By: Madeline Zarkoski
What’s the hype with “try-on hauls”?
Try-on hauls have become extremely popular since the start of the pandemic. Dressing rooms were closed and we couldn’t try before we buy, especially with how popular online shopping has become. This is where try-on hauls come into play!
Influencers post try-on hauls to their social media platforms- brands send them a range of products and accessories. Influences try them on, film a video of them wearing and talking about how the products feel and fit, and then post. These have become a GAME CHANGER for businesses.
These try-on hauls have changed the way that people online shop. Personally, I want to see a photo of the way the item fits on someone besides a model before I purchase it. I’ve grown to feel this way because I am so used to seeing these hauls and almost expect to see real-customer photos before purchasing.
A History of Success
Try-on hauls really found their fame during the pandemic when customers did not have the option to go into a store and try on products for themselves. However, like many things that began at the heart of the pandemic, these are here to stay. They have only grown more and more popular because customers almost expect to see real-life customer photos and videos of products before purchase. Check out some more of the benefits of try-on hauls.
Companies 
such as Shein, Fashion Nova, Zara, and Zaful have been some of the leaders of this tech trend. They are known to be completely or primarily online brands, so these try-on hauls are incredibly important for them since customers cannot try on products in person. Try-on hauls are known for their success, because if a customer is weary or hesitant on purchasing an item, if they see it in a try on haul and see an influencer leaving a great review on it, they will be much more likely to purchase it.
For example, a popular influencer posts a Shein haul on her YouTube account:
These try-on hauls benefit influencers- they get paid for posting the haul, and also get a discount code created with their name. This means that when a person goes to purchase something on Shein for example, they can use discount code “ITSEMMA” for 15% off. Customers are inclined to watch these hauls because they will receive a discount code. Influencers get a portion of the proceeds on orders that use their code, so the influencers want to get their video out there. Businesses benefit because they are receiving more orders and more business. Overall, it’s a win, win, win. Everyone benefits. Many of the fast fashion businesses are utilizing these try-on hauls. They were struggling in the past after getting hate for the fast fashion, but with the recent implementation of try-on hauls, they are more popular than ever.
Another example is this influencer who did a Zara try-on haul:
Simply by scrolling through the comments on her YouTube video, you can see how many people were inspired to purchase these items she shared from Zara. Seeing a “real” person try on the clothes is the best convincing a business can do.
Try-on hauls are known to be successful, however there are a few limitations to consider. An influencer does have the ability to leave a less enthusiastic review, which would ultimately hurt the business. The business has to take this into consideration when partnering with an influencer for a try-on haul. It’s the influencer’s job to really sell the products, and if they don’t seem excited or enthusiastic, it could actually sway customers away from buying a product. Additionally, if a product does not look as great on camera, it could also lean customers away from purchasing it. These are all risks that companies have to take into account when doing try-on hauls.
Try out the try-on haul!
Taking all pros and cons into consideration, I would definitely recommend people to watch try-on hauls, businesses to take part in them, as well as influencers to get involved with them. They are a great way to see what products look like on different people and different body types, and it can help customers to make a better decision on purchasing a product. My best tip for try-on hauls: watch ones for brands that you are interested in because you might see a product that is already in your shopping cart and it will help you decide if you should buy! Also check the caption of the try-on haul for a discount code!
Works Cited
Segran, Elizabeth. “You Thought the Pandemic Killed Fast Fashion? Not Even Close.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 22 Oct. 2021, https://www.fastcompany.com/90688828/you-thought-the-pandemic-killed-fast-fashion-not-even-close.
“What Is a Try-on Haul and Why Should It Be in Your Influencer Marketing Strategy.” Scrunch., https://scrunch.com/blog/what-is-a-try-on-haul-and-what-are-the-benefits-to-your-influencer-strategy.
“Why Are Haul Videos so Popular on YouTube?” Bite the Gram, 7 Aug. 2020, https://bitethegram.com/why-are-haul-videos-so-popular-on-youtube/.