Live Shopping

Boutique Blog – by Anna M

10 Sites to Sell More and Boost Boutique Sales in 2025

It’s the new year, a time when boutique owners are reviewing last year’s revenue and planning new strategies for 2025. Since the economic outlook and new shopping trends are key to sales strategies, we will take a look at how they are shaping up.  First, let’s take a look at the macro economy and then the specific online clothing market to get an idea of the economic landscape, or the health of the consumer’s pocket.   While price inflation in 2024 impacted consumer pocketbooks and discretionary spending, retail sales actually exceeded forecasts as the U.S economy grew 2.3%. And Fannie Mae analysts just adjusted their economic forecast up to 2.0% growth for 2025, slightly down from 2024 as the graph shows below:                                                         Let's now look at how the online clothing market compares to overall economic growth. The U.S. apparel market generated $358 billion this year with ecommerce accounting for $145 billion (40.5%) of total apparel revenue. And from 2018 to 2023, ecommerce sales rose by 70%. This graph shows the multi-year revenue numbers:           What does this mean for you? If you have a boutique with an online presence or if you're considering creating an online boutique, you are heading in the right direction. And today a plethora of tools exist to help source your boutique, such as Bloom Wholesale who offers trendy women's apparel or fashion dropship suppliers like Bloom Dropship, Salehoo, Modily, and Spockett.     If you are just getting started, drop shipping is an easy way to sell apparel without having to purchase, store or manage inventory. You only pay for what you sell, and the drop shipper sources all the products and does the shipping. But sourcing a boutique is just one aspect of the boutique business. Achieving sales success has more to do with understanding how consumers shop and where they shop. So, let’s look at some stats on online shopping trends:  Between 2025 to 2030, experts predict an 8% CAGR for fashion e-commerce  Social media influences 32% of Americans in the clothing they purchase  Women’s apparel accounts for 68.5% of all e-commerce clothing revenue    80.7% of fashion e-commerce site traffic is from consumers using mobile devices  The jaw dropping facts are this: 80% of all fashion e-commerce traffic comes from mobile devices and 32% of Americans say social media influenced the purchase of the clothes in their closet. This graph shows mobile shopping percentages by retail category: Live Shopping Sites   Social ecommerce is the next great disruptor in the retail industry. A study from Aftership found that 34% of US consumers aged 18-34 make purchases through live shopping each week and this trend will be a key driver in the 2025 retail landscape and beyond.   What’s behind the explosion in social commerce? Free sites such as Facebook Live currently dominate social commerce. The platform saw 67.8 million buyers in 2024 while Instagram is predicted to see 45.3 million buyers. TikTok is predicted to see 35.8 million.  This interactive approach helps to build trust, drive sales and reach a wide audience. It is worth pointing out that while Facebook and Instagram offer lives for free, they do not guarantee viewers. Many boutiques combine free and paid sites to optimize sales, such as using Channelize along with TikTok live events. Regardless, live shopping is a growing trend you can adopt to enhance your online presence.    Toward that goal, below are top 10 live shopping platforms for apparel:  1. Videeo  Videeo offers personalized video and claims to boost customer engagement by 250%. It offers a mobile app wizard for iOS and Android devices and integrates with Shopify.  