The second-hand market is booming, and with that boom comes a lot of competition. Having a physical store in a good location can immediately make a massive difference in your sales, but if you aren’t doing more with your store, you are quite simply missing out on a lot of potential customers. This is particularly true if you’re in a popular area that sees a lot of foot traffic. You want to capitalize on that foot traffic and draw customers to your store first before they get tempted away by one of your nearby competitors. Most people don’t have an unlimited budget, so they may stop after buying just one thing. You want that one thing to be from your store.
To help you make your second-hand boutique stand out, use these top tips:
- Unique Interior Design
If your store’s well-designed and stands out from your neighbors, then your brand will naturally draw the eye. This, in turn, can turn into interest if the person looking loves vintage and thrifting. That alone will increase traffic to your store. Still, a great design and overall ambiance throughout will offer such a great impression that those vintage lovers and treasure hunters will visit again and again because the experience of looking alone is so fun.
- Match the Music to the Mood
Music is such a fun, simple way to really set the tone for your store and showcase your overall store’s theme. If you sell grunge, 90s clothes, for example, then a playlist of 90s hits is a great option. If you’re a high-end vintage boutique, then you’ll want to go back in time for something classical. Thrift store music that matches the decades or at least the general theme of clothes you sell is an incredibly smart, fast way to tell your customers what your USP is in seconds. If you sell a little bit of everything, consider instead your customer base. Most thrifters are in the younger generations, so put on something upbeat and modern so you can draw in your customers and give them a positive atmosphere to shop and treasure hunt in.
- Merchandising
Merchandising is a fun, easy way to market your store and make your entire brand into something of a cult item. Create unique and interesting tote bags that stand out, for example, that you can then incorporate into the cost of your stock so you can give to your customers for free with purchases over $50, for example. This way, they’ll likely use the tote bag, market your brand, and help make your name commonplace in your area.
- Online Store
Second-hand stores today are either entirely online or not online at all. Striking a balance is a great way to get more people into your store and increase sales all at once. At a minimum, for example, you’ll want to regularly take photos of the stock you get and your store, in general, to post online. This will give your existing audience a chance to see what’s in stock, so if they spot something they love, they’ll go in or even DM you to buy direct. As for an online store element, use that digital sphere for advertising your premium pieces. This increases the chance of high-priced items getting sold both in-store and online.
