Visual Merchandising Display Ideas

CD and DVD Displays

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Who doesn’t love curling up with a good movie or relaxing while listening to some music? I do not know one person who doesn’t, I tell you! Even with the popularity of electronic downloads, physical media formats are still popular; many folks still enjoy having a collection of discs they can pop into the DVD or CD player. If you are not currently offering DVDs or CDs in your store, you may want to consider it. I mean, even coffee houses, convenience stores and gift shops are selling them! Take a look at the following CD/DVD/Game disc displays to see what works for you.

Starting small. If you have limited counter space or would like to offer a small selection of popular CDs or DVDs to see how they sell, then check out the following counter spinners. The CD counter spinner has 32 facings, holds up to 160 CDs and only takes up 15″ square inches of counter space. That’s a lot of merchandising in a little area! The DVD Counter Spinner has 24 pocket facings, can display 72 DVDs and only takes up 16″ square inches of counter space. Not too shabby. Both of these displays have steel construction and include sign holders.
The next step up. If the DVDs are selling well and you’d like to increase your selection then the DVD/Game Spinner is for you. That’s right, sell some games while you’re at it because they are as popular as can be! The DVD/Game Spinner has 6 tiers with 72 facings so it can hold up to 288 DVDs and it also includes a sign holder. The CD Floor Spinner has 8 tiers, 64 facings, includes sign holder, takes up less than 20″ square inches of floor space and can display up to 320 CDs. If you’d like a more mobile unit then check out the 10 Shelf Mobile Media Display. This grid display with retractable telescoping legs includes casters so you can scoot it wherever you need it. Display CDs, DVDs, games, books or anything else that can fit on the 24″L x 6″D slanted shelves.
Going gangbusters. Have the space and the demand for even more discs? Then have I got some things to show you! The Super Grid A-Frame Display can be used individually or end-to-end to create a continuous DVD display. The A Frame Display, which has a total of 24 shelves, can display up to 768 DVDs! For a mobile, high capacity display, take a look at the Center Island Grid Display. This grid display has a total of 20 shelves, E-Z roll casters and can display up to 600 DVDs or game discs. This grid display is also great for software, magazines, CDs, candy and snacks. Talk about versatile!
There are many more physical media displays to choose from. If you have any questions about any of the displays, please don’t hesitate to contact a friendly sales representative at 800-999-0771.

 

Effective Retail Store Lighting

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Have you ever walked into a store and it just seemed kind of…meh? The displays are nice, the staff is friendly and the product is good but the store still seems to be lacking? Well, what kind of lighting did it have? Was it dim, was it too bright, were spotlights used ineffectively? We need to remind ourselves every now and then that sometimes just having sufficient lighting in order to see the merchandise isn’t enough.

In the spotlight. It is important to remember the different between spotlights and floodlights. Spotlights focus on a limited area whereas floodlights light up a large, expanded area. Using floodlights will flood the entire floorspace with light and if everything is highlighted then nothing stands out. We want to utilize spotlights to create a contrast in lighting and to draw attention to featured items and to create focal points, such as highlighting displays that showcase higher profit margin items. Spotlights will naturally draw the eye so also use them on wall displays, near the checkout counter and at the front of the store.

In the mood… For shopping, of course! Lighting can really set the tone of your store and the displays therein. Colored lights can help convey a mood within a store and a customer that makes an emotional connection may be more likely to make a purchase. For instance, you can use a blue-ish light on your sparkly winter displays or a reddish light on Valentine’s Day displays to suggest the appropriate mood. Colored LED rope lights around display windows can convey a festive mood while also drawing attention to the storefront.

On the shelf. Small spotlights and LED light strips can do wonders to draw attention to merchandise in a showcase. LED strip lights, for instance, can be quickly mounted to the inside of a showcase with mounting clips or adhesive strips and these little lights are very bright. Many showcases, including these large floor model lighted tower showcases and smaller countertop showcases, come equipped with halogen mini-spotlights

Practice safe shopping. Create a safe environment for your customers with outdoor lighting at the storefront and in the parking lot. A well lit area outside the entryway will help prevent trips and falls. A brightly lit parking area will make customers feel more safe and people are more likely to shop in areas where they feel secure.

