Halloween Display Basics: Re-purposing Mannequins, Clothing Racks, and More

According to the National Retail Federation, 2017 saw $9.1 billion in Halloween spending—a number that was predicted to drop slightly (to $9 billion) in 2018. These numbers are good news for Halloween stores, but what about retailers that aren’t selling Halloween-specific wares? As an apparel retailer, you’re better situated than you might imagine to capitalize Read More …

Foundational Must-Haves for Gift Shops

Humans are naturally curious creatures, and in our spare time, we like to travel to fun destinations in search of friends, adventure, and something new. We don’t just head to big cities, either. Plenty of people enjoy visiting small towns and coastal villages to escape the stress and hectic pace of life in urban environments. Read More …

Controlling What Your Store Layout Conveys to Customers

One of the first things you need to think about when planning your store layout is what you want the customer to take away from the experience of interacting with your brand. In a general sense, you want customers to feel a positive association with your brand, to find your retail space attractive, uplifting, and Read More …

Timely Retail Planning for Back-to-School Sales

As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm, and the same can go for retail planning. In retail, this means planning ahead for upcoming events so you can promote in advance to boost awareness and interest and then hit the ground running when the date arrives. Even though it won’t start up again Read More …

The Miracle of Holiday Gift Certificates for Retail

Going into the busy holiday shopping season, most retail business owners have all kinds of plans for promotions intended to make the most of this consumer smorgasbord. Although nearly everyone is out shopping for holiday gifts, businesses face tough competition for consumer dollars thanks to abundant sales and promotions aimed at undercutting competitors. Gift cards Read More …

Rustic Wood Displays are a Must for Autumn Ambience

The long days of summer are coming to a close and soon the air will turn chilly, the leaves will crunch underfoot, and we’ll switch from refreshing iced tea and lemonade to creamy cocoa and tart apple cider. As customers begin to bundle and prepare for the colder months, it’s time to turn your attention Read More …

Online Holiday Shopping Makes Every Day a Black Friday Opportunity for Retailers

Holiday internet sales continue to soar as consumers demonstrate their increasing preference to make online purchases. The result: merchants are discovering that Black Friday marketing strategies can be modified and extended throughout the holiday shopping season. Recent data by leading retail analysts indicates that holiday shoppers are continuing to choose Cyber Monday deal surfing over Read More …

What You Need to Know about Creating Your Own Pop-up Shop

Popup shops are nothing new. We’ve all seen Halloween stores and seasonal kiosks selling calendars and stocking stuffers in malls. In the last several years, however, setting up limited engagement popup shops has become something of a marketing blitz for new brands looking to grab attention, as well as established retail enterprises seeking new audiences Read More …

Preparing for the Holiday Season: The Details Matter

When it comes to the holidays, most retailers immediately start thinking big. They want over-the-top displays and an overall “wow” factor that will grab attention. Stores also want competitive promotions to bring in consumers, and entice shoppers away from competitors. A lot goes into preparing your retail location for the busy holiday season. If you’ve Read More …

Closing Out Christmas: When to Pack Up Holiday Displays

Remember when the holiday displays went up before Thanksgiving? It seems that the holidays start earlier every year. This year, I walked into a grocery store in October and saw Christmas items before Halloween. Holiday songs start streaming in stores as early as the beginning of November, and it’s common to see Christmas trees, strings Read More …