Steps to Set Up a Mobile Phone Cover Business in India
The fantastic sales of mobile phone covers are a spinoff of the phenomenal success of mobile phones in India. This market is undoubtedly expected to have a CAGR of 10.5% in the period 2017-2024. Besides, the mobile back cover business was pegged at USD 1.42 billion in 2016 and is expected to earn USD 3.54 billion by 2024. So, we’re in for some good times in the mobile cover printing business.
Your Marketing Opportunity:
According to marketing pundits, this market is dominated by 10-19-year-old boys and girls in each state of India. This means a market size of 1.24 crore captive Indians, ready to buy this product.
You can see that there’s ample opportunity for anyone wanting to enter this business. Already, it is seeing astounding success for a few weighty reasons:
- Distributors sell mobile covers and other accessories at all levels—national, regional, and micro. So, their products never go unnoticed.
- The number of fashion-conscious people in India is growing every day. This is the market that buys mobile covers, no matter the cost. They can be found on social media platforms.
- People’s spending capacity has increased, particularly in cities. Now that the phone is an indispensable part of our lives, mobile accessories are given equal importance, including mobile covers or cases.
- The growth of the mobile phone market has given rise to more competition. With increasing competition, the prices of phones have come down, and their accessories.
- The rise of the e-commerce industry has made mobile phones necessary. Everyone wants to show off their accessories. Hence, mobile cases are coming into their own. The Indian market for mobile accessories is poised to reach Rs. 252.80 billion by 2023.
If these facts and figures enthuse you to launch a mobile cover printing business, read on to find out how to equip yourself.
Benefits of A Mobile Cover Printing Business:
You stand to gain some excellent benefits by entering the mobile phone case business. They are:
- Holding inventory and shipping are accessible due to the product’s small size.
- The cost of production is low.
- You can sell these products online or offline.
- You can have a print-on-demand business model to work with low risk. Alternatively, you can buy in bulk and earn good margins.
- Every time a new phone model hits the market, you get an opportunity to sell to 44% of the smartphone market owners who upgrade their instruments every two years.
6 Steps to Set Up Your Mobile Phone Cover Business:
Though the above benefits of launching this business may seem encouraging, there are also a couple of downsides. First, you’ll face a lot of competition, and secondly, this is an unorganized market. To remain buoyant in this market, you need to have a creative and positive mindset, have entrepreneurial instincts, and be tech-savvy.
These are the steps to follow to begin your business in the mobile cover printing space:
#1. Research, Research, and Research Well
Do your research once you’re sure you want to enter this market. Don’t leave anything to chance. The more you find out about this business beforehand, the better equipped you will be once you’re in it. Besides, the more knowledgeable you are, the better deals you can clinch as you will understand your clients’ needs better.
#2. Make a Watertight Business Plan
After gathering the full information about your intended business, get to the details. Decide on the three areas of your business as listed below before you put down any money:
a. The kind of mobile phone cover you want to sell
Find out the most trending mobile phones and keep upgrading your inventory with an appropriate phone cover. Also, keep a close eye on new launches so that you can sell the latest and best.
b. Types of phone covers
The market is full of phone covers, each with its signature function and the corresponding cost. These include fabric cases, bumper cases, gel cases, slim cases, etc. Some are great to look at, while others have a high level of protection.
c. Create a brand identity
You need to establish your brand in the market, so have your brand identity created by a graphic designer. Think of a suitable brand name for your business that conveys quality and service. Keep your brand name short, easy to pronounce and recall, and simple.
#3. Invest in a Machine for Mobile Cover Printing
If you have decided to have your setup, invest in a mobile cover printing machine. If you check online, you will find that the most basic setup costs Rs. 18,000. Ask around for the cost of a good one and the features that it should have. You will also need other machineries, such as a white back case, transfer paper, heating press, laptops, and sublimation moulds.
#4. Create Your E-Commerce Store
If you intend to set up a home business, you’ll find this an exciting part of the business. By setting up your e-commerce store, you will manage your entire business online.
To set up your online business, do the following:
- Get a relevant domain name for your business. Register it and buy hosting to let your site go live.
- Next, choose between managed hosting and an open-source CMS (content management system). If you aren’t sure which to go with, seek the advice of someone who’s already in the business.
- After you have made the above choice, set up your store, write content on your site’s various pages and upload relevant images. Add the prices to each product and include details of delivery. With this, your doors are open for business.
#5. Create Your Presence on Various Platforms
Though yours is an online business, you must promote it both online and offline, just as other mobile covers manufacturers do. However, this doesn’t mean that you spend enormous amounts of money on advertising. You can achieve your goals without breaking the bank. Here are some ways by which you can create a presence for your business:
- Promote your business at tradeshows and craft fairs.
- Set up a blog and write articles related to your business.
- Use social media to popularize your range of phone covers.
- Create videos to promote a few of your ranges on YouTube.
- Use Facebook ads and Google Adwords for online marketing.
#6. Attract Your Visitors Using These Techniques
There are many ways you can use to attract visitors to your e-commerce website. Choose among the following to drive traffic to your store:
- Share Your Business Idea with Your Friends
Before you launch your business, let your friends and family know about it. They can help with the promotions and be your customers too. Get some insights about this business by asking them questions. You can use these answers to devise your marketing strategy.
- Either Host Your Product on Your Website or on Established Stores
If you choose to host your business in your store, that’s fine. Else, you can host your products on e-commerce stores like Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
- Kiosks and Exhibitions
If yours is an offline store, start your business in a mall. The high traffic you get will make this business attractive for you.
- Social Media Advertising
Learn where your target audience hangs out and attract them with your products on those platforms. Promote your business actively on these networks.
- Influencer Marketing
By tying up with an influencer, you ride piggyback on his back. After all, he has all the popularity and mass trust that you seek. Showcase your products by partnering with minor celebrities and bringing more conversions to your products.
You can offer your mobile cases as annual corporate gifts. For one thing, your products will sell in bulk. And, you get to put your product out there for everyone to see and use.
- Run Contests
By holding a contest on your social media page, you give your visitors a chance to win your products. That’s a great way of being talked about by your prospective buyers.
- Customize Your Product
Once you establish your brand, you can diversify into customized mobile covers. By doing this, you will cater to high-ticket clients and earn much more.
FAQs: Mobile covers business
Q. How do I start my own phone case business?
Ans. Create a few designs of phone covers and match them with specific phone models. Next, collaborate with a print-on-demand service. Place an order online for this and market your phone cover cases on your store or social media platforms.
Q. How much does it cost to start a phone case business?
Ans. Depending on whether you want to start small or go big, your initial costs will vary. However, there will be basic costs that include design, print on demand, marketing, and shipping. So, decide how big you want to start at this stage.
Q. What ongoing expenses will I have?
Ans. The maintenance of your machinery, salaries to employees, shipping, cost of advertising, raw material, and related costs are what you should expect.
Q. How much can you charge your customers?
Ans. Your profit margin will depend on the material you use for your phone case. Metal cases cost more than their slim counterparts.
Conclusion: The mobile phone cover printing business has been growing exponentially due to the growing mobile phone business. You can take advantage of this and get into the mobile phone accessories business, namely the mobile back cover business.