3 Smart Buying Plays Every Boutique Owner Should Make — Weekly Retail Tidbits #232

Originally published as Tidbit #232. Lightly edited for the blog.

“Success is neither magical or mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”
— Jim Rohn

As retailers and I approach a line in our showroom, I sometimes hear: “We just want new.”

I get it. I thought that way, too, as a retailer.

You are tired of ordering and selling the same things. You don’t want to see the same things in your store. Your belief is that your customers want to see different things every time they walk in your door, too.

It seems to make sense.

The problem with that mindset is that it does not make as much cents.

When I was a buyer for multiple stores, I soon learned that not reordering something that sold quickly was as bad or worse than over-ordering.

Inventory is the least scary investment you make as a retailer. You can almost always get your money back (sale).

But the opportunity cost of not having something that your customers buy – regardless of how long you have carried it?

Tremendously expensive.

Game-changing expensive.

3 smart buying plays

1. Reorder your top 20% before you order anything new.

These are the items that have proven themselves in your store, with your customers. They’ve already done the hard work of earning their place on your shelves.

Before you fall in love with something shiny and new, make sure you’ve replenished what’s already working.

Think of it this way: Would you rather gamble on something untested, or bet on the horse that’s already won races for you?

2. Aim for a 70/30 split: 70% reorders, 30% new.

This ratio keeps your store fresh without sacrificing profitability.

Customers do want to see new things – but they also want to be able to find the items they came in specifically to buy.

When you’re too heavy on new, you’re essentially telling your repeat customers, “Sorry, we don’t have that thing you loved anymore.”

3. Track the items that sold out fast.

Keep a running list – digital or paper – of items that sell out faster than you expected. When customers ask, “Do you have more of these?” and you don’t, write it down.

These moments are gold.

They’re your customers literally telling you what to reorder.

Don’t let that data walk out the door with them.

New is exciting. New gets attention. New feels like progress.

But reorders? Reorders are where you make your money.

Great stores have mastered this balance. They’re known for having fresh merchandise AND for consistently stocking the items their customers count on them to carry.

What a start to 2026! Super awesome week in Atlanta! Not that it’s over – but wow! So much fun!

Thank Y❤️U!!!

Cheers to consistently applying the basics!

xoxo,
❤️AmyFay

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AI Tip

This is worth repeating – yes I’ve shared it. 😊

Use your microphone and voice as much as you can rather than typing. It is so much faster – so much more efficient for many tasks.

If you are sharing something with AI – ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude – etc.. it is better to talk than to type. The AI will get more context and meaning from you – because we are more wordy when we talk.

It’s not great to voice everything to text and then send to another human without editing it as much as possible. That just takes the human recipient longer to figure out what you are saying. It’s more polite to edit for us humans.

I use Wispr Flow to help me. Love it!

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Tango Showroom – After Hours!

Some showroom photos (after hours)! Super awesome week in Atlanta!!! 🎉

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“Long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity.”

— Bruce Lee

Here’s to your most winning year yet!

Thanks for shopping Tango – having so much fun with y’all!

❤️AmyFay

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