Tag Archives: women’s clothing

The State Of The Retail Clothing Industry

Posted in clothing, fashion, Retail Clothing Industry, shopping online, trends by

Why Retail Clothing Stores Are Struggling to Stay Open Right Now

It seems a week doesn’t go by without the news of another clothing giant either going bankrupt or closing stores. As a retailer myself, I have found myself wondering what is behind these retail woes. I decided, therefore, to dive into this topic for my August Wednesday Wardrobing series. In Part One, I will examine the issues that are impacting the industry. In Part Two, I will look at the benefits of shopping small, how doing so impacts your community, and ways you can help local businesses stay afloat. In Part Three, I will share the industry trends I observed while at market.

Let’s dive in….

In today’s rapidly changing retail landscape, clothing stores face numerous challenges that make it increasingly difficult to keep their doors open. From shifts in consumer behavior to the rise of e-commerce, several factors contribute to this struggle. Join me tonight at 6 p.m. MST for my weekly Wednesday Wardrobing vlog, where I’ll delve deeper into these issues and discuss what this means for the future of fashion retail. You can watch the video on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

The Rise of E-Commerce

The convenience and accessibility of online shopping have significantly altered consumer habits. Many people now prefer to shop from the comfort of their homes, leading to a decline in foot traffic in brick-and-mortar stores. Consumers have busy lives, and e-commerce has enabled them to shop while attending sporting events, waiting in lines, or doing other tasks, further impacting time spent wandering through stores. Retailers must now compete not only with local stores but with global e-commerce giants that offer extensive product ranges and fast shipping. And, with fewer shoppers in their stores, some are loosing the game.

Changing Consumer Preferences

Today’s consumers prioritize experiences over possessions. This shift means that people are spending more on travel, dining, and other experiences rather than on clothing. Additionally, the trend towards minimalism and sustainable fashion has led many to buy fewer, higher-quality items, impacting overall sales volumes. Additionally, with the work from home trend, many professionals no longer need the same clothing wardrobe as they did when they went into an office every day.

Economic Pressures

Economic uncertainty, including inflation and fluctuating employment rates, affects consumer spending power. When people have less disposable income, non-essential purchases like new clothes are often the first to be cut from their budgets.

Supply Chain Disruptions

The global supply chain has been under immense strain, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Delays, increased costs, and shortages of materials have made it difficult for retailers to maintain inventory levels and offer competitive prices. Additionally. small retailers do not have the buying power of giants like Walmart and therefore cannot negotiate volume discounts. Competing brand to brand, they oftentimes cannot offer the same price as larger retailers.

Competition from Fast Fashion And Brands

Fast fashion brands, which quickly produce trendy and affordable clothing, have dominated the market. Their ability to rapidly respond to fashion trends and offer low prices makes it hard for traditional retail stores to compete, especially those that focus on higher-quality, timeless pieces. Additionally, many manufacturers are now competing with their retail partners by selling directly to the consumer. With lower overhead, manufacturers can oftentimes sell their product for less. If the retail store chooses to continue to carry the product, they must match the online price and settle for a smaller profit margin.

Increasing Operational Costs

Retailers face rising costs for rent, utilities, and labor. These expenses can be particularly burdensome for small, independent stores. The need to invest in technology and digital marketing to stay competitive also adds to the financial strain.

The Role of Technology

While technology offers opportunities for innovation, it also presents challenges. Retailers must continuously adapt to new technologies and consumer expectations for seamless, omnichannel shopping experiences. Those unable to keep up with these changes risk falling behind.

Why This Matters to You

Understanding these challenges is crucial for consumers who value their local retail stores. By supporting small businesses, shopping locally, and being mindful of the economic pressures these stores face, you can help ensure their survival and continue to enjoy the personalized shopping experiences they offer.

Join the Discussion

Join me tonight at 6 p.m. MST for a live discussion on these topics during my Wednesday Wardrobing vlog. We’ll explore these challenges in more detail and consider what the future holds for retail clothing stores. You can watch the video on our Facebook and Instagram pages. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and engaging in a meaningful conversation about the state of the fashion retail industry.

Closet Clean Out Challenge One: Get Organized

Posted in closet clean out, clothing, fashion, how to, organization tips, personal style, tips and tricks, women's clothing tips by

pearsonphoto2018_102It’s a New Year.  How about a New You? With a year full of possibilities ahead, why not shake off that dead weight? I don’t know about you, cleaning out the old and bringing in the new feels like a great way to start the year.  That’s why I am doing a “New Year New You Closet Clean Out Challenge.” Want to know more? Read on…

There is something about getting organized that is so refreshing.  Shedding clutter makes me feel lighter, what about you? One of the most important places to get organized is in your closet.  We all know the frustration of searching for an outfit in the morning and pulling out item after item that is worn out, too big, too small or out dated.  Ugh.

I have a four-step system that I use every year in my own closet that is very effective in weeding out the items that I don’t wear and identifying items that require a match or another item to make them work more efficiently in my wardrobe.  I also find that when I take the time to apply these four simple steps, when I am finished, I can clearly see what I have and what I need.  Suddenly, I see new outfit options that I hadn’t noticed before because everything is organized in a way that makes sense.

This blog post is the first in a series of four New Year, New You, New Closet tutorials that will take you through this process, and hopefully, have you feeling lighter and de-cluttered as well as excited about your closet and shopping opportunities again.  I’ll be recording a video of today’s blog post during my weekly Wednesday Night Wardrobing Live Video broadcast within our VIP Facebook Group, Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas. Here’s a link to join the class: https://fb.me/e/2adC8R5Bm

So let’s dig in.

First, do me and yourself a favor.  As you complete the following steps, if you come across an item that you KNOW you will never wear again, pull it out now.  Don’t get bogged down yet in trying to decide about those scared cows…you know, the things you just can’t seem to let go of even though you haven’t worn them in 3 years.  We will deal with those in our next video.

Now, down to business.  The first step is to organize your closet by type.  First, separate your tops from your bottoms.  Put dresses in a separate section.  Now, organize your tops by sleeve length – short, ¾ and long.  Next, separate your tops by type.  Within the sleeve length grouping, separate the collared blouses from the pull overs.  If you have more than one season in the same closet, also separate summer from winter within each of the groups.  When you are finished, you should have your sleeveless tops grouped together.  Next should come your short sleeve tops and then your long sleeved tops, summer together and winter together.

Now do the same thing with your bottoms. Start with shorts and move to capris, ankle pants and long pants.  Then, within each group, separate by fabric.  Put your denim together, cottons together, slacks together, etc.  Then tackle your skirts, and organize them from shortest to longest.

I bet you feel lighter already! One more step! Now, within each group, organize them by color using the acronym ROYGBIV.  This stands for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.  Group like colors together.  For example, your pink tops will go next to the reds and your turquoise tops will go next to green or blue, depending on what hue the turquoise is.  Put your black, white and brown at the end.  Group your ivory and cream after white.  Next come the tans and browns.  Last, put your greys after the blacks.

Now, go have a glass of wine! You did it!

You have a week to enjoy your newly organized closet.  Watch for my next blog post and video called Closet Clean Out Challenge Two: Renew and Refresh.  In these tutorials, we will take a look at what you have and figure out what you need to get rid of and what you need to keep.

To watch my weekly Wednesday Night Wardrobing live videos where I will explain in more detail each of the steps, join my Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas VIP group page on Facebook and tune in Wednesday night at 6 p.m. MST.  I’ll be doing some fun giveaways at the end of the four part series which I will explain in this week’s video.

Happy organizing!