Boutique Promotional Merchandising

In the boutique industry, merchandising can be as important as the products that you offer. Visuals are very powerful in influencing customers' decision to buy. Interesting and exciting displays in boutiques can stimulate customers into spending more money. As a boutique owner, you have to decide which products will be presented at each season change, holiday, or other promotional opportunity.

Annual merchandising refers to promotions and merchandising displays that you present annually. These would be cyclical promotions, for instance, at the change of the seasons. When a season change is approaching, you must prepare by ordering interesting products, figuring out which products will be the focus of your displays, and how you are going to promote them.

Promotions need to span every area of distribution that you have in your boutique. You may need to send out mailers, have in-store promotion signage, give special deals through your web site or e-mail list, and publish promotions in your newsletter or catalog.

Opportunity merchandising refers to promotions and merchandising displays that you produce during times of opportunity. Holidays, back to school time, sporting events, or local celebrations can be opportunities to have a promotion. Capitalize on events like these by keeping up with current events, especially in your area. You may offer discounts to students who bring in their football ticket stubs, or customers who bring in museum receipts. Other businesses in your area may be willing to let you display business cards or flyers in their establishment if you offer these kinds of promotions.

Clearance merchandising is different. Having a clearance sale is great to do when there isn't much else going on. Make sure that you promote your clearance sale the same as you would any other type of promotion.

Merchandising clearance items may be a little tricky, because you don't necessarily want the items that aren't selling or that you don't have much of to be the main focus of your store. You want people to come in and help you get rid of excess merchandise, but you also want to take that opportunity to grab their interest about the more expensive and current items on display. This is why sidewalk sales are so effective. They help you to promote your clearance sale, but also lure people inside of the store that normally may not shop with you.

Keep things interesting and always changing by rearranging your clothing racks and displays regularly. Choose an interesting garment rack that has many levels of display to keep things from getting boring. Many garment racks are designed with boutiques in mind. They help to individually display unique items and tap into the market of people who like boutiques because of their uniquely scarce offerings.