CINCINNATI — Many non-essential businesses are struggling to stay afloat right now, and these boutiques in Over-the-Rhine are teaming up to help each other through this precarious time.
Boutiques like Sloane, Idlewild Woman and The Most Beautiful Thing in the World Is have been closed for weeks now, but they still have online stores. Now, they’ve turned to Instagram to generate online traffic.
“Everyone’s on their phones, at home, looking for something to do,” said Tessa Clark, sales manager at Idlewild Woman.
Thursday afternoon for two hours starting at 4 p.m., the three shops invite you to a virtual shopping party.
Clark says the virtual shopping events have boosted online sales while their doors are closed
“Our main concern is we have a ton of inventory in the store,” she said.
So on top of sales and other incentives, she’s also trying on items for customers on Instagram Live, and Sloane Boutique is even personalizing service.
“FaceTiming the customers, telling them how they can wear the items with the things they already have,” said Sloane co-owner Ivy Costa.
Though times are hard, neither is in any rush to open on May 1, even if Gov. Mike DeWine allows it.
Costa said they may reopen with limited hours or with appointment-only service, and Clark agreed that it’s best to wait to reopen with precautions.
“We feel we can still do the same business online until we all feel safe for our customers and ourselves,” Clark said. “We plan to be very careful here.”
You can find the Instagram pages for each boutique below:
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