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.

Merchandising Details You Can’t Ignore

The 1-2-3′s of merchandising use to be so easy. Dress some mannequins, add some decorations to your window displays, keep things folded nicely and call it a day. Unfortunately, the competition just doesn’t allow for such an easy merchandising pattern anymore. Standing out in the marketplace means more than just offering fabulous product, it means offering your customers an enticing place to shop. To help support your ever evolving list of retail responsibilities is a checklist to help you plan your merchandising efforts.

[tweetmeme]1. Seeing Double. Whether you have a hot item you know will sell or you are looking to push some goods that haven’t been moving, double – or even triple -  merchandising your products can help make an impact on your customer’s impression of that product. Don’t get double exposed happy, though. Not everything deserves more space than their single product display. Pick and choose what will best suit your store and constantly re-evaluate this.

2. Speaking Through Words. Store signage is a must, but on plain white paper? No, no and NO! Too often the “easy” approach is used to get things done – such as make a sign for a recently arrived item in a store – but in the case of signage, take your time. Use card-stock that doesn’t bend too easily. Use a color that stands out from the rest of your decor. And use a nice sign holder to showcase whatever it is your sign says. Professionally printed signs are even better, but on a whim there is no reason you can’t do this yourself. It’s a great way to save costs, as well, but compromising style is not an option here.

3. Keeping It Eye Level. The reality is not everyone is tall. For that matter, not everyone is short. Just because you are one or the other and merchandise your store accordingly doesn’t mean this will accommodate your broad consumer audience. Instead, focus on a variety of eye levels that comfortably engage most heights. If products are displayed within eye level, consumers are more likely to reach out and touch those products. The next step would be for them to buy those products, so don’t overlook this step. If you have merchandising opportunities that are too high or too low to be considered eye level, use the double exposing method (Point 1) to ensure it won’t get missed.

4. Staying Clean. Yes, I said it. Clean. Not dirty. No one likes to admit it, but too often dusting, vacuuming and all the other not-so-fun responsibilities of running a store get dismissed. Hire a cleaning service or do it yourself. No exceptions. Customers don’t respond well to dusty shelves and even worse, dusty products. Stay on top of this one.

5. Incorporating Change. Change will be different for each unique store, but for the most part you want to consider change in how often you merchandise your store. It’s so important to get window displays fresh and in store displays new, as well. While it may seem like a lot of work to get them in tip-top shape, it’s not over after that. A good merchandising plan keeps store windows rotating every 2 to 4 weeks and in store displays on a weekly basis. With that said, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get started!

Easy Merchandising Ideas

Merchandising isn’t for everyone. But for those that enjoy it, it can be a rewarding and satisfying responsibility on their to-do list. For those who don’t love it, though, it can be a neglected chore that falls to the bottom of their to-do list time and time again. Luckily, there are some quick, easy to do ideas to help enhance your store appearance, your product and your approach towards merchandising.

1. Keep it simple. You don’t have to be extravagant in your merchandising techniques for your product to stand out. The key is to merchandise your product without cluttering your space, therefore allowing your product to be visible and easy to shop. In addition, your merchandising strategies should stimulate the eye so that customers are enticed by what you are offering.

2. Avoid tight spaces.Whether you have shelves, cabinet space, racks or hang-bars, make sure your product is not so crammed that customers hesitate to touch and ultimately pick up / try on something. Giving them comfortable access to the product allows for them to be more comfortable shopping in your store. If they think a frame will fall over while trying to reach for a different product displayed behind it, they may not reach for it and therefore may not buy it.

3. Encourage touch. Customers respond to many reasons that ultimately make them want to buy something. Touching something and then enjoying that something is among the top reasons impulse buys are made. Selling items that aren’t a need? This is especially important since your customers may not need anything in your store – they have to want it. Make them want it more with signage that encourages to try something on, test a product out or offer a way in which they can experience the item for sale. Making it accessible for them to touch – eye level – also helps. If your clothes or accessories, make sure to have many accessible mirrors, as well.

4. Move it around. Merchandising may not be your thing, but don’t let that keep you from re-merchandising your store often. Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly rotations are common practices for stores to follow. Depending on the product, your store and your customer should determine what your merchandising rotation should be, however in general you should re-merchandise display windows and displays areas weekly or bi-weekly, prime real estate (front of store, great visible and accessible areas, etc.) weekly and everything else every two weeks or so.

5. Staples are okay. Have something that your customers come to you for often and you want to make a permanent home for these items? That’s okay. Use the space around it to introduce new / other items to these customers.

Remember, you are not a big box retailer. The strategies you see in these types of stores may not work for you, such as leaving a main window display the same for one month. You are a smaller store with different responsibilities as a result. Lean on neighborhood chambers, local support and store friends to see what works for them and how their merchandising ideas may help your store. Finally, don’t be afraid to try news ways to merchandise your store that you may not be familiar with or have used in the past. You may find these changes help enhance not only your store, but your sales.