Elegant and Versatile Boutique Displays with Slatwall Fixtures

Between delivery apps and e-commerce, the ability to acquire items is becoming less and less of an issue. However, the shopping experience is still something that can't be virtually simulated. In the face of online retail, brick-and-mortar boutique shops are doing surprisingly well. By offering a complete, refined, and personal retail environment, they provide customers with something that no online store could hope to offer. An elegant tactile experience.

The Boutique Display

Part of the appeal of a boutique store is the feeling that it was made just for you. When a customer walks into a little fashion shop and immediately fall in love with the hat display, you know they'll be back.  The smell of new clothes and real wood shelves are part of the tactile experience of boutique shopping. You want displays that can be rearranged but give the impression of permanence, as if you designed the entire shop around each individual shopping experience.

The Slatwall Display Solution

Many shops achieve this sense of permanence with actual permanence, installing screwed in shelves and simply rotating the products displayed. However, if you love to reinvent your displays ever few weeks, you need something both elegant and versatile. For versatility, there's the wire fence and pegboard method, but these are more attuned to the atmosphere of a hardware store. Instead, consider the benefits of a slatwall display. Solid wood, polished or painted, with subtle horizontal slats down the sides. These slats act like the holes in a pegboard, happily receiving and firmly holding shelves, hooks, and baskets while still providing the class of a solid wood fixture.

Your customers come to your shop for the atmosphere and delightful tactile experience as much as they do for your products. With slatwall displays, you can rearrange your displays again and again without sacrificing a drop of ambiance. For more information about retail displays or for assistance with your new slatwall design ideas, contact us today!

At first glance, the ubiquitous slatwall looks boring and easy to ignore. As a retailer, being forgettable is not desirable.  These 5 accessories can help you have a successful slatwall display.

1) Pegs

One of the most common uses for slat wall is the typical hanging pegs.  It is tempting to stuff as much product on pegs as possible, and use the longest ones available.  However, having a variety and using white space can create an allure.  By using short pegs at the top and limiting items available you can evoke sense of rarity which is highly desirable.

2)Baskets

Wire baskets are frequently used to hold odd-shaped items, and deep bins make the most of space closer to the floor.  Creating a barging bin atmosphere evokes a sense of thrift, even if the item is pricy.  These flexible tools allow you to use different sales techniques in different areas.

3) Video Shelves

The term video shelves is a carry over from the long-ago days when movie rental stores were common. Yet, they are anything but legacy items.  The slight tilt is perfect for delicate items.  Frames, artwork and even high-end foods are all perfect candidates for an upward tilt.

4) Shelves with lips

Life is chaotic.  You want to make your store welcoming for someone with children, elderly, and service animals, and items seem to have lives of their own when succumbing to gravity.  Even if the item is light and takes no damage, the embarrassment isn't easily forgotten. Having a minimal lip can keep items in position without having to secure them in place.

5) Shelves

While they seem plain, being able to convert any wall into a shelf creates endless ways to display items.  It's important to have both wire shelves of many sizes and brackets which allow for glass, wood or metal display surfaces.  Being able to quickly change things up can give your store an invigorating feel and allow for instant transformations.

Slatwall has come off the wall- fixtures that change it up

Among other benefits, the advantage of slatwall is in its modular abilities.  These surfaces can host pegs, waterfall hooks and various types of shelving.  In order to make the most out of slatwall, having an inventory of different hanging implements is important.  That investment is best utilized when other fixtures around the store also require them.

H Figures

At first glance, the H rack seems too plain for good choice in retail, where flashiness abides. However, simplicity sells in a way that gimmicks can't.  By applying restraint to a solid foundation, you target many of the principles of good sales.

4-Way Display

A four-way display is a great way to give a clean, fresh approach to merchandise that is visually different.  Customers are only able to view two sides simultaneously, which makes this a handy transitional item.

Streamline Display & Slatwall Display

Even with limited space, it is important to apply the same principles of simplicity.  Both streamline and slatwall displays can aid in making the most of narrow, small or otherwise tight square footage.

Rotating Slatwall Display

Perhaps the most versatile of the off-the-wall slatwall items are rotating slatwall displays. They can fit smaller shelves, bins and pegs.  With the smallest pegs, the display can have a profile of less than a foot and a half, fitting into tight spots. Add a waterfall hook for clothing and the display becomes a large centerpiece that spans about 4 feet, allowing for a quick revision when temporary cardboard displays exhaust.  Since the main portion is only a foot square, you can easily store it at times when traffic needs change.

Navigating different types of Slatwall Display Fixtures as well as their accessories can feel intimidating.

