How To Set Up an Apparel Store Window Display

Setting up a window display in your apparel store is a simple yet highly effective way to attract potential customers. As people walk by your display, they will notice your product and hopefully want to check it out for themselves. Getting potential customers in the door is the first step to making a sell, and a window display is a pivotal tool that will help you achieve this and more. However, there are some things you should know before attempting to set one up.

Tell a Story

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the secret to creating an effective window display is to tell a story. This rule holds true for all retail establishments, but it's especially true in the apparel store industry. Pulling a large shelf filled with various shirts, pants and other apparel garments in front of your store's window isn't going to cut it. Customers will have little-to-no connection with lacking window displays such as this.

So, how do you tell a story in an apparel store window display? The most effective way to convey a story is by using a mannequin. Shoppers naturally relate to mannequins, envisioning themselves in place of the mannequin. You can use this to your advantage by setting up a theme or story that includes well-dressed mannequins displaying your store's product.

Tips on Setting Up Mannequins In a Window Display

• Stick with a single type of mannequin. Filling your window display with several different styles and shapes of mannequins will create a cluttered, messy appearance that does your store no justice.
• Don't limit yourself to only displaying traditional apparel item on your store's mannequins, but also include accessories like jewelry, handbags, caps, etc.
• Play around with your mannequins' positions to accurately convey a story. For instance, you could raise the hands of your mannequins so it looks like they are playing volleyball.

Keep The Windows Clean!

I always cringe when I walk by a retail store's window display that has dirty windows. It only takes a couple minutes to go over the windows with a class cleaner, and doing so will drastically improve the display's aesthetics and overall appeal. Allowing your windows to gather dust and dirt will take away from its natural beauty, which ultimately reduces its effectiveness at attracting potential customers to your store.

End Cap Setup Tips

Just as their name suggests, end caps are shelving units which attach to the end of long gondolas Rather than allowing this space to go unused, retail stores and businesses can place end caps here to display product. Doing so opens up a whole new world of product display options, allowing business owners to move product more easily. But what types of products should you display on end caps? And how do you encourage customers to buy them? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

Use a Banner

A typical end cap will feature a large banner or sign at the top to catch shoppers' attention. Some stores overlook the importance of end cap banners, which ultimately leads to a loss in sales. Sure, you may receive some sales here and there, but a visible banner or sign is necessary to really motivate shoppers to buy the products on an end cap. After all, most shoppers focus their attention on the actual aisles rather than the end caps, so it's up to you to get their attention.

Large Product First

Assuming you intend to display several different types of products on the end cap, it's recommended that you display the taller product first so it's easier for shoppers to see. Ideally, the tallest product should be displayed directly underneath the sign or banner. Following this method will maximize your end cap's visibility, which in turn should increase your sales.

Note: you'll probably need to adjust the shelf heights of your end cap according to your products' height. End caps are quick and easy to adjust, taking just a few minutes to raise and lower the shelves as you see fit.

Choosing The Right Products For an End Cap

Now, let's talk about which products to display on an end cap. The truth is that there's no single “best” type of product for and end cap, as every business has its own unique needs and demands. There are some general techniques, however, that will increase your chances of success when using an end cap. For starters, don't be afraid to try and push impulse buy products on the end caps. When a shopper is walking by and notices the product, they may feel inclined to purchase it even through they didn't intend to.

You can also move products on end caps that are nearing its experiment date. If you own or manage a grocery store, for instance, it would be a smart idea to sell bread or other perishables on end caps rather than counting it as shrink in a couple of weeks.

Green Retailing 101: Create a More Environmentally Friendly Business

“Green retailing” is the term used to describe environmentally friendly practices by companies and businesses. Far too many companies turn a blind eye to the footprint they are leaving behind. By incorporating green, environmentally friendly practices into your normal everyday business operations, you’ll gain a number of unique benefits. To learn more about the benefits of green retailing and where to start, keep reading.

More Companies are Going Green

A 2009 study performed by Retail Systems Research found that slightly less than half (49%) of U.S. retailers surveyed supported green, environmentally friendly initiatives. In the following year, however, this number rose dramatically to 61%. What’s even more impressive is that just 4% of retailers surveyed believe going green is a fad.

Benefits of Going Green

Still on the fence about going green with your business? Here are just a few of the top benefits of going green…

• Reduces overhead costs (electricity, gas, water, etc.)
• Possibility to receive federal and state tax credits
• Attracts environmentally conscious consumers whom only want to purchase from green retailer
• Creates a positive example for other retailers to follow
• Gain additional press exposure for green practices
• Better sustainability

How To Go Green With Your Business

After reading the green benefits above, you’re probably wondering where to start. The truth is that there are dozens of environmentally friendly changes business owners can make, one of the easiest being the use of recycled material. Most grocery stores and supermarkets have already made the switch to recycled paper materials.

Whether you operate a grocery store, apparel store, electronics store or any other type of retail establishment, you should look into recycled materials. There are several companies out there who specialize in recycled materials, and they oftentimes cost less and perform just as well as their non-eco-friendly counterpart.

Another step retailers can take to make their business greener is using energy-efficient lighting. Incandescent light bulbs are the worst in terms of energy-efficiency, but unfortunately they are the most commonly used. Business owners choose them due to their inexpensive price. It’s not uncommon to find incandescent bulbs available for sale for $.30 cents or less, making them the least expensive. However, you’ll end up paying more in the long run in the form of a higher electricity bill.

Instead of using incandescent bulbs in your store or business, try using compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, both of which are last longer and use less energy.

The Growing Trend of Mobile Payments In The Retail Industry

One reason why retailers should consider accepting mobile payments is because it offers a greater level of security and protection against fraud. Last year, Target, Michaels, Neiman Marcus and several other major retailer experiences a massive security breach where millions of customers’ credit card and debit card data was stolen – including pin numbers and contact information.

Ease of Use

There’s also a certain simplicity to paying for products on a mobile smartphone or device. Here’s a scenario to consider: you pick up a product and make your way to the checkout lane only to discover that 20-30 other shoppers are waiting in line. Depending on the store’s policy and setup, you may be able to pay for the product via your smartphone without standing in line.

Current State of Mobile Payments In The Retail Industry

You might be surprised to learn that some retailers have already begun to accept mobile payments. Google launched their mobile payment solution Google Wallet earlier this year, which allows customers to purchase products via their mobile smartphone from retailers which use PayPass or PayWeave. Google Wallet remains somewhat limited in terms of function due to the fact that retailers must use the two previously mentioned payment processors. However, we’ll likely see some improvements and modifications to this technology in the years to come.

Apple has also expressed interest in designing a mobile payment processor for iPhone users. Nordstorm Inc. and certain food delivery companies currently accept payments via the iPhone or iPad.

What’s Next?

Only time will tell what the future has in store for mobile payment processors in the retail industry, but all of the evidence suggests a growing trend in this direction. It’s highly unlikely that traditional point-of-sale cash registers will become obsolete, but mobile could very well overtake them in terms of popularity within the next few years.