Exciting things are happening at Swirl Marketing and the Retail Details blog. We are in the final planning stages for a national store display contest. Brick and mortar retailers are invited to submit pictures of displays to qualify for the contest. The finalists will be determined later this fall. In December, the finalists will receive a box of props for a New Year’s display. In January 2011, the judges will determine the winners based on who put together the most creative display using the props we provided. To be considered for the contest, email your store display pictures to SwirlMarketing@comcast.net. You can send as many pictures as you’d like, but it only takes one unique or impressive display to get your store qualified. You can start submitting pictures today, but the official rules will be announced early in September. We have some great judges, sponsors and prizes lined up!
Inspiring displays. Inspiring company! Congratulations to Alexa’s Angels for making INC Magazine’s list of fastest growing private companies. Alexa’s Angels is a line of inspirational jewelry. They focus on a positivity message and support programs that benefit women. This summer, I visited their showrooms in Dallas and Atlanta. President and CEO, Beth Lang, showed me around their section of the OneCoast showroom in Dallas and we had a few minutes to talk about our mutual interest in displays. 
Alexa’s Angels in the Atlanta Mart uses picture frames to feature their jewelry. The inside of the frames are padded, providing additional dimension and they are covered in the same bright pink color as the background of the wallpaper on the showroom wall.
Display tip: Use magazine pages as a merchandising tool. When you see your products featured in a magazine, cut it out and display it near the merchandise. Not only does it validate that your store carries current and fashionable products, it draws attention to the display area. Sweet Grass Home in Mooresville, NC, framed a glossy magazine page next to their colorful display of bangle bracelets. 
Perfect example of using the press to advertise your product.
Slatwall is not just for walls. Notice how this kiosk area in a mall uses slatwall as the sides of the doghouse that they use to feature plush animals for sale. Glass or acrylic shelves fit into the slatwall grooves to create additional display area.
Slatwall is one of the most versatile of all store displays. It comes in 8 foot by 4 foot panels for mounting on walls and it is also available in slatwall fixtures that can be repositioned around the sales floor. Various finishes and colors are available, including a mirror finish. You can buy decorative inserts to fit inside the grooves to add color or you can order the panels with aluminum inserts for added strength. Slatwall accessories include baskets, shelves, hooks, brackets, display arms, waterfall arms, mirrors, literature holders, easels, acrylic trays, hangrails and sign holders. You can display most any product on slatwall and easily reposition your displays as your product mix changes.
I love display hooks! I have folders full of hook pictures on my hard drive, so I like to pull a few out to share now and then. At Finders Keepers, a resale shop in Kenton, Ohio, they use a propeller and a snow ski to display handbags and accessories. Resale and consignment shops have the challenge of showing one-of-a-kind and mismatched groupings. Using interesting wall hooks such as these, makes non-multiples displays more interesting.
In galleries, they say art tells a story. But, what is a retail art story? It is a display technique used to feature an artist or a group of themed or similar artists. Artist Mandy Saile created this art story to feature her line of art entitled Bijou’s Whimsy. Using floor shelves for the base of the display, she strategically positioned the wall art above and added a few branches for added interest. This art display is at Art on Main in Ontario, Canada.
Q. Art display or display art?
A. Both.
Merchandising tips for added sales:
Demonstrate the product’s uses – both intended and alternative. From this cloth bag display, I can tell that they come in several sizes, colors and patterns. By showing the one bag hanging in an open position, I can see that it makes a great makeup bag and/or traveling toiletry bag. It demonstrates the added feature that it can be hung for ease of access. The bag is likely suited to other uses and by adding a few simple props it could be shown as a possible craft bag or a traveling office supply tote.
One boot. Three colors. Two fabrications. Three heights. In a 20 inch square area, this retail display sells this boot to the person looking for knee-high, mid-calf or ankle boots, whether they want taupe, black or brown, in leather or suede. Simply show all options. Do not expect a shopper to use their imagination.
This week’s favorite:
Thanks to Sandy who sent me this sunglasses display. Apparently, it was part of a pop-up shop and is no longer on display, but she found it on her camera and she is an avid Retail Details blog reader who knows of my passion for repurposed items in displays.
They may not use chalkboards in classrooms anymore, but they still have a place in retail – when used correctly. Here are some good examples.
- Bevello – locations throughout North Carolina
Bevello, a women’s boutique with 4 locations in North Carolina, uses sandwich-board chalkboards as signage for their shops. I can’t decide which I like best, so I’m sharing these four, with a special “thumbs up” to their facebook nod.
A few more worthy of notice. As a menu for their belts, the Gitche Yah Yah floral and gift shop in Atlanta, GA, lists their belt styles and prices on a chalkboard above (or attached to?) the belt display, (top left). Magpie, in Somerville, MA, uses their chalkboard as an OPEN sign and reflects the creativity of the many artists whose work is featured in the store. Webster’s Fine Stationers greets their customers in Altadena, CA, with a chalkboard welcome sign nested neatly into the display right inside their door.
Thanks for your time.
The Retail Details blog is back on Facebook, please “like” my page.
Stay display inspired!
