Join us for Poppy Hour, let’s talk “The Credit Card Confessional: Decoding Your Fees”, Wednesday, November 12th @ 10:30am PST // 1:30pm EST— RSVP to Poppy Hour!

HIRING SERIES: How to Attract the Right Stylists for Your Bridal Store

Kylie Punke

Want Better Brides? Start With Better Stylists.

Let’s start with the simple fact of the matter: the right stylist is everything in bridal—they’re part sales expert, part therapist, part fashionista, and part hype girl. You can have the best location, most beautiful gown selection, and top of the line designers, but if your stylists aren’t successfully capitalizing on sales, the future of your boutique is at stake. 

A bad hire hits your bottom line hard, but the right hire pays for themselves many times over. Let’s break down how to find, and appeal to, the kind of stylists that not only match your vibe but keep you profitable and keep your brides saying yes. 

Define What “Right Fit” Means for Your Store

Before you start searching for people to join your team, it’s important to get a clear idea on who you are, aka your store’s identity. Are you a chic and luxury store with plans for expansion, a family owned down-to-earth small business, or a combination of characters?  No need for an identity crisis, just simply reiterate what culture your store represents. Your new hire should naturally embody your brand. 

You should also ask yourself what qualities your brides value most in your stylists—patience, honesty, creativity, communication. Curate this list by taking a comb through your reviews or social media comments. If you know who you are and how you want to be represented, you can focus on hiring someone who naturally embodies your brand.   

Write Job Descriptions That Sell Your Store

It’s more than a job posting—it’s an invitation to apply to work at your bridal store. Go beyond the traditional list of requirements and responsibilities, show off your boutique’s energy and why working for you is rewarding.

  1. Give potential hires a taste of what it’s like to be a part of your team—not just what they’ll “owe” you. If you have benefits, list them!
  2. Sprinkle in personality—a bridal stylist job description should feel inspiring not corporate.
  3. Include must-haves and nice-to-haves (customer service, fashion background, sales experience).
  4. Build in growth potential within your business and income incentives. Whether your store runs on a commission or tip basis, has bonuses or spiffs, highlight that they have the power to shape their own paycheck.

Post in the Right Places

Although Indeed is a great place to start, don’t rely solely on one platform. Think broader like LinkedIn or local community boards. There’s also bridal-specific places like Facebook groups or local bridal associations. And most of all, don’t discount your own store’s channels! Whether Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, create behind-the-scenes posts that show what it’s like to be a part of your team—this doubles as organic content and recruiting. Your followers are most likely past brides, future brides, or fans of the bridal industry—people that know you and who are familiar with your process, this is a great pool of people to pull from!  

Showcase Why Your Store is a Great Place to Work

Nowadays, people are looking for more than a job, they’re looking for a workplace environment they’ll enjoy. Share what sets your boutique apart from the rest: staff perks, celebrations, training opportunities, volunteer events, and of course, the joy of helping brides find their dream dress. Every interaction is a reflection of your brand—whether you hire someone or not, you want them to leave with a positive impression. 

Pro tip: Let your staff speak! Include short testimonials from current stylists or encourage them to sit in on interviews.

Keep the Application Process Simple

Don’t overcomplicate your application process—too many hoops to jump through can scare off good candidates. The more you can let personality shine through, the better. Ask candidates why they want to work for your business. This is an important starting point that allows you to see inside their personality while seeing what excites them most about the position. If they’re curious enough to dig into the details of your business and how you operate, that’s a clear sign of real interest.

Once you’ve got great candidates applying, the next step is knowing how to spot the perfect fit in an interview—and that’s exactly what we’ll dive into in the next part of our Hiring Series.


Interested in learning more about Poppy? Schedule a demo or start here with our Get Started form.

Categories:

STARTING A BRIDAL STORE SERIES: Year Two—Why It Can Be Even Harder (and How to Stay Strong)

You Survived the First Year…Now What? In Part 1 of our Starting a Bridal Store Series, we celebrated your first year—the whirlwind of your grand opening, your first brides, and the lessons you learned the hard way. As the confetti is settling, you may start to notice that year two brings a new kind of …

Your Perfect Match: What to Ask Before Swiping Right on a Payment Processor

You spend months helping a bride find the one—that perfect gown that makes her feel like magic. You deserve a payment partner that works just as hard to protect that magic (and your money!). When your focus is on high-ticket gown sales and flawless client appointments, the last thing you need is a clunky system …

STARTING A BRIDAL STORE SERIES: So You’re Opening a Bridal Store—Here’s What to Expect in Year One

The Dream Becomes Reality If I had to guess, you’re somewhere between a “pinch me” moment and a panic attack—seriously your emotions are in the final round of a championship boxing match. You’ve spent months (maybe even years) dreaming about your store’s name, selecting designers to feature, and outlining your physical space. Then, in the …