In this cut throat competitive retail world where every other manager of another store is ready to beat you down with his MBA dissertations, it’s hard to thrive. Whether you have got the sprawling space at the most luxurious destination in the town, exotic interiors, celebrated designer wears, novelty factor, glib PR, brand management overdose, breathing mannequins and blah blah…..But few small things make a big difference. Amidst all the customer magnetizing gimmicks, fashion display – the orderliness of the display – can play a big turn on or turn off for the customers, depending on the common sense the managers apply leaving behind their classroom dins.
Space-Style-Orderliness Quotient
The first thing you will need to decide is how you want to show off your garments to your customers. Would you like them to be neatly hung on clothes rails, carefully folded on shelves or displayed on mannequins? You may find that using a combination of these could work well, depending on the room you have available to you.
Thinking about the floor space of your store is vital if you are to create an eye-catching fashion display – you do not want it to be cluttered and overwhelming, yet you need to find a way to showcase all your clothes to their best effect.
It can be a difficult balance to strike, so don’t be afraid to play around with different ideas – move things within your store and see how they look before making a final decision.
Carefully-placed mannequins around the shop floor can be a great asset as these will allow you to display an ensemble outfit, complete with accessories. This could be a great way to encourage customers to purchase extra items, as they will be able to see how great they look when put together.
If you do not have space for mannequins, you could get a similar effect by teaming items on coat hangers. For example, you could place a cardigan over a top at the front of a clothes rail to give shoppers some inspiration about how to build a whole outfit.
Garments Showcasing
If you decide you would like clothes rails in your store rather than shelving, you will also need to think about the coat hangers you require. Make sure you buy coat hangers that are suitable for all the different garments you stock – this could mean ordering one batch of hangers with clips that are ideal for skirts and trousers, as well as classic hangers that are best suited to shirts and tops.
You should also look for coat hangers that suit the overall appearance of your display and the rest of your store. Having a common look and feel throughout the store can help build your brand identity – there is no point spending time ensuring all your clothes match if the store looks disjointed.
You should also look for coat hangers that suit the overall appearance of your display and the rest of your store. Having a common look and feel throughout the store can help build your brand identity – there is no point spending time ensuring all your clothes match if the store looks disjointed.
If you are looking for something a little special, you may want to consider padded and fabric-covered clothes hangers, as these will add an extra touch of glamour to any fashion display. They are also a very practical choice if you sell delicate items, such as lingerie, as they can help protect the products on display.
Retaining the Appeal
Once your fashion displays are up and running, you should make sure you do not neglect them as a rundown display can have a big impact when shoppers walk into a store. Looking after your clothing is vital to ensuring they remain saleable and a quick and easy way to ensure that all your garments look pristine on their hangers is to use a garments steamer.
Customers will want to see clothes looking in perfect condition and a row of neatly pressed garments could prove to be the factor that encourages them to buy from you rather than elsewhere.
Placing mirrors in the store and carefully positioning them to ensure customers can see how good they look in their new outfits can work wonders. If your store is limited by size – a mirror in the right location can also be a great way to make a shop appear larger.