Slatwall Displays don't have to be boring

Slatwall display fixtures are an eye-catching and versatile way to showcase your merchandise whether you're selling clothing, jewelry, books, or a variety of other items. Taking advantage of these displays is just what your business needs to optimize your store space.

Types of Fixtures and Accessories

There are a few different types of slatwall displays such as H-displays, 4-way displays, streamline displays, and the slatwall cubic tower. Each type has its merits.

H-displays, true to their name, take the shape of an 'H.' The shape is ideal for shelving, straight arms, waterfalls, and baskets - accessories which take up more space horizontally.

4-way displays and cubic towers are perfect for jewelry and smaller items that you might display with smaller accessories like hooks and brackets.

The streamline display - a vertical panel of slatwall attached to a base - is the simplest and perhaps the most versatile. No one type of accessory is ideal for streamline displays, so they lend themselves to any type of display you might need. Whether that includes the use of shelving or brackets, streamline displays are optimal for whatever you sell.

The Benefits

Whether a streamline or 4-way display, any slatwall display can make use of any type of accessory. Each display will differ from the next which is what makes these displays so unique.

Slatwall display fixtures are also ideal for small spaces. In a smaller store, slatwall saves space and allows you to display all kinds of items if you have the right accessories. This allows for an easy exchange of items which is good if you have merchandise that is constantly moving.

Finally, slatwall displays are neat and organized. Instead of displaying merchandise on tables or on the floor, slatwall brings your items up to eye level. Customers will like that they don't have to bend down or rummage through items, and employees will appreciate the ease of keeping slatwall displays clean and organized.

Slatwall displays are popular among retailers. Maybe they're right for you, too.

Slatwall Display Fixtures: A Retailer's Savior

Slatwall display fixtures have become one of the most popular solutions for retailers worldwide. As consumer trends intensify the competition between in-store and online shopping, it is incredibly important that brick-and-mortar establishments promote efficient business operations while taking the necessary measures to create an aesthetically pleasing and unparalleled shopping experience for their customers.

Aside from looking nice and providing the sense of organization, slatwall display fixtures have become a leading retail solution for several reasons.

Easy to Use

Once the slatwall display has been assembled, merchandising is as easy as hooking on the attachments. Additionally, because of this set up, reorganizing products or re-vamping store sections for a fresh look is less of a burden on the staff.

Variety of Uses

Whether it be clothing, accessories, or any other product, Slatwall can be organized to effectively display anything. Retailers find this handy when staging marketing materials like 'sale' signs and promotions near the related products or brochures near the checkout area. The possibilities are inexhaustible.

Versatility

Slatwall fixtures and shelving come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes to account for the wide range of merchandising needs. They can even be purchased 'unfinished' allowing for specific coordination and customization. The very creative retailers take advantage of the flexibility and play with different combinations of styles and sizes to create a unique visual experience for their customers.

Durable

Slatwall display fixtures are easy to clean and difficult to damage making it a long-term, affordable investment for businesses paying imperative attention to their bottom-line. The longer life expectancy also comes with the strength to support the weight of large amounts of merchandise and even just the heavier products.

Slatwall display fixtures have risen to popularity, and deserving so.

Qualities of LED Lights in Retail Store

It is hard to underestimate how important good lighting is in a retail store. It creates the ambiance, and when done correctly, it can entice customers to buy more merchandise. This is true of display case lighting as well, and more retailers are finding that using LED lighting in display cases has distinct advantages over using traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulb lighting. What are these advantages?

Less Heat 

Only 10% of the energy from incandescent bulbs is converted into visible light.  The other 90% is converted into heat. This not only wastes energy; it heats items in display cases, and depending on the merchandise, can fade and crack them over time. This does nothing to increase sales.

LED bulbs, on the other hand, produce very little heat.  Display case items stay cool and as good looking as the day you placed them in the case.

Improved Visibility

Merchandise beneath LED lighting simply shines brighter than merchandise illuminated by incandescent lights or fluorescent lights. Well-lit display case items attract customer attention and hold it longer. The longer a customer is interested in an item, the greater the chances of making a sale.

And unlike conventional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs that shine light across a wide area, the light from LED bulbs can be aimed at specific pieces of merchandise. This direct beam of light highlights items in ways that diffused, sometimes dull traditional lighting can not.

LED bulbs not only provide great light, increasing customer attention and the likelihood of a sale. They are also 75% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and they last up 25 times longer.

The Benefits of LED Lights in Display Cases

Several benefits come with LED lighting in display cases. The verities of power consumption savings are appealing; as is grabbing the customer's attention. There are even upticks in sales.

What makes it Different

Unlike incandescent or fluorescent lighting, LED is a low maintenance, efficient option. Their lifespan is typically 50,000 hours; they produce far less heat; and have a low power consumption rate. For display purposes alone, LED lights come in various colors to create a spectacular sight.

