Small business owner Nicole DeWald uses Boutique Window to help promote her shop’s inventory online.
The owner of a downtown Lincoln boutique shop, Duo Shoes, does not do websites.
She is not an expert marketer.
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But, she is up on shoe, jewelry and other clothing trends.
Nine months ago, she participated in a beta test for Boutique Window, a Lincoln-based startup that gives small businesses a better shot of showcasing its merchandise online.
“I didn’t know where to go for a website,” said Duo Shoes owner Nicole DeWald. “I used a blog to basically post photos of our stuff. But Boutique Window helped us not spend a lot of time or money on a site and marketing.”
Now, with the startup’s recently launched iOS app, her time spent posting items online is even shorter.
Boutique Window’s iPhone app, which launched in December, allows users to login to their account, take photos, edit them and post directly to their website and social media all at once.
DeWald says the app has cut down on her time taking and uploading photos. “It’s a great idea that can help save a lot of small companies like us grow their online presence and make it easier for customers to browse,” she said.
Boutique Window was founded in 2012 by Lincoln natives Ella Wirtz (near right) and Courtney Rodgers (far right). The pair has worked with stores in the U.S. and Canada since they began developing the idea more than a year ago.
More than a dozen boutiques in Omaha and Lincoln have signed up for their services, including Embellish, Cuff and Blush Bridal Boutique in Lincoln along with Statement and J’Amour in Omaha.
Boutique Window offers a simple, clean design reminiscent of Pinterest for desktop, mobile and tablet devices.
“Connecting with local shoppers online is essential to the success of your business even when you don’t sell online,” Wirtz said. “Shoppers today are engrossed in the digital world. The bottom line is, as a local retailer, if you aren’t showcasing your merchandise online, you are missing out on potential instore sales.”
The use of the startup’s app is included in existing Boutique Window plans that cost $40 a month for 100 product listings or $60 for up to 350 products. While shoppers can browse and comment on listed items, they can’t purchase the item online.
Credits: Photos courtesy of Boutique Window.
