trunk show

How do you host a trunk show?

What you've been waiting for, here's the deal. Your new brand can get some exposure by participating in a trunk show, which is often a 1-2 day event at a boutique or retail store. The term derives from the fact that the cord was originally transported in a physical trunk. The next step in selling your line is to meet with and collaborate with potential buyers. Even if you have sales representatives handling trunk shows on your behalf. With enthusiasm and enthusiasm for your product, you will be able to close more deals. What's more, getting to chat with the designer in person is a big part of the draw of trunk displays.

The goal is to promote your newest offerings and secure orders from interested parties. However, you can also pre-sell your product line or sell off existing stock. In any case, make sure that your clients are aware of when they may expect the delivery.

Your ideal scenario is for this speciality shop to already be stocking your products. But it isn't always the case, and it's not necessarily even required. Once the store's owner or buyer sees how well your line does during the event, they may decide to stock it.

Without spending a lot of money, a trunk show can be a terrific method to show customers your new products. In addition to attracting new clients, events like these also lend your store a mystery feel and élan that rival establishments may lack. Even if you're not selling jewellery or fashion items, you can still host a successful trunk show. There are many tiny artist-designed lines out there. A successful sale may be created by bringing in a new, complimentary line, turning it into a special event, and advertising the heck out of it. The following are some suggestions for hosting a successful trunk show.

How to Find the Best Supplier

A trunk show is a great way to test the waters with new products or showcase limited-edition or custom-made items. An in-store trial run is a great way to gauge customer interest in a new product line before committing to stocking it regularly. You might be thinking about introducing a line of clothing or jewellery that appeals to a younger demographic or has a more avant-garde aesthetic. If you want to try something new, the trunk show is the place to do it. Even if you aren't interested in permanently carrying a certain brand, you might still want to host a trunk show to showcase their wares sometimes.

Find the ideal vendors to collaborate with, whatever your show's goals may be. If you're looking for potential merchants, one good place to look is in the handcrafted sections of trade exhibits. Make contact with suppliers who sell unique goods that would be a good fit for your shop. A customer-requested list of firms or products might likewise be initiated. Get in touch with the companies you're considering to see whether they're familiar with trunk shows and willing to participate. You should look for someone who is familiar with the logistical side of planning such an event and who is a good fit with your own sense of style and the vibe of your shop. If your store and audience are more conservative, a hippy surfer dude peddling hemp necklaces may not be the best fit. At the same time, if you have a casual approach to sales, you probably shouldn't work with a seller who is aggressive.

When it comes to products, trunk shows are best suited for handmade lines, although larger vendors who are debuting new products can still host such an event. Get in touch with possible suppliers around four to six months in advance, and they might be ready to send a representative to your clients with product samples to demonstrate.

Here Are Some Examples of Possible Trunk Shows:

Charity Events

The trunk show is a great method to include your business in "cause marketing," as many institutions and charities utilise them to earn money. It's a great idea to support your local art museum by taking part in their annual holiday fundraising. Return invitations to the exhibition across many years could boost your brand's visibility and lead to more sales and contacts in the industry.

Special Events

Spas, country culbs, and vineyards are just a few examples of unique event spaces where you can introduce your business to affluent consumers.

Boutiques

Having an event at a boutique is a great way for a designer to gain valuable merchandising experience and hear direct feedback from their target audience. In order to increase the possibility that the boutique would purchase your line, it is crucial that you regularly supply them with any new program sheets that are generated for your collection.

Collaborations

If you're looking to ease into a trunk show approach, collaborating with a group of brands to stage a trunk show can be a terrific option. You can reach a wider audience by holding an event in collaboration with complementary businesses to your area of expertise. You might perhaps work with wine and champagne suppliers, caterers, accessory designers, and pastry chefs who often work with brides.

Connect With Other Creators and Entrepreneurs

One benefit of forming a partnership is that it allows you to reach out to more people than just your own circle of acquaintances. You shouldn't team up with another jewellery maker unless their work is strikingly distinct from your own. Alternately, consider people who offer services that compliment your own, such as a potter who also creates scarves.

