AI Background Swap for Thrift Stores to Look Premium

Wiki Article

I have operated my thrift store as an online retail store for the last 3 years, and I know that perception is everything regarding customers purchasing second-hand items. Unfortunately, many customers overlook the high-quality vintage and designer pieces offered in my store due to the poorly taken product photos. Prior to finding an AI solution to help me develop a better online presence, my store appeared to customers as "just another ordinary thrift store," rather than a "curated vintage boutique."

Unfortunately the truth of the thrift business is that we operate on very slim profit margins, which makes it impossible for me to pay for a studio, or have a professional photographer take photos of my items each week. All of my product photos are taken at home, with natural light coming in from the windows, using only my smartphone camera and a plain-white wall as a background. Therefore, while my product photos show all required functionality, they certainly do not create an impressive appearance.

I have observed a very unfortunate trend with my business; items such as vintage Levi's jackets or pre-owned Coach handbags that I sell for 300-500K Rupiah are being ignored by potential customers. The reason many customers choose to purchase the same items from competitors selling them for a much higher price is simply based on the difference in the way the products are presented visually. There is no problem with the quality of the products being sold; the reason for this is simply that the visual presentation causes the customers to be less interested in purchasing them.

What's more frustrating, I once tried to improve photo quality by buying ring lights and backdrop cloth. An investment of around 2 million rupiah. The results were slightly better, but still not comparable with professional photos I see on large thrift accounts. Physical setup still had limitations, limited space, inconsistent lighting, and final results still looked "homemade".

Transformation with AI Background Swap

The introduction of Visboom Service into my online business is one of my greatest advancements! All photo editing is completed through Artificial Intelligence on their website. VISBOOM is known for its innovative "swap system" which assists me with my most significant source of frustration - ensuring that all thrifted products I post online appear to have been sourced from high-end retailers without the need for expensive studio set-ups etc.

I have developed a much simpler workflow that produces a significantly better outcome than before. I have automated the process of photographing my products at my home using low tech (mainly improved lighting and photo taking methods to capture all parts of the product). Now I can focus all of my efforts on styling the product: no wrinkles, correct styling, and capturing product photos from the best angles. 

When I finish taking all of my product photos, I batch upload them to the Visboom system. This is where Visboom's magic happens. Thanks to the amazing background swap option, I can now utilize an expansive library of upscale professional photo backgrounds, and choose backgrounds that fit the overall aesthetic of my web store as a whole (i.e., the minimal modern look for contemporary items, rustic and vintage for retro items, and luxe/white for designer products).

Visboom's AI doesn't just replace backgrounds. Its technology is sophisticated enough to adjust lighting on products to seamlessly match the new background. Shadows and highlights are preserved naturally, so the final result doesn't look like amateur "paste-on" work but as if it was actually photographed in a professional setting.

Direct Impact on Sales

Numbers speak louder than words. In the first two months since implementing AI-enhanced photos:

Compared to only scrolling past my site, I see 47% more conversions at checkout. Additionally, I see a 35% increase in average sales. The buyer has more confidence to buy something at a higher price point because of my premium look.

My return rate decreased 20% because buyer expectations are aligned with what they will receive. Having clear, professional pictures has also significantly decreased the disappointment of receiving an item.

I am now seeing followers come from demographics that I was previously not reaching, such as Young Professionals (those who tend to shop at malls) and Fashion Enthusiasts (those who tend to buy from Retailers like Nordstrom), due to my visual presentation being similar to that of well-known retail brands.

Finally, the efficiencies I gained by using Visboom for all my photos have been tremendous. I would spend 3-4 hours per batch of photographs (approx. 25) adjusting my lights and moving my backdrops, and taking re-takes, due to the constant changes in lighting from batch to batch. I can now easily shoot 50 or more items within 2 hours of using just the basic way (with no lights or backdrop) and let Visboom deal with the lighting and backgrounds.

This means I can focus energy on other aspects of the business: sourcing better items, improving customer service, and expanding product range. The photography process is no longer a bottleneck that drains time and mental energy.

Competitive Advantage

The rapid increase in retailing through second-hand/thrift stores has resulted in a very crowded retail market. Visual branding will be the key differentiating factor for many of the second-hand retailer's business. With the advent of Visboom, I do not only compete against other second-hand retailers, rather my brand has been elevated to a position whereby consumers are comparing my images with those of higher-end retail store brands or "boutiques" that are known to sell better-quality clothing. This significantly raises the perceived value of what I am selling.

As other second-hand retailers are dealing with similar challenges of taking good product photographs, investing in an AI background changer like Visboom is an instant return on investment. It is not about "tricking" consumers into thinking they are purchasing something other than what they are actually getting; the item is still the same; the quality is still the same. It is about displaying the items I sell in an honorable/professional manner, which is how I believe all thrift stores serve and represent their patrons. The second-hand clothing industry represents the idea that value can be added to clothing items from an initial perception that they do not hold any value. With the help of technology, we have been able to convey that added value properly.