Spring is finally here! Retailers have been busy recently gearing up for the change of season.  One of our customers sent us photos showing how she tricked out her gridwall for Spring Sales.

It’s no surprise that gridwall panels continue to be a favorite choice for store owners especially those who want to maximize space.  Plus, retailers can get really creative with merchandising by simply using the many accessories available for grid displays.  Choose from wood shelves, tempered glass shelves, acrylic shelves and wire shelving, as well as gridwall baskets, specialty product holders and containers designed for grid panels.  Add hang rails, face-outs and grid hooks to best present your products to customers. Finish grid displays off with grid sign holders and signs of varying styles to further attract your customers’ attention.

If you have floor space, consider using standing grid displays.  Add grid legs and bases with rolling casters to create a portable grid display.  Grid displays are our top seller for use at trade shows or outdoor markets.  For more information about Gridwall and Gridwall accessories visit: www.discountshelving.com.

For retailers fall comes early.  In fact, odds are that even before you’ve had the chance to break-in your flip flops, many stores already have their summer clearance sales in full swing and “new for fall” merchandise already on display.

Getting ready for fall sales is serious business when you consider that Back to School shopping is the second biggest consumer spending event for retailers behind the winter holidays.  In fact, combined K-12 and college consumer spending in fall 2010 will reach $55.12 billion, according to NRF’s 2010 Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BIGresearch.  This Back to School survey says that the average American family will spend $606.40 on clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics this year compared to $548.20 last year.

Retailers, it’s never too early to plan and move in new seasonal merchandise.  Whether you sell clothing, shoes, backpacks, electronics, dorm or school supplies, it’s a good idea to take stock of your store and supplies to make sure you’re set for autumn sales. Here are a few Store Planning tips to help you transition from summer sensational to fall fabulous:

1. Plan your new window display.  One of the main ways to update your window display is to change your colors to evoke the change of seasons.  Hot for fall is “sustainable” trends.  According to color and textile design experts, “urban concrete and formal darks meets mid-tones and bright shades” will be “in” this autumn.  So, think colors like: Flax, Dark Oak, Antique Pewter, Sandstone or Champagne, Venetian Red and Sable for your window and displays.  For inspiration on color choices check out fall 2010/winter 2011 Textile/Fashion Color Trends here.
2. If you have space, consider using mannequins to add visual appeal to your window and in-store displays.  Mannequins come in a  range of shapes, sizes, poses, etc. and can be positioned in different ways. Plus mannequins give you great styling options.  Remember customers like to be able to visualize how merchandise, particularly clothing and accessories will look on them.
3. Determine your focal point.  Keep it simple.  Placing too many items will create confusion.  Pick and choose your key items and place them at eye level.  This goes for your window display as well as your in-store displays.
4. Review your store layout and plan your displays. Your goal is to make it easy for the customer to find what they are looking for and to make sense of your product arrangements.  Keep your groupings logical by grouping similar products together, with complementary products nearby.  Remember to view your displays from different angles as your customer would.  Are your focal points still good from different angles?  Is your retail signage clear and readable?
5. Clean it up! You’ve worked hard to attract customers into your store, you’ll want to make sure you keep them there as long as possible and also wanting to come back for more. Nothing ruins a shopping experience more quickly than an unorganized and untidy store.  Evaluate your store from head to toe.  Dispose of litter, reposition displays that may have shifted to where they don’t belong. Check your shelves and make sure all your merchandise is dust-free and in its proper place.  Re-stock inventory as needed.  Are your signs, tags and labels legible and correct?  Enter your store and take a fresh and critical look.  Does it pass your white glove test? Remember that your customer will form an impression of  your store within the first 10 seconds of entering.

Finally don’t get caught unprepared make sure you have the tools and supplies you need to succeed.  Must have items on your Fall Store Fixtures & Supplies Checklist:

• Price labelers, tagging guns – When ordering supplies for price labelers and tagging guns remember one size does not fit all.  Check your brand and model number to get the right labels for your price guns and needles for your tagging guns.
• Retail sale signage, sign holders – Fresh signage helps call attention to your sales. Consider different sizes and colors.  Look for places you can add signage in your store.  In addition to stationary sign holders there are many versatile and portable sign holder options available today.
• Clothing Hangers and Size Dividers / Markers – When ordering hangers keep in mind the sizes you need.  Hang children’s clothing on child sized hangers.   Size dividers and markers help customers find the sizes they need quickly.
• Countertop Displays/Merchandisers – Your counters are prime selling space! Entice impulse purchases with countertop displays and merchandisers.
• Clothing Racks – If you sell clothing make sure you have the right displays.  For clothing: use multi-tier or 4 way racks to pair tops with bottoms to show how coordinated outfits will look.
• Shelving & Hooks – Use shelving to create interesting new displays.  Add new types of merchandise hooks for your slatwall, gridwall or pegboard displays to display more items in new and interesting ways.  Shelving hooks are one of the most cost-effective supplies you can add to your visual merchandising tool kit.
• Acrylic Displays – Help your merchandise really shine through with acrylic displays.  Not only are these displays durable they are versatile available in a range of sizes and shapes.  There are specialty displays available to show off everything from shoes to school supplies.
• Display Tables – Entice shoppers to stop and look with display tables placed in strategic locations throughout your store.  Create visually appealing displays on your tables that make them irresistible and convenient to shop.
• Shopping bags, tissue paper – Customers remember the finishing touches so make a good lasting impression through your shopping bags and tissue paper.  Don’t get caught short of these essentials. It’s a good idea to order and keep a good supply on hand.

