The average American spends 4.5 hours on their phones each day. With the rise of mobile application use, many industries have been transformed in more ways than one. E-commerce, specifically fashion, is no exception. 

With regular advancements in technology, the fashion and retail spaces have been able to extend their reach, strengthen customer engagement, and ultimately increase sales.   

Everything from being able to easily filter and save “obsessions” to designing custom design socks for your brand can be done with a few simple taps. Creating an app allows for a more client-tailored shopping experience; investing in an application for your fashion business is essential for staying relevant among consumers and competitors alike.

Ways Apps Boost Your Fashion Business 

Let’s take a look at some of the ways these apps are benefiting the fashion e-commerce industry. 

Extended reach

It goes without saying that fashion businesses tend to do best when they reach a wider audience. With the use of mobile apps, your inventory is no longer limited to locals. Customers around the world have visibility into your products and services with a streamlined way to make purchases. 

Enhanced branding

Branded logos, taglines, tone, and messaging are easy to incorporate into apps, resulting in further brand recognition and consumer loyalty. Branded elements can be integrated into customizable features and personalized interfaces to enrich the customer experience. 

Specific promotions

You can build app specific offers into your marketing plan that will not be available on your website. For example, your creative team could have fun branding coffee mugs and customizing hats with your company logo, then including them as part of a free giveaway with any app purchase of $100 or more. 

Exclusive features

One advantage that mobile apps have when compared to websites are the built in features. Not only do apps give customers the option to filter their searches and save favorites, but apps have the capability to highlight items based on prior purchases, send real-time inventory updates, and push notifications such as check-out reminders and flash sales. You can even develop your app to send location based notifications if your customer is near your brick-and-mortar store. 

Virtual vibe check

Virtual try on technology is always being improved upon. A virtual try on is not yet able to achieve 100% accuracy, as it does not account for human sensory input. However, this unique technology has been known to decrease e-commerce returns as it offers consumers a “vibe check.” In other words, customers get a general idea on how the garment may fit and whether or not it aligns with their individual taste. So, whether you’re touting your brand’s custom apparel or repurposed vintage, offering a virtual vibe check can help your clientele feel confident in their purchases. 

Virtual styling assistance

Separate from a virtual try on feature, many apps now offer virtual styling assistance. For example, you can design your app to make garment and accessory suggestions based on factors like body measurements, saved favorites, and local weather. Apps can also create bundle package suggestions for entire outfits, everything from branded caps down to custom made socks. 

Convenience

Present day society is quite demanding and with everyone always on the move, e-commerce apps allow your customers the convenience of browsing and shopping while standing in line at the grocery store, on their subway commute to work, or waiting in their doctor’s office. 

Easy breezy

Not only is shopping from an app convenient for time management but it’s also easy. Nothing beats a smooth and pleasant shopping experience. Designing an app will allow you to manage your online store with organization–keeping accurate inventory and customer-friendly features will make for a breezy user experience. 

Bonus: behind the scenes

We’ve talked about how strong branding within your app can strengthen customer engagement, not only through design but also through the products you offer. It’s important to work with high-quality manufacturers to keep branded garments and accessories in stock. Companies like The/Studio can help with a wide range of items, from creating custom hats with no minimums to smaller branded merchandise such as enamel pins, which can even be used as part of a promotion for new app users.

Embrace the app

Mobile phones have become such an integral part of our daily experience–it’s safe to say that mobile technology and more specifically, retail apps are not going away anytime soon. Fashion brands have seen increased customer retention, less returns, and higher sales when utilizing an effective mobile app. Work with your trusted developers to take advantage of all of the ways an app can help grow your business.