I Like My Windows Like I Like My Men…

This window was quick, easy, and cheap!  Gotta love that!

Materials used…

children’s set of watercolors/watercolor paper (cut into 2 3/4 x 4 3/4 rectangles)/rubber cement/foam board/fishing wire

Just a Little Display Love

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

Let’s talk signage.

Some thoughts, ideas, and musings on in-store signage.

• Have your sale signs, event signs, return policy, etc., printed by a professional.  Anything that you put up in your store helps to define your brand.  If you want to be viewed as a professional business, your store needs to reflect that.
• If your signs are going to be handmade, they should be typed up and printed.
• No neon.  You do not need neon paper to get the attention of customers.  Well placed signs with a bold and simple font should do the trick.
• Leave the scrapbook supplies at home (unless, of course, you own a scrapbook specialty shop).  Do away with cutesy borders, patterned paper, unnecessary embellishments on your store signage.  Sale signs, directional signs, etc., should not distract from your lovely merchandise.  (Ok…I DO use stamps…a lot…only letters and numbers though…no snowmen, daisies, or horses).
• Get a paper cutter.  Use your paper cutter.
• Pick a font and be consistent.  Again, this goes back to branding.  Try to find a clean font that fits your store.  You don’t want one that’s difficult to read or too flowery.  Use this font in your advertising, on your business cards, on your in-store signage, etc.
• Proofread everything.  Proofread it again.  Then have someone else proof it.  And maybe someone else, too.  I can’t say it enough.  Grammatical errors have no place in a business.  If you are unsure where to put an apostrophe, Google it.  Maybe even Google it some more.  If you really struggle with spelling and grammar, keep a notebook with your findings.  This way, you’ll have a quick reference guide for the next time you are making a sign.  Some common errors I’ve seen…Womens Clothing.  Womans’ Clothing.  Childrens’ Clothing.  Kid’s Clothing.

There are many more things I could add to this list, but alas, that is all for today!  Feel free to comment other suggestions/tips/pet-peeves on this wonderful topic!

(In case you’re wondering:  Women’s Clothing.  Children’s Clothing.  Kids’ Clothing.)

Windows from Yesteryear.

The following pics are from windows I did last spring at Tagg 2.  I wasn’t blogging then, so I wasn’t trying to get the perfect shot..as you can see for yourself!

This was a window that I did with paint chips. Last spring was all about color at Tagg 2!

The paint chip garland was so cute. I still have and have been planning on hanging it in my daughter’s playroom…soon….

And the paper flower window from last spring…

I made both the paint chip garland and the paper flower display while I was working on the floor…my customers loved it!  I did many many demos (and gave away many paper flowers in the process).  I can’t tell you how many times people said they couldn’t wait to come back to see the final product.  If you don’t have people stopping and admiring your window display, it might be time to change things up!

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

I love using bowls of all sizes to store my merchandise. The white bowls help to create borders so the merchandise can shine.

There are those mini clips again! The clips and twine help give some height to this display.

Displaying these bar boards in a grouping together allows for easy shopping for customers…no searching for other colors!

A collection of neutral kitchenware makes an impact with a variety of textures and natural hues.

Spring will always be a green season! Grass-inspired kitchenware is grouped together to make a display that pops. Merchandise gets a quick makeover that shouts, “Spring is coming!”

Books sell better when customers can see their covers. These small impulse-purchase books make a statement on a blank wall.

(not such a) Cloudy Day

Well, of course I write this post on the first sunny day in about a week! We installed our first spring window in about mid-January. It was a quick and easy window that was thought up on the fly. I received the shipment with my lovely raindrop merchandise in it and knew that I wanted it in the window. This was by far the cheapest, easiest, and quickest window I’ve ever done. I had “snow” laying on the floor of the window through the holidays. I grabbed fishing wire, nails, and a hammer and, POOF! I had my first spring window all done!

*Note: I say FIRST spring window, because I change out my windows monthly!

On the Line.

Nails. String. Mini clothespins. Fabulous paper products.

This simple display came from a, “Uh oh, where are we gonna put this now?” moment.  Turns out, it’s a keeper.

Easy to shop…that’s what it’s all about!

And I couldn’t stop there…of course.  I added a little clothes line to one of my display cupboards.

It’s in the Bag.

Latest obsession for display pieces…paper bags.  I love that they are small, versatile, and neutral (no competing with the products!). I also like everything to have a home so that customers can find things easily and their eyes have somewhere to rest.  I am not a thrift store and I don’t want to have to make my customers dig through my inventory!

Kraft lunch bags: roll ’em up and nail ’em to the walls.

Greeting cards in vibrant colors have a home in a kraft lunch bags. I used mini clothes pins to show off a few favorites.