Cost Considerations

With a 50,000-hour lifespan, LED boasts a drastically lowered replacement cost create reduced maintenance costs. Halogen and incandescent lighting offer higher heat generation. Higher heat is often detrimental to items such as food, soft metals, and textiles. This often costs businesses high-end losses on their monthly inventory. Fluorescent lighting proposes very little improvement; meanwhile, LED lights are optimal for display. LED lights are choice for preservation.

They're ideal for cost reduction, because of their low heat generation; energy consumption; and low maintenance costs.

Consumers Drift to Arresting Displays

When something grabs a customer's attention, they will roam over to inspect. Anything hosted in a display is, by design, a blue-chip item. Whether the display hosts jewelry, food, clothing, or technological items, LED lighting seizes their attention. With a display case featuring LED lighting, a business increases a product's visibility and its attractiveness. Due to the ambient nature of LED lighting the display produces a merchandise charisma that didn't exist before.

Sales Upticks

Attractiveness factors heavily into sales. LED lighting in a display case prompts users to buy through desire. While it's not possible to force a buyer into something they don't desire, a company can increase sales via this method. Businesses do make higher profits through impulse buys and buyers understand they do so. Many find that when their firm encourages impulsive purchases, their overall return rate is higher. By properly displaying merchandise, the quality is identifiable; thus, buyer's guilt reduces greatly. When buyer's guilt reduces, so, too, do returns. Higher sales and lower returns: the categorical impact on profits becomes immediately recognizable.

Benefits Reign

The benefits of LED lighting in display cases speak for themselves: overall cost reduction, amplified product charisma, better inventory preservation, higher customer interest, and increased sales. If a display case with LED lighting isn't yet on your business' list, consider the extra benefits; reflect on how it's the potential for the exact sales increase you need.

LED Lights into Your Display Cases

From fine jewelry to power tools, your items will present better when properly lit, but relying on ceiling illumination alone will leave shadows on your shelves. Rather than mounting hot spotlights, take the light to your products with LED strip-lights. These energy efficient little lights come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and intensities to suit most of your display needs.

Long Lasting

LEDs can go for years without needing to be changed and are incredibly energy efficient. They have been proven to shine “25 times longer than incandescent lighting” according to The Department of Energy. By choosing to replace your old shelf lights with LEDs you can practically eliminate the hassle of changing out display light bulbs. It could be years before a single one of your shelves goes dark.

Use Less Power

Low power LED strip-lights give you the benefit of lit shelves without hurting your utilities bill. The Department of Energy also confirmed that Energy Star rated LED lights not only  “use at least 75% less energy” than normal light bulbs, but they also send light in only one direction, allowing you to clearly illuminate your products without blinding your customers with low-set lights. This low power consumption also keeps them at much safer and cooler temperatures.

Complementary Colors

Each display's ideal light color is determined by the color of your products. Soft yellow lights will cause gold to glow beneath the display glass while cool blue lights enhance the shine of silver. Even if you're not displaying metals, the rule still holds. Warm colors are complimented by yellow lights and cool colors look best when illuminated in white or blue. LEDs are available in nearly every color temperature and can suit all your colored display needs.

Whether you’re setting up a new display or improving an existing one, LED lights are a great choice for display case lighting. From free standing strip-lights to cases with built-in LED mounts, this energy-efficient new lighting option could be your next great business decision.

Wall Display Cases Draw Buyer's Attention

There are several added benefits to displaying your merchandise in a wall display case. One of those is that it draws a buyer's attention. Setting items apart from the rest, wall display cases create visual appeal and suggest value.

Perceived Value
Placing your higher end items in a wall display case adds perceived value. Instead of resting on a shelf somewhere in your store, setting them apart from everything else will suggest to your customers that they really are worth more. If the higher end items in your store aren't set apart, consider adding a wall display case to draw more attention to them.

Perceived Desirability
Items don't necessarily have to be expensive to deserve time in a wall display case. It's true that higher priced items are often put away for protection, but it's also an excellent place to highlight new items or items you really need to sell. Customers will know there's something more desirable about the items in the display case simply because they're not out on the showroom floor with everything else.

Encourage Interaction
What's the best part about using wall display cases in your business? It encourages customer interaction. Odds are, customers will need you to show them the items and have questions about them. You'll be able to engage them and share valuable information about your products with them, increasing the likelihood of a sale.

Organization
One more perk you'll enjoy with wall display cases are the organization they offer. Everyone's been to a business where items were hard to find because they were disorganized and poorly displayed. Using wall display cases to group like items together and display them so they can be seen and are easily accessible creates a positive and memorable experience for your customers. People are more likely to return to a business that not only looks good but is easy to navigate.
If your retail space isn't using wall display cases, consider some of these benefits they offer. Adding them to your retail space might just be the boost your business needs.

