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!

DEER PARK, NY,  Discount Shelving & Displays (www.discountshelving.com), a leading retail store fixtures supplier, announces availability of the new Majestic Series clothing rack line.  These contemporary garment racks feature attractive dark grey steel finish capped with filigree flourishes. 

“Boutique owners interested in a fresh, contemporary and more feminine look in merchandise displays will appreciate the Majestic Series line,” says Tim Enright, president of Discount Shelving & Displays, Inc. “In addition to being contemporary, attractive and functional, this line is affordable.” At Discount Shelving customers can find the Majestic Series clothing racks starting at under $100.00.

The Majestic Series boutique-style clothing rack line available from Discount Shelving includes:

•  Majestic One-Arm Clothing Rack
• Majestic Four-Way Clothing Rack
• Majestic Single-Bar Rolling Clothing Rack
• Majestic Double-Bar Rolling Garment Rack
• Majestic Round Garment Rack, Two-Tier
• Majestic Three Piece Table

About Discount Shelving & Displays

Since 1995, Discount Shelving & Displays has been a leading source for store fixtures and displays. We import, distribute and manufacture high quality products. Our extensive inventory, low prices and quality service ensures that we have what stores need to be successful. Among the many products Discount Shelving & Displays carries include: gondola shelving, slatwall, gridwall, showcases, counters, mannequins, clothing racks, shelving, clothing hangers, retail signage, tagging guns, jewelry displays, gift boxes, tissue paper shopping bags and more.

For more information visit: www.discountshelving.com or call: 1-888-957-4353.  Customers can also visit our showroom at: 698 Long Island Avenue, Deer Park, NY  11729.

In retail, creating the right look is one of the key ingredients to sales success. Smart use of displays and accessories can help put your best merchandise forward.

As you put together your retail displays remember that you want to make a positive impact as soon as a potential customer walks through your door. That first impression will often prove the amount of time they will spend in your store. Keep in mind that most people only give you one chance to make a good first impression. Also, it takes just seconds, a glance for them to form an opinion about your store.

When merchandising, pay careful attention to everything from lighting and store layout, to traffic flow and retail store signage.  Strategic product presentation will also help you make a great impression. One of the best ways to attract your customer’s attention quickly is to use face-out presentations.  Face-out merchandising means having the front part of a product facing the customer.  If you sell books or music, it means titles and CDs are displayed on shelves or easels, with the covers facing the buyer.  Showing just the spines of books or CDs in a bookcase, requires the purchaser to be motivated to work hard to find anything they may want, let alone catch their attention to even want to try!

If you’re selling clothes, face-out merchandising is even more critical.  Don’t hide your merchandise by making the mistake of just hanging clothing on racks where only the edge of a sleeve or shoulder is visible.  For a shopper, it’s like having to dig through a closet aimlessly with no direction.  Not many customers would bother sifting through this type of display without any eye-catching triggers to entice them.

Think about using mannequins and forms to display your clothes. They offer one of the best options for an attractive face-out presentation. It’s proven that “people like to see clothing on people”, to help visualize how clothing will look on themselves. Place clothing forms near folded items to entice customers. Mannequins are typically used to attract attention in display windows and inside to lead buyers to a particular section of a store where often racks of similar clothing set-ups.

If you don’t have the floor space or budget for mannequins, a great alternative is to use apparel racks and accessories.  Many stores use apparel racks and accessories that are designed to create effective face-out merchandising.

Which racks and accessories offer eye-grabbing appeal?  The following products have proven to help increase sales:

Two-way racks and four-way racks with face-out arms present are compact, perfect for the center of the floor.

Spiral racks offer a cascade effect from which you can hang and feature the same item in different colors.

When capacity is an issue, supplement your round clothing racks, and double bar clothing racks with clothing rack toppers.

Made of wire, glass, or wood, you can display face-out signage or forms on top of these rack toppers.

On walls, use straight-outs, waterfalls and slant arms. Unlike shelves straight-outs, waterfalls, and slant arms give you the opportunity to practically “reach out” to your customers.

When it comes to merchandising, don’t be shy, grab and entice your customers with face-out displays.