To date, Amazon has struggled to successfully break into the apparel industry. However, “Prime Wardrobe,” may be a major game changer for the company and its competitors as it brings the fitting room to you.
The service allows Amazon Prime members to load up a box with three or more apparel items from the website. They are then shipped to the customer who can try them on and keep the items for seven days. Whatever they decide to keep they will receive up to a 20 percent discount on. The items they don’t want can be placed back in the box and picked up from their location for free.
Retailers Feel Threatened—But Should They?
This latest service has put retailers (both online and in store) on notice. Industry experts have said that for traditional brick and mortar retailers, the only place they could truly differentiate themselves was in the fitting room. With consumers potentially no longer needing to go to the store, wait in line, and step into a fitting room, Prime Wardrobe could be a major threat to retailers.
However, despite being incredibly convenient, the service is not a complete replacement of a fitting room. Unlike other similar services like Stitch Fix, Amazon does not have a stylist available to curate clothes from its massive online selection, which can be difficult to navigate and make the apparel shopping process overwhelming for some. Many consumers also prefer to try items on in a well set-up fitting room which allows them to see themselves in a piece of clothing from multiple angles and in ideal lighting.
Additionally, while free two-day shipping is fast and convenient given traditional lead-times, it still won’t satisfy the occasional need to purchase something same day. While some consumers might plan out apparel shopping for future events, almost everyone is caught with the occasional “Oh shoot, I forgot, I need ____ for this weekend!” and the Prime Wardrobe service just can’t meet the timeline most of those situations operate on.
Create the Perfect Retail Experience Through the Fitting Room
Mirrors and lighting are only part of creating the best retail experience for customers. With solutions like Alert Tech’s platform, brick and mortar stores can transform their sales associates into knowledgeable personal stylists.
Improved customer service moves from the front of the store all the way back to the fitting room where customers can call an attendant without having to shout or wait. In-store alerts and occupancy sensors also provide retailers with in-depth insight about store patterns and trends so that they can further enhance the retail experience.
Finding a Place in Traditional Retail
Traditional retail is not dead, but thriving in this changing ecosystem means retailers must use digital, physical, and complimentary service offerings to differentiate themselves from the pack. This is especially true when it comes to the in-person customer service experience.
To learn more about how Alert Tech helps retailers improve the customer experience and increase sales, visit https://alerttech.net/products.
