QR Codes sure has a lot of uses today, now that information can be easily accessed, or transactions can be easily made in a single scan. A lot of industries have benefitted greatly from using QR Codes, such as marketing, agriculture, education, health care, and even small businesses. One such business is the use of QR Codes for tailoring.
This involves creating, altering, and repairing of clothes to fit individual customers. Tailors, professionals skilled with fabrics and garments run these businesses. They create custom-made clothes or modifying existing items for better fitting.
How QR Codes Started and How they Work
QR (Quick Response) Codes are two-dimensional, square-shaped codes that can hold information and provide it through a single scan. Denso Wave engineer Masahiro Hara and a fellow employee developed them the mid-90s. The said code aims to track manufacturing parts and ease the burden of manually encoding information.
The said codes were first used in the early 2000s, providing additional information about various products. With the rise of smartphones, QR Codes became widely accessible to the public, predicted to continue soaring in five years or more.
The Benefits of QR Codes for Tailoring Businesses
PRODUCT INFORMATION
QR Codes can provide information about certain clothing. By giving it a scan, the customer already knows what the clothing is about, what material it is made of, where it got its inspiration, and the like. QR Codes can also contain the product’s size and price.
ONLINE ORDERING
Almost everything can be sold and bought through online means nowadays. QR Codes enable this smooth flow of transaction. With just a scan, the customer links to a directory of various clothing designs, their information, and prices. It may also let a customer order an item by clicking a link that leads them to an order form, which they can pay through their bank accounts or e-wallets.
APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING
QR Codes can even direct a customer to a phone number, an email, a personal message, or any other means of communication with the tailor, which they can use to schedule an appointment. The tailor can only link the QR Code to their contact details and the customer can already contact them by a single scan.
LOYALTY PROGRAMS
QR Codes can also help to ensure customer loyalty, from making them enroll in a loyalty program (or avail loyalty cards), redeeming rewards, availing promos, and the like. In the same manner, the business owners can also track their customers’ behavior, which is vital in deciding the direction of their businesses.
INCREASED ENGAGEMENT WITH CUSTOMERS
The tailoring business can use QR Codes to make customers browse their landing pages, react and comment on their posts, interact with other users, or promote their brands.
IMPROVED CUSTOMER SERVICE
As QR Codes can enable communication between the business and the customers, it will be easy to address issues or provide assistance regarding the clothing item that they will order.
INCREASED SALES
QR Codes have the power to increase sales. By implementing them in easily accessible places, customers can browse the products and orders with only a single scan. Add promos and discounts, and they will flock your website in little to no time.
ENHANCED MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
QR Codes can be incorporated into a variety of campaign materials such as TV ads, posters, flyers, product packages, tags, and the like.
IMPROVED BRAND AWARENESS
Incorporating QR Codes in materials such as business cards, clothing tags, product packages, and the like improves the tailor’s brand awareness, most especially when customers are immersed through a variety of activities.
REDUCED COSTS
Imagine how much you can save by using QR Codes in your advertisement. It lessens consumption of energy, gas, and other resources, which may cost a lot. Creating QR Codes can be done in one seating, so it would only take a few minutes and little to no resources at all.
How to Create QR Codes for Tailoring
Creating QR Codes doesn’t need a measuring tape, a scissor, a thread, and a sewing machine. All you need is a working computer with an internet connection and you’re good to go. Wanna know how to create QR Codes for your tailoring business? Here are some ways:
Use an online QR code generator.
The internet offers a variety of website for generating QR Codes from free to premium. If you want something reliable and user-friendly, then qr-cloud.com is the best website for you. The website contains various features that you can explore so that you can create a code that stands out among other brands.
Determine Your Purpose.
Before generating a QR Code, decide its purpose. Should you link it to a landing page that contains information about a product? Or a contact for customer service? The purpose of the QR Code must be clear so that the users will not be confused.
Create a call-to-action.
Customers love an instruction that they can easily follow. Create a simple instruction (e.g. Scan to register) so that the customers will know what to do with the QR Codes.
Customize Your Codes.
