Tag: denim

3 Reasons Clothing Boutiques Are Holding Their Own

Many people have predicted that brick-and-mortar retail will start dying a slow death. Its days are supposedly numbered thanks to the power of online giants like Amazon. But wait. The prophets of doom were predicting the end of brick-and-mortar retail more than a decade ago. Yet here we are. The Stockist rolls on, as do so many other clothing boutiques.

Online retail is absolutely affecting brick-and-mortar sales. Yet retail clothing is surprisingly resilient. It seems less affected by online sales than other parts of the retail world. It turns out there are good reasons for this. Clothing sales are somewhat unique; they rely on the brick-and-mortar model for survival.

Here are three reasons why we believe clothing boutiques will stick around:

1. The Desire to Touch and Handle

People have an innate desire to touch and handle clothing before they buy. Even something as simple as a pair of denim jeans can be purchased with more confidence if you can hold them in your hand first. Perhaps this is because clothing is so personal and intimate. People would rather handle it in person than buy it sight unseen.

This isn’t the same for all industries, of course. Products that are standardized are much easier to buy online. For example, you can order a book on Amazon, and you’ll know what to expect. Clothing is different because there’s such a wide variety of fabrics, textures, colors, and styles.

2. Fitting is a Big Deal

Even more important than seeing and feeling the clothing is trying them on. This is where a brick-and-mortar boutique has an advantage. Buy that new pair of jeans online and you are going to have to trust that the size chart is accurate. What if the jeans don’t fit? Now you have to either return them or eat the loss.

Shopping at a brick-and-mortar boutique eliminates that risk. You try everything before you buy. Walk out the door with jeans in hand and you are assured they will fit when you get home. Size will not change in the car.

At least 30% of online purchases are returned, compared to only 8% of in-store purchases. It’s true that some online retailers make it as easy as possible to return clothes that don’t fit. Some even pay for shipping. But still, discovering that clothes bought online don’t fit is inconvenient. It takes time to deal with returns and order new items. It is time you can save by shopping at a brick-and-mortar store.

3. Shopping is Social

The third reason clothing boutiques like The Stockist continue to thrive is the reality that shopping is a social experience. People go shopping together because they want to spend time pursuing a common interest. When it comes to shopping for clothing, taking someone else along means having an extra set of eyes. It means having a sounding board for your fashion choices.

You simply cannot get that same social experience online. As a result, buying clothing online is purely a functional exercise. It certainly isn’t the same thing as taking a shopping trip with your closest friends.

Online retail has its place. In some cases, it is dominating brick-and-mortar retail. However, that is not the case for clothing. The American clothing boutique is holding its own because shopping for clothing is a unique experience, and The Stockist is here to stay.

5 Reasons Why We’re So Passionate About Denim

We’re proud to be one of the leading suppliers of men’s and women’s denim clothing in Salt Lake City. We absolutely love denim for both sexes. It’s even great for the kids. In fact, there may not be another material ever made that we appreciate as much as denim. You could say we’re denim crazy.

Our stock of men’s and women’s denim items focus mainly on pants, but don’t let that stop you from embracing this material in other ways. Feel free to dive into denim shirts, jackets, dresses, and hats. In the meantime, check out the following five reasons we are so passionate about denim:

1. Denim is Durable

If you set aside the fashion aspects of men’s and women’s denim clothing, denim is a material with incredibly high durability. There are few other materials as tough. Perhaps that’s why it was the material of choice when Nevada tailor Jacob Davis made the very first pair of reinforced blue jeans in the 1870s.

Some people mistakenly believe that denim is an American invention. It’s not; it actually hails from France. However, it wasn’t a popular material for work clothing until Americans started making blue jeans. Davis’ jeans were an instant hit with surveyors, rail workers, miners, and ranch hands because it was tougher than anything else they had previously seen. Nothing much has changed in the last 150 years.

2. Denim is Versatile

Another reason we love denim is that it’s so versatile in terms of fashion. A good pair of denim jeans is just what you need to dress down at the end of a long workday. Ditch the suit or dress and put on a pair of casual jeans with a loosely fitting top. You are ready for an evening at home or a casual dinner with friends.

Denim is also versatile enough to dress up. A pair of dress jeans can be the foundation for that perfect Friday night look. And yes, you can pair your denim jeans with a business jacket and blouse to fit in with the business casual craze.

3. Denim is Comfortable

Denim’s twill weaving creates a fabric that is quite comfortable. A brand-new pair of denim jeans may feel a bit rough to the touch, but a trip through the wash cycle changes that. You suddenly have a luxuriously soft fabric that feels as comfortable as your own skin. Simply put, denim is incredibly comfortable.

4. Denim Ages Well

Getting back to the fashion aspects of denim for just a minute, it is a material that ages very well. For example, denim does not hold its dye forever. As such, it fades over time. That is not a bad thing. A lot of people find faded denim even better looking than brand-new. And of course, fading is almost a badge of honor for well-worn jeans.

When denim is finally old enough to begin showing tears and holes, so what? A good pair of jeans looks even better with the right kind of wear in the right places, which is why pre-distressed denim clothing is so popular.

5. Denim is Classic

Last but not least, denim is classic. Denim in every form has withstood the test of time. It has remained constant even though hundreds of different fashion trends have come and gone over the years. For that reason alone, denim is our favorite.

Our dedication to denim is one of the reasons why The Stockist has become one of Utah’s top denim boutiques. Check out the newest men’s denim and women’s denim styles!