The business world is full of all kinds of nooks and crannies; perhaps none so signature as the boutique. This local hole-in-the-wall storefront trend started just after World War II and it is still a popular business option today. Our template of the week post will look at how the right type of membership card bolsters both a store’s image and profit margin.

Exclusivity Sells

Boutiques have developed a reputation for high-end merchandise that serves the needs of exclusive clientèle. It started with custom patterns during the 1960s. Since then, the inventory has expanded to include:

• Designer clothing lines
• Jewelry and accessories
• One-of-a-kind items
• Vintage merchandise
• Limited release inventory

The modern-day boutique comes in two styles:

1. Chains
2. Stand-alone stores

A striped boutique membership card works for either style. That's the other unique thing about this type of storefront; the majority of the marketing is done direct.

Stores like these are able to rely on marketing techniques that "big business" sees as old-fashioned. Things like:

• Window displays
• Events and promotions
• Direct mail and giveaways
• Loyalty programs
• Local networking

Have greater success in smaller storefronts because it adds to the exclusivity factor and offers a customized shopping experience with incentive to buy local.

Contributing to the Community Fabric

Boutiques offer a taste of the local community that they're in. Customers know that when they patronize a community-based storefront they are guaranteed to find something special. Business owners can use this distinction to their advantage.

Loyalty programs that are based on cards and memberships have greater success in boutique-style businesses. If customers are given a memorable shopping experience in a community-supported store, they are more likely to be a returning customer.

People want to feel like they are a part of something. When done right, boutiques offer that opportunity to their customers. Certain stores become known for certain things, including:

• Seasonal store window displays
• Cross promotions with other businesses
• Great sales
• Community activism

These things become part of the brand that customers buy into repeatedly.

The striped boutique membership card helps smaller stores benefit from repeat business. By  tapping into the method of automatic customer retention, these stores ensure their survival in a "big business" economy. The problem is around 85% of small businesses are credit-dependent and working within a set budget. There simply isn't a lot of wiggle room to set up a store loyalty program.

Plastic Printers understands where small business owners are coming from. Our company started out as a small business too. That's why; we want to extend this promotional opportunity to other businesses through our template of the week option. Simply use the link in this article to download and customize your own striped boutique membership card. When it's done, all you have to do is hit print. This will give you a stock of-high-quality, cost-effective membership cards to have on-hand.

Once your loyalty program is established, you can talk to our staff about designing a budget-friendly card that will be exclusive to your store. Contact us by phone or online at http://www.plasticprinters.com for more information.

The striped boutique membership card is a good starting point from which to build a customer base. Download your free template online now!