Spring 2013

Containing Chaos By Becky Tyre

A well-organized store is essential to increasing sales. Orderly displays are challenging when unruly products are not corralled effectively. Choose display options that encourage neatness with maximum merchandise exposure and you may find you solve some storage issues at the same time.

Chalkie Talkie

Chalkboard paint and erasable chalk markers are visual merchandising dream tools. Any container with a flat side becomes a combination display unit and sign. Use the sign area for product identification, pricing or to advertise a SALE area. Don’t want to paint? Mount a small chalkboard from the craft store.

Fruit Loops

Aluminum pails come in many colors suitable for most store environments. The traditional silver has a country feel, bright colors are more fun and the glossy white and black pails fit a more sophisticated décor. For a clever touch, attach a luggage tag hung on the pail handles to identify contents or pricing.

Welcome Wagon

Wagons, shopping carts and baby buggies are display props that are well-suited for merchandising pillows or plush toys. Throws and blankets can be folded and placed neatly inside such props as well. Kitchen towels can be rolled and placed in a brightly colored stockpot or kitchen canisters, and for fun, add a rolling pin and whisk. For a summer display, roll beach towels and stack them vertically in a cooler displayed with beach toys, sunglasses or flip flops in neon sand buckets.

Pallet Box

Kings of versatility, pallets can be stacked to form display tables or mounted on the wall to become shelves. The open slats make pallets ideal for featuring scarves and belts, the trickiest of fashion accessories to display. Tip: When using pallets for scarf displays, use sandpaper to smooth rough edges to avoid snagging the merchandise.

Tip: When using pallets for scarf displays, use sandpaper to smooth rough edges to avoid snagging the merchandise.

Becky Tyre

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