Find the Perfect Timing for the Event

It takes preparation to pull off a good trunk show, just like any other kind of event. To find the best month of the year, have a look at your calendar at the start of the year. Choose a time of year that is appropriate for the products, but avoid the conventional "selling seasons." Do not schedule a trunk show for the month of January, when most clients are thinking about "post-holiday deals" or have exhausted their holiday budgets. The beginning of a sales season is the ideal moment for trunk shows. After all, you should be showcasing recently released, high-quality goods that are worth their full asking price. Possible alternatives include the shoulder seasons of April and August.

Make a decision as to whether the concert will be a one-night-only after-hours affair, or whether it will span three or four days. This could be the way to go if you have a sizable enough pool of potential clients for an exclusive event. If you want to use the trunk show to gauge whether or not your clients will like a new product line, you should plan on holding the event for at least three days.

Avoid hosting more than three trunk shows every year, as doing so can tyre out your customers and make the events feel less unique.

People are more inclined to be considering about purchasing jewellery just before major holidays like Mother's Day, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. To best match with holidays like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day, schedule yours at least a week in advance. Late October through early December is a sweet spot for the holiday season since people are thinking about the holidays but aren't quite frantic to find deals.

A three-hour show is optimal since it allows folks a sizable window in which to drop it without giving them so much leeway that they arrive late or depart early. The first thirty minutes to an hour of a trunk show are typically slow, whereas the second half is when the majority of sales are made.

Document Everything

It's important to remember that there are still expenses even if you don't pay for goods immediately. Having everything down on paper is a must for every commercial deal. Clarify the vendor's or creator's role in the process. Do you want the performer to be present to show off their work and take orders? Does she need to set up, or will you, or will you both, be responsible for that? Is the seller simply able to deliver finished products, or can they also provide samples? So, how about made-to-order stuff? You or the musician will be responsible for handling all financial transactions. In what proportions will the earnings be shared? Usually, the split is 50/50, but you should discuss this with the artist before making any firm plans. If there are refunds, then what? Who is responsible for that? Talk about who will be responsible for what in terms of marketing and advertising the event.

Spread the Word!

Without extensive promotion in the weeks leading up to the trunk show, the event will fail to attract attendees. Get some fliers or postcards printed and have your salespeople pass them out to customers as they talk about the performance. Make some huge, full-color posters to display in your store's window and elsewhere. Find out whether the artist has any promotional materials or images, and talk to them about using them. It's not uncommon for vendors to have some spare advertising co-op cash that may be put to use. Make a Facebook event and invite the seller to it. Maintain your announcements in the days and weeks leading up to the event. Just like you would Facebook or blog about the trunk show, you could also tweet about it or pin images of the things there. If you share your content on the vendor's social media pages as well as your own, you'll effectively be sharing it with twice as many people.

Write a press release highlighting the uniqueness of the product line and the upcoming event, and send it to the local newspaper. Share your knowledge of the process behind creating the works and urge your audience to interact with the designer themselves. Put up a big announcement about the event on your website, along with some information on the performer and maybe a promotional video.

Not only should you notify your customers by email, but you should also follow up with them. Repeat your postcard or direct mail campaign multiple times. To be remembered, information must make more than one impact on a person.

If indeed the trunk show is meant to be exclusive, you should review your client database to choose the most important clients to invite. If possible, try to attract at least 50 individuals. Select regular event attendees or consumers who have already purchased identical products at full price. Don't bother with someone who will only shop with you when there are significant discounts being offered. Use a handwritten letter to add a special touch to the invites. Make it seem like they are the only guests at this event.

Consider back-to-school for kids' glasses or springtime for sunnies, and you have two great seasonal opportunities for a trunk display. Holding trunk exhibits only once or twice a year maximises their impact.

It is suggested starting preparations four weeks in advance to allow for advertising and invitation mailing. Send out invitations to your clientele via email, text message, regular mail, or preferably all three! Customers who are overdue for an eye test will find this particularly useful. Recall announcements and reminder cards should contain information about the show.

Make sure people know about your show by announcing it in the paper, online, and on social media. Put up signs in your store or office advertising the many merchants that will be there and the special deals they will be offering, and consider sending a press release to local magazines or looking online to see if your community has a calendar of forthcoming events you could take full advantage of.

