Displaying your clothes in a retail setting can be very challenging. Consult any visual merchandiser, and they will tell you that there are so many different elements to consider. You need to think about the space you have, how much stock you need, and the fact that there are so many clothing stores around, so you need to make your retail display stand out in such a competitive market. How can you make your clothing more appealing to the eye?
Use a Variety of Options to Create Texture and Depth
Every single item will offer a different approach. Whether it’s floor racks, a plinth, or even the humble clothes hanger, they are all different approaches to displaying clothing. It’s important to make your display vibrant and diverse, so you need to mix it up with a combination of factors. But you have to keep things easy to navigate. Because if you are offering a wide variety of services and designs, you have to remember to keep things clean and lean. You can use tables with folding jumpers and stacking baskets to provide different textures.
Use the Wall Space
There are many amazing ways to make the most of wall spaces, from shelves to wall-mounted rails, and the key is to avoid clutter. You’ve got to make everything flow like it tells a story, and this is especially true in smaller boutiques. If a customer encounters an overwhelming part of the store, it becomes challenging to find what they want. Using the wall space also means thinking about the height you place your products. If you put a product out of reach, there is an invisible barrier between the customer and the item. Customers always need easy access. And when it comes to utilizing the space, you can use components like a gridwall display or a slatwall panel.
Use Mannequins
If you are putting an outfit together, a mannequin is a great way to display certain looks and give customers a perspective on how the clothing will look on them. But mannequins have been shut out of favor, especially as there are a number of online ways to try out an item of clothing. But that’s not to say mannequins are obsolete. Some people prefer to see a mannequin because it is more reminiscent of shopping in simpler times. When you are displaying forms, make sure they are in appropriate places, so they don’t block any pathways or distract attention from the clothing. This is why mannequins are usually best used in the store window. When using figures, be sure to update the outfits on a regular basis as this will increase interest, footfall and should therefore lead to better sales.
Make the Most of Changing Rooms
While you are looking to display clothing in a very enticing way, it’s not just about the clothing racks! Changing rooms are a fantastic location to inspire customers. When a customer has taken an interest in your brand, they are going to venture into the changing room, which gives you more opportunities to expose them to other items. It’s important to have a staff member available in the changing room area so they can swap sizes and suggest matching accessories. Still, you may also want to dress up the area to make it more visually appealing, such as a mannequin.
Provide More of the Best Selling Products
If you have a couple of items in your store that are big sellers all year round, you should not be afraid to place them in various locations around the store. The humble jean is always going to be a success, but you can start to display jeans in different ways, rather than just using the shelving on the back wall. You could show your best-selling jeans with a combination of items that will go well. When you start to operate like this, you can introduce cross-selling processes into the shop.
Prioritize Presentation
Customers want to picture themselves in certain clothes, and this is why your clothes need to be ironed and steamed. It’s important to remember that if customers see damaged or creased garments, they are not going to purchase them. This is something that needs to be done on a regular basis. You can minimize the need to steam your clothes regularly by completing regular inspections and also look at how the clothes are hung. Clothing needs to hang properly on items like clothes hangers, but they also need to aid the shopping experience by being clearly tagged and priced. For example, if you are selling suit jackets, you need high-quality wishbone hangers to make sure that it maintains the shape of the jacket.
Do Not Overcrowd the Shelves
Many charity shops overload clothes rails. The problem with this is that you are not utilizing the potential of each garment. Even if you are looking to get rid of items, it’s important the customers can flick through the rail to find their size properly. You need to have extra space on the clothes rail so your customers can move through it properly. If there are thicker items on display like dresses or knitted jumpers, you can reduce the bulk by using lightweight metal clothes hangers.
Focus on a Theme
This is the most important component to display in your clothing. Regardless of the clothes you stock, it would help if you told a story, and this means the display has to blend with the brand of the clothing store. It depends on the items you sell; if you are selling more streetwear-oriented clothes, you may want to opt for something industrial, with metal clothes hangers and silver clothing rails. It is so important to remember that the theme is going to dictate the story of your store.
Displaying your clothing is not just about getting a clothes hanger and hanging it up somewhere. The reality is that you’ve got to focus on telling that story while also making sure everything is perfectly presented and tells the story of the brand.
