Trend setter or follower?

LLV Winter Collection 2014

Without a doubt, one of the best parts of owning an online store is getting to pick out the styles we sell. Most of the time, it just feels like we're shopping for ourselves and I think we can all agree that's pretty awesome.

With trends changing as quickly as they do, we need to ensure that the styles on our site reflect the current trend. This often means that instead of following the trends, we need to be predicting the trends and that isn't always so easy!

LLV Winter Collection 2014

A lot of work goes into putting our products onto the site that people might not realise. We need to order our products, make sure they arrive on time, photograph the products on the model, edit the photographs, get product measurements, come up with names and descriptions, upload them on to the site and then push them out on our social media pages to make sure people actually know we've got them in! And all of this is only one aspect of the business.

LLV Winter Collection 2014

After all this work, you want to make sure your customers like the styles you've selected and actually buy them! Otherwise you're just left with stock you can't move and that really isn't good for business.

So how have we fared when it comes to predicting trends? To be honest, we've had our hits but we've also had our misses. That's okay though, it's all part of our learning curve and our journey as we grow as a business.

LLV Winter Collection 2014

Here are some things that we have found have helped us predict trends and stay ahead of the curve:

1. Listening to your customers - the most valuable feedback you can receive! Their likes and dislikes are key here. You could get in the hottest style and trend in the world, but if they don't like it, then tough luck!
2. Reading fashion magazines and fashion blogs (real hard work this one is!)
3. Keeping up with fashion weeks around the world and catwalk trends
4. Keeping an eye on the competition - you know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Not that we're saying our competition are enemies - it's just a saying.
5. Trusting your gut - sometimes what works for one company, may not work for yours. It's all about understanding your clientele and sticking to your guns.

LLV Winter Collection 2014

Basically it's all about staying abreast of the ongoings in the fashion industry but not following the trends blindly.

What do you think of our tips and do you have any of your own? Would you say you're a trend setter or follower?

We'd love to hear from you!

xx,
LLV