5 Not So Typical Tips For Effective Window Displays

It’s no secret that creating exciting window displays is good for business. Anything that catches the attention of consumers is a great thing, and in the case of window displays it can be a terrific thing. Window displays can make the difference of someone walking into your store or someone walking right past it. Having customers walk in, of course, should always be your goal.

Whether you are a new store or have been around for twenty years, there is always something to be learned about creating effective window displays. Below are a few ideas that are not your typical tips for creating exciting window displays.

1. Work with your vendors. It’s likely vendors that sell into your store want nothing more than you do – which is to sell, sell, sell. Pitch them the opportunity of having a whole window dedicated to their product. No sooner than you pitch this they will be on board. The catch? Let them participate in creating a great display. Ask for vendor signage that really makes an impact, have them offer products for display purposes only, introduce creative additions to the display that helps spotlight their unique goods. Together you are bound to bring a window display more alive than on your own. Your budget and your (lack of) time will thank you.
2. Work with others from your community. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box! An interior designer could create a window display for you using your store product. In exchange, you could promote this “featured” window and highlight his or her contact details. Working with charities or other good will organizations to highlight their work combined with your store product is also a great way to gain customer attention while also bring light to great cause and great product. Local artists are also great contributors for window displays.
3. Make frequent changes. If your window display has started to collect dust, it’s long overdue for a change. To keep your window displays looking fresh and constantly grabbing new attention for passerbyers, change it often. Every two weeks or so is ideal. At the minimum, once month. That’s only 12 times a year out of 365 days. You can do this, promise. It may sound intimidating for both time and creative resources, but your business needs this to help it really stand out.
4. Use lighting as a focal feature. It’s amazing what a great spotlight on even a so-so product can do. Consider how your product looks in shadows or lack of them. Your goal should be to use lighting to optimize your products visibility.
5. Have a window contest. Open up the chance for young designers or merchandisers to display your window. Get your local media involved and make a big to-do about it. Not only will this generate a buzz for your business, you will gain a (hopefully fabulous) window display for free. Creating this around a holiday can add extra appeal, but it could just be any time of the year. Be creative and have fun with it!

Finally, remember to keep the energy of your store and its products vibrant. People who already shop with you should still enjoy the merchandising of your store, and those you have yet to gain as customers should be drawn to your store by your displays and product combined.

Have ideas on window displays you want to share? Please comment below! Thank you.

How To Effectively Double Merchandise Products

Trying to sell thru some slow moving items? Want to make a big impact with new inventory? Whatever your reason may be, using the double merchandising tactic can help you in your efforts. There are a few key points to understand in an effort to best support this merchandising strategy.

[tweetmeme]To begin, you should understand what double merchandising is and why it matters. Double merchandising is when you display a product in more than one specific place in your store. An example would be having a specific product on a shelve display as well as on a focal island in the middle of your store. The purpose of double exposing is to gain increased attention to the product with the goal of selling it as soon as possible. Wait a minute.. isn’t selling everything as soon as possible the goal for your store? Yes – of course it is. But by displaying this specific product in multiple locations, you increase your chance of doing this. Unfortunately, stores don’t have room to do this withe every product – nor is it suggested.

What Products Are Worth Double Exposure?

When deciding what products to double expose, you want to consider what your overall inventory looks like. If there is a  product that hasn’t sold well and yet you bought heavily into it, this would be the perfect candidate to double expose since you have the inventory to support it. Likewise, if you have a product that has sold great and you don’t have a lot of inventory to support it, this would be the perfect candidate to not consider for double exposing. Aside from excess inventory and hot products, often there are products that are seasonal or on sale and need to be pushed out fast as a result. Both of these reasons support double exposing.

How Do You Double Expose Effectively?

Every store has a unique layout, therefore it’s impossible to give a black and white example on how to effectively double expose products. But the main point to understand when showcasing products at various locations in your store is to consider how your customers move through your store. Typically customers start by heading to their right when they walk into a store. The right space from the door front is a “hot spot” in retail real estate, therefore a great spot to display your target product. From there, a customer will gravitate towards the middle and ultimately the left walls of the store. Your middle display options, such as a center island, is another ideal spot to merchandise this product. Don’t let the word “double” mislead you. You can continue to use this product beyond two places… so go ahead and find a home for it in a third and possible fourth spot. If size appropriate, you may even want to have it by the cash wrap area. This is great area that customers linger while checking out and the perfect time for employees to strike up a conversation about this specific product.

Beyond actual display placement, you should consider what other products you will merchandise your target item with. Since you will have it in multiple locations, go ahead and mix up how you display it. A frame could be merchandised with other frames or in the middle of general home furnishing assortment or with vases or decorative bowls. You get the idea.The goal in doing this is that your customer will see it in a new light each time he or she views your target item – offering him or her more ideas of how it would be right for them.

Finally, keep it real. If you bought a bomb product, even double exposing it won’t always do the trick in selling it – but it can help. Be realistic about your display options and actual sell thru. If you  aren’t reaching the numbers you anticipate, move on to new ways to merchandise and move  product. After all, effectively merchandising anything means constantly updating your merchandising displays to keep things fresh. I know, I know… it’s tiring just to think about. But there’s  no time to waste – get to it!

Point of Purchase Display Ideas

Are you making the most of your point of purchase (POP) display? Often overlooked in merchandising, this is a great area to add value not only to your store merchandising, but to your store sales.

Ranging from informative displays to gift cards for purchase to products for sale, POP displays are an effective way to communicate messages to your customers, ring in additional sales and highlight product you want noticed. A few pointers to help enhance your POP area include:

1. Use a variety of levels to attract customers to your POP display area. Pedestal stands are a great way to add height while also using the surface area of your check out space to showcase product. Be creative in using display products to showcase merchandise.

2. Make your displays approachable and easy to access through touching. While not every product should be left for customers to freely reach, most should be accessible to touch at your POP area. High ticket items can be locked away for security purchases, but in general you want your customers to be able to reach and grab and touch the items in this merchandising area. As they are waiting to be checked out, they just may reach for one more thing they want to add on to their purchase - which is, of course, the goal.

3. Avoid clutteirng your check out space. It is tempting to use every little inch to showcase product or informative details about your business, but you want to make sure the overall appearance of this area  is visually appealing while easy to shop, as well.

4. Take advantage of the opportunity to “speak” to your customers here. Through the use of displays, you can communicate messages to your customers. Let them know about an upcoming sale, special event, your loyalty program and more. Clean, simply signage is very effective in speaking to your customers. No need to make things to complicated here – keep it simple (but large enough in an easy to read font that it’s not a challenge to read).

5. Promote your gift cards at your POP area. Selling gift cards not only bring additional revenue to your store, but potentially new customers. You should definitely have a sign letting your customers know you sell gift cards at our POP area rather then them having to ask. This also is a reminder to customers who didn’t even have gift cards on their mind that they may need one.

Remember that your POP area that should be re-merchandised periodically to bring new visual appeal to your customers. While space may be limited, even changing the color of your signage can be effective. Don’t neglect this important area and in return, your sales will thank you.