The Importance of Dress Availability and Special Orders

by Mark Douglas May 23, 2018

Most bridal boutiques understand that finding that perfect dress for the soon-to-be bride is the priority. Yes, the wedding cake needs to be designed, and the bridesmaids' dresses must be chosen, but that distinctive dress for the star of the show must fit perfectly, be made of the correct fabric color, and must complement the complexion, figure, and personality of the intended. 

Bridal Shop Inventory, Understood

These characteristics can only be fulfilled by a boutique that has an inventory that is well-thought-out and manufacturers that are experienced in supplying special orders. Sounds easy, right? But, having what a bride needs in the correct color, the right size, and the latest trending style is not a piece of cake (pun intended). According to our math, this means that a wedding dress must be offered in around three colors, fifteen sizes, and 45 different variations. Most reputable brands reveal new styles in the spring and fall, and each dress may include up to thirty different styles. Are your heads spinning?

Bridal shops, naturally, carry lines and styles that have a history of selling well, but as in every retail business, choosing a winning design is like rolling dice. For bridal shops, determining which dresses are added to their inventories includes a trip to "market" to peruse the goods of hundreds of sellers by way of VIP modeling shows. And, as you may already have experienced, dresses that sell well in the south may not even be considered in the west.

Yet another variable when choosing the best dresses for our shop is where the gown will be worn and the image the bride wants to achieve while wearing it. The options include:

• a beach wedding gown that will be lower in price due to its simplicity and less yardage of fabric

• a mid-range priced dress with more fabric yardage and increased detail

• a high-end garment made with intricate beading, displaying exquisite glamour, and made of lavish fabric

The Case for Special Orders

Remember, for all three variations, the shop owners will have to find and order dresses in the exact colors and sizes they think will sell. Easy task, right? They merely have to choose from 2,700 items, times the 3 lines, or 8,100 items. Let's say the shop determines to purchase 15 gowns per line per season. That's 15 times 3 lines, times 2 seasons which equals, 90. Their task is to order 90 out of the 8,100 available items. That's a whopping 1%. Can someone say Special Order?

At All Dressed Up, we will make you feel special and allow you to shine on your special day. We want to enhance your lovely curves, reflect your beautiful style, find the perfect color, and tailor your dress to your ideal size. And shouldn't your dress be spectacular? You deserve a wedding gown that you choose, and that is fitted to your personal preferences.

Wedding Planning, 101: Macro Timelines

For this to happen, we suggest that you utilize a pre-wedding timeline so that you'll have the option to "special order" your perfect gown.

A Floor Sample: The Gown of your Dreams, NOT!

These gowns only take up to 16 weeks to be made, but you would not believe how many brides lose that window of opportunity and have to settle for a floor sample. Don't let that be you!

All of us at All Dressed Up are here to make your dream a reality. Allow Cheron and team to VIP your gown hunting process with a pampered Bridal Appointment specially designed for you. Rated Chattanooga's #1 Wedding Gown Boutique, let 5-Stars customer-rated All Dressed Up help in your special ordered, custom-made gown. 

It is our pleasure to offer and provide you any and all assistance as you prepare for your wedding. We highly recommend our "virtual wedding day encyclopedia" video series to all brides; it's called "Puttin' On The Ritz w/ DJ Mark!" It's a treasure trove of ideas for a myriad of wedding ideas. Thank you for trusting All Dressed Up for all your Wedding Day needs.

This week's corresponding Video Bonus just went LIVE!: #13 Understanding | Bridal Shop Inventory & Special Orders | 'Puttin On The Ritz w/ DJ Mark!'  