Make It a Thrilling Occasion, All the Way

Organize a designated space in your shop to host the trunk display. Hang cloth or other decorative materials from the ceiling to visually separate the space from the remainder of the store. Discuss with the vendor the best way to showcase the merchandise, and perhaps lay down a distinctive carpet or rug. You shouldn't settle for boring basic risers or wire racks to showcase your wares; instead, seek out creative display elements and props. Create a spot in your storefront display advertising the trunk show to entice passers-by to come inside. Post a large sign outside your store with the words "Happening Now!" to let people know what's going on. You may also advertise the trunk show simply by writing on the sidewalk in front of your store and leaving the door open.

If the performance is an invitation-only event, provide refreshments for the audience. You can't go wrong with cheese, crackers, wine, or flavoured teas, but keep in mind the atmosphere you're going for. Finger foods that are more on trend may be good if the pieces have more of a playful and modern vibe.

Place signs around the window indicating that the items on exhibit are limited edition and hence only accessible for a short period. You may also display colour photographs of the manufactured goods or run a presentation on a digital photo frame or an iPad describing the steps involved in making each item. I would recommend that you urge the artist or merchant to talk to as many people as possible. Many fans are eager to get their hands on her autograph. If the vendor isn't going to be present for the duration of the show, be sure to have a member of staff who is well-versed in the product and can answer any questions that could come up.

Market at a Reasonable Price

A trunk show is not just another sale; rather, it is an invitation-only event. For this reason, the cost should reflect the above. Selling items at a discount is not allowed. Signage and promotional materials may instead state, "Special pricing for the event." Customers will have the idea of a discount without any hard numbers attached to it. Despite the fact that many buyers are willing to pay full price for the chance to get their hands on something truly special, others may still be on the lookout for a good deal. You may give away freebies with purchases made by event-goers or provide a discount on some other products to those who show up. Also, you can hand out "get well soon" vouchers. Even if they didn't buy anything on that particular visit, offering them a reason to come back increases the likelihood that they will make a purchase on their next visit. Just wait until they've decided to buy something before offering a discount, and make sure the deal is only applicable for a return visit.

Keep Up With Your Progress

Create a sign-up sheet at the event to collect contact information from attendees. They came because they were curious about the event or the products, regardless of whether or not they ended up purchasing anything. As a result, they should be the focus of additional advertising. Offering an incentive for signing such a list is one strategy. Try giving away a A$200 gift certificate good towards anything in your shop, or a handmade necklace and matching earrings to the lucky winners. A A$200 expenditure that yields contact details for 300 prospective new clients is money well spent.

Make contact with the performer or vendor after the event has ended. You should express your gratitude for their participation and, assuming you're both pleased with the outcome, think about when you could host a repeat performance. Identify any special orders and talk to the vendor about how they'll be handled and what date the consumer may expect to receive their goods.

Document the event with photographs or video and share it on your social media and your website. Publish a list of winners on your site and share the good news on social media. Customers will be intrigued to find out what all the excitement was about after reading posts like this.

When deciding whether or not to continue carrying the line after the trunk show, it is a good idea to notify all of your customers and thank those who made purchases during the trunk show with a personalised email or postcard. People frequently wish they could afford to make larger purchases. If they find out you regularly stock the line, they may return for the item they passed up at the sale.

Everybody interested in a trunk display can experience a mini-frenzy. In addition to purchasing one-of-a-kind goods, customers are also treated to an exciting evening. As a result, the artist or merchant sees an increase in interest in and purchases of their work. Furthermore, he or she can observe customers' reactions to the goods. The store benefits from increased revenue, brand awareness, and the possibility of attracting new consumers.

Conclusion

A trunk show is an in-store event that typically lasts two days. The objective is to spread the word about your latest products and services and to drum up business from potential buyers. You may still increase your sales with trunk shows even if you have sales reps handle the event for you. It's possible that your store's competitors don't have the same air of intrigue that trunk shows do. If you have a new product or want to show off your limited-edition or custom-made items, a trunk show is the way to go.

Maybe you're considering debuting a collection of wearable accessories or jewellery that is aimed squarely at a younger market or features a more experimental design approach. Although larger sellers can still conduct a trunk show to introduce new products, these kind of events work best for smaller vendors who provide handmade lines. An event hosted by a boutique is an excellent opportunity for a designer to obtain practical knowledge of retail sales and marketing. Working with multiple businesses at once is a great way to ease into the trunk show method. Collaboration with related companies can help you reach more customers.