Trophy and Wallcases Can Increase Your Bottom Line

If you own or operate a retail business with items for sale, then you want to make your space as inviting as possible.  Some stores do this by employing lighting in different ways or playing soothing music over the loudspeaker.  The goal is to make your customers comfortable, create a memorable experience for them and encourage them to buy more merchandise.
One way to do this is with trophy and wallcases. How?

Cases Make Use of ALL Your Space:
You are paying for every square foot in your store. So why not get as much as you can out of every square foot?  You can do this by using wallcases. Instead of just using the middle of your space, wallcases let you take advantage of all your space, including the walls. The more items you have on display, the more chances you have of a sale.

Cases Get Customers to Move through Your Entire Store:
It is a fact that if you can get customers to move through your entire store, then they will see more merchandise that might catch their eye. Using wallcases is a simple way to do this. Customers will walk across the store to a far wall to see something interesting in a wallcase. On their way there, they might see something else that they want to buy.

Cases Make Items Seem Special:
Featuring items in a trophy case gives them a certain cache and makes them more interesting. While it is easy for a retail space to become cluttered, items in a case stand out. They attract customers' attention because they seem special, increasing inquiries and sales.
Do not overlook the benefits of trophy and wallcases. They can help enhance your customers' shopping experience and lead to a healthier bottom line.

Apply the Rule of Three to Trophy and Wallcases

Whether you are new to retail display merchandising or an experienced hand, it can be helpful to think about design basics for your trophy and wallcases that will make a positive impression on your customers, and motivate them to buy more. Today, we are taking a moment to look at applying the Rule of 3 to your store displays.

 

Be flexible:
The Rule of 3 recommends grouping 3 items together based on brain science that proves there is something about odd numbers that makes people take notice, and look more closely. Remember that even though it is called the Rule of 3, other odd number combinations can work just as well. It depends on how many items you need to display to show the variety of your selection, and what makes an attractive arrangement.

Balance symmetry and asymmetry:
Human brains like symmetry up to a point, but too much becomes boring. That is why pyramid layouts are so popular where you put a taller item in between two smaller items so customers look at the focal point first, and then work their way around the whole display seeing everything that you are presenting.

Make exceptions:
Like any rule, there are times when you want to bend or break the conventions. If you have an item that is exceptionally large, valuable or interesting, it is usually better to let it stand alone with a display case of its own.

Trophy and Wall Cases: More Than Glass Cubes

Ask someone about a trophy or wall cases and they conjure up an image of that spot in their high school where sports memorabilia was displayed.

While this is one of the traditional uses for these items, smart business people have been taking advantage of these flexible display fixtures to spotlight products or years. These savvy individuals also know that there is more to these items than glass shelves against a wall.

1. Move Away From The Wall: Don't let the name 'wall case' limit your imagination to thinking of glorified glass shelving. Modern wall cases are sleek stand alone structures that can provide a 360 degree view of items placed in them. Situated strategically on a sales floor, the merchandise inside can be viewed from every angle, enticing customers to linger and look longer.

2. Let In The Light: A lot of shelving can shadow a product, making it more difficult to notice. All glass wall cases avoids restricting the light making it easy to see what is inside. Add some strategic spotlights, and customers will be drawn to the displays like moths to flames.

3. Open Your Space: People are visual animals. Using towering metal racks for merchandise obstructs viewpoints and limits what potential buyers notice. Wall cases allow customers to see through the displays, focusing on the merchandise. Not just that, but without restrictive backing, they can see glimpses of items deeper in the store and are drawn in to investigate what catches their eye.

4. The Little Things: With shrinkage a genuine concern, adequately showcasing smaller items has always been a trade-off between presentation and security. Wall cases provide the ideal solution to this problem. Now an army of minute products can easily be handsomely presented behind secured glass.

5. Decorative Wall Space: Every store makes the best use of available space. However, smart ones do it with style. Quality trophy cases situated against the walls provide a unique look to a store - one that people will remember and comment on.

When you are designing your next retail space, consult the experts at ND Store Fixtures. They can answer all your wall case needs and more.

Trophy & Wallcases: More than just retail

When one considers wall display cases, most would instantly think of a retail environment where display cases exhibit a multitude of items. Have you ever thought of using them in these environments?

• Schools
• Churches
• Museums
• Libraries
• Businesses
• Home

There are many benefits to using a wall display case for things other than its original intention. For example, schools could use them for trophy displays or students art or science fair projects.

• Churches could set up a display of their historical memorabilia or upcoming events.

• Libraries could let community members display their collections and include books that they have about those subjects. 

• Museums could find unlimited reasons to display a multitude of relics. 