What other ideas can you come up with to make lighting more effecting? Using strobe lights to showcase some fun displays? Ensuring that there is flattering lighting in the dressing rooms? Take a look around your store. Maybe you’ll come up with some ideas to make the lighting a little more effective and creative.

Remodel Your Retail Store to Increase Profit

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We all are excited about seeing an increase in our business’ profits so what can we do to achieve that goal? Well, what Old Navy did was to remodel some of their stores. You may think “Old Navy is a huge chain store so what has that got to do with me?” Let me tell you that the big boys do a lot of market research and analysis to know what works and what doesn’t so following their lead can be a good idea.

The remodeling of 300 Old Navy stores resulted in buyers spending $1 to $2 more per visit. What did the remodel consist of to bring about this increase in revenue? An Associated Press release dated July 11, 2011 states “Some of the components of the store remodelings include light wood, white shelving, wider aisles and lowered racks and fixtures for better store visibility. There is also a play area for children and more workers helping out in dress rooms, which have been moved from the back of the store to the center.” A more open feel and a brighter color pallet generates a comfortable atmosphere and it only makes sense that people are more inclined to spend more time (and more money) in an environment in which they feel comfortable.

A remodel doesn’t have to break the bank. What small changes can you do in your store to make it feel more open, to feel brighter? Invest in white or lighter color shelves, perhaps. Or possibly utilize more wall displays, such as grid panels (as low as $14.99 each ) or slatwall panels in order to get some of the display racks off the floor, giving a more open feeling. What changes in merchandising can you make so the sales floor appears less cluttered and overwhelming? Keep your displays neat and organized because no one wants to rummage through a jumble of items is if they are at a yard sale, unless they are at a yard sale, of course. Check out the Give Your Store a Facelift blog entry for some ideas to make your store shine.

So, have you got any ideas on how you can do some simple remodeling to make your store more inviting? Does it seem like a lot of work with an uncertain payoff? Let’s do a “for instance”, just for the fun of it. How many customers make purchases at your store in a day? Let’s say 30 customers, just as an example. If each person spent one dollar more per transaction, and your store was open seven days a week, that equals $10,560 additional profit per year! Sounds to me like it just may be worth investing in a little elbow grease and a couple new displays. What do you think?

Slatwall for the Retail Store

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Hmmm…what can I say about slatwall? Well, a lot, actually! Slatwall is attractive, versatile, strong…kind of like Russel Crowe or a Transformer sports car/robot. You may think I’m reaching but slatwall can really make a huge impact.

First of all, slatwall really is attractive. It can be purchased in several different colors to complement your decor such as black, almond, grey, white or paint grade that is ready to paint any color you choose. Slatwall comes with uncolored grooves which bring out the color of the slats, but you can also order it with brushed aluminum inserts which add strength and finesse to the panels. When installing the slatwall panels, you can drill screws right through the aluminum and into the wall, reinforcing the panels and making your display more durable.

Slatwall can be purchased as 4’W x 8’H standard slatwall panels or 8’W x4’H vertical slatwall panels that you can install directly on your walls. Slatwall can also be used in the form of freestanding slatwall displays which are available in black, cherry, maple or white. Slatwall displays are available as double sided displays, revolving slatwall displays, “H” island displays, quad displays, and even as service counters with slatwall fronts for more display space. Check them all out to see all of the merchandising options you have!

If you’d like the option to change the look of your slatwall at will then you’ll want to consider slatwall inserts or slatwall snaps. Slatwall inserts come in 130′ rolls and are available in black or white. Simply slide the vinyl slatwall inserts into the grooves and cut at the correct length. Slatwall snaps, available in 8′ lengths in red, white, black or grey, are easy to install and only take seconds to uninstall. Use inserts of the same color as the slatwall to give the display a more uniform look or use snaps in a contrasting color to make your display pop! No matter if you choose wall panels or displays, you have a wide variety of slatwall accessories to choose from. Choose from slatwall hooks to display hanging items, slatwall faceouts for clothing or body forms, slatwall waterfalls for clothing, purses or belts, slatwall jar displays for smaller items such as pens or hairgoods, slatwall hangrails for all types of apparel or acrylic slatwall shelves for any numbers of items.

