The Skinny on “Trunk Shows”
Last weekend, I went to a “trunk show” for the first time–what a fun experience! If you know anyone who’s about to get married, trunk shows are an excellent vehicle (couldn’t resist) for brides-to-be to find their ‘perfect’ dress, or at least get some great ideas.
Often used to showcase clothing (however not limited to)1, the term “trunk show” was coined because “traditionally the clothes were transported from the designer’s studio to the store in giant, strapped trunks.” 2
Wiki defines “trunk show” as follows:
“A special sale in which vendors present merchandise directly to store personnel or select customers at a retail location or another unique venue.” 3
Who benefits from trunk shows?
- Potential customers have the opportunity to view and purchase the newest designs before they become available to the general public, oftentimes meet the designer, and order items custom-fitted (which can end up costing less than off-the-rack pricing).
- Vendors (i.e. boutique shops or divisions of department stores) can learn which items are ‘hot’ before placing mass orders, as well as sell items that aren’t part of their regular stock (since it’s typically not feasible for a vendor to purchase a designer’s entire line).
- Designers have the chance to showcase their entire line and get real-time feedback from their customer base–find out what consumers like most, hear what they are doing right…or wrong. With pre-season trunk shows, they are able to pull items (pre-production) that didn’t receive a positive response.
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Read on:
WiseGeek.com – What is a trunk show?
(image via CeoCoolEclecticOriginal.com)
- The bridal industry utilizes trunk shows quite a bit, but trunk shows can be for men’s and women’s clothing of all categories, accessories, etc. ↩
- http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2006/04/trunk_shows_dem.html ↩
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trunk_show ↩
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ooh i want that leopard bag.