How a bus called Bertha plans to revolutionise retail

May 12, 2015 - PRLog -- A 26ft Fiat Ducato ex-community bus, affectionately called Bertha, has been painstakingly transformed into a stylish mini boutique and launches in Dorset on 22nd May.

"Mobile fashion has been taking the streets of the USA by storm in the last few years," explains Boutique in a Bus creator Lesley Tindle. "I loved the idea of being mobile, travelling to different customers and not relying on them always coming to us. But I wanted to do something smarter & bigger with the concept in the UK.”

Smarter and bigger means quality shop interiors and technology that controls Bertha's unique “electronic pods” - side panels that move outwards when stationary to give shoppers more space inside.

With High Street sales suffering their sharpest monthly fall in more than three years in March 2015, Lesley believes that innovations such as this may be key to tempting consumers back on board.

"Retail trends show that shoppers want to interact more with retailers across multiple channels - from store to web and across social and mobile platforms," Lesley continues. "I am adding a bus to that list! The response so far has been phenomenal - people love Bertha from the outside and adore the products and prices on the inside."

The price point of the stock on the bus has been as meticulously planned as the physical transformation, with 99% of the clothing, bags and accessories priced under £50.

“Evidence suggests that shoppers are increasingly price sensitive and so eye catching, affordable products will create those impulse purchases," Lesley continues. "Bertha acts as her own mobile advertising billboard when on the road but our products will also be available online in June to cater for home shoppers.”

The company plan to expand in the future across the UK through franchising, providing a lower risk, cost-effective alternative to taking on the costs, long term tie-ins and location restrictions of a commercial premises lease.

“Designing and refurbishing Bertha and sourcing the stock has been a year long labour of love, trials and triumphs,” Lesley says. “Having learned so much about what works at every stage, it is possible to replicate the skills, knowledge and Bertha herself for other would-be fashion business owners.”

Find out more about Boutique in a Bus at www.boutiqueinabus.com and on all social media. Boutique in a Bus launches officially at the Bournemouth 7s on 22nd May 2015.