• Businesses and retail stores can benefit from the organized display of their products.

Uses of wall display cases in the home are also endless. They could elegantly display grandma's antique dishes or great-grandpa's war memorabilia. A child's trophies, books, family pictures and many other collectibles could be housed in a wall display case. There is an unlimited list of possibilities.

Choosing the material you want your display case made of is simple when you consider where the case will be going. Here are some choices to consider;

• Wood
• Glass
• Metal

Deciding on what extras you feel might be needed is another option.

• Lighting
• Mirror back
• Locks

As you can see, wall display cases have an endless array of uses. Decide which displays would work best for your needs.

Get the most out of retail space

Lately, emptiness is in.  Stores display only a few products accented with bold colors and simple lines. They entice and invigorate. So how can you follow this trend and still capitalize on every square foot of space you pay for?
The answer is closer than you may first think.

Here's a few ideas of how to create a display that works on a person's innate desire for what they know, both past and present.

You are the champion:
Familiarity! It is well researched that exposure to something creates an affection for that person or object, and deep familiarity can cause loyalties that are not easily shaken. By displaying items in a trophy case, you can invoke the same feelings of desire, awe and accomplishment. The fact that the item inside is acquirable can awake the yearning a customer may have for your product.

Keep lines clean:
Modern stores boast a small number of products with a great amount of workable space, by using clear cases you can maintain a visually neat appearance, uncluttered and open. When wall case is the only option, clear, adjustable shelves can ensure that you have exactly the space you need without any obstructions.

Know your base:
Many times, the bottom few feet of a display become completely useless. Placing items on low surface may indicate a subtle lack of esteem over products that are on eye level. By having a locking base in a display, you can keep the same quantity of product out of the back room, but still completely secure.

Float it:
While walls are your limits, the remaining floor space can work for you as a strategic partner. Ensuring that you have the right display is a vital part of making the most of valuable square footage. Towers are an excellent way to do this, as they fill the space in a clean and elegant way.

As a retail store it is vital you have the displays to ensure people look at your items long enough to decide they need to take that item home. 

Increase Sales with Trophy and Wallcases - Feature Cross Merchandising

Make your walls work for you

Trophy & wallcases can help you sell more when you get creative, and bring different kinds of merchandise together in unexpected ways. Discover the potential of cross merchandising.
Maybe you're used to keeping your sunglasses in one case, and your briefcases in another. However, letting them share one space can help you tell your customers a story about why they belong together like milk and cookies or copy and paste:

• Show Off Your Fashion Sense: Think about designer look books that provide images of how to combine the individual pieces in a collection. Putting hats and scarves side by side in one case makes it easy to decide on how to mix and match them for the best effect.

• Set a Mood: Pair a pretty set of vintage style earrings with a delicate lace blouse. Appeal to your customer's romantic side or create a combination that resonates with their idea of themselves as outdoor types or urban sophisticates.

• Create an Experience: Emphasize function. Pull together related cooking supplies or garden tools.

It all boils down to showing your customers how they can use your products to fulfill their desires, whether they want help looking stylish or engaging in activities they enjoy. Encourage additional purchases by connecting the dots between how one item goes with another. They'll probably get more value out of what they take home, and that will make them want to come back and visit you again.

ND Store Fixtures is the premier supplier of quality retail display cases and store display fixtures for small and large businesses in the United States.

Open Up Oppurtunities

Today's retail must compete with the seemingly limitless warehouses of major online retailers. It can seem daunting to compete, but it is possible with mirrored doors in display cases.

Ensure enjoyment of all customers

Nearly any case can ensure that you meet ADA requirements, but only mirrored cases can provide a clear view from all angles. Through creating a positive experience for customers of all abilities, you create a sense of loyalty and encourage repeat visits.

Kill clutter

Mirrors ensure that shelves looked stocked despite the ebb and flow of products. Place one or two items in with a color sample of the remaining stock.  Customers envision themselves already possessing your products. This clean, clear look has a distinct advantage over web pages.

Light it up!

Cases, especially those in small shops, can feel impossible to correctly illuminate.  The natural reflective properties of mirrors allow you to wield light to your purpose. Jewelry glitters brightly, screen glare eliminated, and individual items exhibit the nuances the manufacturer intended, giving you the edge over others.

Create Urgency

When something looks great, mirrors facilitate more time spent in direct observation. These cases are a silent salesman, giving you the opportunity to speak to a customer at the peak of desire. This final engagement ensures a positive sales experience.

