How to Keep Your Boutique Organized

Keeping a retail store or boutique organized is no picnic. Customers are constantly putting things down in the wrong departments or hanging clothes on the wrong clothing racks. There's new inventory to keep track of and it can be difficult to make space for new items coming in. Use these tips to keep your store organized. Your boutique will look neat and clean, keeping customers interested and happy.

First you need to categorize your items. Many boutiques have a "disorderly order" appeal. Everything seems to be mixed up, but in a pleasant way that keeps interest from one part of the store to another. You don't have to give up this eclectic feel to keep things where they go.

Divide the store into sections however you see fit. You can have something descriptive, such as the black section, the flowered section, the kid's section or the shoes section. Use whatever makes sense for your store. Then you need to come up with a system to keep each section in order.

Here's what we mean. Let's use the example of a casual summer section. This area contains sun hats, lightweight dresses, beach towels, shorts, flip-flops and summer accessories, such as jewelry and sunglasses. Make a check list for this section and title it "Casual Summer" or whatever you see fit. On the check list, name each thing that you want organized.

A lot of times, you can use the same basic pattern for each section. You probably want to put the smallest items in the front where they can be easily seen. So, in the casual summer section, you may have a table or bookshelves displaying your jewelry and sunglasses. In another section, the small items may be socks, ties, or hair accessories.

You don't want your small items to take the entire spotlight, but you do want them near the front because these are generally the lower priced items that will draw customers closer to look at them. This keeps the customers moving through the store so that they don't ignore entire departments. So, very near the small items, you need to have a featured display.

Your featured display will be one that serves some purpose. It can be your highest priced items, your new inventory, or even just something that you feel helps to communicate your store image. Mannequins are extremely effective here. You want to draw attention to the merchandise and display it in a way that makes the customer feel a certain way.

Keep your garment racks and clothing racks clear enough that they are easy to look through. Use dividers or markers that make finding a size simple. A garment rack should never be crowded. Clothing racks that are crammed tight, damage clothes and turn customers away.

Go through your check list a few times a day and make sure that everything is in order. By keeping your displays neat and your garment racks neat, you will be able to see if something is out of place. This technique not only keeps things organized, but holds the customer's interest in your store.