The world of fashion and retail changes by the minute. This is especially true for smaller and local boutiques. As more brick-and-mortar boutiques make the transition to e-commerce, sometimes it can feel almost impossible to stand out from the competition.
Survey research shows 72% of small retailers now generate almost half of their revenue online, with the remaining half coming from brick and mortar store sales. There’s no questioning the value of giving your customers the option to shop online, but sometimes you might find it difficult to balance it all.
From finding the best inventory for your niche, managing your team, and delighting customers, running a boutique is no walk in the park. That’s why you need the right tools to help you run your customer service efforts with less headache and time spent combing through your inbox at the end of a long day.
We'll walk you through the top benefits of chatbots in e-commerce and how they can help you run your business with less hassle.
What are the biggest challenges for clothing boutiques?
While online sales can definitely boost your revenue, life in the online boutique lane can also be bumpy. Sales sometimes stagnate and your resources may be stretched thin at times. You also learn very quickly how to wear many hats to ensure customer needs are met. The following are a few challenges you probably face on a daily basis.
1) Limited Store Hours
Many brick-and-mortar boutiques still operate on a 10:00 to 6:00 schedule. Some boutiques close even earlier, leaving little time for many working professionals to browse your clothing. And while your e-commerce store may be available 24/7, you may not have a way to respond quickly to buyers who have questions late at night or on the weekends.
2) Minimal customer support
Many clothing boutiques operate with fewer than 10 employees. And with labor shortages likely to continue, your team probably doesn’t have the capacity to quickly respond to customers. It’s not like you deliberately ignore customers, but sometimes you just don’t have the bandwidth to fully engage each website visitor.
3) Ability to meet modern expectations
Consumers today expect instant service, rapid shipping, and rapid customer support. A whopping 90 percent of shoppers expect an immediate response to their questions and many buyers expect you to be available 24/7 to respond to their needs. As a small or local boutique, you might not have the staff, let alone the budget to fully embrace e-commerce models like Amazon
How could a chatbot help your clothing boutique overcome these challenges?
The global chatbot market is expected to grow by $1.73 billion between 2021 and 2025. Clothing boutiques and other online retailers are expected to be key drivers for this growth, paving the way for record-breaking numbers. If you’re not familiar with the value that they might bring to your boutique, check out a few of these benefits we’ve gathered:
1) Be available to customers 24/7
A recent study found that only 7% of merchants respond to customer inquiries within five minutes. Even worse, over half of the merchants failed to respond within five business days. When you introduce a chatbot, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your customers are receiving an instant response to their questions outside of your regular business hours.
2) Respond quickly to inquiries
Chatbots are FAST - especially compared to human employees! They provide the immediate response today's impatient shoppers are seeking, which sets you apart from online boutiques that are not yet using chatbots.
3) Keep your customers engaged
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently shared a success story about a small business that increased monthly revenue from $20,000 to $100,000 simply by engaging with customers online and being responsive to their needs. Chatbots boost engagement in a similar way by keeping your customers focused on your site and merchandise. When prospective buyers engage with your chatbot, they are less likely to abandon your site and more likely to buy.
4) Provide personalized responses
Over half of all shoppers expect a personalized shopping experience with suggestions and even discounts. You can achieve this goal by adjusting your chatbot flow and template. Here are some examples of personalized responses:
- "Thank you for telling me a little about your needs. Here is a video showing our top-selling LBD."
- "So, which of the following best describes your style: Casual, Preppy, Grunge, or Edgy?"
- "Do you need a handbag to go with your LBD? Here are a few options."
5) Generate excitement about special events
Today's chatbots are more sophisticated than ever. They can be customized with special messages about your upcoming sales and specials. For instance, you can include a quick invitation to join your 24-hour overstock sale and provide a preview of a couple of items.
6) Help you focus on growing your business
With a chatbot helping you respond to customer inquiries, you can stop wearing your online customer service hat and devote more of your own time to critical aspects of your business. For example, you can now turn your attention to the following:
- Boosting customer satisfaction
- Expanding the clothing brands you offer
- Negotiating better prices with brands and vendors
- Improving your workflow and operations
Amy Is Your Trusted Chatbot For Your Clothing Boutique
Clearly, a chatbot can be a difference-maker for clothing boutiques. But not all chatbots are created equal. While some are warm and engaging, others are cold and deliver canned responses. By introducing a cheerful, helpful chatbot, you will delight your customers and make them feel valued.
To learn more about the ways a chatbot can transform your business, sign up for the Amy blog today. You will enjoy helpful articles with industry-specific tips and other supportive content to help you stay in touch with industry best practices and trends.