Your slatwall display options are nearly endless! All the colors, configurations, display options…I’m nearly dizzy. Take a look and I’m positive you will find something slatwallish that will make a positive impact on your merchandising.

New Retail Products

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Did you know that new products are added to Specialty Store Services’ website every week? It’s true! You asked for particular new items and we listened.

For instance, we’ve just added two scales, per customer request. The glass top easy-to-read Digital Scale has an auto turn-off feature which turns the scale off after three minutes of inactivity, prolonging the life of the batteries. The stainless steel Professional Dial Face Scale has a removable weighing bowl and is perfect for weighing anything from vegetables to candy. We have also added chic copper Metal Jewelry Displays and stylish Body Form Jewelry Displays that are perfect for any boutique.

Be sure to check out the New Items page frequently to see what great additions we have in store for you!

Sunglass Displays

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To quote Katrina and the Waves, “I’m walkin’ on sunshine.” I’m walking on it, in it, next to it…and I’m loving it! When the sun is shining, the one thing I hate to be without is my sunglasses and I will not hesitate to purchase a new pair if I leave home without them. Sunglasses are a great money maker year round but sales really seem to take off in the summer months. If you are not currently carrying sunglasses, why not choose an eyewear display appropriate for your store and stock it with inexpensive yet attractive sunglasses?

If you have some counter space to spare, consider this elegant countertop sunglass spinner. This eyeglass spinner has a lovely metal frame with almond base and acrylic mirror and can hold up to 24 pairs of glasses. If you would like to fit some more glasses in a small space, this economy countertop eyeglass spinner can hold up to 40 pairs of glasses and it is also constructed of metal and has 2 acrylic mirrors.

If you have some floor space to play with, this attractive spinning maple eyewear display with black trim may be just the ticket. This maple display is six sided, includes 2 acrylic mirrors and can display up to 108 pairs of glasses. If you prefer something a little more contemporary then consider this silver spinning eyewear display with storage base. This sleek display can hold up to 72 pairs of glasses, includes 2 acrylic mirrors and boasts a locking storage base to keep your overstock safe and out of sight.

These spinning eyewear displays will also display reading glasses so they can work double-duty for you. As long as the sun in shining or small print needs to be read, folks are going to need sunglasses and reading glasses so why not offer your customers what they need?

Easy Set-Up Displays for Retailers

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I love this time of the year! All the street festivals, music festivals, art fairs and book fairs…I could spend the entire summer scampering from fest to fair. I know that many of you attend fairs and fests all summer, too, but as vendors. While it is fun to sell your wares and talk to all different kinds of people, setting up and breaking down can really be a hassle. In order to save your sanity, it is important to have displays that are quick and easy to set up and break down and also show your merchandise well so lets explore a few options.

One of the most versatile displays is the Standing Grid Screen. The screen measures 2’W x 5’H so it is still small enough to load into most SUVs or vans and since the legs are easy to screw on and off, the screen can lie flat during transport which leaves you more room for your product. Choose from a wide variety of accessories to attach to the screen depending on your display needs. Select peg hooks, baskets and accessory clips to display smaller items or faceouts, waterfalls, shelves with brackets and hang rails for larger items. Don’t forget your grid sign holder to advertise your merchandise! Single rail garment racks also set up and break down easily and give you plenty of room for displaying apparel.

Folding tables are also necessary for the mobile retailer. These folding tables measure 60″L x 24″W x 30″H and have a lip around the outside of the table to keep your merchandise on the table, not on the ground. Other display options that easily fold up are the Folding Shelving Rack and the Square Bin. The folding shelving rack has 5 adjustable shelves and is constructed of sturdy powder coated wire. The square bin folds quickly and easily and features an adjustable bottom shelf for displaying a variety of merchandise. A happy owner of the square bin says “I love that it takes up little space while holding a lot of merchandise. Being able to dis-assemble it and pack it away neatly in my limited trailer space is a plus”.

