5 ms·

I will qualify my response by admitting that I actually enjoy shopping for clothes, just not online. Shopping for clothes online is sort of like walking around

by hluska 15y ago

I will qualify my response by admitting that I actually enjoy shopping for clothes, just not online. Shopping for clothes online is sort of like walking around Manhattan with a blindfold on. You've got no idea what you're getting into and more often than not, you wish you could rewind and make different choices. Consider the variables that go into clothes shopping. Size/Fit - This one drives me insane - I've got an extra 15 or 20 pounds around my waistline so size and fit are especially important to me. Some clothes, while 'my size' don't fit well, to the point that I can't wear them and have to return them. Change rooms are my friend! :) Colour - There is a huge difference between the colours you see online and the colours you see in person. This makes buying a single item from one store to go with an item from another store rather difficult. Fabric - Call me a wimp, but I don't like rough fabrics, so I'm on of those annoying shoppers who puts his hands on everything. When I buy online, I'm keenly aware that I could be getting a burlap sack... Then add in two sales forces: Immediate gratification - When I was in University, I had a part time job in retail (slanging suits). That was my first taste of working in a mall and I was amazed by the dynamics of it. Specifically, how many people would walk by, see something they like, and come in to purchase it. When I saw the behaviour in others, I became keenly aware of it in myself. Honestly, I'd say that at least 75% of my clothing purchases are like that - I walk around in a mall, randomly see something in a window, and make the purchase. The upsell - A good employee in retail is a dangerous thing because he/she is the person who will take that immediate gratification purchase and turn it into two bags full. I think I have found some of the coolest garments I own through the upsell and I love the process. Unfortunately, I have yet to find an online shopping site that is really good at this! Between those things, I would much rather shop in person than online. Is it just me, or is there an idea in here somewhere?? ;)

Mz 15y ago
Thanks for your lengthy, detailed reply. I've thought about a lot of these except the upsell. For fabric, would free fabric samples help win you over?
- hluska 15y ago
  Good idea on the samples - I think that samples would help win me over, but only if these two conditions were true: - I absolutely love the garment in question. - I cannot purchase it (or a reasonable substitute) in person. The first condition is necessary because if I don't love the garment, there is a low chance that I'll give the samples the attention they deserve. So, the chances of a conversion would be very low. The second one is important because if I love a garment enough to buy after a long wait, I'm going to be aching to own it.
revorad 15y ago
Regarding size/fit see my other comment. Colour and fabric - While this will never be the same as buying in person, I think the situation can be vastly improved by crowdsourcing real photos and videos (not fake photoshopped catalog ones you see on stores). Upsell - I fail to understand why online stores (Amazon!) don't have live help. I bet it would increase conversions. Most people don't shop online because of various fears and trust issues, which I think can be addressed if someone really tried.
- hluska 15y ago
  I think these are great ideas! Thanks for commenting.
- sixtofour 15y ago
  "Upsell - I fail to understand why online stores (Amazon!) don't have live help. I bet it would increase conversions." That would be more labor, and maybe not enough upside in the upsell to make it worthwhile. Amazon has staked out the low overhead space for the sweet spot they're aiming at. They have robots pull orders in the warehouse.
  - revorad 15y ago
    But Amazon clearly understands the value of going overboard for excellent customer service, otherwise they wouldn't buy Zappos.
kerryfalk 15y ago
I agree with everything above. I've always cared about the clothing I wore but used to loathe clothes shopping. Mostly because I didn't know what I was doing. Then I dated a girl in the modelling industry and she changed my whole perspective and taught me about clothes. Now I love shopping for clothes and can't fathom how it could be done better online, but I'm positive that the in-store tech could be leaps and bounds better. To add to the above: - Fit of the garment is probably one of the most important things. You simply cannot tell how it will fit on your body without trying it on. You need to see it and put it on. - Quality of construction. This includes the feel of the fabric, the way the pieces are sewn together, what shapes were chosen for each piece, and even things like if the patterns line up at the seams. You have to see these things in person to decide. Having said that, most men probably aren't as picky about their clothes as I am (Most women I know are more so) and there may be a market for online shopping for those men who aren't. But I can see a place for helping me pick clothing in store or on my trip. It takes forever to find stuff that I might like or that might fit. Why not help me with that? An app for my phone that tells me when some local shops get a shipment of Tiger of Sweden suits in my size or recommends a local shop that has suits that are cut similar to Tiger's would be awesome. I also used to travel a lot, just tell me where those shops are when I'm in a new city and BAM! I'm there. It's hard enough to find the right clothes in my city, it's really difficult to find clothes in a new city that work for my style. I want an app like that. Wait, maybe I don't, it might cause me to spend more money on clothes and my bank account wouldn't appreciate that.
- Mz 15y ago
  It takes forever to find stuff that I might like or that might fit. Why not help me with that? Thanks. Any particular reason you have so much trouble? I'm curious about all this because I was talking to a friend and realized that my lack of concern about such things is due to the fact that I know a lot about this stuff. I routinely go eyeball stuff, take it to the checkout and bring it home without trying it on. Only if my size has changed substantially do I bother to try things on. Once I have figured out my correct size again, I go back to grabbing stuff off the rack, paying and going home. So wondering why other people find this so hard, since I can't really relate to that. Thanks.

