The Power of Accessories - Boosting Average Purchase Value with Strategic Display
Accessories might be small in size, but their impact on your boutique's bottom line can be substantial. At Tempest Designs, our comprehensive range of accessories – from Italian leather handbags and statement jewellery to versatile scarves – offers tremendous opportunities to increase your average transaction value and enhance the overall customer experience.
Why Accessories Matter to Your Business
Beyond their ability to transform outfits, accessories deliver impressive business benefits:
- Higher profit margins compared to clothing
- Less space-intensive inventory
- Fewer sizing concerns
- Year-round selling potential
- Lower return rates
- Emotional, impulse-driven purchasing
Our retail partners report that effective accessory merchandising can increase average purchase values by 15–30% – a significant boost to revenue without requiring additional customer traffic.
Strategic Placement for Maximum Impact
Where you position accessories can dramatically affect their sales performance:
Till Point Positioning
Place small, affordable accessories near your till point to capture impulse purchases:
- Small leather goods
- Bracelet stacks
- Costume rings
- Mini scarves
Dressing Room Adjacent
Position accessories that complement trying-on experiences:
- Statement necklaces
- Scarves that transform necklines
- Belts that define waistlines
- Earrings that frame the face
Within Clothing Displays
Integrate accessories directly with clothing to suggest complete looks:
- Necklaces draped on mannequins
- Bags positioned with complementary outfits
- Scarves woven through clothing rails
- Jewellery displayed on outfit cards
The Art of Cross-Merchandising
The most effective accessory displays create clear connections to clothing items:
Colour Story Coordination
Group accessories and clothing in coordinated colour stories:
- Create tonal displays with all elements in harmonising shades
- Use accessories to draw out accent colours in prints
- Position complementary colours for striking visual impact
Lifestyle Grouping
Organise by customer occasion and lifestyle needs:
- Workwear section with professional-appropriate accessories
- Weekend casual with corresponding relaxed accessories
- Evening and event wear with statement pieces
Seasonal Transitions
Use accessories to bridge seasonal shifts:
- Summer dresses with autumn-toned scarves
- Winter knitwear with spring-coloured jewellery
- Trans-seasonal pieces with versatile accessories
Staff Training for Accessory Success
Your team plays a crucial role in accessory sales:
The Completion Conversation
Train staff to naturally suggest complementing accessories:
"That dress looks beautiful on you – we have these earrings that pick up the blue tones perfectly. Would you like to see how they look together?"
The Wardrobe Extension Approach
Help staff communicate how accessories extend existing purchases:
"This scarf works beautifully with what you're buying today, but it also complements the navy dress you purchased last month."
The Value Proposition
Ensure staff can articulate the value-boosting nature of accessories:
"Adding this necklace completely transforms the look, essentially giving you two different outfits for just a small additional investment."
Visual Merchandising Techniques That Drive Sales
Effective display techniques can significantly boost accessory performance:
The Rule of Three
Group accessories in threes for visual impact:
- Three necklaces of varying lengths
- Three complementary bangles
- Three sizes of the same bag style
Layering and Stacking
Display accessories in ways that suggest layering possibilities:
- Necklaces in graduated lengths
- Bangles and bracelets stacked
- Rings shown in mix-and-match groupings
Storytelling Vignettes
Create small stories within your displays:
- Weekend getaway grouping with bag, hat, and scarf
- Office-to-evening with a day bag, evening clutch, and versatile jewellery
- Special occasion set with statement pieces and evening accessories
Tempest Designs Accessory Programme Benefits
As your wholesale partner, we offer specific support for accessory success:
- Coordinated collections that work together seamlessly
- Display solutions designed for our collections
- Regular refreshes to keep your accessory offering current
Measuring Your Accessory Success
Track these key metrics to evaluate your accessory strategy:
- Accessory attachment rate (percentage of transactions including accessories)
- Increase in average transaction value
- Accessory units per transaction
- Return rate (typically lower for accessories)
- Margins (often higher for accessories)
By harnessing the power of accessories through strategic display and thoughtful staff training, you can significantly boost your boutique's performance while enhancing customer satisfaction. Tempest Designs' coordinated collections make this process seamless, allowing you to create a shopping experience that delights customers and delivers impressive results to your bottom line.