In fashion, you hear about wardrobe staples or must-haves in your closet. In retail, there are a number of such visual merchandising essentials. I’d like to add red and white striped ANYTHING to the list. Case in point: this holiday display at Little Paper Lane in Mona Vale, Australia.
The red and white striped bowls fit nicely into this Christmas display, but can also be used for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, nautical displays and whimsical displays with a cartoon or circus theme. In the US, they would be brought out for 4th of July, Memorial Day and various other patriotic celebrations. Can you think of other versatile display staples?
Holiday gift idea windows for…
…girls (above) and for boys (below). Both pictures are from Fiddlesticks in San Francisco, CA, and are fun examples of December store windows without traditional holiday color schemes.
Music for your eyes!
My favorite part of this display are the music books used as place mats, but if you look closely you will see a number of unique display element examples. HiHo Home Market in Gardiner, NY has been featured in the blog before and we always look forward to what the HiHo elves come up with for the holidays!![]()
Where do you get your display inspirations?
Many of the display ideas that I share on the blog and on the Retail Details blog facebook page, come from catalogs and websites of vendors. This charming display idea comes from the Kringle Candle Company. Staged for a photo shoot, a few simple props set the tone for a cozy display.![]()
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Bold shapes and letters catch the attention of the passersby at Roost in Salem, MA. Good lighting adds to the effectiveness of displays. I recommend checking your window lighting during the day and at night.
Planning ahead: If you are attending the gift show in Atlanta in January 2012 and would like to schedule a consultation or display tour, please email Becky at SwirlMarketing@comcast.net![]()
~Becky
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Becky Tyre is a visual merchandising consultant and the owner of the Retail Details blog at SwirlMarketing.com . Becky is the Trends Editor at GIFT SHOP Magazine. You can also join Becky for discussions about trends in retail, products and displays as one of the contributors on the GIFT SHOP Magazine facebook page.

Are you enjoying the trend of White Christmas displays? This fabulous window display at CHANEL celebrates with a doilies motif. The dolls dressed in traditional CHANEL suits are a nice touch.
Another monochromatic display. This one uses various textures to create interest and adds drama to an all-white display.
Silver fits well with a white display theme that has a polar theme including some cute bears and a fabulous igloo prop.
A vintage Christmas at
Last, but not least are SWIRLS – one of our very FAVORITE THINGS at Retail Details (note the SwirlMarketing.com web address 




I applaud the person who realized that marshmallows are the perfect size to fill the holes in chicken wire. At only 97 cents per bag, Alison of
Most readers are aware of my love (obsession) for fun props. Imagine my glee when I found this adorable, pink stove in a window display at
Back in the summer, I wrote about lime green being a great “pop” color to draw customers to your displays. I also noted the use of it in the 2010 Christmas products. Here it is paired with red birds and accents to become an alternative to the traditional red and green holiday table. This tabletop display (left) is from
Adding the pop color is especially effective in displays that include neutral products, as seen in these home decor settings at the 
The lime green pop even shows up in baby decor at Nine Months Later. This time it is mixed with black and white accents and dark wood furniture.
Finally, a few more examples where the green is used on display shelves of housewares at 


