Turn Trends Into Sales
Popularity badges and the New to You widget are powerful tools, but how do you actually use them to grow your store? Here's a practical playbook.
Step 1: Check Trends Weekly
Every Monday, spend 15 minutes browsing your dashboard:
Open the New to You widget.
Read the badge summaries (Trending, Bestseller, Emerging).
Add 2–3 products to your watchlist.
Place an order for 1–2 of the most promising items.
Start small. Don't bet your inventory on one weekly signal. Test and learn.
Step 2: Analyze Sell-Through
For each trending product, check:
Sell-through rate: What % of stocked units sell per week? (Target: 20–40% per week is healthy.)
Price point: Is this a high-margin item or volume play?
Seasonality: Is it seasonal (boots in winter) or year-round?
Peer reviews: Are other retailers saying it's a winner?
Don't just follow the crowd. Verify that the product aligns with your store's positioning and margin targets.
Step 3: Stock Strategically
Once you've identified a winner, increase your order size:
Week 1: Order 5 units (test).
Week 2–3: If sell-through is 30%+, order 15 units (validate).
Week 4+: If still strong, order 30–50 units (scale).
This prevents overstock of risky items and maximizes profitability of winners.
Step 4: Track Your Own Performance
Ordrly's retailer analytics show:
Which of your ordered products are bestsellers in your store.
Margin by product category.
Inventory turnover rates.
Customer satisfaction (if available).
Use this to build your unique perspective. You might find that a product is trending marketplace-wide but flops in your store (region mismatch, customer preferences). That's valuable intel.
Step 5: Differentiate
Popularity signals show what's working. But to stand out, occasionally take calculated risks on Emerging products (new items gaining traction) rather than waiting for them to be full Bestsellers.
Early adopters often win the margin game. If you stock a product 2 weeks before it trends, you can place bigger orders at better margins before competitors catch on.
Real Example: Seasonal Play
It's August. Popularity badges show "Winter Boots—Trending." Most retailers ignore it (it's summer). You place a small order: 10 pairs.
By October, Winter Boots are a Bestseller. You order 100 pairs. Competitors panic and order 50. You have better inventory. Q4 season hits; you sell out faster and at full price. Competitors discount. You win.
Moral: Anticipate, don't just follow.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Overstocking emerging trends: Just because it's trending doesn't mean it'll stay trending. Test before scaling.
Ignoring your margin targets: A bestseller at 20% margin might not fit your business. It's okay to skip it.
Forgetting seasonality: Summer dresses trending in May makes sense; trending in November is a red flag.
Not tracking results: Place an order, then forget to check if it sold. Review weekly.
Your Competitive Edge
The best retailers don't just follow trends; they understand trends. Popularity badges give you the data. Your job is to interpret it for your unique market, margins, and customer base.
Start this week. Check the New to You widget. Order one trending product. See how it sells. Build from there.
Questions? Check the Popularity Badges Guide or reach out to support.