Most boutiques work hard to bring a customer through the door. Far fewer plan what happens after she picks her outfit. That moment, when the main purchase is decided, is the easiest time to add value to the order, and trims and embellishments are one of the simplest ways to do it.
Here is how boutiques can use brooches, laces, buttons and patches to increase average order value without pushing customers.
Sell the Finish, Not Just the Garment
A customer buying a plain kurta or blazer is not only buying fabric. She is buying a look. Show her how a contrast lace on the sleeve, a statement brooch on the dupatta or premium metal buttons on a jacket can change the outfit. When the add-on is presented as part of the look, it feels like advice, not a sales pitch.
Keep a Trims Display Near the Trial Room
Customers decide most add-ons while standing in front of the mirror. A small tray or board near the trial room with brooches, collar tips, rhinestone safety pins and lace swatches makes it easy to try something on the spot. Keep it neat and well lit, and refresh it every few weeks so returning customers see something new.
Offer Simple Customisation
Small changes feel personal and justify a higher price:
- Replacing standard buttons with metal or designer buttons
- Adding a lace border to a sleeve, hem or dupatta
- Stitching a patch or yoke on the back of a blouse
- Adding tassels or latkans to a tie-up back
Even a small customisation charge on top of the trim cost adds up across a season, and customers remember the boutique that made their outfit feel unique.
Build Ready Combinations
Many customers like the idea of accessorising but don't know where to start. Create a few ready sets: a festive set with a brooch and dupatta pin, a blazer upgrade with buttons and a lapel brooch, or a bridal blouse add-on with lace and tassels. Ready combinations reduce decision time and make the add-on feel complete
Train Staff to Suggest, Not Sell
The right line matters. "This lace would look lovely on the sleeve, should I show you?" works better than "Do you want to buy something else?" Staff should know what each trim is, how it is attached and how long the work will take, so the suggestion sounds confident and helpful.
Use Trims in Your Social Media
Before-and-after posts are powerful: the same kurta plain, then with a lace border and brooch. They show customers what is possible and bring in enquiries for customisation. Short reels of trims being stitched or styled also perform well because they show real craftsmanship.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
An add-on only works if it feels premium. A brooch with loose stones or a lace that frays after one wash will hurt your reputation more than it helps your sales. Stock fewer, better pieces, and buy from suppliers who can repeat the same design when a customer comes back for more.
The Bottom Line
Trims are small in size but big in impact. When boutiques present them as part of the look, display them at the right moment and offer simple customisation, customers spend a little more and leave happier with what they bought.
ANI Accessories is a Delhi-based supplier of premium garment trims and embellishments, including brooches, laces, buttons, buckles and patches, with 30+ years of wholesale and retail experience. Boutiques can browse the full range at aniaccessories.com.
