Visual merchandisers tell stories using merchandise, color, lighting and props, not words. Well, maybe a few words now and then.
The New Year’s window in Lancaster, PA, clearly states a resolution for 2012. My Aunt Debbie is an enchanting boutique featuring handcrafted fashion and accessories by independent, mostly-local designers. Inside you will find a collection of curious clothing and innovative accessories, with an emphasis on creative re-use. In other words— a story.
Sometimes the display story is a vignette compiled by gathering merchandise with a single theme and using props to fill the page. At trade shows and showrooms, vendors group their products into collections. This Mud Pie display in the OneCoast showroom at Dallas Market Center, has a sealife theme with neutral colored merchandise. The visual team chose a lovely ocean blue for the anchor wall and added some seashells for effect.
More showroom displays:
Pallets started to show up at the summer shows last year, following an interior decor trend. At the NYIGF this week, several booths used pallets in their merchandising and this one stands out due to the juxtaposition of the handmade porcelain and stoneware from dbO Home against the rough wood of the pallets.
We love the Tokyo Bay area inside The Portico Collection showroom at the Dallas show earlier this month. View more Portico displays, click here. Several of their lines have amazing displays right now!
Back in New York, Sarah Oliver Handbags has a lovely booth at the New York International Gift Fair. By choosing a single accent color and some superb graphics, the temporary booth allows the merchandise to tell the story without shouting. The subtly color-blocked back wall anchors the space and the hinged side walls add dimension to the booth.
Bonus Inspiration Shots: Stay display inspired!
Megan Geckler uses flagging tape to create huge one-of-a-kind installations by hand. Thanks to Design Milk for turning us on to her. I’ll let her pictures speak for themselves and if they inspire a store window, we sure hope you will share a picture with the Retail Details blog. We’ll be happy to share it with our little world (a mere 4 million visitors last year).
Display. Sell. Repeat.
~Becky
The Retail Details blog is accepting a few new sponsors and advertisers in the sidebar of the blog for 2012. Please contact us for rates, email swirlmarketing (at)comcast.net
You can also submit photos of store displays for blog consideration at that email address.
Becky Tyre is a visual merchandising consultant and the owner of the Retail Details blog, also on facebook. Becky is the Trends Editor at GIFT SHOP Magazine.
These unique wall displays for jewelry at 
Felt birds and acorn bookends fit well in the merchandise mix with jewelry on branches in this display window at 
Floral, greenery and shells are strategically placed in the jewelry and accessory display cabinets at 
Vintage props and dried flowers create a lovely vignette for this blue pottery display at 
As the orange transitions to gold, store displays are full of warm hues this time of year. 
Don’t you love the bike in this fall display at 
Sometimes, it’s all in the details. A ladder display provides height in this fall display at 
I notice a trend at 
Steel rebar, custom welded for cd display racks. 
