Do and Don't: Printing Price Signs

Printing prices or handwriting them? Of course handwriting them is so much easier but it also comes across as home-made and very unprofessional unless the handwriting is consistent and beautifully executed.

 

DO: If your handwriting is less than perfect, opt for a printer. It adds business credibility and supports the products’ value.

 CAN BE IMPROVED: Selling formal wear requires a higher standard than those selling regular casual wear. This is due to the difference in price points and also product values. In more cases than not, a professionally finished price tag is necessary.

 

 

Do and Don't: Windows Deserve Respect

Windows are there to SELL to customers. They are usually the first thing customers see and therefore, the start of a selling process. Placing inventory boxes or garbage right in this location just because there is room, is counter productive to what the store is trying to achieve.

DO: Allocating space around a display builds both business and product credibility. It enhances the perceived value of the products displayed and gives it the respect it deserves. This window effectively conveys this to customers.

DON’T: AVOID placing items that do not belong in a shop window! What an otherwise is a beautiful and eye catching display is ruined by the inventory boxes behind the display and the garbage adjacent to it.

 

Do and Don't: A Window is NOT a Stockroom

It never ceases to amaze me when retailers fail to treat their shop windows with the respect it deserves. What a wasted opportunity– a chance to attract attention and sell the very merchandise on display. Too bad!

DO: With space at a premium the window is used as an introduction to what customers may expect inside the store. What an inviting display!

DON’T: This picture says it all– how the retailer simply must not care anymore. It does not matter whether one is a discount retailer or even a resell shop. Merchandise must be treated with dignity or else customers fail to appreciate its value.

Do and Don't: Brand Names on Windows

Ever been tricked into entering a store thinking they'd have an item they really don't? Doesn't that just tick you off?! That's what happened to me in this 'don't' photo.

DO: Brand names attract customer attention. In this case, the Hunter brand is supported by the Hunter rain boots displayed immediately below the sign. This makes shopping easy by informing customers the shop has the brand and as one can immediately see, carries an assortment of Hunter merchandise.

DON'T: Where's the Crocs?! I made the mistake of thinking (as I am sure others were led to believe too) that Crocs now make these pretty wedged sandals displayed in the window.  I was anticipating these super comfy sandals but when I got inside, I was informed that these very sandals weren't made by Crocs. So why label the window Crocs? Maybe it was a trick to get me inside the shop to try them on? Well, as a trick to get me in, it worked, but what a disappointment!

Do and Don't: Light Up!

Do you know that the brightest stores catches the most eyes? Ditto with the brightest spots inside a selling space, hence features and focals gets the most light. I am not saying to equally light up the entire floor, as lighting when used properly, can create drama and lead the eye from one point to the next. That is why I often feel bad for stores who are not aware of this. Not only are they losing "eyes" they are also losing sales.

DO: A nice bright clean window display attracts a good amount of attention. The lighting is bright enough to fight the outside glare so merchandise on display is easily seen. Not only does this window display attract attention, I also notice customers walking in looking for a specific piece they saw in this window.

DON'T: When a space is dark, most customers often ignore it. Such a waste of a great opportunity to showcase the shop's merchandise. It was difficult to take a good photo of this window due to the reflection from the main mall corridor. I had to struggle to find an angle that shows the merchandise best. The reflection of brighter things across this window is more dominant than the very products being sold.

Do and Don't: Customers Pay Attention to Details

DO: This window display shows attention to detail. Everything is well laid out and the back graphics support the overall theme.

DON'T: Right across the mall hallway from the window shown above, is this window below. An otherwise beautiful window display is ruined by the backdrop. Do they think customers will not see this detail?! The implications do not stop here, what about supporting product values or rather, enhancing them?

Do and Don't: Worn and Torn

DO: Storefront or window signs are a great way to attract customer attention. Hence careful inspection of this for signs of wear and tear is a MUST. After all, this sets the customers' first impression of your store.

DON'T: Not only is this sign worn around the edges, there is a big hole right in the middle too!

Do and Don't: The Romance of the Holidays

DO: A select few pieces is showcased dramatically with the use of colour and simple props to convey a strong message of holiday gift giving.

DON'T: A holiday window display needs more appeal than the one seen below. The display not only fails to multiple sell within a set, it hardly encourages customers to even want the items displayed. Jewelry is a gift of love and romance. Its absence in this window is simply too jarring.