2. Skeepers  Skeepers offers the ability to host thousands of shopping parties and utilize social media to attract new customers. It also integrates with the #1 ecommerce platform, Shopify.  3. GoLive  GoLive combines livestream shopping with artificial intelligence and real-time analytics. Some of the brands that they have partnered with include Guess, Samsung, and LG.   3. Bambuser  Bambuser is focused on interactive live video streaming. According to their website, their average add-to-cart is 31%, while its chat engagement is 24%. split screen.  4. Amazon Live  Amazon Live is a free streaming app and available for U.S. sellers registered in the Amazon Brand Registry. It does require 3rd party apps to integrate with Shopify.  5. Facebook Live Shopping  Facebook offers new Live features on its Facebook Page to connect with your audience and sell items. It does require 3rd party apps to integrate into your Shopify store.  6. TikTok Shop  TikTok Shop blends live stream with eCommerce for a dynamic shopping experience and to reach younger, social media-savvy consumers. It does require 3rd party apps to integrate your Amazon and Shopify stores.  7. TalkShopLive  TalkShopLive offers live stream & home shopping with a built-in buying experience. With the TSL Seller iOS app, you can go live via your desktop and it integrates with Shopify.  8. Popshop Live  Popshop Live has an app for Android and iOS devices and includes an intuitive seller dashboard and producer tool for livestream and it integrates with Shopify.  9. Channelize  Channelize is great for hosting five events or less per month to an audience no bigger than 50. They integrate with Shopify and offer a basic free plan for live shopping.  10. Confer With  Confer has a basic free plan but aims to offer you the features to link a high-value customer with one of your reps or a virtual appointment. It integrates with Shopify.  Live Shopping is growing fast with a variety of options to help online boutiques expand their audience reach by tapping into large numbers of ecommerce shoppers. But it's not just live shopping that is trending. Online marketplaces are also driving online sales.  Top Marketplace Sites  Online marketplaces can offer online boutique a way to expand business. Marketplaces have become a platform to reach more audiences in the shortest possible time and maximize conversion and sales.  If you are a fashion retailer selling through your online website and looking to generate more revenue, online fashion marketplaces can be a great option to grow your sales. The biggest benefit of online marketplaces is convenience. No matter which platform you use to start your e-commerce journey, you don’t have to get out of your comfort zone.   From starting, organizing, and managing to delivery, everything can be done from anywhere you live or even if you shift. Not only can you access it, but also you get client support in case of an emergency.  Here are the top 6 online fashion marketplaces:  1. Amazon Fashion Marketplace  2. Etsy Fashion Marketplace   3. Walmart Fashion Marketplace  4. Facebook Fashion Marketplace  5. Poshmark  6. ASOS Marketplace  In summary, the ways in which consumers shop online is always evolving. Live shopping and online marketplaces are gaining speed and giving online boutiques an opportunity to expand their customer base and grow sales. Integrating these shopping trends and sites into your sales strategies will be paramount to success, as is building loyalty and repeat purchases with personalized shopping and incentives.  Growing U.S. ecommerce numbers support that online boutiques are heading in the right direction and while 2025 will have some inflation trade winds, leveraging TikTok and other sites to tap into growing Gen Z online purchases is a real opportunity. Livestream sales reached $50 billion in 2023 and are estimated to grow by 36% in the next three years. Add it all up and it’s time to jump on board! 