Have jewelry or other small items to display? Then check out the 16 hook counter top display or the 12 hook countertop spinner. They are both compact but can display a lot of smaller items. There are also a wide variety of jewelry trays to choose from to display all your pretty and shiny trinkets.

Setting up quickly and easily leaves you with more time to enjoy the sights and sounds at the festivals and cuts down on the headaches. So make things a little easier on yourself by getting the appropriate displays and go have some fun!

Vertical Merchandising with Grid Displays

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We all know that displaying merchandise can be tricky but even trickier is working with limited display space. When floor space is at a premium, your best bet is go up. Enter Grid Panels!Grid panels range in height from 4’ to 8’ and widths of 1’ to 4’. Just think of how much merchandise you can showcase on a 5’ tall display! Grid panels are incredibly versatile and can be directly attached to the wall or connected to other grid panels to create floor displays. These nifty panels can be configured into different shaped grid displays such as “T,” “H,” quad and triangle displays, or can be connected end to end to span the length of wall; the configurations are only as limited as your imagination. Mobilize the displays with casters and a floor plan can be rearranged with ease. Slatgrid panels can be employed in the same manner as grid panels and, what’s more, any slatwall accessories you may have can also be used on slatgrid!

Retail flexibility is yours when choosing from grid accessories such peg hooks, faceouts, waterfalls, hang rails, shelves, baskets and more. Use a wide variety of grid accessories to display anything from clothing and purses to books and movies. Half round mannequins can be hung on the grid panels to garner attention and show customers how clothing will look when worn. Accessories can also be moved around with ease to accommodate changing inventory.

As you can see, grid displays are versatile and ideal for cross merchandising which makes them a great investment for any retail environment.

Mother’s Day Sale Signage

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The day honoring Mom is coming. The woman who tucked us in at night, kissed our owies, grounded us just because she didn’t like how the dog looked after he was shaved and colored in with marker. She may not have an artistic bone in her body, but she’s Mom. And people are going to be crawling out of the woodwork to purchase her yearly “Thanks for not strangling me when I was a mouthy teenager” gift. You’ve probably got all your sale ideas in place but make sure people know that you’re even having a sale.
A beautiful sign in your window will draw attention, remind people that Mom’s day is coming and get them in the store to take advantage of your fantastic sale. Your Mother’s Day Sale sign will be shipped out the day after you order so it will be hanging in your window in no time. You can see our sale sign above and, as you can see, I wasn’t lying when I said it was beautiful.
Have a great sale! And give Mom a hug for me.

Custom Labels = Customized Anything

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Would you like customized bags, cups or packages to send home with your customers but do not want to spend big bucks? Then custom labels are the way to go! You can have custom labels printed for mere pennies. Pennies, I tell you!
“I put stickers with my company logo on all styro cups in the cafe – works great and is a very economical way to have customized cups!”. Those are words right out of the mouth of a business owner who was quite pleased with a 2″ circle custom label. In addition to the circle labels we also offer rectangle, square, oval and triangle shaped labels to suit your needs exactly. The custom labels are available in a variety of label colors, ink colors, shapes and sizes so your options are nearly limitless.
Looking for a little more flash? Check out gold foil custom labels or silver foil custom labels. These labels look fantastic with the contrasting black ink and are especially effective with a logo. Send us a high-resolution image of your logo to print on the label or, for a small fee, we will create a professional custom logo for you.
Here is something you don’t see every day: 8 1/2″W x 5 1/2″L custom labels! These beauties really dress up paper shopping bags and plastic shopping bags. See the label above and notice how it really draws attention to the bag and then imagine your customers walking down the street with these custom labels on your bags. They will advertise your store for you! Nice. These labels are white and can be printed in full color. Design your labels with your logo or a photo, store information, advertising message…it’s your custom label so go nuts.
So, think outside the bags…or box or cup. And never underestimate the big power of a little label.