Tips and Tricks

Seriously, December is here! The holidays are a beautiful whirlwind, but before the rush swallows you whole, we need to talk about the task you keep postponing: The Physical Inventory Count. It sounds like pure bookkeeping agony—a long day counting lonely gowns in the stock room. But we have a secret: This is a dangerous …

Tired of Ghosting? Secure Your Bridal Store’s Schedule and Revenue! Hey, bridal boss! Let’s talk about that specific type of calendar heartbreak: the dreaded no-show or the super-late cancellation. You prepped the room, chilled the bubbly, and then… crickets. Your appointment book looked full, but your cash register looked lonely. It’s frustrating, throws your perfectly …

The festive season is a magical time—but if you’re running a bridal business, you know it comes with a familiar challenge: the holiday squeeze. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, consumer wallets tighten up, and many brides feel compelled to delay big purchases. This often translates to a noticeable drop in commitment and a frustrating dip …

If You Know, You Know (and If You Don’t, We’ve Got You) Whether you were bustling from booth to booth at National Bridal Market with an overstuffed tote bag or stayed back to hold down the fort at your boutique (and secretly stalked social media between appointments), the top trends are in and they’re too …

Stop ‘Winging It’ at National Bridal Market Let’s be real: National Bridal Market is a marathon of glitter, gowns, and pressure to buy. By the time it’s over, your feet are in desperate need of another pedicure, and you’re contemplating booking a week-long solo vacay on a remote island. Market can either fill your cup …

Inside the Prom Group Chat: What They’re Already Planning Word on the street is: Gen Z isn’t waiting until January to start the prom dress hunt. And lucky for you, Poppy’s got people (yes, plural) on the inside. That’s right, our community of prom store owners is already hearing buzz about what your prom queen …

Welcome to Your ROI Era If Taylor Swift taught us anything, it’s that reinvention is key. Just like she evolves with each album drop, your bridal store’s marketing has to keep shifting to meet modern brides where they are—and to make every marketing dollar count. If you’re stuck in your ‘Debut’ era but dreaming of …

You’ve Got a Problem, We’ve Got the Solution Ever feel like your daily life has turned into a scene from The Devil Wears Prada—juggling appointments, inventory, customer texts, and that one bride who swears she messaged you on Instagram three weeks ago? Running a bridal store is no small feat, and time always seems to …

The Heat is On Brides are bringing the heat this summer—and I’m not just talking about the weather. Think vintage silhouettes, soft statements, and details that turn heads. Trends from your mom’s wedding album? Yep, they’re back—and somehow cooler. Meanwhile, brand-new styles are making their debut with main character energy.  As someone in the bridal …

Bridal Industry Scammers Are on the Loose WANTED: Individuals posing as Gravity and Clover. Known for fake contracts, phony refunds, and vanishing with your hard-earned cash. Last seen in inboxes of bridal store owners just like you. Heads up! If you process payments with Gravity—or through Poppy, since we partner with Gravity—this is for you. …

You’re Due for a Pulse Check Just like a bride checking the mirror one last time before walking down the aisle, mid-year is your bridal store’s moment to pause, reflect, and make sure everything’s on track. Are your numbers saying “I do” to success or are they hinting at a runaway year? There’s no better …

Bridal Software That Fits Right in Your Pocket Ever needed to check a bride’s appointment time while you’re running a mid-day errand? Or maybe you’re curious how much your store made today—while sipping coffee on your “day off”?  Your time is valuable. That’s why Poppy is built to help you manage your store anytime, from …

No Time for Crickets Summer’s here, but that doesn’t mean your sales floor should sound like an episode of Planet Earth. Let’s be real—the sun is a hypnotist. Under its spell, you’re convinced that lemonade is an elixir and that your store will pull through this slow season as per usual. But what if your …

Imagine This… What if I told you that you could gain precious hours of your time back every week? What if I told you that double bookings are a thing of the past? What if I told you that you no longer have to play Tetris with your staff schedule? What if I told you …