Boutique Blog – by Krystal W

Avoid the Summer Slump and Increase Sales

For most retailers, the summer season can lead to a noticeable dip in customer foot traffic and online sales. To beat any summer slowdown, the first step needed is to understand your customer trends during this season, such as when they typically plan vacations, attend outdoor events, or refresh their summer wardrobes. While summer sales typically dip, warm weather can also offer opportunities to capture the excitement of the season and align products with customer desires. Savvy retailers use the season to strategically boost sales and increase customer loyalty, so toward that goal, let’s discuss proven strategies that can bolster sales and avoid any retail summer blues! Create Summer-Themed Promotions Capitalize on the season by crafting sales around summer themes. Get creative and go beyond the typical 4th of July sales; like “Backyard BBQ Essentials” or “Vacay Must-Haves” to tap into your customers’ mindset and make your offerings irresistible. Below are more suggestions to jump start your creative ideas. Themed Flash Sales Organize flash sales that last for a limited time (i.e., 24 or 48 hours) that revolve around fun summer themes. For example, “Beach Day Essentials” offering items like sunglasses, hats and flip-flops, or a “Summer Nights” sale with lightweight jackets, scarves, and jewelry for cooler evenings. Promote these items on social media with graphics and countdowns to create urgency. Sunset Happy Hours Increase foot traffic by hosting a “Sunset Happy Hour” sales events in the late afternoon or early evening. Offer exclusive discounts and enhance the shopping experience with light refreshments and summer-themed music. This can create a festive shopping atmosphere that encourages customers to shop and enjoy.  Summer Scavenger Hunt Organize a scavenger hunt either in-store or digitally via your social media platforms. In-store, hide symbols or items around your shop that customers can find to unlock discounts. For a digital version, create clues that guide customers through your website to discover hidden discount codes. Beat-The-Heat Discounts Offer dynamic discounts that change based on the temperature, such as setting the discount percentage equivalent to the day’s highest temperature (e.g., 85 degrees = 85% off selected items). Promote this sale heavily on days when the weather forecast predicts hot temperatures to drive traffic to your store during heatwaves. VIP Shopping Nights Host an exclusive after-hours shopping event for top customers, complete with personal styling and previews of new arrivals. Enhance the atmosphere with a summer theme, like tropical decor and refreshments to make customers feel appreciated and pampered. This is also a good time to gather feedback on your products and services directly from your best customers. Charity Support Sales Connect your summer sale with a cause. Choose a charity to support and advertise that a portion of every sale during a specific period will go to that charity. This can incentivize purchases and connect your brand with social/community good. Consider offering products that align with a charity’s mission or host a day where representatives from the charity can attend to talk about their work. Leverage Local Events Summer is packed with local festivals, markets, and community gatherings. Participate in these events to maintain visibility and attract new customers. You can set up a pop-up shop, kiosk, sponsor a booth, or partner with event organizers. This not only boosts your summer sales but can enhance your community presence to increase brand awareness. Host In-Store Events Organize in-store events such as styling sessions, summer fashion shows, or a meet-the-maker day with local artisans whose products you carry. Events are excellent for building community and giving people a reason to visit your store. Offering a special discount during the event can also convert attendees into buyers. Boost Your Online Presence It is imperative to optimize your store’s online presence, maintain an updated online inventory, and implement digital advertising strategies to reach your targeted customers. Engaging content that resonates with summer activities or preferences, shared across your social media platforms, can also drive online traffic and sales. Try re-merchandising your website a bit with a new homepage or cart layout. Offer Seasonal Loyalty Rewards Encourage repeat business through a summer loyalty program. Offer rewards that are seasonally appropriate and potentially quicker to attain, such as “Buy three, get your fourth summer essential at 50% off.” Make sure the rewards are tempting enough to bring customers back into your store multiple times throughout the summer. Partner with Other Local Businesses Team up with nearby businesses to cross-promote each other’s offerings. For instance, a collaboration with a local ice cream or home goods shop could involve offering discount vouchers to each other’s stores. These partnerships help widen your reach and attract a diverse array of customers. Re-Merchandise Your Store Refreshing your store layout can dramatically increase interest and sales. Move your merchandise around to highlight different items and create new displays that draw attention to products that might have been overlooked. Online, consider updating product categories and feature items on your homepage that are particularly suitable for summer or any current promotions. Do not underestimate the power of re-merchandising! Re-Style and Re-Shoot Products That Aren’t Selling If certain items aren’t moving, they might just need a new context. Restyle them in a summer setting, paired with best-sellers or seasonal items, and shoot new photos for your online and physical marketing materials. Fresh images can reignite interest and help customers see these products in a new light, potentially boosting their appeal. While most tourist and hospitality industries see a boon in sales during the summer, online stores and traditional retail typically experience a “cooling” of sales as temperatures heat up. This slump is mostly due to shoppers choosing to spend their money on trips, outdoor concerts, and sporting events, just to name a few.  But this retail slump does not have to be the status quo. Smart retailers cash in on the tourism spending this time of year, while still marketing to local customers. Whether your business is online or also has brick-and-mortar locations, taking advantage of the summer season with sales-boosting strategies can make the difference between reaping summer sales or experiencing the summer blues. So don’t delay, let the creative process begin!