How to Host a Leather Jacket Trunk Show in Your Boutique
A leather jacket trunk show lets a boutique sell outerwear it doesn't have to stock in depth. You bring in a small set of sample jackets for a day or a weekend, customers try them on, and you take orders for the exact style, color and size each person wants. This guide walks through how to plan one with a made-to-order leather supplier, what it costs, and the mistakes that eat into the margin.
Quick answer: Order one sample of each style you want to show, set a date four to six weeks out, invite your best customers, and take paid orders with sizes recorded during the event. With a 5-piece minimum per style and wholesale at 50% of retail, each order is a fixed margin, and in-stock designs are made in 2–3 days.
What a leather jacket trunk show is (and why it suits leather)
A trunk show is a short in-store event where customers order from samples rather than buying off the rack. Brands use the format to test demand before committing to production. For a boutique, the logic is simple: you show the full range of a category without paying for the full range of sizes and colors.
Leather outerwear fits the format better than most categories, for three reasons:
- Size spread is expensive. A single jacket style stocked across every standard size in two colors is a lot of money sitting on a rail. At a trunk show, one sample per style does the job of a full size run.
- Fit matters more than with knitwear. Leather has limited stretch, so customers want to try the cut on. A sample in the shop answers the fit question; the order then goes in at the right size.
- Personal details sell. Lining color, hardware finish, an extra inch of sleeve. These are the things a customer will pay full price for, and they're easy to offer when every piece is made to order anyway.
The format works best for boutiques with a loyal customer list, motorcycle and western shops whose customers already know what they want, and stores that have been nervous about putting leather on the floor at all.
The economics: a worked example
Our wholesale store-stock price is 50% of retail, the minimum order is 5 pieces per style, and US buyers get free shipping with duties paid. That makes the math on a trunk show very predictable, because the only stock you buy up front is your samples, and customer orders for each style are combined to reach the 5-piece minimum.
Here's an illustration using a jacket with a $400 retail price. Swap in the real retail prices of the styles you choose.
| Line | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail price to your customer | $400 | Example figure only |
| Your wholesale cost | $200 | 50% of retail |
| Shipping and duties (US buyers) | $0 | Free US shipping, duties paid |
| Gross margin per jacket ordered | $200 | 50% of the sale price |
Now the samples. Say you show six styles and buy one sample of each at wholesale. Using the same $400 retail example, that's six jackets at $200, or $1,200 in sample stock. That money isn't lost: samples are full-quality jackets, so you can sell them at the end of the event, keep them on the floor as display pieces, or use them for the next show.
The useful number is break-even. Each order at this example price brings in $200 of margin, so six orders cover the cost of six samples outright, even before you sell a single sample. Everything after that is margin, without a rack of unsold sizes left behind in January.
Two honest caveats. First, if you discount at the event, your margin shrinks fast: 10% off a $400 jacket takes $40 straight off a $200 margin. Second, the event itself has costs, such as invitations, refreshments and staff hours, so count those before you decide on a discount at all.
Step-by-step: planning the show
1. Pick the date, working backwards from lead times
In our workshop, in-stock designs are made in 2–3 days, custom designs take about two weeks, and detailed pieces take three to four weeks. Add your sample shipping time on top (our team will confirm transit for your location), then a buffer for any adjustment. For most boutiques, setting the date four to six weeks after you place the sample order is comfortable.
Think about when your customers want leather in hand. A show in early fall lets orders arrive in time for the first cold weeks. A show in November can be pitched as a gift event, as long as you are clear about delivery dates.
2. Choose a tight edit of styles
Six to ten styles is plenty for most stores. More than that and customers stall. A balanced edit usually covers:
- One or two classic biker jackets (see our men's biker jackets for the cuts buyers ask about most)
- A bomber or flight jacket
- A cleaner, minimal piece such as a collarless or shirt-collar jacket
- A longer coat if your customers wear them
- Two or three women's styles if you sell womenswear; browse our women's collection for current designs
The full range, with wholesale details, is in our 2026 leather wholesale catalog (PDF).
3. Decide which sample sizes to order
A sample only helps if customers can try it. Order samples in the size most of your customers wear, usually a medium for men and a small or medium for women. If your customer base runs larger, choose accordingly. One sample size, plus a measuring tape and a clear size chart, will handle most fittings.
