This “shopping” service could change your life — here’s why millions of people love it
If you’re one of those people who enjoys wearing new clothing but dreads shopping for them, you’re not alone.
Many people avoid the mall and stores for myriad reasons, from long lines to overly aggressive salespeople. And though millennials are known for preferring e-commerce (54% of them make their purchases online), even that can be stressful. At times, online shopping can be incredibly frustrating and time consuming, not to mention the hassle of returns.
Say you want to buy a coat. You have to comb through dozens of brands’ websites — and hundreds of reviews — to find one that suits your style. Then you spend another hour looking for online discounts. After you’ve finally decided on “the one,” you’re forced to pay shipping fees and then wait for it to arrive. It’s no wonder that more people are moving toward an alternative: Services that do the work for them.
Shopping without the search
At the forefront of this movement is Stitch Fix, an online service that combines personal styling with algorithms to customize clothing deliveries for men and women.
Stitch Fix will prompt you to fill out an online style profile with your size, budget, and other preferences to personalize your box.
This proprietary mix of human and data science — Stitch Fix has more than 5,000 employees, including 3,500 stylists and 80 data scientists — eliminates the stress of searching for that perfect coat, for example. It’s a convenience that’s converting traditional shoppers in droves. To date, the company has delivered millions of “Fixes,” boxes containing five curated items, to doorsteps nationwide.
Stitch Fix first launched in 2011 for women, but recently expanded to offer a line for men, which features brands like Scotch and Soda, Original Penguin, and Mavi Jeans — in addition to smaller, boutique labels.
Personalization is trending
Stitch Fix’s success speaks to a growing desire for extremely convenient and highly-personalized shopping. According to a survey by Accenture, 75% of consumers are more likely to buy from a retailer that demonstrates some level of personalization, whether it’s recognizing them by name, recommending options based on past purchases, or knowing their purchase history. And 85% of millennials are more likely to make a purchase if it’s personalized to their interests.
Stitch Fix takes personalization to the next level: Clients sign up, fill out a profile with their size, style, and spending preferences, and select a date to receive their “Fix.” Behind the scenes is a combination of stylists and complex algorithms that match clients with items that fit their needs. It’s ushering in a new era of personalization.
The service also makes shipping and returns easy. Clients decide what they buy from their Fix and send returns back in a pre-paid return bag. And there’s no subscription required.
Shipping is free, and the $20 styling fee is applied toward any purchase. It’s an iterative process: After clients share feedback with their stylist on each item, the stylist (and the algorithm) will improve Fixes over time.
It’s clear that many people are open to these unconventional ways of buying clothes, especially if it means they won’t have to fight crowds or browse sites all day. Companies like Stitch Fix are adding a layer of personalization and convenience to the shopping experience — and making buying that coat much less of an ordeal.
Try out personalized shopping with Stitch Fix today.
This post is sponsored by Stitch Fix.
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