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.  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. 

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 - 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

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

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

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 - 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 - 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 Cothing - Nashville, TN

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

~Becky