The number of people using smartphones has been steadily rising for years, which also suggests that there is an increase in the number of those using their mobile for purchase decisions. Logically, businesses from every industry are trying to use this opportunity to generate more income through sales, and the fashion industry is no exception. Needless to say, the competition is tough, while clients’ expectations are also getting higher and higher. Still, no fashion brand can afford to stay outside this race. That is why we’re going to take a look at how they can exploit this trend.
What type of fashion apps exist?
You may think that fashion brands can only use their own apps to allow clients to buy from them, but that is not the case. There are discovery platforms, which connect designers with customers and allow users to check out products from various retailers. These platforms don’t have their own inventory, but simply showcase a wide range of ideas that inspire.
On the other hand, there are personal shopping apps, which select products based on a user’s specifications, i.e. offer a personalized shopping service via mobile. For instance, users are sent a number of items selected by a personal shopper to be tried at home. Users then select which ones they want to keep and which they wish to return.
Finally, there are universal shopping cart apps, which allow users to look at the offer from many merchants and buy they in a single transaction. Naturally, such apps need to keep each retailer’s inventory synced in order to make sure every item is really available. The main advantage of such apps is the fact that users don’t need to browse and visit dozens or stores to find products they want, but can be done with their shopping at one place. Statistical data show that users provided with this type of convenience are less likely to abandon the cart.
Why fashion brands need an app?
Most major companies have already invested heavily in creating their own apps and here are the most important reasons. To begin with, users expect to have a mobile app in addition to mobile web and desktop versions. Next, younger generations are more inclined towards downloading apps and making purchases through them and that is a market that mustn’t be neglected.
It should also be mentioned that in-app messages are a great way to establish communication with users and boost the user experience, thus pushing them further down the funnel. Hiring a great app development agency to create your own app means you’ll also be able to make the most of push notifications.
Raising brand awareness
Fashion brands that have their own mobile app also benefit from raising their brand awareness by letting users know about the latest collections and what other people are buying. Again, it’s the positive user experience that will boost loyalty and spread awareness of your brand. However, to achieve this, you need to personalize the user experience by crating tailor-made content. Also, you should reward your most loyal customers with discounts to ensure they remain loyal to your brand. Finally, you can expect that users will have suggestions and ideas about how to improve your mobile app and you need to take those seriously. Make changes based on the feedback you receive to show users you truly value their opinion.
Finding your target
Apart from the benefits described above, a mobile app can help you identify and target niche markets due to the great amount of data acquired through it. Such data can be very revealing in terms of emerging trends and demographics. Also, paid user acquisition lets you find out who your most valuable users are, which is another benefit. You can find out the extent of your organic traffic and how long it takes users to convert, among other useful information.
Become available 24/7
Having your own mobile app also allows your fashion brand to be constantly available to buyers from all over the world, who may decide to make purchases outside the working hours of your store, without even having to turn on their computer. This convenient way of shopping significantly increases revenue and builds brand loyalty.
Final thoughts
Fashion apps are without any doubt a great and potentially powerful tool, which has already changed the whole retail experience. Not only do they provide users with an easy and convenient way to stay in the loop when it comes to your latest collection, but they are also capable of collecting a vast amount of data that can be priceless for creating future marketing campaigns. Needless to say, having a great app requires significant effort and investment, since you want a product that can provide the user experience you want in order to increase your sales and boost brand awareness and loyalty. However, having the product that is up to standards and that meets or even exceeds users’ expectation will go a long way towards boosting your brand and generating more revenue.