Aesthetics, Business, and Mirror Doors

Professionalism, in the business world, is a hard thing to define. Mostly because there are many core principles that all work in tandem to reflect a solid sense of professionality to the consumer. However, there's one principle that CEO's and small business owners overlook and it's the principle of aesthetic. Basically, how something is presented largely affects how it'll be perceived, despite how it may actually function. But don't fret. When most of us walk into a store, we aren't expecting some abstract artsy sign telling us where the eggs might be. But there are a few very simple changes you can make that'll have your business looking just as professional as you intended it to be.

Show What Needs to be Seen

There's a neat little twist put on an old adage: Popular products are to be seen, not shadowed. Essentially you want anyone who so much walks into the door to know that you've got the product they might be looking for, that and you're advertising that product without so much as ever uttering a word. There's no point in keeping a hot item tucked away in the depths of your storage unit when you don't have a single one for display. Ideally, this should be done with mirror doors and polished display cases, just to give it that extra pizzazz.

Aesthetics as a Long Term Investment

It might sound silly, investing in something that doesn't provide any immediate benefit beyond looking cool, but think of it like this:

• Going the extra mile to look the part gains the customers trust.
• A more aesthetically looking business space has a positive effect on a person's mood.
• It pays to put your best foot forward.

Never Go Wrong. Keep Shoppers Interested. Use Mirror Doors in Your Display Cases

“You walk into a retail store, whatever it is, and if there's a sense of entertainment and excitement and electricity, you wanna be there.” Howard Schultz

When it comes to retail store design, very few things are quite as beautiful as mirror doors in glass display cases. The mirrors give just the right amount of shine without overpowering the whole look of the case. These types of display cases look beautiful in every store no matter what products you sell. Sometimes just the addition of a wooden base and top or a marble one can make the same case just the right fit for a variety of retail venues.

Professionalism and Perception

Let's face it. There aren't many other options for displaying high quality retail merchandise. You can choose plastic cases. However, will you attract the right customers? You only get one chance to make a first impression. In retail, that first impression is just about everything.

Marketing Strategy

There are many women who enjoy finding hidden gems at thrift stores. However, most will admit it can take an afternoon of rummaging to get the best haul. When customers want to shop, they want things to be easy and organized. Glass shelves and display cases with mirrored doors create a clear display of your product offering. In addition, times have changed. Because of the popularity of social media and online activity; one of the things consumers hate the most is businesses that waste their time.

The power of mirror in display cases

Mirrors can reflect light and energize the space they encompass. That reflective quality can guide customers to a display you have highlighted. By expanding the use of mirrors throughout your store, you are drawing customers to those areas.

In an article on FengShui-tips.org, it states,"If it's done correctly the power of mirrors symbolically double your wealth, health, and happiness", and "Anything your mirror reflects it will double that." If you are trying to add space to your store, mirrors can help with that.

By using mirrors in display cases, you are focusing on the products reflected from them. Diamonds can look larger or more brilliant, make-up can look more colorful, and sequined products can look more dazzling and shiny.

Mirrors can also make customers stop to look at themselves. Placement of items near those mirrors can draw them to a possible impulse buy. If the display has things the customer can try on like hats, jewelry, or shoes, the odds are greater for a customer sale because they don't have to go looking for a mirror to see what the item will look like on them. Everything is right at their fingertips.

One of the most beneficial uses for mirrors is as a shoplifting deterrent. Mirrors can give a shoplifter a feeling of being watched. Some may think they are two-way mirrors. It can also make the store look like there are more people browsing than actually there.

Consider mirrors when decorating your store. They can add an ambiance that you may not have considered originally.

Improve Appeal with Mirror Doors in Display Cases

If you're looking for a simple, cost-effective upgrade for your store, you don't have to spend a fortune. Improve the appeal of your products with mirror doors in your display cases. It's an easy fix, and it really changes the look of your store. Are mirror doors right for your business?

Make use of a small space

Use mirror doors or mirrored backing in a display case to get the most out of a small space. First, it will make it look like you have double the merchandise. This encourages customers to stay longer and look more closely at your products. In addition, mirrors make your store look larger. This illusion makes everything look more valuable. Customers will often pay higher prices for products that are in mirrored display cases.

Brighten it up

Adding mirrors really brightens up a room. Customers perceive well-lit stores to have higher quality items. In contrast, a room that appears dark or shadowed might seem to hide lower quality products. Rather than installing expensive light fixtures, add some mirror doors to reflect natural light throughout your space. Your area will look more inviting and interesting to shoppers.

Safety

Mirrors also help you monitor your store. See around corners and into tight spaces without moving around the store. A few well-placed mirrors help you see all areas of your space clearly from a single vantage point, eliminating the need to follow customers around closely or hire extra help to avoid theft.

Whatever your reason, mirror doors and display cases are a great way to enhance your store. They'll help you make the best use of a small space, brighten the area, and reduce theft. Use this cost-effective trick to improve your store today!

