Let's talk prices.
There are some designers in
SL whose clothing I've always felt was worth the money - Solange is a good example of extremely well-designed outfits. Insolence undies. Ivalde, Simone and Nicky Ree gowns. I don't have a problem paying the prices these creators ask because I always feel as though I'm getting quality merchandise. I would expect to pay anywhere from $300L to 900L for an outfit depending on how intricate it is and how many options it comes with.
Then I run into the occasional shop in
SL that is charging Solange/Nicky Ree prices for stuff that doesn't look unique at all, textures are average and the vendor ads aren't very well done. I'm not paying $500L for a dress & stockings I could easily make myself without shadowing or hems on the textures.
The reason I bring this up is because after seeing one of those stores, I TP'd over to BareRose. I got the most awesome jacket/skirt outfit for $140L. I loved it so much I got the pink AND the black. Then I saw June's astrology avatars - intricate Chinese dragon motif with prim headgear and silks for $180L.
!!!!!
BR's not the only place that sells great stuff at low cost. And as I kept hitting "buy" it occurred to me that shops have a choice of two strategies - if you're selling high quality, complex stuff involving sophisticated textures, sculpties, etc., it's ok to charge what it's worth.
OR, you can take a page out of June Dion's book and offer a lot of variety at very reasonable prices and depend on volume to pay your sim bills.
I find myself getting thrifty if the price has 4 digits in it
A place like Stilletto Moody's probably charges an appropriate rate for their sculpy boots and shoes, but there's something about paying 1195L for a pair of boots that makes me go somewhere else. I can go over to Juicy's (run by a former SM designer) and buy great sculpty pumps for $500L - they're higher than Maitreya but well worth it for quality, IMO.
Which strategy do you prefer as a store owner? As a customer?