They're everywhere. The bigger, the brighter, the bolder, and the tackier- the better. They're red hats, and they've become a staple of the retail landscape over the course of the past few years thanks to the Red Hat Society. The Red Hat Society is the latest craze sweeping the over-50 female population with a single guiding purpose- to have fun. That includes bold purple dresses, big red hats, and social functions where the members meet and share the common joy of aging. With the Red Hat Society comes new retailer interest in hats. The Red Hat Society has basically created a market of hat collectors, seemingly overnight. But with everyone and their brother trying to cash in on the craze, retailers need to make their hats stand out from the crowd. If you're a retailer looking to kind your unique selling point in the saturated red hat market, I recommend thinking 'inside the box' to find your profits. While that term often refers to following the pack, I am referring instead to paper hat boxes, which have long been an important element of a true collector's hat collection. The Red Hat Society is a brand whose members have come to associate it with the lighter side of aging and fun. This is a group that members will be involved in for life. With the growing popularity of the Society and chapters forming all across the country, your customers likely don't have just a single red hat but an entire collection that they are expanding upon on a regular basis. Decorative paper hat boxes provide them with a logical way to store and protect their collection. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting paper hat boxes for your store: Buy Wholesale: It probably goes without saying, but still bears repeating: buy wholesale hat boxes to save money on the investment. They're the type of item you'll always be able to use, so don't be afraid to buy wholesale numbers and save some money in the process. As with any wholesale packaging purchase, buy in a variety of sizes that will sufficiently fit the stock that you have on hand, and any hats you plan on adding in the near future. 3 different sizes should be reasonable to cover your entire stock of hats.Buy plain and dress it up: If you run a small retail show and relish in selling the unique, try dressing up plain white hat boxes particularly for your customer. A bit of craft paint and a cloth will create a beautiful decorative paper hat box tailored to the interests of your customer. Try a simple western scene on a cowboy hat box, or a mix of purple and red for the Red Hat Society. It doesn't require that you be artistic- just a bit creative. A few red and purple swirls on a white paper hat box box could make all of the difference. Red and purple polka dots might be just the touch. Once you've turned a plain paper box into a decorating hat box, it has become a one-of-a-kind collector's item and the value of the hat goes up, just by virtue of the unique hat box.Variety is the Spice: Whether you're buying decorative hat boxes, or you are decorating them yourself, remember that unique design is a valuable selling point. The more variety you can offer, the more valuable the boxes become, and the more interest your customers will have in making that next hat purchase.Hat boxes have long been a staple among serious hat collectors. The Red Hat Society has rekindled America's love affair with hats, and retailers who are able to creatively tie decorative hat boxes into their overall sales technique will be successful in becoming a local go-to shop for unique, collectible items that cater to this organization. |
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