Design Mistakes: Lighting and Permanent Store Fixtures

Consumers are looking for a unique shopping experience each time they enter a store, and it is taking more and more to get them off of the computer and into the brick-and-mortar environment. When designing a new store, it is easy to overlook details that will make a retailer stand out from the competition. Two common mistakes that can hurt a business from the beginning are bad lighting and installing permanent fixtures.

Bad Lighting

It is easy to stick with the lighting already present in a new building, but the days of overhead florescent lights are gone. Unless you are going for the discount warehouse feel, statement lighting is a must. Spotlights on mannequins, well-lit showcases, and unique decorative pieces are just some of the ways top retailers use lighting to their advantage.

Pro Tip: Moving with LED, the need for replacement bulbs would be removed and save you tons on your bottom line. A dollar saved is a dollar earned.

Permanent Fixtures

Installing permanent fixtures can be hazardous to the bottom line of a new store. Sure, those long wooden tables at the Apple Store look amazingly sleek, but they have plenty of funds to replace them at whim. It is difficult to know how customers will navigate through store display fixtures before the grand opening. There may be traffic flow issues causing certain areas of a store to be overlooked or uncomfortable to shop. The ability to make small changes to correct customer patterns is key to the success of a new business. Permanent fixtures also lead to problems down the road with cleaning and even legal issues with ADA compliance. Instead, look for fixtures with heavy-duty, locking castors that move when needed.

Pro Tip: If your heart is set on a permanent install, call in a design expert to ensure proper placement, or only go for permanent fixtures in your display cases because nothing is more important then your product.

Success in store design comes down to the needs of the shopper. Keeping these tips in mind, do not be afraid to make adjustments to suit customer needs.

Using Store Display Fixtures to Promote your Business

To get people to come to your store, one needs creativity. There are so many things to consider. When setting up your store display fixtures, think about the flow of your displays and how you can include some areas that will bring you free advertising direct from your customers.

• Set up a customer sign-in area where they can leave their name, address, phone number, and email in a binder for future contact. This will show you where your customers are coming from and potentially what zip codes to do mass mailings to.
• Add free WiFi to your store to get the customer to give you their email address. Customers like to compare prices on their cell phones, so by letting them do that freely in your store, you are getting an opportunity to gain their email address for future store events or emails about store specials and sales. You might also be able to gain information about what people are looking at the most in your store.
• Do a give-a-way once a week. Something small works to keep your customers coming in every week to see what new things you have or to remind them of what they didn't get the week before. Just another way to get the customer's information for the future. Set up a display showing the give-a-way item and a ballot box with entry forms and pencils.
• If you have extra space in your store, set up an area for a selfie station to post to social media sites. Make sure the backdrop includes your store information. Have the customers post it including a hashtag that is relevant to your store. It's free advertising!
• Make a U-shaped area from display cases where you can put a sitting area inside with a sofa and chairs. This allows a space for spouses to rest while the customer is shopping. They are more likely to stay longer if their spouse is comfortable. The spouse may also find something in one of the display cases while they are sitting there.
• For those shopping online, include an affiliate program on your website. This will drive customers to your site from other businesses. By having that link on their site, you may find that they become a repeat customer by keeping your information in front of them all the time. Out of site, out of mind.
• You could even have a computer area set up where customers could sign up for an online account right in your store. Set your computer up so that it won't go to any site but yours.

There are tons of ideas out there that are out-of-the-box. These days, you have to fight for the number one spot in your business field. Keep a creative mind and don't be afraid to change it up. Your customers will love you for it.

Store Display: Influence through Design

Black Aluminum Trim Display case

You’re finally ready to set up the perfect retail space representing the heart and soul of your business. Whether starting with a fresh new showroom or revitalizing your current layout, designing the look of your store is an essential phase that will dictate the energy you convey. Finding the right display fixtures to fit comfortably within the space is a crucial step. Equally important is choosing dynamic ways to highlight your star products.

Visualize your Floor Plan

Decide how you wish to divide the space based on accessibility to your items and the overall mood you’re trying to achieve. Physically walk through the space as the customer would, plan where racks should be placed for eye-level visibility and direct access. It’s important to make your store instantly welcoming and easy to navigate, this can be achieved by strategic placement of display stands, shelving, wall displays and islands. The possibilities are endless, don’t be afraid to create various configurations before deciding what feels right.

Rich Wood, Sweet Acrylic or Cool Glass

Think of the aesthetic you’re going for with the design of your store. Compliment the merchandise through your choice of display cases without overpowering it. For smaller stores consider acrylic or glass displays to keep the room spacious, allowing focus on the items without competition from solid cases. Lighter options are best suited for fine jewelry or small intricate objects. Glowing wood shelving and display racks can add much needed warmth and weight to a space, working beautifully in larger rooms or to accentuate natural products.

