Archive for the ‘Display Hooks’ Category

“Chalk” one up to spring fever

Friday, February 12th, 2010
Winter is hardly behind us, but the delivery boxes are full of spring merchandise. It’s time to pack away the snowflakes, valentine hearts and mardi gras beads and dig out the flowers, shamrocks and colored eggs.  Retail Details BlogIf 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. 
Sabella Couture, Boston MA, Retail Details blog

Sabella Couture - Boston, MA

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.  

Bits And Pieces Boutique, in Carytown-Richmond, Virginia, uses floral
Bits and Pieces Boutique - Retail Details blog

Bits and Pieces Boutique - Carytown/Richmond, VA

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. 

Frocks Boutique, Addison TX, Retail Details blog

Frocks Boutique - Addison, TX

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

Crush Boutique - Retail Details blog

Crush Boutique

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, Charlotte NC, Retail Details blog

Revolution Shop - Charlotte, NC

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. Retail Details blog, Swirl Marketing

Speaking of chalkboards… what a great display tool these removable chalkboard stickers can be. They come in many laser cut Retail Details blogshapes 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. Retail Details blogThere are lots of display possibilities for these.

Bundle, NYC, Retail Details blog

Bundle - New York, NY

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

Mint Julep, NYC, Retail Details blog

Mint Julep - New York, NY

 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, Nashville, Retail Details blog

Flavour Cothing - Nashville, TN

Flavour Clothing of Nashville and Thread Boutique use the alphabet letter hooks to feature belts Retail Details blogand jewelry in their stores.

 
 
 
 I’m preparing to attend the ASD Gift Show in Las Vegas, where I will be looking for display ideas and talking to vendors about display ideas and materials for retailers.  Send your display ideas, pictures and requests to the Retail Details blog, Becky@SwirlMarketing.com 
You can also join the discussion on the Retail Details Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Retail-Details/149169459264  
As always, you can click “comments”  below to leave your input for this blog. Stay display inspired!  
~Becky 
 

Store Displays for Belts, Bags & Baubles

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

I’m a big fan of the display hook. Slatwall hooks and S-hooks have their place in visual merchandising, but decorative hooks can make most  displays look richer. 

Nest Interiors - Nashville, TN

This week, I have a new favorite display hook. It’s a hand and I like it hung palm up, palm down and sideways – exactly as they use them at Nest Interiors in Nashville, Tennessee. Made of coated iron with a distressed patina finish, Nest uses these hands for a wall display of handbags. Also, spotted at Nest Interiors is an example of a product feature page. Framed and placed beside the products, the glossy page explains the craftsmanship and materials that make the product unique. This is similar to the prior blog discussion about showing magazine pages with your merchandise featured (from Retail Details 1-10-10 blog).

Sofia Vintage - Chicago, IL

Continuing with my hook obsession, Sofia Vintage in Chicago, Illinois combines utility with branding by using these alphabet letter hooks. They are the perfect size to draw attention without minimizing the merchandise – in this case, purses. Vintage purses are frequently objects of art and deserving of distinctive hooks.

Vases and clear glass containers are a

Salt of The Earth - St. Louis & Webster Groves, MO

versatile staple in a visual merchandiser’s prop collection. Pictured here, the containers almost disappear while featuring the jewelry in a very dimensional way. This display designer at Salt of the Earth in St. Louis and Webster Grove, MO., chose the perfect backdrop to enhance each color story. Compliment versus contrast works here.

Stella Boutique - Laguna Beach, CA

Stella Boutique in Laguna Beach, California, also uses a tall glass display vessel. This time it serves as a container for a normally untidy item to display – belts. I seldom see a unique belt display. Yes, that’s a challenge. I’ll await your emails with pics attached.

Thanks to all of you who have forwarded my blog to your friends and colleagues and joined the fan page on Facebook. Readership has more than doubled in the last month. You continue to send in worthy displays and I will share as many as the topics, space and time allow. Leave your comments below, including suggestions for future retail display blog topics, questions and merchandising challenges.

~Becky