Finding Store Displays and Fixtures

Great resources to optimally display your merchandise

Your inventory is critical and your space and location are important, but don't underestimate the importance of the image and the feel you project to your customers through your store fixtures. Often when retailers rent space, they may inherit lighting, displays and even furniture. If any of this fits in with your store's image, by all means use it. But if not, it is worth the investment to buy what you need to project your brand and to give your customers a comfortable buying experience. When selecting store displays and fixtures, you will want to consider:

1. Your image. If you are selling handmade folk art you will choose very different displays than if you are selling electronics.
2. Optimum space and paths through the store to give your customers a comfortable buying experience and guide them efficiently through the store
3. Your budget. Buy what you need, but be creative in order to keep down your expenses.

Project the right image

Consider what you want your store to say to customers. If you are selling expensive jewelry, you will want to highlight individual pieces with a lot of space, using velvet pedestals or displays rather than paper cards. If you are selling handicrafts, you will want to buy well-chosen wooden displays and furniture rather than the glass and chrome you might choose if you are selling computers.
retail branding including store atmosphere.

Choose your displays

There are many, many vendors who sell store displays and equipment online, so no matter where you live, today it is easy to find good displays and equipment.

Lighting is critical

You can have the best displays and merchandise in the world, but if you don't light your merchandise properly, you won't reach your optimum selling potential.

Don't forget bags, boxes and packing materials

Keeping up with your bag and box needs doesn't have to be a chore. It pays to buy attractive bags printed with your logo, particularly if you are in a mall where customers carrying your bags from store to store provide on-the-spot advertising.

• Wooden or other opaque shelves can throw shadows and even hide the merchandise below. Consider glass shelves that enable customers to better see your merchandise.
• Even if you have limited space, leave enough area to properly display your products so your customers can see it. Display your featured products at eye level.
• Avoid what is often called the "butt brush". A customer is examining an item, making a buying decision, and someone walks by and brushes her from behind because of the narrow aisles. This is death to an impulse buy.

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