Visual merchandising is the activity and profession of creating three-dimensional displays in order to maximize sales and catch the attention of consumers. Good store displays mix the creativity of design with the science of sales. Unique store displays set a tone for the style of a store. Mix it up with fun or elegant themes and most of all, STAY DISPLAY INSPIRED! Retail Details blog: for your display inspiration pleasure…

Altered tables become display shelves for an odd shaped, narrow wall at Polished Hands Salon in Taylorsville, NC. Painted in fun colors, the shelves create a whimsical wall. Alternative ideas: use dark wood piano benches for an elegant shoe display or use picnic benches mounted as shelves for a rugged men’s display or use butcher block tables for a housewares display.

The Retail Details staff visits hundreds of stores every year. Early March found us in Northeast Florida and we found ourselves in Jacksonville for the season-opener of the Riverside Arts Market. After a lovely lunch at the European Street Cafe, we strolled the Shoppes of Avondale.

Stop 1: Green Man Gourmet. Owners, Pete and David created an incredible retail environment to showcase spices, wines, olive oils and some amazing smoked salts. By mixing reclaimed woods with metal accents they created shelves along the walls and a large tasting station bar that serves as a focal point when you enter the store.

Fixture alert! The metal racks, curved to fit on the side of display barrels are perfect for displaying wine bottles.

The Easter display windows at The Hobbie Horse make me miss my days in children’s retail. Fun and playful.

St. Augustine is the nation’s oldest city and boasts over 100 locally owned, independent, eclectic stores located along historic cobblestone streets. Many shops take advantage of the beautiful weather to expand their selling space to the charming front porches and courtyards.

I stumbled on this cute little rolling fixture just outside Artifact. It is made from pipes mounted on a skateboard and is the perfect height for displaying tank tops. It would be SO CUTE in a kid’s display, as well. Artifact carries many locally produced items and organic apparel.

Don’t you just love the screen doors and red bike in this courtyard display at Cottage Garden in St Augustine?

As always, thanks for reading the Retail Details blog and I hope you are inspired to create some fun displays in your shop! Click on the about tab to locate the email to submit store photos for consideration for use in the blog. Also, join us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheRetailDetails, see more display ideas on pinterest http://pinterest.com/storedisplays/ and you can read my display inspiration articles and trend reports in GIFT SHOP Magazine.

Display. Sell. Repeat.

~Becky