Display and Promotion Ideas for Boutiques

Boutiques are in an exclusive position to really get creative with their displays and promotions. What might seem out of place or over the top in a traditional retail store can make a boutique interesting and unique. Use this fact to your advantage when you are creating your displays. You might just find that certain merchandising tools, such as mannequins, can help you to brand your image, sell your clothing and accessories, and help you to make a lasting impression on your customers. Actually, an interesting window display can bring in a lot of new customers on its own.

To create an exceptional display utilizing mannequins, you need to first consider your store image. If you want your boutique to be recognized for its individual style and unique décor or standards, then you need to make sure that your displays communicate this message. Having an ordinary display can make your boutique appear dull and boring. This is the last thing that you want when you own a boutique.

Shoppers are interested in boutiques for many different reasons. They love the charm, the interesting decorations, the personal service, and the unique products and brands that boutiques usually offer. You can use your window display to quickly communicate to passer bys that you, in fact, offer just the things they’re looking for.

For example, you can display signs or window clings provided by the companies whose brands you carry. This tiny form of advertisement will attract people looking for those hard to find brands that you carry. You can then attract people looking for personal service by advertising your services. A small sign should be sufficient. Have it communicate the unique services that you offer, such as free alterations, personal styling, custom fittings, whatever the service may be.

Nothing in your window display is as important as the mannequin display. Mannequins communicate to customers the atmosphere and attitude of your boutique. People connect with mannequins on different levels as soon as they lay eyes on one. This marketing phenomenon has mad mannequins the number one selling tool in retail for decades.

Customers rely on their first impressions to determine if they trust the business. They need to trust you in order to decide to buy. They need to see what you’re offering, imagine themselves owning, using and wearing your products, and be able to determine how that would make them feel. If a customer does not go through this process within the first few seconds of looking at your display, then they are not likely to enter the store or buy anything.

Use this knowledge to your advantage. Set ups female mannequin displays to attract women. Use mannequins that are specifically designed for your products, for example, use a dress mannequin for dresses. Be sure to select clothing and accessories that communicate the style of boutique that you run. If you use mannequin displays and window displays to accomplish that positive first impression, your sales could really increase and your customers will stay interested and loyal.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Vice President of S & L Store Fixtures, a leading online resource for retail displays, including mannequins, dress mannequin forms, female mannequins, gridwall and slatwall store fixtures. For more information, please visit http://www.slstoredisplays.com.

Retail Mannequins Attract Customers

The use of mannequins in a retail setting has long been recognized as a merchandising gold mine. Mannequins are notorious for boosting sales and drawing in customers. But why? Here we analyze what a mannequin really does for clothing and for retailers.

We know that people are unpredictable. We never know when and why they might decide to purchase an item. There are a lot of elements that go into determining what a person will buy and how much they are willing to pay. Of course, a lot of these things are out of our control. But, the things that we can control, we should.

People shop at malls looking for inspiration. They want to see the latest styles. They need to find clothing that helps them to establish who they are and what image they want to portray. Their choices can be influenced by lighting, music, signage, or promotions. You may be wondering what is going on inside of those heads as they pass your store and merely peer inside. You need to grab their attention. Not only that, but you need to make them feel something. They need to connect with you in a way that lures them inside. Give them the inspiration that they desire.

Mannequins are the most effective way to help passers-by quickly and effectively connect with you. They see what they want to look like. The freshest styles, combined with the hottest accessories, all beautifully displayed on a body that looks how they wish to look. Mannequins can make clothing look like it was meant to look when it was designed. This is much preferred to limply hanging on a rack.

Use your mannequins to get your customers to feel a connection. To do this, you need to position them in a way that conveys something that your target audience can identify with. If you are targeting teenagers, you will need to create beach or pool scenes in summer, school or sports scenes in fall, and boyfriend/girlfriend scenes at Christmas. Give them a scene that will allow them to envision themselves there, where they long to be, looking how they want to look, with the people that they want to be with.

Creating this ideal can have a swift and definite influence on your shoppers. Possibly without even knowing why, they will venture into your store with an open attitude and a curiosity about how they can achieve the social ideal that has been presented by your mannequins.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Vice President of S & L Store Fixtures, a leading online resource for retail display cases including mannequins, mannequin forms, gridwall and slatwall store fixtures. For more information, please visit http://www.slstoredisplays.com.

Showing Off Your Window Display

The art of creating a window display that stands out and grabs peoples attention is an important and valuable skill as a way to increase sales. Your window display is often your best chance to make a good first impression or even a bad one. Your window display also gives walk-by traffic a chance to see what you sell and how you sell it. It conveys something about your store, your identity and the emotion or idea you want to get across to your potential customer.

What is a good window display? It is one that intrigues, seduces, entertains, and invites potential customers. For this reason, you want to try something unique, something that stands out from the rest of the other window displays customers are passing by. In this, don’t be afraid to take risks. Yet don’t confuse your customer. For example, if you are featuring fall clothing, don’t put the bikinis in with the sweaters. In this way, there is a balance of simplicity and creativity that must be achieved. You don’t want to try and do too much or sell too many different products. That’s not to say you can’t cross merchandise, which is a good idea, but, again, keep your window display uncluttered.

When thinking through your display, don’t scrimp on cost and always be consistent. Consider your window display as your silent salesman.

You will also want to change your window display regularly. Keep your displays fresh and new. Depending on foot traffic, changing your display once a month is a good rule of thumb.

Make sure your display is lit well. Good lighting is key. Track lighting gives you the flexibility needed to illuminate the ever-changing environment. You can use the lighting to create a mood and spotlight individual products.

Keep your window display clean, that is make sure it isn’t full of dead flies and dust.

As for the design within the window itself, the simple rules of product display apply. Stack or pyramid products – that is vary height and depth of what you are showing off. If necessary, use a low table. Keep everything stacked neatly. Walk outside the store frequently and look at your display often as you are installing it. Try looking at it with fresh eyes, as your customer’s would look at it. If you are displaying clothing, choose the appropriate mannequins for the types of clothing you are selling. Follow this with how your display your mannequins – how will they be standing, what will they be doing besides showing off your product?

If you find that you just don’t have that decorating and design touch, don’t despair. There are professionals who put together window displays for a living.

If you are a store that doesn’t have a window display and are just considering it, remember to maximize the space available for the largest windows you can install. Once windows are installed, back your display with walls so people focus on what’s in the window and not what’s behind it.

Last, when putting together your window display, if possible, carry the theme or look of your window display into your store with your interior displays.

Ron Maier is the Vice President of S & L Store Fixtures, a leading online resource for retail store displays including mannequins, mannequin forms, gridwall and slatwall store fixtures. For more information, please visit http://www.slstoredisplays.com.