
  • A Corporate Bank Account
  • Equipment, Machines, and Raw Materials
  • Employees
  • Startup and Working Capital
  1. Choose a Memorable Business Name

When looking to start a business, before you can begin to file the necessary documents with the constituted authorities or start your website, it is necessary that you come up with a name that you will be recognized with. It is essential that the name you come up with can easily be pronounced, is unique and easily memorable.

Some of the catchy business name ideas suitable for a waist trainer business are;

Creative Waist Trainer Business Name ideas
  • Hour Glass® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Classic Shape® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Ladies Nation® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Eve’s Daughters™ Waist Trainer Brands, Inc.
  • One Pack® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Sharon Designs® Waist Trainer Business, Inc.
  • Jessica Label® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Sarah Jones® Waist Trainer Company, LLC
  • High End® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Tina McConn® Waist Trainer Company, Inc, Inc.
  • Zara Bond® Waist Trainer Company, Inc
  • Zoe Neon™ Waist Trainer Company, LLC
  • Cloe Justin™ Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Ageless Beauty™ Waist Trainer Company, LLC
  • Women Rev® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Isabella Shannon® Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Stacy McKim© Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Jean Johnson™ Waist Trainer Company, LLC
  • Daniella Signature™ Waist Trainer Company, Inc.
  • Emmanuella James® Waist Trainer Brand, Inc.
  1. Register Your Business

a. What Type of Business Structure is Best for the Waist Trainer Business?

While there are a number of possibilities, including sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation, when it comes to the legal form of a waist trainer business, an LLC is the one that the majority of companies in this industry choose.

Companies usually form an LLC in order to defend themselves in court. Please keep in mind that an LLC will require an EIN if it is required to file any of the excise tax forms listed below or if it has any employees.

b. Steps to Form an LLC
  • Choose a Name for Your LLC.
  • File Articles of Organization.
  • Choose a registered agent.
  • Decide on member vs. manager management.
  • Create an LLC operating agreement.
  • Comply with other tax and regulatory requirements.
  • File annual reports.
c. What Type of License is Needed to Open a Waist Trainer Business?
  • General Business License
  • Seller’s Permit
  • Fire and Safety Permit (Fire certificates)
  • Federal Export Licenses
  • Zonal Permits
  • Signage Permit
  • State Occupational Licenses
  • Operational State Facility Inspections (Building Permits)
d. What Type of Certification is Needed to Open a Waist Trainer Business?

You don’t need any certifications to open a waist trainer business.

e. What Documents are Needed to Open a Waist Trainer Business?

These are some of the basic legal documents that you are expected to have in place if you want to legally run a waist trainer business in the United States of America;

  • DBA
  • EIN
  • Business and liability insurance
  • Federal Tax Payer’s ID
  • State Permit and Building Approval
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Business License
  • Business Plan
  • Employment Agreement (offer letters)
  • Operating Agreement for LLCs
  • Insurance Policy
  • Online Terms of Use
  • Online Privacy Policy Document
  • Contract Document
  • Company Bylaws
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
f. Do You Need a Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?

If you are considering launching a waist trainer business, you don’t always need to register a trademark or intellectual property protection. This is because the structure of the business makes it possible for you to run it successfully without needing to take legal action against anyone for utilizing your intellectual property without your permission.

  1. Cost Analysis and Budgeting

a. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Waist Trainer Business?

The initial fees for launching a waist trainer firm might range from $650,000 to more than $1 million.

b. What are the Costs Involved in Starting a Waist trainer Business
  • The Total Fee for Registering the Business in the United States of America – $750.
  • Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines, and other software) – $3,300.
  • Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of the waist trainer business in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
  • Cost for hiring a Business Consultant – $2,500.
  • Insurance coverage – $2,400.
  • Cost for payment of rent for 12 months at $1.76 per square foot a total amount of $250,300.
  • Cost for facility remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $5,000.
  • Other start-up expenses include stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).
  • Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $120,000
  • The cost of equipping the production factory – $245,000
  • The cost for start-up inventory (materials, sewing supplies and packaging materials et al) – $155,000
  • Storage hardware (bins, rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
  • Cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $3,750
  • The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets: $7,000.
  • The cost of Launching a website: $600
  • The cost for our opening party: $3,000
  • Miscellaneous: $5,000
c. What Factors Determine the Cost of Opening a Waist Trainer Business?
  • The size of the waist trainer business
  • The choice of location
  • The required licenses and permits
  • The type of waist trainer business (mass production or handmade)
  • The cost of branding, promotion, and marketing of the business
  • The cost of furnishing and equipping the production facility
  • The cost of the insurance policy covers
  • The cost of registering the business
  • Source of your supplies and ongoing expenses
  • Cost of recruiting and training your staff
  • The cost for the purchase and customizing of uniforms
  • The cost for the grand opening of the waist trainer business.
d. Do You Need to Build a Facility? If YES, How Much Will It Cost?