Video Dialogue:

Mark: "Ladies and gents, Before we begin, check out this e-commerce website alldressedup.me. It's hosting every available bridal and Prom gown style, tux rental styles, Mother/guest style, flower girl styles, accessories styles, veils, jewelry in the thousands, you know this is getting a little too exciting, maybe we should get back to the show. (whispers: Most of the gowns can be securely purchased right there on the site. Get to clicking, ladies.) ADU is your home for the latest Wedding, Prom, and Tuxedo knowledge...  so don't miss a single episode or blog! Subscribe to our Channels. We are active on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter so be sure to follow, and click the various notification, options. Today we're taking a look at Bridal boutique inventory. Once we see the numbers we'll understand the importance of special orders. Let's start by taking a look at 1 bridal gown. Let's say the gown is available in three colors: Ivory, White, and Rose, and 15 sizes: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. Now with the 3 colors and 15 sizes we have 45 different variations. Each year most reputable brands offer two fashion reveals: the Spring and Fall. Each reveal might offer upwards of 30 different styles. But understand: that's 30 different styles for that one singular line. Most companies like Mon Cheri offer many different lines, each with its own designer teams. Getting complicated? Let's take a step back and have another look at the numbers. In regards to that one bridal gown with 45 different options. Let's say it's in a line with a spring and fall reveal, each season offering 30 gown styles... 60 total for the year. That's 60 gowns times the number of different variations, 45 (like before we'll say each one has three color variations and 15 sizes)... that equals 2,700. That's 2700 different dress styles, colors, and sizes, for one singular line, per year. Bridal Shops will only carry the lines and styles that are selling but who knows in advance what will sell and what won't? These tough decisions are made months earlier when the shop owners go to market for VIP modeling shows. By the way, It's interesting that the same dress that sells like hot cakes in the south won't even get tried on in the west. This according some friends we've made at market. Cheron and I have had the great opportunity to meet and speak with some amazing shop owners located in California's Napa Valley. Back to the understanding... Let's say the dress shop carries just three lines of one brand. One line might be for beach weddings: a lower cost gown due to the simplicity and lower amounts of fabric. One line might be a mid-range cost dress due to added amounts of fabric and increased detail. The last line might be high cost due to its intricate beading and exquisite glamour, combined with a lavish fabric approach. For these three lines the shop needs to find and order dresses in the exact colors and sizes they think will sell or create special orders. Easy task, right? They simply have to choose from 2700 items, times the 3 lines, or 8,100 items. Let's say the shop chooses to purchase 15 gowns per line per season. That's 15 times three lines, times 2 seasons which equals, 90. Their task is to order 90 out of the 8100 available items. That's a whopping 1%. Can someone say Special Order?! YES! Ladies, let me make you comfortable with those two words, the first being, Special. Special refers to you and your beautiful self, with your lovely curves, wherever they may be, from your bust to your waist to your hips, you are you, and you need the dress that you want, in your selected style, in your perfect color, and in your perfect size. And shouldn't your dress be special? Unworn, unsoiled, and not tried-on by who knows how many other brides? Ladies, if this episode is one thing we want it to be a call to accountability. Not with us but with yourself. The accountability to give yourself the respect you deserve by getting yourself on a pre-wedding timeline so that you'll have the option to special order your perfect gown. These gowns only take up to 16 weeks to be made, but you would not believe how many brides are under that window of opportunity and have to settle for a floor sample. Don't let that be you! And the second word we'd like you to feel comfortable using: Order. Please order us to make your dress. That's right! Because your order is our command. Your wish is our fulfillment. Your dream is our reality. Embrace the term Special Order, and let All Dressed Up be your #1 Bridal Shop. Are you looking for help and direction as it pertains to preparing for your Wedding? Wonderful! That's the sole purpose of this video series which is quickly becoming a virtual wedding day encyclopedia and treasure trove of ideas for brides all across the country. Thank you for trusting All Dressed Up for all your Wedding Day needs."

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All Dressed Up is a family-owned Chattanooga, Tennessee business offering wedding and prom gowns, bridesmaids, mother and flower girl dresses, and tuxedo rentals, to name a few. We have the lowest pricing (MSRP) and a wide selection of dresses for all personalities and styles.

Visit All Dressed Up today to set your VIP Bridal Appointment, your VIP In-Home Tuxedo Fitting, and shop for your favorite Bridal Gowns - don't forget to use the silhouette filter.

A post shared by All Dressed Up Bridal Prom Tux (@alldresseduphixson) on May 22, 2018 at 5:54pm PDT

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