Who’d have thought…
August 20th, 2006 RachelI love a new purse. A new necklace, a new…okay, I like "new".
Looks like I’m not alone - I’d have never imagined that something like fashion could incorporate the same business model as Netflix, but Bag Borrow or Steal has done it. I’m intrigued…not exactly ready to sign up, but definitely interested in the concept. Here’s few more things I like about this website:
1. The image on the homepage appears to change each time I flick back to it. This reminds me very much of how shopping works - you walk around the store once, but inevitably (if you’re in a store you like) if you walk around once more you’ll see something you missed the first time.
2. The tell a friend button. I have no idea how much it gets used, but the fact that it’s there is key. There’s no reason *not* to give this opportunity to someone (such as me) who, while indulging in some snickering over celebrity fashion mishaps, took the plunge and clicked. Even if I’m not exactly the type of person to rent a bag or necklace, the likelihood that I’m going to think "Oh this is so…<name of label-obsesso friend>" and forward it on to is pretty high. And even if I instead forward it on in a "You’ve got to be kidding me…" way, that still expands the circle of people out of which there could very easily be at least one interested customer.
3. I have to "sign up" to view the Outlet store. Crafty…they know me. I may still be unwilling to part with $150+ on a purse just because it has a fancy label, but they now have my contact information, i.e. they have permission to send me ticklers, offers, incentives to become a paying customer in the future. Nicely, nicely done.
The site isn’t perfect (they don’t break down the cost in the "join now" section before coyly requiring my credit card information, for one…the info is available in the FAQ however) but it’s a pretty inventive way to capitalize on the (I’m willing to bet) large population of women dying to be trendy but unable or unwilling to spend the the money to keep up with designer fashion.
