RWRetailWire
Back to Discussions
DISCUSSION

Will consumers try on a new type of e-tail site?

Written by RetailWire Staff

Ordering clothes, trying them on and returning them is nothing new for many online shoppers, typically across a number of brands from a single website, such as Zappos. Try.com provides a way to "try" stuff from multiple retail websites at once.

With a slogan of "Try clothes from your favorite online stores for free," Try.com’s three-step process encourages members to:

  • Hit the Try Button - Once the the Try Button is installed in their browsers, members will see a pop up on their favorite ecommerce stores right next to the "Add To Cart" button with images of select product. Clicking the Try Button sends the item to their home directly from the retailer. The service sends up to five items at a time, though users can earn more "tries" by inviting friends. Try.com asks simply for credit card details so they can charge for what customers buy. Shipping is free.
  • Get 10 days to decide what to keep - Shoppers pay the price shown by the retailer if they buy but nothing for anything they decide to return. Coupons and discounts can be used.
  • Return the rest with the pre-paid label - Returns are free.

Try.com is currently available only to desktop users of Google Chrome, which displays the necessary button next to Add to Cart icons on retailers' sites.

Stitchfix 3 shot=

Competition among try-on at home services sites comes from websites such as Halsbrook and Stitch Fix that also offer free shipping and returns. However, both work like typical e-commerce websites, holding their own inventory and handling fulfilment themselves.

Halsbrook is modelled after exclusive services offered by some luxury department stores in which a selection of new designer fashions are delivered to VIP clientele for them to try on in their homes before paying for them. The service caters to Boomers who are still fairly new to shopping for clothes online and could benefit from an easy-to-browse website with a curated collection and how-to style guides.

Stitch Fix is a subscription service sending out five items from up-and-coming designer labels every month or so. New members begin by filling out a Style Profile to help its personal stylists understand their size, style, shape, budget and lifestyle. Members have three days to decide what to keep. Stitch Fix stands out by charging a $20 styling fee, although the charge can be applied as a credit toward anything kept from the shipment.

"Like other online retailers, Stitch Fix saves you a trip to the store by shipping items directly to you," Stitch Fix's marketing copy reads. "But our personal stylists also save you the time and trouble of selecting clothing and accessories."

Discussion Thread0