Ever feel like your software is running your store—instead of the other way around?You’re juggling customers, inventory, appointments, and a million little to-dos, and the last thing you need is tech stress.  At Poppy Bridal Software, we understand that running a bridal boutique or prom shop is more than just business—it’s about helping customers find …

Become the Talk of the Town If you host a sample sale and no one knows about it…did it even happen? Getting the word out isn’t just important—it’s everything. Let’s talk about how to make sure your sale is the talk of the town (and not just with your mom and your best friend). Let’s …

Nope, That Wasn’t the Victory Lap The dust has started to settle on National Bridal Market Chicago, your bridal boutique is getting back into its standard routines, and historically, the bridal busy season is tapering off. You may be thinking it’s time to kick your feet up for a couple of weeks while you’re awaiting …

Trust Us, You Need The Inside Scoop What began as a game of telephone at the National Bridal Market this spring has now gained traction and credibility. Word on the street is: bridal busy season is extended! If you’re a seasoned store owner, I’m sure this news has you jumping up and down, figuratively of …

Let’s Talk Tariffs: Fast Facts There’s been a lot of buzz around new tariffs lately, and yes—they’re already affecting the worlds of bridal and prom. As I’m sure your news and social media feeds have highlighted, the U.S. government recently introduced new tariffs that add extra costs to goods imported from other countries—impacting a wide …

See our best practices ensure your prom and bridal barcode labels are clear, consistent, and ready to work seamlessly. No more scanning hiccups—just smooth, efficient operations that keep your store running like clockwork.

Bridal events are a great way to give your bridal store a boost, in traffic and in sales. Knowing what type of event and when is very important. In this blog, we explain the difference between trunk shows and sample sales and when the best time is to host each!

Valentine’s Day is the ultimate celebration of love, making it the perfect opportunity for bridal stores to create memorable experiences for their customers. Whether your clients are planning a February or Spring proposal, shopping for wedding attire, or simply seeking inspiration, this holiday offers unique opportunities to elevate your store’s appeal. Here are 8 ways …

We know how important creating an unforgettable shopping experiences is for bridal stores. This Valentine’s season, transform your bridal store into fun, romantic and festive destination for brides-to-be. From dreamy Parisian elegance to playful Candy store-inspired décor, discover creative ways to captivate brides and their tribes. Elevate your store’s ambiance, build meaningful connections, and create a setting where saying “yes” feels even more special.

Looking to attract newly engaged brides to your bridal shop? From curating engaging social media content to hosting memorable in-store events, these 7 actionable tips will help you stand out and create a welcoming space for brides-to-be.

My Trunk Show is over, now what? We’re sending over a virtual high five! I’m sure you’ve given yourself a well deserved pat on the back, but before you finish dusting your shoulders off  remember with celebration comes the opportunity to reflect. So from the wise words of Ice Cube, “ …check yo’ self before …

Hosting a bridal trunk show can be a game-changer for your store, but preparation is key. From curating an irresistible collection to creating a personalized experience for brides-to-be, our latest blog post provides all the tips and tricks you need to ensure your trunk show is a smashing success.

Marketing to your bridal audience can take on many forms. In this guide, we’ll explore key strategies to engage your target audience, from crafting personalized content to leveraging social media platforms. Learn how to make your bridal business stand out and connect with brides-to-be effectively.”

Maximize your bridal store’s trunk show success by using data to drive the decision when picking the right bridal designer partner for your trunk show.

Hosting a trunk show can elevate your bridal boutique without straining your budget. Learn practical tips for planning, budgeting, and marketing your event to maximize profits and enhance customer experience.

Planning a successful trunk show starts with the right strategy. This guide offers expert insights on selecting the best time and designer for your event, understanding industry trends, and creating a detailed plan to ensure smooth execution.

