Winter 2011

Baby Displays to Coo Over By Becky Tyre

In Pictures

When displaying cribs and bedding, take advantage of the fact that they generally allow for two-sided display. This four-post crib serves to define the store area without blocking the view from the exterior windows where the car seats are displayed. Positioned on either side of the crib are cube shelves, which provide dual-sided display for baby products as well.

Photo credit: Babinski’s Baby, Salt Lake City, UT

Photo credit: Classics And Country Home Decor, Alexandria, VA

Placing the frilly pink baby girl dresses against the black and white tufted fabric backdrop turns a baby display into a more sophisticated, fashionable ensemble. This works best when the clothing patterns are solid or basically single-colored as in this display. The small, shiny, black display table would work equally well with bright or whimsical products, making it a versatile fixture that is useful in many areas of a store.

Photo credit: Diane’s Art Gift Home, Memphis, TN

Handmade or unique baby products are best displayed in a vignette, rather than in multiples. This is particularly true when the baby section is a small department within a gallery or gift shop. This type of merchandising appeals more to the gift buyer than to the parent seeking staples for their baby.

Glass cubes are one of the most versatile of all store fixtures available. They serve to contain popular sellers or to organize product by size, color or style. In this display, baby blankets are rolled and grouped by prints and color. By hanging one of each blanket beside the display, it shows the variety of prints offered and it also begs to be touched, which is what you want when selling soft baby blankets.

Photo credit: Jellybeans, Springfield, MO

Contemporary colors and organic materials find their way to the baby areas of stores who cater to a modern customer who may be looking for earth-friendly, practical, yet unique, children’s products. Baby blankets are hung on towel rods just beneath a shelf filled with sock-style animals and dolls, just asking to be touched.

Photo credit: Liapela Modern Baby, Coral Gables, FL

A clothesline hangs above tiered shelves displaying all the styles that are sorted by size below. Clotheslines are easy to assemble displays and can be used in various sized spaces, against a wall or across a room.

Photo credit: Sweetpea Wholesome Baby, Ontario, Canada

Only in a baby store will you find humidifiers and mini first aid kits in an adorable tabletop display. On either side of the frog and elephant are risers for groupings of cleansers, SPF protection products and baby bottom balm. The tubes beneath the table are Wall Candy murals for nursery decor.

Photo credit: Waddle N Swaddle, Rhinebeck, NY

Photo credit: Wee Chic, Lutherville, MD

Colorful manufacturer packaging contributes to the effectiveness of this simple round table display. The products are made with hypoallergenic organic cotton. By grouping together these rattles, teething toys, finger puppets and baby cloth sets, they become a fun display with a “green” component.

Becky Tyre

Becky Tyre is the senior trends editor for GIFT SHOP Magazine and the owner of the Retail Details blog.