Fashion accessories basics are the items that are the foundation of any fashion accessories store or department. Fashion accessories or clothing accessories are items worn with or used with an outfit to enhance the outfit. The fashion accessory industry is growing everyday. With new and old designers creating new products, stores are buying more and more accessories to stock the shelves. Whether you want to revamp your fashion accessories department or create a new one, there are suppliers ready to take your order.

When buying fashion accessories, a company should review the fashion accessories basics. These are types of accessories that are a great starting point. There are three types of fashion accessories basics: purses and belts, jewelry and hair accessories and hats and scarfs. These three types of fashion accessories can create a successful accessory department. Follow the list below to began creating your fashion accessories store.

1. Purchase clothing accessories, purses and belts.

2. Find jewelry and hair accessories for your fashion accessories business.

3. Locate hats and scarfs to top off your fashion accessories department.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate purses and belts for your fashion accessories store

Purses and belts are great for a fashion accessories business, because 90% of American women between the ages of 14 and 75 carry a purse or a wallet. This makes purses and belts one of the most important fashion accessories basics.

I recommend: Find fashion purses by the pack or case at Whalen Marketing and Sales. HundredPercentWholesale.com has a wide variety of purse and belts for fashion accessories stores. Visit Acetradings.com for fashion accessories basics such as purses, belts and many other items.

Find fashion accessories distributors for jewelry and hair accessories

Jewelry and hair accessories cover all aspects of costume and real jewelry as well as all hair accessories. These accessories are easy to store because they are normally small in size.

I recommend: Search the online catalog at Accessoryb2b.com for wholesale fashion accessories. Monster Trendz has full retail display kits for jewelry and hair accessories. Browse through the array of wholesale jewelry and hair accessories or select a specific type from the list available at Pinktownusa.com.

Purchase hats and scarfs for your fashion accessories store

Most wholesale clothing accessories have some hats and scarfs available. These accessories are mainly considered men's fashion accessories, however there are many designer women's hats and scarfs available.

I recommend: Visit Erayo for hundreds of retail clothing accessories including hats and scarfs. Accessories Palace carries an array of men's fashion accessories at wholesale prices. FashionWholesaler.com has a fashion accessories wholesale catalog available online or in the mail.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When stocking fashion accessories basics, try to include a variety of accessories from which your customers can choose.

Ah, the fashion accessory: it can be as simple as a pair of shoes or a matching handbag, or it can cost more than the clothing outfit. Whatever the case may be, many people just do not feel complete without some fashion accessories. Stores, for this reason, have begun carrying an array of different products.

There was once a time when, if you wanted to purchase clothing, you would visit a store that specifically sold retail clothing. Accessories were sold elsewhere. That is not the case today, however, there are still stores geared specifically toward the sale of fashion accessories. If this describes your business, then you have a lot of competition. You not only have to compete with other accessory stores, but also have to compete with some major retailers.

For this and other reasons, you need to choose items that will compliment your business. Whether you are already a clothing retail store looking to add accessories or a new fashion accessories business just starting out, think about your clients when stocking your accessory inventory.

1. Cater to all areas of potential clients including men, women, and children.
2. Buy a variety of fashion accessories that can compliment multiple ensembles.
3. Buy designer products from fashion accessories distributors and wholesalers to make a profit.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Don't just sell clothing, sell clothing accessories

If you already sell retail clothing, then you can easily add jewelry fashion accessories. Stores that already provide clothing to their clients can help them complete their look with a jewelry fashion accessory or two. Consider your current clientele when purchasing accessories to sell at your store.

I recommend: YP Trading.com is a wholesale fashion and costume jewelry website. The prices are extremely reasonable, but it may be difficult to buy large quantities of the same item. For the younger generations, check out the products at Monster Trendz, Inc. This site provides point of purchase display kits to help with product marketing. Other websites to check out include Accessory B2B, PinkTownUSA.com, and Bosuk Jewelry.

Buy wholesale clothing accessories to make a bigger profit

You want to sell your fashion accessories and, at the same time, increase your profits. Wholesale websites might be the right place for you to buy designer fashion accessories for your business. These websites usually offer good discounts to retailers, and this allows you to sell your products for reasonable prices, while still making a good profit.

I recommend: Accessory Wholesale, Inc. has it all. They sell wholesale fashion accessories at discounted prices, but a minimum order of $75 is required. For designer fashion accessories and import fashion accessories, go to eDesignerShop. This website offers authentic designer products at a reduced price. It provides proof of authenticity to ensure that each product is the real thing. Brand Name Jeans also sells authentic designer fashion accessories. This website offers discounts for retailers. You must first provide your retail information to access the wholesale fashion accessories prices; later, there is an initial minimum order.

If you sell women's fashion accessories, you also need men's fashion accessories

When selling men's accessories, make sure you have a good selection of the basics: socks, belts, cuff links, ties, and watches. You may also want to carry some unique items, but keep these to a minimum. Remember, you can always restock if necessary.