First of all, what is a trunk show? As someone in the bridal industry, we hear the term ‘trunk show’ tossed around frequently. When you hear this term, what is your gut reaction? Does it overwhelm you or excite you? Of course, it’s totally okay to say both too (I’m with you, friend)! No need …

Did your bridal store accept Visa or Mastercard branded cards between January 1, 2004 and January 25, 2019? If so, you are eligible to file a claim to the Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement (say that three times fast…), also known as the Visa Mastercard Settlement. See what this could mean for you if you …

For many, shopping for the perfect dress is a once in a lifetime experience that comes with a hefty price tag. As a store owner, you’ve likely encountered a bride or two who have champagne taste on a lemonade budget. Utilizing payment plans at your store will not only get a bride closer to popping …

What makes your marketing ‘stick’? Marketing can sometimes feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks, which is kind of true. Setting clear goals of what you want to accomplish from marketing your bridal store will help you determine if what you are doing is successful. Every store is different based on …

Are you in a sales slump or slay situation? How were your sales last year/quarter/month? This is an important question to be asking yourself on a recurring schedule. It’s not always a fun question to answer and it may draw out some emotion, but it will definitely be worth it! Whether you are slaying in …

Employees aren’t numbers, we get that. As an owner, evaluating team members can be hard. After looking at your sales data, you might start to feel like you are only seeing your staff as numbers and not people. Just remember, numbers are only one data point in a person’s performance. Use your bridal store data …

As the year comes to an end, make sure you are pulling all the necessary reports your bookkeeper, accountant or you need in order to make tax season a breeze. Pull an On Hand Quantity Report Before the December 31st, you will need a record of all the inventory items in your store along with …

It’s easy to forget forget that the inventory you have in your store is an asset until you sell it off the floor. In other words, it is NOT to your advantage to keep a bunch of dresses hanging on your racks without making money.

Are you already making plans for your bridal store for the new year or still trying to figure out what happened this year? Don’t worry, there is still time to do both! Your journey is important Goal setting is great and dreaming big is so much fun, but as a bridal business we still have …

Making sure your device has the proper time is important to ensure your Clover payment terminal processes and settles each day at the accurate time, keeping your deposits on schedule.

In today’s world, data drives most, if not all decisions you make at your bridal business. Poppy Bridal software can give you the data you need to make the best decisions for your store. From what vendors to carry or not carry, to where you should focus your marketing budget, here are a few Poppy’s …

Go to bridal markets not just to make better buys, but to make better partners. Just because you are buying from someone doesn’t mean your relationship has to be adversarial. It’s better for bridal store owners to think of vendors being with us, not vs. us. Remember, for vendors to be successful they need your …

So you know what types of dresses to look for, but how many should you buy to ensure you’re still profitable? One easy rule to follow is to make sure your total inventory and special order cost from each designer is no more than 45% of your sales from each individual designer. This is one …

How do you even begin to figure out which dresses you want to buy? It can be a big mistake to simply say “I’ll just buy what looks pretty”, and the whole process can seem overwhelming. You can start to simplify the way you are looking for dresses by colors, sizes, shapes and what you’re …

Whether you’re heading to your first bridal market or are a seasoned veteran, here are a few basics to keep in mind, courtesy of Janice Yoder on our Poppy Bridal advisor team! Janice is the owner of Adore in both Illinois and Arizona. She is a long time bridal market buyer and has been a …

According to Webster’s dictionary, metadata is data that provides information about other data. On your website, metadata consists of a page title, meta description for every page and alt descriptions for images. These provide search engines, like Google, with important information about the content and purpose of each individual page on your website. Adding metadata …

With this much love and excitement in the air, it’s no surprise a bride’s first stop is to pick out the perfect wedding attire. Below are some good ways to prep your business that will boost your online presence and attract newly engaged brides ready to ‘say yes’ to the perfect dress.

Cross-posting is one of the most efficient ways to make sure your bridal business is seen by your potential customers.

Bridal store owners have been forced to pivot their businesses quickly in order to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Poppy Bridal Software + Gravity hosted a webinar to learn what stores can do to adapt.