Tip of the Week

Plan your store window changes out on a calendar according to season, holidays, key marketing and promotions, and new shipments.  Be sure to include a change every four to six weeks.

Image: Free People Blog: Summer Store Displays!

Pre-planning all of your window changes allows you to keep an eye out for interesting prop ideas, fixtures, etc.  It gives you time to plan out exciting window displays that entice customers and ensures that you're not changing windows on the fly or in a panic.  That's no fun for anyone!

Have you got questions for Melissa? Check us out on facebook, twitter, Pinterest, the flourish website, or send Melissa an email.

Happy Selling!

Fixtures Close Up Favorites

I first found Fixtures Close Up on Pinterest and now I look forward to my daily fixtures emails, so I asked Tony Kadysewski if I could share some of my favorites with you!  He generously agreed, so here they are in no particular order!

Also...  These are just the favorites I found, there are so many more gems all over the Fixtures Close Up blog.  You can find everything from big box retail solutions to high end boutique solutions, so set aside some time to go digging!

Industrial and Rural Chic Combine

Image Courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

This is a great DIY project for your store!  Be sure to merchandise any unique configurations neatly to really maximize impact.

Do-It-Yourself Store Fixtures

Photos Courtesy of Simplified Building Concepts and Fixtures Close Up

What a great industrial look for menswear!  If you're not handy, though, be sure to get help from someone who is.

Do-It-Yourself Wood Box Display

Image courtesy of Goncalo Pinho and Fixtures Close Up

What a fun fixture to put together yourself and it wouldn't even be overly expensive!

Haberdash Designer Peg'd Board

Image courtesy of Dezeen, Haberdash and Form Us With Love, as well as Fixtures Close Up

What a fun display!  This could be done anywhere in-store, just be sure it's a feature area!  It could also be a fun backdrop in a simple window with a mannequin.

Plaid on a Pegboard

Image courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

Okay, pegboard usually isn't the go-to material when we think of visual merchandising, but here it is looking good for menswear!  This is pegboard done right.

Lingerie in a Bell Jar

Image courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

Do you really want to make something feel special?  Put it in a bell jar!

Jack Daniel's Barrels as Decor

Image courtesy of Mark Steele Photography, Display and Design Ideas, and Fixtures Close Up

Ahhhh...  Doesn't it just make sense?

Wash Tub Bulk Bins

Image Courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

I've loved this fixture from the first time I saw it and it makes a great DIY project for items sold in bulk!

Store Self-Dispenses T-shirts

Image courtesy of Shop Design Gallery, Streetology, and Fixtures Close Up

Ahhhh...  A good colour flow just makes my heart happy...

Shoe and Sock Color Cross Sell

Image courtesy of Fixtures Close Up

Add on selling at its best!  They say visual merchandising is the silent sales person for a reason...

Have you got more favorites?  Link to them in the comments section below and don't forget to follow the links (headings) to the actual articles from Fixtures Close Up.  There, you'll find more info and additional photos!

Have you got questions for Melissa? Check us out on facebook, twitter,Pinterest, the flourish website, or send Melissa an email.

Happy Selling!

Tip of the Week

Shopping is all about perceived value.  The way you display and merchandise your product can have a large impact on how valuable the customer perceives it to be.  Does your store make your merchandise look valuable?

I'm sure you've heard the term perceived value a few times; it refers to the value a customer assigns to a product or service in their head.  How much do they deem that product to be worth?  When their perceived value is compared to the actual asking price, it can make or break their buying decision.

When items are merchandised or displayed in a way that makes them appear valuable or expensive, the price on the sticker can be less scary to look at and possibly even a relief. If the customer perceives the item of their desire to be a great value, they'll most often buy!


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Have you got questions for Melissa? Check us out on facebook, twitter,Pinterest, the flourish website, or send Melissa an email.

Tip of the Week

Avoid scattering key items around the store as they can lose their impact and clutter the space.  Grouping merchandise makes it stronger.

I know, it can be so tempting... and sometimes you worry that if you don't have something in a few places, your customers will miss it!  The truth is if you have one here, one over there, one in the back of the store, and one at the front, customers are even more likely to miss it.

Creating a strong presentation with emphasis on key items ensures that they will be visible to customers as they are passing by. 

I hear a lot of people say that it works in their store; that their customers are different.  If that's you, just try grouping a key item and making it the focal point of a display for a few weeks.  You may find that it works even better for you.


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 Have you got questions for Melissa? Check us out on facebook, twitter, Pinterest, the flourish website, or send Melissa an email.

Tip of the Week

Don’t have enough money for brand new fixtures?  Check Kijiji or Craigslist for used fixtures, interesting furniture pieces, and anything else you can use in the store.  Then paint them all the same colour to unify them in the space.

I, personally, tend to use Kijiji the most.  You can search the item you're looking for exactly or just browse if you're not sure!  By doing this, you'll be able to find all sorts of interesting items that nobody else has.

Be sure to check the quality of the piece before making your purchase.  Check joints, give it a wiggle test to make sure it's sturdy, and make sure that it's solid wood and not a laminate/particle board product so that you can re-finish it as you please.

Once you've gathered your unique items, give them a few coats of paint or stain in the same colour to unify them within the store!