For the widest selection of retail store fixtures and supplies for Back to School visit www.discountshelving.com.

© Copyright 2010 Discount Shelving & Displays, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

Retailers, it’s time to start preparing for your summer sales.  While things are heating up outside, you want to create a cool and inviting atmosphere to lure shoppers inside!  Following are some smart ways to make your store a bright spot for customers this summer:

1.  Window Displays – Your window display is your free advertising space!  It offers you the opportunity to catch  your potential customer’s attention, enticing them to find out more about what is inside your store.

Create a bright and visually interesting window display for summer.  Keep it balanced, simple and colorful.  Use cool bright summer colors.  Note that the hot color trends for summer 2010 include greens, reds, soft pinks, mauve and neutrals, along with bright almost neon accents.  Also, white and indigo blue make great anchor colors for your summer window displays.  Consider fun colorful promotional rope lights or bold reusable window letter clings for added impact.

Choose your focal points for your display by selecting the product(s) that will most appeal to your target audience.  Make sure these products are displayed at eye level.

Be creative! Summer is the perfect time to be whimsical and fun with your displays.  Use summer props, but, don’t overdo it.  You don’t want to create a cluttered display which makes it hard for customers to focus.

2.  Use mannequins to display your summer merchandise.  In addition to being eye-catching, mannequins show your customers what your merchandise will look on them.  You can use your mannequins to display various merchandise at once such as beach wear, hats, sunglasses, footwear, jewelry, watches and more.

Budget-friendly forms can also be used to display summer merchandise such as t-shirts and bathing suits.  In fact, light-weight shell forms can be displayed hanging from ceilings.  Air conditioning or any air
 movement will actually spin the forms giving it motion and added visual appeal.

3.  Place summer merchandise near the front of the store or in an area that can be easily spotted right away as your customers enter your shop. Keep in mind that some people can be turned off when they can’t spot what they saw in your window display in your store fairly quickly.  Place other desirable summer or sale items in different areas of your store and use retail signs to point out them in the right direction.

 4. Place sale dump bins and tables with older inventory you want to move in strategic locations near registers to encourage impulse buys.  Portable sale bins are also great for outdoors sidewalk displays. Every bargain hunter loves a sidewalk sale.

5. Place retail signage, sale banners and even balloons outdoors to advertise your sales.  Red, white and blue flags, bunting and pennants help to create visual excitement outside of your store.

6.  Hang summer clothing on portable clothing racks and move them outside or place in different strategic locations in your store.

7.  Set the right mood with good lighting, fresh summer scents and music.  Play summer inspired tunes in your store like The Beach Boys or Caribbean themed songs.

8. Finally, be sure to let your customers know about upcoming sales and any new merchandise that you have planned for the summer!  Invite them back with coupons, discounts or other rewards.  At www.DiscountShelving.com we regularly offer promotional discounts and coupons.  To sign-up to receive our latest offers click here.

What are some of your summer merchandising tips? Let us know in the comment section below!

Retailers are always looking for fresh ways to merchandise their stores. Fortunately there are plenty of solutions available that to help attract potential customers.  Among the most popular and inexpensive ways to create visual excitement outside of stores, especially during the summer, are banners, pennants and flags.  Colorful pennant strands and banners are tried and true ways to increase retail foot traffic.  Currently, red, white and blue nylon flags that sport words like Sale, Welcome and Open, patriotic U.S. flag pennants, as well as buntings that fan out, are selling from www.DiscountShelving.com at a fast clip.  Customers launching or “re-launching” their stores are choosing our convenient Grand Opening Kit, which comes complete with a 36” x 36” plastic sign, 100 feet of pennant flags and two 36” fan buntings.  Need more ideas? Check out our sidewalk signs, and other displays solutions at www.DiscountShelving.com.

Retail sales are looking up for Easter.  According to the NFR’s 2010 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $118.60, up from $116.59 last year. Total spending is estimated to reach $13.03 billion.

The typical Easter consumer will spend $17.29 on candy and $18.16 on gifts. Other holiday purchases include clothing ($19.03), food ($37.45), flowers ($7.84), decorations ($6.34) and greeting cards ($6.30).  When it comes to buying Easter merchandise, most Americans will shop at discount (64.8%) and department stores (33.2%). People will also head to specialty stores such as florists or gift/greeting-card stores (22.0%), online (13.1%), specialty clothing stores (7.0%) and catalogs (3.7%).

Gear Up for Your Easter Sales

It’s not too late to gear up for those potential sales! Make the right impression with your customers by updating your supply of bags, tissue paper and gift boxes.  Also, don’t forget bright new signage. Freshen up your color palette for these items.  Go from dark to light by choosing pastels or vibrant hues like purple and orange.  For your sales signage try fluorescent colored signs like pink, yellow and green.  There are plenty of fun color options now available.

© 2010 Discount Shelving & Displays.