If you own a retail clothing or shoe store, you not only need to get your inventory right. You also need to protect your business from potential risks. This protection requires understanding that your store faces specific challenges that go beyond those seen in general retail stores and require specific insurance for the fashion retail industry.

Our guide aims to help you understand which insurance policies you need to safeguard your business, especially when it comes to protecting your most valuable inventory.

Property Insurance

Your first port of call should be property insurance, which will protect not only your physical location but also your inventory, equipment, and fixtures. This is one of the most common types of insurance coverage, and you’ll likely encounter numerous options. Be sure to pay close attention to the coverage limits for your inventory.

Keep in mind that fashion inventory can be especially vulnerable to damage caused by smoke, water, and fire, all of which can leave your clothing completely ruined and unfit for sale. Therefore, you should make sure your policy includes coverage for the replacement cost of your inventory instead of its actual cash value, or you won’t get the full cost of replacing any damaged items at their current market prices.

Special Considerations for Protecting Your Inventory

Standard property insurance won’t be enough to fully protect your fashion inventory. Consider adding these specialized types of coverage.

• Seasonal Increase Coverage: This is an endorsement that will automatically increase your coverage limits for those times when your inventory levels are higher, such as peak holiday season or the back-to-school season. If you don’t obtain this coverage, you could find yourself underinsured right at the time when you have the most to lose.
• Off-premises Coverage: This is a type of protection for your inventory while it’s being transported or temporarily stored in a location other than your shop. This might be the case during fashion shows, at pop-up shops, or when you use warehouse storage. This coverage is especially pressing for clothes and shoe retailers who often participate in trunk shows or fashion events.
• Flood and Water Damage Protection: Keep in mind that your standard property policy likely excludes flood damage or limits it to an unhelpful degree. When you consider the fact that clothes and shoes are particularly vulnerable to water damage, the need for flood insurance or enhanced water damage coverage is clear, especially if your store operates out of a ground-floor location or has a basement.

Business Interruption Insurance

Business interruption insurance can be useful for all types of retailers, but it takes on special significance in the fashion retail sector. Should a covered event force you to close temporarily, it can help to replace the income you lose and address your ongoing expenses that don’t go away just because your store isn’t open. This is particularly important for clothing retailers that rely on seasonal sales, as closing during this key time could lead to a catastrophic financial loss.

Liability Coverage

General liability insurance provides useful protection in cases involving customer injuries and property damage claims. As a clothing and shoe retailer, you need to consider the high foot traffic that passes through your doors and the risks associated with customers trying on clothes in your fitting rooms, passing by clothing racks, and the presence of display fixtures. Here are some specific liability concerns you should not overlook:

• Product Liability: This can protect you in the event of claims stemming from articles of clothes that cause injuries or damage, whether it’s an allergic reaction to a fabric or an injury a customer sustains as a result of footwear.
• Professional Liability: If your store offers customers services such as fashion consulting, tailoring, or personal shopping services, you should consider adding professional liability coverage for protection against claims related to poor advice or service.

Additional Essential Coverages

• Cyber Liability Insurance: These days, there is a good chance your store not only handles digital customer payment information; you likely also have an online sales platform. With cyber liability insurance, you’ll be covered for the costs that arise from any data breaches and cyber attacks that target your store.
• Workers’ Compensation: No business can afford to go without this coverage, and many states require businesses to obtain it. It’s a highly useful type of coverage that offers protection for your employees and your business itself in the event of a work-related injury. If someone on your payroll is injured lifting a heavy box of shoes or climbing a ladder to set up a display, all parties will be covered.
• Crime Insurance: This coverage protects against some of the major crimes your store could face, including employee theft, shoplifting, and fraud. This is particularly important if you sell designer clothes or shoes with a high price tag, as they tend to be very attractive targets for thieves.
• Umbrella Insurance: If your store operates out of a high-risk location or you sell high-end clothes and shoes, umbrella coverage is useful for extending your liability limits.

Make Sure Your Store Is Protected

Is your clothing or shoe store fully protected from the many unexpected events that could hurt your operations or bottom line?

At John M. Glover Insurance Agency, we can assess your current coverage to find areas where it falls short and areas where you may be overpaying for unnecessary coverage.

We’ll work with you to create a package that addresses all the risks retailers face and help you strike the right balance between protection and affordability. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.