No, it is not compulsory to build a new facility for your waist trainer business, but, if you have the required finance, it will pay you to build your own facility. The truth is that building or reconstructing a facility will help you come up with a facility that will perfectly fit into your overall business goals and vision.

e. What are the Ongoing Expenses of a Waist Trainer Business?
  • Rent and lease
  • Supplies and inventory (materials, sewing supplies, packaging supplies et al)
  • Utility bills (internet subscriptions, phone bills, signage and software renewal fees et al)
  • Maintenance of machines
  • Salaries of employees
f. What is the Average Salary of your Staff?
  • Chief Executive Office (President) – $55,000 Per Year
  • Factory Manager – $35,000 Per Year
  • Merchandise Manager – $32,630,000 Per Year
  • Waist Trainer (Shapewear) Designers – $32,000 Per Year
  • Accountant (Cashier) – $30,500 Per Year
  • Marketing and Sales Executives – $28,000 Per Year
  • Tailors (Waist Trainer Makers) – $26,100 Per Year
  • Customer Service Executive – $26,000 Per Year
  • Security Guard -$24,000 Per Year
g. How Do You Get Funding to Start a Waist Trainer Business
  • Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
  • Raising money from investors and business partners
  • Sell shares to interested investors
  • Applying for a loan from your bank/banks
  • Source for soft loans from your family members and friends.
  1. Write a Business Plan

a. Executive Summary

Daniella Signature® Waist Trainers Manufacturing Company, Inc. is a US-registered waist trainer manufacturing business that will be located in Passaic, New Jersey. We have been able to lease a facility that is big enough (a 20 thousand square foot facility) to fit into the kind of standard waist training manufacturing company that we intend to establish.

Daniella Signature® Waist Trainers Manufacturing Company, Inc. will be involved in the manufacturing of a wide range of waist trainers. We are set to service a wide range of clientele not just in the United States of America, but also in all parts of the world.

b. Products and Service
  • Regular waist trainers (mass production)
  • Customized (handmade craft) waist trainers
  • Luxury and high-end waist trainers
c. Mission Statement

Our goal is to establish a highly successful business that manufactures waist trainers and whose trademark will be recognized in all the main cities in the United States and internationally.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to create a brand that will help ladies achieve the shape they desire.

d. Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of a waist trainer business are to produce different types and designs of waist trainers for ladies.

e. Organizational Structure
  • Chief Executive Office (President)
  • Factory Manager
  • Merchandise Manager
  • Waist trainer Designers
  • Accountant (Cashier)
  • Marketing and Sales Executives
  • Tailors (Waist Trainer Makers)
  • Customer Services Executives
  • Security Guard

Marketing Plan

a. SWOT Analysis
Strength
  • Ideal location for waist trainer production business
  • Highly experienced and qualified employees and management
  • Access to finance from business partners
  • Excellent customer testimonials.
  • A wide range of waist trainers (unique designs and styles)
Weakness
  • Financial Constraints
  • A new business that will be competing with well-established brands, especially from China and other Asia countries.
  • Inability to retain our highly experienced and qualified employees longer than we want.
Opportunities
  • Online market, new services, new technology, and of course the opening of new markets
  • Shapewear is becoming more acceptable
  • Changing fashion trends and an increase in demand for premium fabrics globally
  • Increase in the number of ladies who want to enhance their shape within our target market area (rising consumer spending on body-shaping products).
Threats
  • The arrival of a new waist trainer manufacturing business within our market space
  • Unfavorable government policy and regulations.
  • Steady wage expenses and increasing prices of gas
  • Economic uncertainty
  • Liability problems
b. How Do Waist Trainer Businesses Make Money?

The waist trainer business makes money by selling a wide range of waist trainers (shapewear).

c. Payment Options
  • Payment via bank transfer
  • Payment with cash
  • Payment via credit cards /point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
  • Payment via online bank transfer
  • Payment via check
  • Payment via mobile money transfer
d. Sales & Advertising Strategies
  • Place adverts on both print (newspapers and lifestyle magazines) and electronic media platforms
  • Sponsor relevant community-based events/programs
  • Leverage the internet and social media platforms like; Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote your products
  • Install your Bill Boards on strategic locations all around your city or state
  • Engage in roadshows from time to time in targeted neighborhoods to create awareness of your waist trainer business
  • Distribute your fliers and handbills in target areas
  • List your waist trainer business in local directories/yellow pages
  • Advertise your waist trainer business on your official website and employ strategies that will help you pull traffic to the site.
  • Position your Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where your waist trainer business is located.
  • Ensure that all your staff members wear your branded shirts and that all your vehicles and trucks/vans are well branded with your company logo et al.