~Becky
Thanx for showing all these displays. I always look online for ideas but then I never use them. With your blog, I am actually learning about what makes a good display and I am able to use the info in my displays all the time.
You shpould teach a class!
Karolinia, Carousel Children’s
Dear Karolinia,
I am so glad you find the blog a useful resource. I don’t teach a class, directly, but the blog is used as a resource for Fashion Merchandising classes at several colleges and trade schools.
If you go to the major gift markets, I can spend a few hours with you for a fee. I love to go “prop shopping” and I can help you find wholesale sources for unique display pieces that will feature the merchandise that you order. I also consult for seasonal store decor.
Thanks for your comment.
~Becky Tyre
Retail Details blog
Thanks so much for including my display Becky. A great post with lots of great ideals:D
You are welcome, Mandy! Your display is a great example, worthy of sharing. Send more pics anytime. ~Becky
Chalkboards, really? Sure the ones you showed look great, but most that I see are horrible and tackey and I think a bad display choice.
Same with those white boards with colored wipe off markers. BAD.
I hate hand written signage too. What are your thoughts on making your own signs? One thing I do like, though are those stick on wall deals that are chalkboard finish. Do you have any display examples using those?
Thank you
Louisa K. Honey Bunch Kids
Hi Louisa,
You may notice that I used the phrase, “when used correctly”, when writing about the use of chalkboards in retail displays. In general, I agree with your statement about them, though. The Retail Details blog only features positive examples, but believe me, I see plenty of bad examples. There is actually much to learn from bad displays. I always suggest to visual merchandising students that they use both the good and bad as learning tools.
Call me Little Miss Mary Sunshine, but I only show the good examples
About handwritten store signs: I’m not a fan. I seldom see an example where a professional sign would not be better suited.
Check out these two links for blog archives where I featured chalkboard paint or decals. Thanks for your comments. ~Becky
http://www.swirlmarketing.com/blog/retaildetails/2010/02/12/chalk-one-up-to-spring-fever/
http://www.swirlmarketing.com/blog/retaildetails/2010/02/25/is-that-a-refrigerator-door-on-your-wall/
I’m studying fashion merchandising and luv your website. I am getting lots of cool ideas from you. I have a few questions if you have time to answer. I’m designing a clothes store for my final project.
What’s better, slatwall or gridwall?
What’s better round racks or 4 arm racks.
What’s more modern, mannequins with or without heads?
Is it better to show outfits or arrange clothing by size or by color?
Thanks for your help. Do you ever go talk to classrooms?
Hello Karen. I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. I hope my answers help with your project.
Slatwall or gridwall? Note: I’ll assume you mean on the wall (since grid panels can be configured to be floor fixtures and can also fit into bases with wheels).
I prefer slatwall. It looks more permanent and has a bit more flexibility in the accessories that attach to it. You can special order it with reinforcements in the grooves which makes it stronger for heavy items. It comes in more finishes than grid panels – even mirrored or plain to paint or stain.
Round or 4 way racks? Once again, it depends. If you plan to display your clothing in groupings, 4 way racks are better. If you will be grouping by size, rounders are better. Note: Rounders can also provide additional display space if you order one of the toppers that fit on it.
Mannequins: Lately, I have been seeing mostly headless mannequins in upscale “modern” shops. However, I have a friend who sells fixtures and he says that they sell lots of traditional mannequins with permanent makeup and molded hair. I do not recommend mannequins that need wigs, unless you plan to use “unique” ones. Recently I see more of the bright colored and metallic mannequins, too.
Clothing by size or by color? (Assuming you are talking about female adult clothing). I think it is more effective to display coordinate groups or similar colors at the front of the store, when the stock is full. If the merchandise is hung against the wall on hangrails, do it by size. Sale racks are better done by size. Waterfalls on slatwall are best done by style with the smallest size in the front.
Good luck with your project. I do not speak in classroom settings, though I used to, as a retail trainer with a major department store. However, my blog is used in numerous fashion merchandising programs as an approved reference material.
~Becky
Love your blog! As a retail and fashion designer (debilynn designs) since 1995…one of the most difficult, yet most fun, is the staging! Sometimes it gets harder and harder to come up with new fresh ideas that my customers haven’t seen. I have set my bar so high each season, that my customers come by sometimes…just to see how the store has changed every month!
I look forward to reading your posts and hopefully will get some time to send you some photos of what we do at Yaya Chique (Where Mae West meets Stevie Nicks…Cajun style).
xo…deb
Howdy Deb. I certainly hope you will send in some pictures of your store displays. I just briefly visited your blog and see a beautiful necklace that has me wanting to see more – and I will! Thanks for taking the time to read Retail Details and for sharing your comments.
Regards, Becky
Hi there Becky,
Just discovered your great info blog for display. Got any great cash wrap photos?? Have been searching for two weeks for something I love love love for my new shop, Sweet Anthem. We will be selling mostly jewelry with an assortment of accessories as well. Any photos you could share would be greatly appreciated. thanks, PJ
Hello Pamela. I have a file of interior shots and cashwrap ideas. I will email some ideas to you. Good luck with your store planning. I hope to feature your displays in the blog someday soon! I’ll be in touch. Stay display inspired!
~Becky