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A window display says a lot about your business
Saturday, October 17, 2009 | No comments posted.
Arlene Soto
Is a nice display window important for a retail business?
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Your window is the view you have to draw that customer into your retail store. If people walking past find the merchandise interesting, they will stop and look further. Your drive-by traffic will not notice individual items, but might be attracted by bright colors, good lighting and a full array of items. Drivers may make note of the location and come back later.
So what constitutes a nice window display?
• The display should be seasonal — Christmas, Easter, summer, spring, fall, football, etc. Have fun with strange holiday themes. Did you know Nov. 14 has been established as National Pickle Day? Just imagine the fun you can have decorating your retail window with a pickle motif and explaining to all customers the significance of your theme. If you aren’t good at artistic display, this might be a project the marketing class at the community college would be willing to undertake.
• Make it attractive using a variety of colors, shapes, textures and sizes of merchandise. Bright colors attract attention. A shiny silver tray looks great next to a textured pillow. Vary the height of items in the window to keep the customer’s eye moving around the display. Look at other retail stores. What attracts you to a window? What turns you away? Take a camera with you to capture ideas. Borrow items from the store down the block to use in your window and give them credit. Nothing is better than a little cross-promotion in the same town.
• Collect display material wherever you can. Use merchandise display catalogues and Web sites or collect items from garage sales, flea markets, the woods or the dollar store. A good display doesn’t have to be expensive. Use your newest merchandise or put in the best sale items with a big sale sign.
• Make sure the window is spotless and all lights work. Wash the outside at least twice a week, sweep the sidewalk and paint that front door if it needs it. Clean the inside as well. Nothing is worse than dead bugs in the window to turn away a prospective customer.
• Change your window display at least once a month or more. A great window display will bring them in the door. A clean and friendly atmosphere inside will bring them back.
(Arlene M. Soto is the Director of the Southwestern Business Development Center. To ask a question call 756-6445, e-mail asoto@socc.edu, or write 2455 Maple Leaf, North Bend, OR 97459.)
Is a nice display window important for a retail business?
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Your window is the view you have to draw that customer into your retail store. If people walking past find the merchandise interesting, they will stop and look further. Your drive-by traffic will not notice individual items, but might be attracted by bright colors, good lighting and a full array of items. Drivers may make note of the location and come back later.
So what constitutes a nice window display?
• The display should be seasonal — Christmas, Easter, summer, spring, fall, football, etc. Have fun with strange holiday themes. Did you know Nov. 14 has been established as National Pickle Day? Just imagine the fun you can have decorating your retail window with a pickle motif and explaining to all customers the significance of your theme. If you aren’t good at artistic display, this might be a project the marketing class at the community college would be willing to undertake.
• Make it attractive using a variety of colors, shapes, textures and sizes of merchandise. Bright colors attract attention. A shiny silver tray looks great next to a textured pillow. Vary the height of items in the window to keep the customer’s eye moving around the display. Look at other retail stores. What attracts you to a window? What turns you away? Take a camera with you to capture ideas. Borrow items from the store down the block to use in your window and give them credit. Nothing is better than a little cross-promotion in the same town.
• Collect display material wherever you can. Use merchandise display catalogues and Web sites or collect items from garage sales, flea markets, the woods or the dollar store. A good display doesn’t have to be expensive. Use your newest merchandise or put in the best sale items with a big sale sign.
• Make sure the window is spotless and all lights work. Wash the outside at least twice a week, sweep the sidewalk and paint that front door if it needs it. Clean the inside as well. Nothing is worse than dead bugs in the window to turn away a prospective customer.
• Change your window display at least once a month or more. A great window display will bring them in the door. A clean and friendly atmosphere inside will bring them back.
(Arlene M. Soto is the Director of the Southwestern Business Development Center. To ask a question call 756-6445, e-mail asoto@socc.edu, or write 2455 Maple Leaf, North Bend, OR 97459.)
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