Financial Projection

a. How Much Should You Charge for your Product/Service?

Generally, the price of waist trainers depends on the type, size, and brand of the product. On average, a waist trainer should cost $10.98 or more.

b. How Much Profit Do Waist Trainer Business Owners Make a Year?

The profit a waist trainer business owner is expected to make will depend on certain factors such as the size of the business, the location of the business, and the quality of the waist trainers. But on average, a waist trainer business owner is expected to rake in over $120,000 annually.

c. What Factors Determine the Amount of Profit to Be Made?
  • The capacity of the waist trainer business
  • The location the waist trainer business is covering
  • The management style of the waist trainer business
  • The business approach of the waist trainer business
  • The advertising and marketing strategies adopted by the waist trainer business.
  • The number of years the waist trainer business is in business
d. What is the Profit Margin of a Waist Trainer Business?

The average waist trainer business makes a small profit on all its goods; typical margins range from 10 percent to 20 percent. Therefore, the income you would be making would depend on the monthly sales you make and the costs you have to pay to run your company.

e. What is the Sales Forecast?
  • First Fiscal Year (FY1): $540,000
  • Second Fiscal Year (FY2): $850,000
  • Third Fiscal Year (FY3): $1.5 million
  1. Set Up your Shop/Office

a. How Do You Choose a Perfect Location for Waist Trainer Business?
  • The demography of the location as it relates to the number of ladies in the location
  • The demand for waist trainers in the location
  • The purchasing power of businesses and residents of the location
  • Accessibility of the location
  • The number of waist trainer businesses in the location
  • The local laws and regulations in the community/state
  • Traffic, parking and security et al
b. What State and City are Best to Open a Waist Trainer Business?
  • New York City, New York
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Dallas, Texas
  • Las Vegas Nevada
  • Miami Florida
  • Washington DC
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Boston, Massachusetts
c. What Equipment is Needed to Operate a Waist Trainer Business?

These are some of the machines, equipment, and tools we would need to start our waist trainer business;

  • Industrial sewing machines
  • Pattern makers for crafting designs
  • Scissors
  • Hole punchers
  • Straight and curved rulers
  • Pencils
  • Measuring tapes
  • Notchers for marking seams
  • Pins
  • Sloppers
  • Dotted pattern paper
  • Sewing machine needles
  • Hand sewing needles
  • Threads
  • Sketching books
  • Draping tools
  • Stick pins
  • Muslin
  • Style tapes
  • Leather shears
  • Soft lead pencil
  • Marking pen
  • Pattern plotter
  • Pattern-making software
  • Computer
  • CAD tools for designs
  • Digital drawing tools
  • Digitizer board for pattern scanning
  • Heat transfer machines
  • Print tables
  • Hangers
  • Labels and Tags
  • Packaging materials
  • Supply of waist trainer materials
  1. Hire Employees

When it comes to hiring employees for a standard waist trainer business, you should make plans to hire a competent chief executive officer (president), factory manager, merchandise manager, accountant (cashier), marketing and sales executives, tailors (waist trainer makers), waist trainer designers and security guard.

  1. Launch the Business Proper

No waist trainer company presently opens its doors for business without first planning an opening party to formally introduce the brand. If you have a limited budget, you may want to hold a soft opening party. If not, you can host a grand opening party to which everyone is invited.

By properly launching your waist trainer business, you will let residents of your community know that you are open for business.

a. What Makes a Waist Trainer Business Successful?
  • Choose a good location and showroom facility to launch the business
  • Make sure your waist trainers are unique and the finishing is topnotch
  • Throw an open house grand party before officially opening the waist trainer business
  • Be deliberate with your marketing sales approach
  • Encourage the use of word of mouth to promote your waist trainer business
  • Leverage all available online and offline platforms to promote your waist trainer business
b. What Happens During a Typical Day at a Waist Trainer Business?
  • The production factory is open for the day’s work
  • The facility is cleaned and well-arranged
  • Factory swing into action (production of waist trainers)
  • Deliveries of orders are made
  • Machine maintenance
  • Marketing and administrative works
  • Stocks are taken and reports are written and submitted to superior officers
  • The business is closed for the day.
c. What Skills and Experience Do You Need to Build a Waist Trainer Business?
  • Good waist trainer design sense
  • Excellent tailoring and waist trainer-making skills
  • Excellent customer services skills
  • Interpersonal skill
  • Accounting and bookkeeping skills
  • Business management skills
  • Work experience in a waist trainer manufacturing environment
  • Experience in managing people
  • Experience in business administration.