In Need of Some Retail Therapy
And the best part? There's no 20-year cycle to worry about. You can put these suggestions to use right here … right now (Hey! It's your tomorrow!).
1) Choose your trends wisely
We didn't say fashion-forward promotions were entirely out of the equation, did we? But according to Rachel Newman, director of marketing and sales for Hanes Branded Printwear, it does help to broaden your view on what's in to keep a promotion in rotation longer. "We incorporate fashion trends at a macro level so distributors have confidence in putting them in ongoing programs," she said. For example, as we mentioned, '90s-style flannel has come back around again this year. A distributor can take elements that characterize the look—button-down styling, softer fabrications, plaid patterns—and easily use them to give a promotion a more current feel. As Shelley Renning, general merchandise manager at SanMar noted, "We always try to be trend right, which doesn't necessarily mean fashion-forward." Incorporating key style details can help achieve that goal.