A "trunk show" is a special sale in which vendors present merchandise directly to store personnel or select customers at a retail

Retail

Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...

 location or another unique venue. In many cases it allows store personnel to preview and/or purchase merchandise before it is made available to the public. It is particularly desirable to have the actual designer

Designer

A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...

present at the event. Most small businesses do this to get more buys.

Sometimes, trunk shows sell remnant and leftover items from runways, samples, and so on.

Trunk Shows are particularly popular in the bridal industry. January through May is Trunk Show season. Brides can view a larger selection of a bridal designer's collection than is normally carried in a bridal salon. Trunk shows got their name from the way dresses used to be transported to these events—in trunks.

Online or virtual trunk shows are gaining traction in the luxury sector. Bergdorf Goodman held its first virtual trunk show in 2010 and Salvatore Ferragamo launched its first online show in August 2011.
Websites such as Stiitch.net specialize in luxury online trunk shows. Linda Fargo of Bergdorf labeled virtual trunk shows "the future." Retailers add behind-the-scenes footage and customers make online purchases, usually pre-season and at full price.

References
1. Israel, Anna. Customizable Clothing: The Beauty of the Trunk Show. [the3st]. http://the3st.com/2009/10/09/customizable-clothes-the-beauty-of-the-trunk-show/
2. Harrington, Jolene Rae. "Brides Want to Know: Trunk Shows." http://www.herecomestheguide.com/wedding-party-ideas/detail/brides-want-to-know-trunk-shows/
3. Marshall Heyman. Bergdorf Trunk Show Enters Cyberspace. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575325083563445808.html
4. Salvatore Ferragamo. Salvatore Ferragamo Launches First Online Trunk Show. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salvatore-ferragamo-launches-first-online-trunk-show-126704533.html
5. Stiitch.net http://stiitch.net
6. TINA PENG. Why Trunk Shows Are Going Virtual http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118677836374594517.html
7. On Our Radar: The Virtual Trunk Show. http://www.fabsugar.com/Our-Radar-Virtual-Trunk-Show-534554