4. Decide what customers can change
Write this down before the event so staff don't promise something we haven't confirmed. A simple menu might be: style, color, size, and lining color. If you want to offer more, such as custom embroidery, a monogram or a different collar, check with our team first and note that custom work runs to about two weeks or more. Our custom leather jackets page shows the kinds of changes we make.
5. Invite people properly
A trunk show is a reason to contact customers, not a sign in the window. Email your list two weeks out and again three days before. A short personal message to your best customers usually does more than a general social post. Tell them the date, the styles, and the one thing that makes it worth coming in: they can order a jacket made for them, in their size and color.
Running the day: fitting and taking orders
Measure everyone, even if the sample fits
Write down chest, waist, shoulder, sleeve and back length for every order, plus the sample size they tried and how it felt ("snug across the back, sleeves fine"). Our size guide shows where to measure. This record is what turns a sample fitting into a jacket that fits when it arrives.
Offer made to measure for customers outside the standard range
For customers who are outside standard sizes, between sizes, very tall or have long arms, our made-to-measure service goes up to 8XL. These are often the customers who struggle most to find a leather jacket that fits, so mention the option in your invitations.
Take payment at the time of the order
Because every jacket is ordered for a named customer, you should collect payment, or at least a meaningful deposit, before you place the order. Set your own policy, put it in writing on the order form, and be clear about it at the point of sale: a made-to-order jacket in a customer's chosen color isn't easy to resell if they change their mind.
Use a simple order form
Each order line should capture:
- Customer name, email and phone
- Style name and color (match the catalog wording exactly)
- Size, or full measurements for made to measure
- Any agreed changes, such as lining color
- Price paid and deposit or balance
- Promised delivery window
After the show: placing and fulfilling orders
Group the orders by style and send them to us within a day or two while details are fresh. Each style needs at least 5 pieces, so top up any style that falls short with stock in your best-selling sizes. Send the measurements and notes exactly as recorded; don't summarize them. Our team will confirm each item, the lead time for anything custom, and the expected ship date. Then email each customer the delivery window you've confirmed.
When the jackets arrive, check each one against its order line before calling the customer: style, color, size and any changes. Invite customers back to collect rather than shipping where you can. A try-on at pickup is a second chance to sell a vest, a second jacket or a gift.
What to ask your manufacturer before you commit
- Is there a minimum order per style or per size? (With us, leather starts from 5 pieces per style and textile from 50.)
- What is the wholesale price as a share of retail, and does it change for single pieces?
- How long does each type of piece take to make: in-stock designs, custom designs and detailed work?
- Who pays shipping and duties, and how long is transit to your store?
- Which changes can customers make without turning an order into a custom piece?
- Can you add your store's own label to the jackets? (We offer private label and custom labels.)
- How do you handle a made-to-measure order if the customer's measurements look inconsistent?
Trade-offs to weigh honestly
- No take-home on the day. Some customers want to walk out with a jacket. Selling the samples at the end of the show helps, but expect to lose a few impulse buyers.
- Waiting needs managing. A two-week wait is fine when it's explained up front, but it frustrates a customer who thought they'd have the jacket by the weekend. Put the delivery window on the receipt.
- Staff time. Measuring and writing up orders properly takes longer than ringing up a sale. Plan one extra person for busy hours.
- Single-sample fit risk. A customer who tries a medium and orders an XL is relying on your measurements. That's why the measurement record matters.
If you'd rather offer special orders all year instead of as an event, our guide to running made-to-measure special orders in your store covers that model.
FAQ
How many samples do I need for a leather jacket trunk show?
One sample of each style you want to show is enough for most boutiques, usually six to ten styles. Order them in the size most of your customers wear and use measurements to handle the rest.
Is there a minimum order for trunk show orders?
Yes, for leather: orders start from 5 pieces per style with White Buraq, with sizes mixed across your customers' orders. Textile starts from 50 pieces per style.
How long will customers wait for their jackets?
In-stock designs are made in 2–3 days, custom designs take about two weeks, and detailed pieces take three to four weeks, plus shipping. Our team confirms the ship date on each order.
Can I put my store's label in the jackets?
Yes. We offer private label and custom labels and branding. Ask the team when you place your sample order so labels can be planned before the show.
Can international stores run a trunk show with you?
Yes. International buyers receive FOB or CIF quotes, so factor freight, duties and longer transit into your event date and delivery promises.
If you're planning a trunk show, email info@whiteburaq.com with your date, the styles you're considering and your location, or start through our wholesale page. We'll confirm lead times and help you put together a sample set that suits your customers.