The little black dress, simple black pumps, denim—some styles are always on trend, no matter the season. The key to having a popular boutique inventory is mixing these versatile pieces alongside trendier garments that highlight the fashion of the region and season. Your customers will love the range and have the ability to build complete, balanced outfits after visiting your boutique. A White Button-Up  Whether it's being dressed up with a blazer for a dream-job interview or accented simply with dark denim and black flats, the white button-up is a true must-have for your customers because of its versatility alone. A Black Blazer Don't underestimate the neutral-hued blazer. We love how a tailored jacket makes a vintage-inspired graphic band tee look a bit smarter—or...

According to IBISWorld, the clothing boutique industry is worth roughly $21 billion, but at the same time is also highly fragmented. Meaning that no single player makes up more than 1% of the total industry revenue and every retailer is having to fight tooth and nail to even gain any market share. Due to the fact that boutiques are typically small, single-location enterprises, they thrive on catering to niche markets. You have to know exactly who to target and shop for if you want your boutique to be profitable and successful at the end of the day. Don't worry, this is where we come in! I’m sure you got a basic understanding of customer demographics in our previous post about “How...

Your retail space can be your most productive and most efficient salesperson, so why not take full advantage? Visual merchandising is one of the most effective ways to get window shoppers in the door.   In order to optimize your sales space for maximum revenue and increase your sales per square foot, you need to not only catch your target customer’s attention, but get them to make a purchase as well. By using some trusted methods for strategically planning your retail space, you’ll be able to brand your boutique, engage with customers, and maximize profits. To get you started, here are some tips:   Always Keep Things Fresh   Generally, a good rule of thumb to follow is changing up your visuals about once a...

How Do You Buy The Right Inventory For Your Customers?   As you are fully aware of, boutiques offer an unmatched unique experience. Your customers come to your stores looking to get away from the mainstream and dull offerings found elsewhere in the marketplace. This is where you come in with your specialized product selection.   What you may not be aware of however, is that buying your inventory requires careful research and planning in order to make your boutique successful. To help make that process a little easier, follow this quick guide on how to buy products that align with the wants and needs of your clientele.   Buy For The Right Age Shopper   Do you have a loyal customer base? If so, what...

How to Ensure a Successful Seasonal Transition As seasons change, so do customers, profits, and styles. Here are some general guidelines to follow in order to maximize your success in these transitional times.   Record Last Season Sales This is a great place to start your planning without even realizing it. As you keep detailed records during prior seasons and months, you will have this information to predict upcoming trends when it comes time to plan for the next season. However, some planners, buyers, and merchandisers struggle with knowing to what extent to live by this information. It is merely a reference point but definitely a good place to start.   Develop Detailed Sales and Inventory Plans It is important to create sales...