There are limitless design options to attain the ultimate layout for your store.

More Layouts for your Store Fixtures

One of the single most important objectives to opening your new retail store is how to layout your store display fixtures. How you lay out your displays can directly result in more or fewer sales.
Choosing your floor plan is your first consideration. We have discussed some before but there are several ways to design your floor plan, consider these;

• Straight Floor Plan -- An economical and efficient option, fixtures and displays will be at right angles leaving more space for selling your items. This plan also leaves your floor plan open to using a versatile selection of fixtures and displays.
• Angular Floor Plan -- Higher end stores use this method. There is actually less space available for products using the curves of this plan. It does, however, provide a sophisticated feel for the customer.
• Mixed Floor Plan -- A functional option using circular, diagonal, straight, and angular fixtures. If you want versatility, you may find this plan pleasing.
• Diagonal Floor Plan -- This plan is found most often in self-service stores.
• Geometric Floor Plan -- Apparel and clothing stores use this plan most often.

Another consideration is your aisles.  Size and placement of aisles are a necessary thought. A common width for aisles is 4 feet. This gives customers room to wander and view products without running into other customers or displays.

Where will you put your products and displays? Make sure your displays can carry the weight of the merchandise it will hold. The display should emphasize your product and highlight your brand. Incorporate some end caps or outposts to encourage impulse buying.

Your register should never go in the front of the store. Registers are a natural stopping point for customers and you want to keep the flow of shoppers near the front of the store. In the rear or left of the store is a great place for registers or check-outs. Always consider the register being in a place that can view the entire store easily.

Finally, visit stores where you enjoy shopping. Write down the pros and cons of those stores and use those notes to perfect your own store layout.

4 Steps to Planning Your Store Layout

New Store Direction

If you are starting a retail business, you have probably spent many hours creating a business plan. There are many factors to consider when starting a business. Do not overlook one the most important--creating a strategic layout for your store.

Store layout and design is critical to the success of your store. In a recent study co-written by professors from the University of Illinois and State University of New York, Albany, research proves that store layout is particularly important for brick-and-mortar retailers looking to compete with online shopping. Customers want to see and touch your merchandise so they can make the decision to buy. How can you design a store that helps your customers do this?

1. Start with a blueprint or drawing.
Experts suggest obtaining a blueprint of your store. If you do not have one, you can draw your store's layout, including all measurements. Note the locations of exits, doors, windows, and built-in fixtures.

2. Decide on a layout type.
There are several types of classic retail layouts, the most common of which is the straight floor plan. Most experts suggest this plan for small businesses, mainly because it most efficiently uses floor space. It also works with many types of businesses, from jewelry and clothing to hardware. Other types of layouts include angle and free form.

3. Think about store fixtures.
Store fixtures are the backbone of your store; they literally hold up your inventory. Put some thought into the kinds of fixtures your store will need. There is much more to store fixtures than just shelving. Depending on the types of products you plan to sell, you may need clothing racks, display cases, mannequins, or wall installations.

4. Draw the store fixtures into your blueprint.
Using the measurements of the store fixtures you have chosen, draw them into your store's layout. Remember that aisles must be at least three feet wide, per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Also take into account the location of your cash wrap. Create a decompression zone of at least a few feet at the entrance of your store. This is an area where customers can begin to feel comfortable without having products directly in front of them.


Following these four steps will give you a rough outline of your store layout. If you put as much thought into designing your store as you do on your business plan, your store will be a place that customers enjoy visiting.

Starting the Right Way with Store Display Fixtures

You've got the great new store and it looks like your space of 2,500 feet is going to be enough to carry all of your products. Now you have to figure out how you are going to showcase all the right items and get your traffic in the right direction.

The products you choose to display your goods is instrumental in the success of your sales. Product that is crowded, too high, too low or placed in dark areas prevents customers from viewing and appreciating the products they are in front of. If they get frustrated at trying to get to your product, they'll walk away.

Choosing the right shelves or displays for your unique items will enhance your visibility and entice your customers to see more. Take the round display fixture with 4 shelves. Fill this display with product samples or sale items and place it where customers can walk around. Not working in that spot? It's on wheels so you can try it somewhere else; maybe by the register. Check out our website to view this versatile round display fixture, currently on sale.

Lighted, glass displays can highlight your product and keep it safe from accident or theft and display the unique personality of your business. Showcase the items that can only be found in your business.

There is no end to the possibilities of design. Advice from a professional can help you see the possibilities as well as the pitfalls of overdoing or under-doing the schematics for a flowing traffic business.

ND Store Fixtures has the equipment and the experience to help you find the best design for your unique store.