Identifying Retail Fashion Trends

If you own or manage a retail apparel store, it's important to closely monitor and follow current fashion trends. Doing so will allow you to choose hot-selling product for your store, essentially increasing your sales and profits. Overlooking this critical aspect could bring your retail apparel business into a downward spiral. But just how are you supposed to find trends in the world of fashion?

Fashion Shows

There are numerous ways to identify trends in the fashion industry, one of which is to attend fashion shows. Some of the country's biggest fashion shows occur in New York City and Los Angeles. As a retail apparel store owner, you should attend some of these shows to help identify current and even future trends. In addition to seeing new fashion styles and trends, you'll also have the opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals. This alone makes the trip worth your time and money. Besides, taking trips to fashion shows is a fun experience that will give you a break from the normal work week.

Fashion Magazines

In addition to attending shows, you should also check out some of the fashion magazines to identify trends. There are literally dozens of wonderful magazines out there which showcase new fashion trends and styles. Subscribing to just a few of them could prove to be well worth it in the long run. You'll be able to see what styles are coming in and which ones are going out.

Observe Shoppers

As a retail apparel store owner, you can observe shoppers to see what style they typically wear. This is arguably the single easiest and most effective way to gauge trends in the world of fashion. Keep a close eye on your store's customers to determine their preferred style and any changing trends.

Now that you know how to identify fashion trends, you might be wondering what to do with this information. Well, ideally you should use it to modify your store's inventory. If there's a newly emerging apparel style, then perhaps you could offer it in your store. On the other hand, if there's a style that seems to be declining, then you might want to consider getting rid of it. You can place it on a clearance rack or offer similar sales and discounts to help move it faster. The key thing to remember is that you want your store to reflect the current trends in the world of fashion.