eBarrito - recycled cardboard display fixturing in Italy
eBARRITO is a green-thinking brand that specializes in bags and leather accessories. Its ecological integrity extends right through – even to how its sales outlets are built! Their displays are made from specially carved and shaped cardboard. The eBarrito stores consist of modular, double-pressed cardboard walls equipped with wavy-style shelving – an effect achieved with interlocking tubular sections. It’s a fresh new ethical style with a strong visual impact created by the designer Francesca Signori for the Milan-based brand. Signori believes in “Giving people a small ‘!’ moment. We believe these small ‘!’ moments are what make our days so interesting. That’s why we want to reconstitute the everyday by collecting and reshaping them into something that’s easy to understand.”
Likely inspired by nature and the use of sustainable materials, these cardboard animal mounts are fun and I think they make great display pieces. I first saw these on the Facebook page of ReInvent Store, located in Auburn, Alabama. They certainly fit in with the tagline of the store: reuse. recycle. reinvent. I can see them spray painted to fit a store’s decor- using low VOC paint, of course.
Rue Lafayette - Saint Louis, MO
Keeping with the “reusing” theme, Araceli of Rue Lafayette in Saint Louis, MO, sent me these pictures of an old food case from her cafe. She repurposed it to display gifts and is now filled with French soaps made from flowers and fruit and soaps made from vegetables, called Salad Bar. The large, rounded glass, full-visibility fronts of food cases make them an ideal alternative to traditional retail display cases.
New To You - Falls Church, VA
Consignment shops, resale stores and thrift shops have some unique display challenges. One of the main tasks is finding effective ways of displaying one-of-a-kind items, since they seldom have multiples to do groupings. For this reason, displays are frequently bonded by one color or a single style or using props for a theme. For displaying belts, I like using a display form. This one comes from New To You in Falls Church, Virginia. It becomes a tidy belt display that far exceeds hanging multiple unmatching belts on a hook or tossing them into a basket. For non-resale shops, add a SALE sign and it would make a great advertisement for an accessory sale. Pair it with another form showing jewelry, handbags or scarves and it makes an attractive accessory window.
Salt of the Earth stores, Webster Groves & Saint Louis, MO
Never underestimate the impact of a display hook. That may be my favorite visual merchan-dising advice tidbit as I continue my obsession with hooks. How excited I was when I stumbled on this red branch, tiny bird hook as I was perusing the Facebook pictures of Salt of the Earth stores in Webster Groves and Saint Louis, Missouri. They feature gifts and home decor items by artisans from international ”villages and cities”. I always enjoy their displays and get inspired for new display ideas from their product mix.
Previous blog follow-ups: The blog about bicycles used as display pieces was very popular earlier this month. Here are a few more pictures of bike display ideas. (Click here to view previous blog. It will not redirect you from this page. It opens in a new window).
Vintage Bliss - Boerne, TX (left) and Swiss Flower & Gift Cottage - Wheat Ridge, CO (right)
These are from Vintage Bliss in downtown Boerne, Texas and the Swiss Flower and Gift Cottage in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. I also 
received numerous responses about the clear plastic head form filled with shredded paper. Patty from San Diego sent me this picture of a similar one which appears to be decoupaged.
I’m still looking for examples of unique store signage – SALE, OPEN/CLOSED, STORE HOURS. Signage is an important part of your visual merchandising plan. Send your pics to:
Thanks for taking the time to read the Retail Details blog and I invite you to share it with your staff, friends and colleagues. Stay display inspired!
~Becky
Old doors get new life at Revolution Shop and A Details Shop, pictured above. In Charlotte, NC, 
At 
backdrops or suspended with clear fishing line. Shown here, 
Scarlett, formerly in Montreal, QC, suspended their record albums, which created some movement in the display window.
Street Chic Boutique in Northbrook, IL, stacked colorful hat box suitcases in their window and perched a seated mannequin on top. Of note is how this display looks good from the back as well. That can be a challenge with store windows.
In that same vein, 