Do and Don't: What is Being Sold?

DO: Having text on the window acts like a title to the story being sold. It immediately conveys the store's message to the shopper. Crucial to the placement of the text is its position in the window. It should not hinder sightlines to the main selling point which is around the mannequins' chest area. Placing the text around hip level of the mannequins is a smart move.CAN DO BETTER: In this window, the text is more prominent that the products being promoted. The positioning of the text covers the window's main selling point which is right around the mannequins' chest area.

Do and Don't: Where's the Romance?

DO: What a beautiful and eye catching jewelry display. Not only is the display eye to waist level, the message is conveyed through a fairy tale story. Makes me wish upon a star for the necklace on display. DON'T: This jewelry display is simply too low. Right at eye level, one sees a blank wall. There is also nothing special displayed, just a mass merchandising presentation. Where's the romance in this?

Do and Don't: Is that Junk I see on the Window?

DO: A great seasonal window display-- it effectively conveys target market, expected price points and product selection being promoted. DON'T: So sad they ran out of space for inventory and they just stacked all boxes right behind this window display. Note that customers can see past a display- whether it is in the window, behind the cash desk or tucked underneath a wall display.

Do and Don't: Windows as Selling Opportunities

DO: Windows are a great opportunity to commence the selling process. Take this opportunity to dress mannequins in the latest arrivals and entice customers to come in for a closer look. DON'T: Apart from being bare, this window mannequin gets the wrong kind of attention. This also shows lack of attention and care for business.

Do and Don't: Window Message

DO: This is a great window display promoting men's leather jackets. The store layered the exact same message three times in a single glance- front window graphics, the mannequin and the large poster behind. This achieves greater impact. Besides, it is always more effective to tell one story at a time. DON'T: The mannequins and graphics on the glass promote back to school clothing. However the large graphics behind the mannequins show a more format approach. --a woman in a tux and a man in a suit, mixed messages anyone?

Do and Don't: Body Form Displays

DO: Visual clues such as these body forms convey where these shirts can be found. In this case, the body forms are part of the table display making shopping easy. To enhance this display visually, the green body form should be above the green shirts and same with the brown Alaska shirts. DON'T: The mannequins behind the display table should ideally be sporting the very shirts being sold on the table.

Do and Don't: Valentine Window Display

I realize that not all retailers can afford to hire professional visual merchandisers to do their window displays all the time. This is just fine, when having the right foundation (in this case, fixtures) and by applying some shape to the set-up can go a long way in creating an eye catching display.
DO: (Above)

1. Nesting tables set a good foundation that creates interest in a display.

2. The products placed from top to bottom invites the eye to view the entire display.

3. The diagonal line created by the bags provide eye direction.

4. The backdrop stops the eye from meandering elsewhere.

5. The strong use of the colour red cannot help but stop the eye.

DON'T:

1. Half hearted attempts at this Valentine display fail to attract positive attention.

2. The sparse merchandising and haphazardly placed merchandise look extremely unprofessional and thus, devalue the products.

3. There is really nothing that attracts the eye to this low display. Eye level is really the interior of the shop which just adds to visual clutter.

TO DO THEMED WINDOWS WELL, YOU GOTTA DO IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT

Do and Don't: Christmas Hangover

DO: Keeping props the same scale as your products supports the window's purpose of merchandise promotion. DON'T: In this window, props catch the eye more than products do. Besides, props take centre stage because they are eye level. This set-up does a poor job of promoting actual store merchandise.

Do and Don't: Lighting

DO: Keeping some areas dark in a window display draws the eye to the bright spot--or wherever the retailer intends to draw attention upon. In this case, to sell a specific lifestyle. DON'T: Keeping the store dark is just bad for business.

Do and Don't: Window Selling Opportunity

DO: There were thousands of people downtown during the Pride Parade weekend. In keeping with this, the store showed their support while promoting their merchandise.DON'T: In contrast, this store missed a great selling opportunity!

Do and Don't: Sale Signs

DO: These sale signs maintain perceived product values. DON'T: On the other hand, these signs greatly devalue the merchandise.

Do and Don't: Lighting Window Displays

DO: Good lighting attracts attention and highlights merchandise. DON'T: Who forgot to turn the lights on? Even then, do I really want to look at this window?!