by hluska 15y ago

Mz 15y ago

Thanks for your lengthy, detailed reply. I've thought about a lot of these except the upsell. For fabric, would free fabric samples help win you over?

hluska 15y ago
Good idea on the samples - I think that samples would help win me over, but only if these two conditions were true: - I absolutely love the garment in question. - I cannot purchase it (or a reasonable substitute) in person. The first condition is necessary because if I don't love the garment, there is a low chance that I'll give the samples the attention they deserve. So, the chances of a conversion would be very low. The second one is important because if I love a garment enough to buy after a long wait, I'm going to be aching to own it.

revorad 15y ago

Regarding size/fit see my other comment. Colour and fabric - While this will never be the same as buying in person, I think the situation can be vastly improved by crowdsourcing real photos and videos (not fake photoshopped catalog ones you see on stores). Upsell - I fail to understand why online stores (Amazon!) don't have live help. I bet it would increase conversions. Most people don't shop online because of various fears and trust issues, which I think can be addressed if someone really tried.

hluska 15y ago
I think these are great ideas! Thanks for commenting.
sixtofour 15y ago
"Upsell - I fail to understand why online stores (Amazon!) don't have live help. I bet it would increase conversions." That would be more labor, and maybe not enough upside in the upsell to make it worthwhile. Amazon has staked out the low overhead space for the sweet spot they're aiming at. They have robots pull orders in the warehouse.
- revorad 15y ago
  But Amazon clearly understands the value of going overboard for excellent customer service, otherwise they wouldn't buy Zappos.

kerryfalk 15y ago

I agree with everything above. I've always cared about the clothing I wore but used to loathe clothes shopping. Mostly because I didn't know what I was doing. Then I dated a girl in the modelling industry and she changed my whole perspective and taught me about clothes. Now I love shopping for clothes and can't fathom how it could be done better online, but I'm positive that the in-store tech could be leaps and bounds better. To add to the above: - Fit of the garment is probably one of the most important things. You simply cannot tell how it will fit on your body without trying it on. You need to see it and put it on. - Quality of construction. This includes the feel of the fabric, the way the pieces are sewn together, what shapes were chosen for each piece, and even things like if the patterns line up at the seams. You have to see these things in person to decide. Having said that, most men probably aren't as picky about their clothes as I am (Most women I know are more so) and there may be a market for online shopping for those men who aren't. But I can see a place for helping me pick clothing in store or on my trip. It takes forever to find stuff that I might like or that might fit. Why not help me with that? An app for my phone that tells me when some local shops get a shipment of Tiger of Sweden suits in my size or recommends a local shop that has suits that are cut similar to Tiger's would be awesome. I also used to travel a lot, just tell me where those shops are when I'm in a new city and BAM! I'm there. It's hard enough to find the right clothes in my city, it's really difficult to find clothes in a new city that work for my style. I want an app like that. Wait, maybe I don't, it might cause me to spend more money on clothes and my bank account wouldn't appreciate that.

Mz 15y ago
It takes forever to find stuff that I might like or that might fit. Why not help me with that? Thanks. Any particular reason you have so much trouble? I'm curious about all this because I was talking to a friend and realized that my lack of concern about such things is due to the fact that I know a lot about this stuff. I routinely go eyeball stuff, take it to the checkout and bring it home without trying it on. Only if my size has changed substantially do I bother to try things on. Once I have figured out my correct size again, I go back to grabbing stuff off the rack, paying and going home. So wondering why other people find this so hard, since I can't really relate to that. Thanks.