Accessories provide grand sales opportunities with today’s most coveted qualities—convenience and customization.
As consumers claim to be more time-starved than ever, (smart) retailers are restructuring their businesses to offer a more fast-paced, seamless in-store experience. The days of leisurely perusing racks and multiple trips to the fitting room are on the wane, causing many shop owners to evolve their inventory to support quick decisions and convenient customization. While this shift in shopping habits presents its share of challenges, it’s ideal for the relatively small but fiscally mighty accessories category.
“The popularity of accessories has increased for many reasons,” says Bari Erber, owner of Bari Lynn Accessories, noting that several of her retailer partners have switched to an inventory model that focuses more on accessories. “It’s more of an impulse buy, the price point is right and it’s typically non-seasonal, so you don’t have to worry about putting them on sale.”
Jackie Blauvelt, marketing director at High IntenCity, the manufacturer of Charm It and Neon Tuesday, agrees that much of Charm It’s success comes from being well-priced and open to customization at retail. With more than 150 charm designs to choose from, Blauvelt says kids can personalize their own charm bracelet at each store’s branded station. “They can use their allowance to buy one $6 charm or a full bracelet with five charms for a great $35 birthday gift,” she says, noting that it’s easy, affordable and, most of all, fun for kids to be their own designer and build jewelry for themselves or friends.
Trend Gossip
Innovation and imagination spark the latest accessory trends for Fall ’18.
Reversible sequins, hybrid unicorns, edgier emojis, bountiful beauty products and wearable gadgets are just some of the expected hot accessory categories for Fall ’18. While no one knows for sure which items will catch the fancy of consumers, one thing is certain: designers can’t assume that what was popular last season will be so next season. Trends are as fleeting as a Snapchat story, and accessory designers must continually refresh, renew and reinvent to draw attention to their wares—and make it fun, to boot!
“The vibe of the kids’ accessory market is not taking anything too seriously,” says Jackie Blauvelt, marketing director at High IntenCity. “It’s all about fun and surprises.”
Bari Erber, owner of Bari Lynn Accessories, cites the inspiration for fall as a combination of pop culture and adult fashion. Patches continue to be popular, inspired by designers like Gucci and Chanel. Fur is another hot embellishment—from natural to dyed—influenced by high-end labels Fendi and Ayna Hindmarch. “Camo, cheetah prints and leopard are all coming into the high-end brands for fall,” Erber says. She adds, “Of course, pop culture continues to influence reversible sequins and unicorns in a big way.”
Robin Ramirez, a rep for The Klein Group, agrees, noting the “Pandacorn” from accessories brand Iscream as a new interpretation of the unicorn craze. She expects more brands to experiment with the mythical creature for a fresh take on the current favorite.
According to Anne Harper, designer of OMG Accessories, the growing theme of whimsical kitsch was originally inspired by emojis. “People just love the idea of expressing themselves in a new way,” she says. “And while it’s important to look at what’s out there, it’s more important to look at what’s within and make ideas your own.” Harper notes that retailers have been asking for more llamas and sloths of late, which inspired her to create emoji-like animal interpretations with touches of glitter and puckered lips. “We keep it girly, whimsical and fun—true to our brand,” she says. Overall, Harper believes young kids are more sophisticated these days and the accessory market must evolve to match their more mature interests. “All young girls seem to have makeup and personal belongings now, and everyone has a phone,” she says, noting the trend has created interest in mini backpacks for the hands-free texting-friendly design.
Ramirez notes a much higher interest in cosmetic cases, mirror compacts and nail polish. And while the latter offerings may be more kid-friendly, including confetti and glow-in-the-dark treatments, a mani makeover just like Mom or a favorite beauty guru is girls’ new obsession. “Beauty is rising in the accessory industry for kids,” Ramirez says.
Last but not least, technology is becoming a huge driver in the market as wearables are more accepted in adult fashion. Wraps, for example, is a new brand expected to gain traction this fall with a line of headphones that can be worn as chic bracelets. Always accessible and never tangled, this is an innovation kids may find themselves sharing with their parents.
Esther Klein, founder of Twin Stars Jewelry, says the trend of customization simply makes sense for younger customers. “Being different is exciting for anyone, but especially growing kids who are still discovering themselves,” she says. “Accessories have an effortless way of turning plain jeans and a tank into a look that screams personality.” Klein notes that her tween clientele often enjoys the company’s stackable mix-and-match bracelets for a punch of colorful individuality. She suggests merchandising accessories with age labels as a way to quickly catch the customer’s eye. “When we displayed in Neiman Marcus for holiday, we made sure every bangle and every gift box was marked with a suggested age, which improved our sales significantly,” she says. “Sometimes people don’t come in for a gift, but they pass by and see ‘age 6 to 9’ on a bracelet and think, ‘Hey, my granddaughter is 7. This would be great for her.’ And there’s another sale.”
Miles Faust, owner of Wee Ones, views merchandising accessories as a three-prong strategy. First, for categories like hair accessories and hosiery, he believes it’s important for those products to have a permanent “home” in the store. “Whether that’s on slatwall, gridwall or some sort of floor fixture, creating a place that customers can always find the basics is important,” he says. In addition, Faust recommends cross-merchandising accessories with outfits they best coordinate with. “Merchandising accessories with apparel makes it easy for your customer to ‘complete the look’ and helps remind your staff to recommend that add-on sale,” he says.
Sherie Judah, owner of American Jewel, advises retailers to put accessories on mannequins to showcase a certain look or trend. “Dress up an outfit with accessories—a cute hat, some sunglasses—the customer will buy it all,” she says. Wee Ones’ Faust also recommends retailers stock any “perfect impulse buys” at or near the register for best results. “Accessories provide an opportunity to increase the size of every transaction,” he says. “A staff that is well trained in pairing accessories with apparel can make a very meaningful impact on the store’s bottom line.”
Another key debate among experts is the packaging. While some believe attractive packaging is critical to drawing a customer’s attention, others see it as a deterrent. On the pro packaging side, Robin Ramirez, a rep for The Klein Group, says it’s all about the packaging in the accessories industry right now. “If it’s not packaged, people don’t seem to get as excited,” she says. Klein agrees: “Most people aren’t into that flea market style, and if they are, they don’t want to pay any more than 99 cents,” she says. “If you’re selling a quality product, it’s important for the packaging to be equally attractive.”
Meanwhile, Erber says her customer prefers accessories that aren’t all wrapped up with a bow. “They want to touch it, feel it, see the beauty of it and try it on,” she says, noting that while certain items may excel with packaging, most accessories do best when customers can easily see each crystal and how it shines. “The packaging almost takes away some of the beauty,” she says, adding the more interaction the product prompts, the more likely it will be marketed through social media. “When I go to sleep, I’m like, ‘I wonder who’s going to post about Bari Lynn’ because that generates orders from other stores,” Erber says. “Social exposure is always a bonus.”
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