My mother and I started a plus size womens clothing store in a small to medium sized town in Kansas. Its on Main st where lots of other retail businesses are. And tho we cater the clothes to plus size women we carry name brand purses, nice jewelry and scarfs and hats and gloves. And we carry sandals in the summer! lots of things other than plus size clothes. we thought it was a great idea because the only place in our town where you can buy plus size is walmart! Our prices are moderate, we dont even mark things up to there retail value! The first year was ok(it kept the bills paid) the second not so hot! and now we are dreading starting the third year! Please help this is my mothers life long dream! i dont want it to fail! We spend around 25% of our monthly income on adverising..we advertise with three newspapers...two radio stations and send out newsletters! and its still not bringing in the customers!Our target age group is 18-60 we carry every thing for every women thats why my mother and i started the business together...im 20 and shes 42 so we get a wide range of style difference from out age! And i dont think our clothes are frumpy i think we sell very nice things and we are small town so we wouldnt sell a thing that we wouldnt wear ourselves or that is damaged! Our customers that do come in are always saying what a great store we have and we have so many cute things but yet they dont buy!
2007-01-14 11:02:59 · 16 answers · asked by juno 2 in Beauty & Style ➔ Other - Beauty & Style
tell everybody at school on inernet give flyers and lots of stuff by the way whuts the place cald
2007-01-14 11:07:41 · answer #1 · answered by sassy girl 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What is your ROI for the newspapers & radio advertising?
Stop the newspaper advertising. I suspect it's not working well.
The radio may be working but it has to be compelling enough for "plus-size" Kansas women, to want to get in their vehicle and see what you've got to offer them.
If you heard your radio ad, and weren't the owners, would you visit your store?
Find a local "plus-size" celebrity and invite her to the store and give her clothing - every week. She may be your most valuable & inexpensive mode of advertising. Word of mouth is the absolute best advertising - ever! Try to find someone that is flamboyant, vivacious and talkative. Her mouth will spread the word about your store like wildfire if she likes the clothes/items.
What are you doing to assist those not buying to make a decision to buy?
It seems you may not have had a solid grasp on your concept with your market & demographics before you opened.
It can work - it's a lot of work & more than just newspaper & radio advertising! You can do it!!
Hang in there!
2007-01-14 11:16:48 · answer #2 · answered by ☼High☼Voltage☼Blonde☼ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What about coupons with purchase ? Think about how other plus size stores make it. They send out coupons that are only good for certain days. Or get 10% off purchases of $50 or more.
What about internet sales? Thought about placing merchandise on Ebay? Or just opening a website?
What about a questionaire customers fill out in order to get a discount coupon? You could mail it out and ask them what they think about the store, what could be improved, etc.
2007-01-14 11:09:33 · answer #3 · answered by Smoothann 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try advertising more. May cost a little but worth it. Billboards, newspapers, maybe a local tv commercial, internet, business cards. Talk to local radio stations to see how much for a two minute advertising spot. Maybe add smaller sizes too, you can still cater to larger sizes too. Post up ads around colleges. Talk to local hair salons and maybe they can keep flyers posted up for you. When you have local fairs, open up a booth etc.. Make it happen and you'll be fine. Good luck.
2007-01-14 11:10:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really am intrigued by your story and i have the utmost respect for you and your mother starting your own business. This is why i am thinking really hard as to why its not working for you. From what you described it sounds like you are doing things right. Now here are some points for you to consider:
1. You mention you are located in a distrct of several other retailers. I think that is a good idea because of the walk-in traffic or cars that go by who visit other stores will see yours. But then i do wonder what your window dressing and sidewalk displays have going. I think it is important to advertise insane deals all over the place for drive-bys and walkers to see and take notice. For example, have an insane tuesday where there is like 40% off most items. I know that is crazy but it attracts new customers and then in time you remove the offer.
2. Although you are going on your 3rd year don't give up hope. It does take time for people to take notice. I am trying to reflect and imagine myself trying to realize a store exists. It's all about advertising and lots of it but at the same time it seems to have to be something "unique" that gets my attention. You might considerr some kind of unique event in front of the store or as part of your stores theme that draws people in. For example, maybe a special guest chef who will be serving special "Atkins diet foods" and tips for customers who make certainy purchases.
3. Maybe having an exchange program where women of plus size who's clothes dont fit them anymore can be brought into the store and exchanged for other clothes that fit them that other plus size women has brought in.
4. It's tough to beat wal-mart considering how women in your small town will automatically think that store when they need to buy their plus-size HOWEVER it does not mean you can't beat them. When i imagine myself as a plus-sized woman i see myself going to wal-mart because i think i have no other choices and their price is likely to be right. Going with that mentality all it would take would be a store with comparable prices (equal to or less ideally) and variety for them.
5. I dont know if this sounds too much but it would be kinda cool to have a in-store photographer who, free of charge, would be willing to take a picture of a customer after she tried on her store-bought outfit and the photograph was glamorized to look pretty for them...You could advertise in ads on tv/radio/papers that for every purchase you get a free Glamor Photo which might appeal to these women because from my experience women like to look and be told their beautiful and to have that extra little bonus of getting a free picture of how beatufil they are makes them feel good and want to come back.
6. It would also be a good idea to open a store website. I know it requires a lot of work to set up (well, it depends actually because one could have their store up in 1 hr while others may take 1 week) and so i think you shouldnt try this until you have a foundation through local means first.
I think your business idea is great for a small town and i think it will work out if you stick with it. These customers just need an incentive to walk-in since wal-mart has already given them the biggest one: convenience of being an all-in-one store (i can buy other things besides my plus-size material), and price.
2007-01-14 11:35:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you are doing everything right. Do you have special sales at different times of the year? How about a third anniversary sale of when your store opened with flowers for the ladies that come in? Best of luck.
2007-01-14 11:07:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
hand out flyers, flyers , flyers! they really worked for my mom. she would hand them out at churches, grocery stores, concert events....and she put them on the wipers of cars. that way they had to see it when they hopped in their car. you might also want to try a cheap website, just to let others know in cyber world. try selling your stuff on ebay, and be sure to mention your store and location on the page. since you are 20, you can bring in a lot of customers by wearing the clothes to school, parties, clubs, or wherever else you go. keep in mind that you have only been open for a few years. give it time, and i am sure your mother will be prosperous. i wish you the best of luck.
2007-01-14 11:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by dream 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Have a big 3rd season bash! slash proices and everything! Have posetrs EVERYWHERE!! Slashed prices means more people and ewhen they see all the amazing stuff you have they'll come all year round. And if alot fo your town isn't plus sized then i'd suggest only having a plus sized section. Skinny girls love to shop!!:)
2007-01-14 11:28:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
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2016-10-07 04:01:44 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you thought about internet sales, perhaps setting up an ebay store at first then when those people take to it start you own website.
2007-01-14 11:08:45 · answer #10 · answered by grand96prix 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