I recommend: If you are looking for men's fashion accessories at discounted prices, check out Solis, L.L.Bean, Land's End, and Men's Wearhouse. For designer fashion accessories, visit Armani Exchange, Brooks Brothers, and Cole Haan.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to add fashion accessories to your retail business but you don't want to spend a large amount of money, consider adding costume jewelry or other inexpensive clothes accessories.
• •  If offered, buy matching sets of items. For example, if there is a necklace, bracelet, and earrings that match, buy them all.

Supplies for fashion accessories are vital to the success of any fashion accessory store. These supplies provide your store with the items needed to effectively run the store. Supplies for fashion accessories are available for all types of accessories in all shapes and sizes. If your store sells fashion accessories you need supplies to enhance the store.

There are three basic supplies for fashion accessories that all stores need. The first is displays and fixtures. These are items that hold the accessories for the customers to view. The second supply needed is price tags and guns. Price tags and guns allow you to inform the customer and cashier of vital information about the accessory. The final supply all fashion accessories stores need are boxes and bags. These let you place accessories in safe containers as the customer leaves the store. Review the list below and find the supplies you need for your fashion accessories store.

1. Buy displays and fixtures for fashion accessories.

2. Place price tags on all your fashion accessories.

3. Locate boxes and bags for your fashion accessories.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Organize fashion accessories stores with displays and fixtures

All retail clothing accessories require some display or fixture to be used in the store. Many designer fashion accessories are available with display kits, however generic displays can be used to display all types of fashion accessories.

I recommend: Find display cases racks and bins for fashion accessories at Barr Display. Deluxe Enterprise Operations carries display items for jewelry and hair accessories. Visit Capitol Store Fixtures to find a wide variety of fashion accessories business fixtures.

Locate price tags and guns for fashion accessories

Price tags and guns allow the store to place their own information and prices on any fashion accessory. Tagging guns place tags in hats and scarfs while string tags or stickers can be placed on all other fashion accessories.

I recommend: Find price tags for clothes accessories and other fashion accessories at XpressTags.com. The Nu-Era Group has price tags and guns for any fashion accessories business. Russell and Miller carries a wide variety of price tags and tagging guns for fashion accessories.

Purchase fashion accessories boxes and bags

Wholesale fashion accessories boxes and bags are designed to package your accessories after the customer has purchased the accessory. These can be printed with your company name or left black if desired.

I recommend: Buy boxes and bags to place the fashion items in at Deltasite. RetailStorePackaging.com has fashion accessories bags and boxes for jewelry and hats. Visit the Action Bag Company for a wide variety of boxes and bags to package fashion accessories.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing bags and boxes for fashion accessories, purchase an array of sizes to fit all the accessories.

Since the fashion accessories market is one of the fastest growing areas in fashion, it is vital for accessory designers, retailers and manufacturers to know the key words for each item. Many fashion designers have begun adding fashion accessory lines to their businesses, creating increased customer demand. Others in the fashion industry also have recognized the importance of fashion accessories as a way to increase revenue. Take the time to learn fashion accessory key words so that you can be current on the latest trends and watch your profits grow.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Bracelet, necklace and anklet extenders

Extenders make bracelets, necklaces or anklets longer and more comfortable to wear. Extenders are usually made of chain links so users can find the fit that's best for them. Extenders are made of a variety of materials, from sterling silver to gold or gold fill.

I recommend: Visit Diana Bostany to learn about bracelet, necklace and anklet extenders.

Earring guards, stabilizers and tear discs

Earring guards prevent French hook and other kinds of earrings from falling off and getting lost. Earring stabilizers are round discs placed on the back of earrings to hold them more securely on the ear. Tear discs are adhesive discs that are worn on earlobes to prevent stretching and tearing.

I recommend: Learn about earring guards, stabilizers and tear discs at Ring Guards Plus.

Leg warmers

Dancers originally wore leg warmers to keep their muscles warm. Today they are fashion accessories that come in many styles and patterns. Leg warmers also come in different lengths. Some are knee-high, and others are thigh-high.

I recommend: Look at various styles of leg warmers at Sock Dreams.

Skull hats

A skull hat is a knit hat that fits very closely to the head. They are longer than beanies and look like knitted versions of a cloche hat. Many designers decorate skull hats with flowers or beads, while others make skull hats with knitted patterns.

I recommend: Learn about the many styles and designs of skull hats at Betsey Johnson.

Jeweled Combs

Jeweled combs are decorated hair accessories. They can hold hair in place to create styles like an updo or add style. Many designers use crystals, plastic beads, precious gems and pearls to decorate jeweled combs.

I recommend: Read the information and view the photographs of jeweled combs at Hair Boutique and Marketplace.

Fingerless Gloves

First worn by skiers and motorcyclists, fingerless gloves let wearers use fingers while keeping their hands warm. Some fingerless gloves are made of knitted wool or leather, while others are made of materials like satin, lace and silk.

I recommend: Learn about the many different styles and designs of fingerless gloves at Only Gloves.com.