A unique QR Code can make your brand stand out above the rest. For this reason, playing with different designs is important. You can change the color of the background, the pixels, the eyes, or even add a logo to personalize your business. However, be careful with overdesigning. A lighter background, a darker pixel, and a reasonably-sized logo are still preferred, as these will determine if your codes are functional.
Test Scan Your Codes.
Giving your codes a test scan before implementing them is important. This helps you to know if changes need to be made. If the QR Codes work, then you’re good to go. If not, you may want to go back to customizing to see what you need to tweak.
Implement Your QR Codes.
You can already download your QR Codes and lay it out on publication materials, on your websites, posters, print ads, billboards, product packaging, and other places where these codes can be easily accessed.
Where to Place QR Codes for Tailoring
QR Codes are almost everywhere. You can find it in places where people can easily access them. Specifically, here are the places where you can put a QR Code.
Product packaging
Lay out a QR Code on the paper bag or plastic bag that contains the clothing. Potential customers can easily scan the code, and it will take them to different places on the web, depending on the purpose of the QR Code.
Receipts
You can also place QR Codes in receipts. In this case, the purpose is more on tracking the product or providing additional information about it.
Advertisements
QR Codes can be laid out everywhere: publication materials (posters, print ads, brochures); in-store displays, TV advertisements, Youtube videos, social media posts, websites, and more. When put in easily accessible places, it can help increase traffic.
Examples of QR Code Marketing Campaigns in Tailoring
A lot of tailors have been incorporating QR Codes in their marketing campaigns. Here are some of the businesses that tried and thrived:
BROOKS BROTHERS
A renowned tailor, Brooks Brothers launched a marketing campaign called, “Made to Measure” to promote their personalized tailoring services. Through scanning their QR Codes, customers were able to see their mobile landing page. This landing page enabled the customers to schedule appointments, explore fabric options, and customize their garments.
SAVILE ROW
The prestigious tailoring district in London implemented a QR Code campaign called “Bespoke,” showcasing their exclusive and luxurious tailoring services to the customers. QR Codes were placed in strategic locations, where potential customers could access Savile Row tailors’ workshops through virtual tours, view clients; testimonials, and schedule appointments for bespoke consultations. While QR Code is something from the modern technology, it was used to preserve the culture and heritage of Savile Row in terms of tailoring.
ZEGNA
Zegna is a high-end fashion brand based in Italy. It utilized QR Codes in its “Su Misura” campaign, promoting made-to-measure tailoring services (just like the Brooks Brothers). Their QR Codes directed customers to a landing page where they could learn background information about Zegna’s tailored goods, choose fabrics, and book appointments for fittings.
CANALI
Canali is another Italian luxury tailor, but it specializes on menswear. It also launched a “Su Misura” campaign, highlighting their custom tailoring service. Scanning their QR Codes directed the customers to an interactive digital platform where they could design their own suits, choose fabrics, and provide measurements virtually.
Challenges of Using QR Codes for Tailoring
Anything new doesn’t go without challenges, and the same thing applies to QR Codes in tailoring. Here are some of the challenges to consider before implementing QR Codes:
Not all smartphones have QR code readers. Customers may have to download a functioning QR scanner and learn how to navigate these applications before they can maximize the benefits of a QR Code.
Some people may not be familiar with QR codes. Some customers may be using their smartphones for a variety of purposes other than scanning QR Codes, and this may affect their familiarity with this technological feature. To address it, they need to be educated on what QR Codes are and how to use it.
QR codes can be difficult to read in low light. Scanners cannot read QR Codes in places with low light. One way to solve it is to download a scanner that uses flashlight in order to detect the codes easily.
QR codes can be easily damaged. QR Codes, particularly the static ones, can easily be damaged and expired. It is advisable to use dynamic QR Codes, as these can be re-customized without the need to re-download or re-print.
Conclusion
As time passes by, using QR Codes is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in aspects of the fashion industry like tailoring services. Incorporating this small, square-shaped barcode in the mix not only increases potential customers, but also promotes your business conveniently and effortlessly.
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