The event won't be successful in drawing people unless it's heavily advertised. Produce some flyers or postcards and have your salesmen hand them out to customers as they discuss the show. Don't stop spreading the word in the days and weeks leading up to the big show. Create a press release that draws attention to the upcoming event and the product line's unique selling points. Advertisements and invitations should be sent out at least four weeks in advance, so starting early is recommended.

A trunk show can cause a minor frenzy among anyone who sees it. The store gains in money, recognition, and potential new customers. The result is a rise in demand for the creator's or seller's product. Those who passed up an item at the sale may come back for it if they learn you frequently stock the line.

Content Summary

  • Your new brand can get some exposure by participating in a trunk show, which is often a 1-2 day event at a boutique or retail store.
  • However, you can also pre-sell your product line or sell off existing stock.
  • Without spending a lot of money, a trunk show can be a terrific method to show customers your new products.
  • Even if you're not selling jewellery or fashion items, you can still host a successful trunk show.
  • The following are some suggestions for hosting a successful trunk show.
  • A trunk show is a great way to test the waters with new products or showcase limited-edition or custom-made items.
  • An in-store trial run is a great way to gauge customer interest in a new product line before committing to stocking it regularly.
  • If you want to try something new, the trunk show is the place to do it.
  • Find the ideal vendors to collaborate with, whatever your show's goals may be.
  • Having an event at a boutique is a great way for a designer to gain valuable merchandising experience and hear direct feedback from their target audience.
  • If you're looking to ease into a trunk show approach, collaborating with a group of brands to stage a trunk show can be a terrific option.
  • You can reach a wider audience by holding an event in collaboration with complementary businesses to your area of expertise.
  • To find the best month of the year, have a look at your calendar at the start of the year.
  • Choose a time of year that is appropriate for the products, but avoid the conventional "selling seasons."
  • The beginning of a sales season is the ideal moment for trunk shows.
  • Make a decision as to whether the concert will be a one-night-only after-hours affair, or whether it will span three or four days.
  • If you want to use the trunk show to gauge whether or not your clients will like a new product line, you should plan on holding the event for at least three days.
  • Clarify the vendor's or creator's role in the process.
  • Without extensive promotion in the weeks leading up to the trunk show, the event will fail to attract attendees.
  • Make a Facebook event and invite the seller to it.
  • If you share your content on the vendor's social media pages as well as your own, you'll effectively be sharing it with twice as many people.
  • Put up a big announcement about the event on your website, along with some information on the performer and maybe a promotional video.
  • Use a handwritten letter to add a special touch to the invites.
  • Send out invitations to your clientele via email, text message, regular mail, or preferably all three!
  • Recall announcements and reminder cards should contain information about the show.
  • Organize a designated space in your shop to host the trunk display.
  • Create a spot in your storefront display advertising the trunk show to entice passers-by to come inside.
  • If the performance is an invitation-only event, provide refreshments for the audience.
  • Place signs around the window indicating that the items on exhibit are limited edition and hence only accessible for a short period.
  • Selling items at a discount is not allowed.
  • Create a sign-up sheet at the event to collect contact information from attendees.
  • Make contact with the performer or vendor after the event has ended.
  • Document the event with photographs or video and share it on your social media and your website.
  • When deciding whether or not to continue carrying the line after the trunk show, it is a good idea to notify all of your customers and thank those who made purchases during the trunk show with a personalised email or postcard.
  • Everybody interested in a trunk display can experience a mini-frenzy.

FAQs About Trunk Shows

It's a technique to make money selling jewellery online without really having an internet business. It's an alternate choice to selling your jewellery on websites or marketplaces like Etsy.

Anyone, of course! There is a broad variety of dresses to choose from during Trunk Shows, but we are pleased to bring you any gowns we think are best suited to your vision and budget. You won't have to settle with wearing solely dresses by the Trunk Show's featured designer.

Since the gowns during a trunk show are not marked down in any way, it cannot be called a sale. In any case, don't be afraid to enquire whether there is a discount for placing an order on the spot, as many trunk shows do provide such discounts (often as much as 20% off).

A trunk show can take anywhere from two days to six days in a particular boutique, depending on the designers' schedules.

Just because you attended a designer's trunk display doesn't mean you have to buy your bridal gown from them. The designer in charge of the window show will likely have the most selection available, but the entire bridal store is at your disposal.

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