If you want to have some fun, plan a Dr. Seuss window to celebrate his birthday in early March. It’s all about the props. I enjoy finding fun and economical props. If you have ideas for displays and need props, send me a message. It’s likely that I have sources that I’ll be happy to share. Paper lanterns are a popular prop. They are inexpensive and easy to work with. They come in various shapes and colors for all seasons. They collapse for easy storage and are simple in shape, so they do not distract from your merchandise. Pictured here, Sabella Couture, in Boston, combines paper lanterns with oversized flowers to create this wedding window. Once the window catches your eye, you look closer to see the detail of the long-stemmed flowers gracing the skirt of a wire form. Lovely.
bouquets as mannequin heads. They use the silver torso forms that actually have arms like a mannequin, yet no heads or legs, making them much easier to work with. They take up less space, as well.
I was unsure whether this was a headboard or a fence part, so Ashley from Frocks Boutique in Addison, TX, clarified for me. It’s part of fence. The fence is visible from outside too, making it a dual display. Two-sided displays can be tricky. Have you shopped at home improvement stores for displays?
Inspiration boards may serve several purposes. Used as a bulletin board, staff and customers can see fashion trends and current
merchandise in magazine features and ad copy. They can provide ideas about how to put outfits together and also stress the fact that your products are “in style”. In a previous blog post, we discussed the impact of celebrity sightings and their possible impact on your customer. Yes, you are giving up valuable wall space to hang an inspiration board, but it serves as advertising if you do as Crush Boutique of Boston does, and show press clippings of your store in print.
Revolution Shop in Charlotte NC, created a cork-board display wall that combines product pictures and actual merchandise creating a trend wall, of sorts.
Another example is to use a chalkboard to get your point across. 
Speaking of chalkboards… what a great display tool these removable chalkboard stickers can be. They come in many laser cut
shapes like a TV, a drum set and a rocket, as well as a traditional framed version and the dress-maker’s form, as shown here.
There are lots of display possibilities for these.
Bundle Children’s Store in New York City had chalkboards built into their cashwrap desk, a frequently overlooked selling space.
I have received much feedback about two recent blog topics – denim display dilemmas and unique display hooks. Here are some follow-up pictures from
prior blog display discussions. Mint Julep in New York displays jeans on single display hooks with additional stock neatly stacked on shelves, off to one side.
Flavour Clothing of Nashville and Thread Boutique use the alphabet letter hooks to feature belts
and jewelry in their stores.









perhaps the most relevant cashwrap ever. A laminate surface tops hundreds of books stacked with “pages out” to form a sales counter that is truly inspiring! These two store designs prove that design creativity is alive and well. Once again, I say “I wish I had thought of that”. If only I had a nickel for every time…
Rather than cluttering the display with too many items, you’ll notice the hutch shows multiples of each item. By showing two or three of the same item side-by-side and stacked deep, the featured items become more noticeable. As long as it is kept neat, this simple (though often overlooked) technique is a staple of good retail display. You’ll notice that she also uses the same technique on a table of party supplies.
display. An old frame utilizes wall space to show off jewelry pieces. I can picture (pun intended) this idea expanded into a grouping with frames of different sizes, each featuring a single piece of a coordinating jewelry collection or color story. I
think this would be an ideal way to display jewelry in an art gallery. Thanks to the readers who sent in these last two pictures/ideas. If you have additional ideas for using rods, bars, frames or other non-traditional display fixtures, please share by clicking “comments” below and/or sending pictures via the “contact” link at the bottom of this page.


