yay!  it’s time for a monthly installment from my favorite merchandising master, Carlo!  This months topic is Relate to Educate – tips on how to group items to tell a particular story.

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RELATE TO EDUCATE:

 In presenting any display, one of the basic approaches you can take is to set the scene for the merchandise or the concept to be sold. The overall display must be balanced and easy to look at. There has to be a movement from grouping to grouping or item to item. Each group or item should be able to be viewed as a separate entity, somehow set apart from the others.

 “The main goal is not to complicate the already difficult life of the consumer”– Raymond Loewy, industrial designer

 Relate your merchandise to your customersby showing them how it is use, make it simple-to-see and easy-to-relate. This also includes the use of relatable props to make the display more realistic.

 A realistic setting requires careful blending of colors, textures, shapes and the proper lighting. It must still be attractive enough to catch your customer’s attention.

 Line-of-goods such as these glass vases are displayed by using a simple background and the use of flowers shows the function of items.

These bowl, tea stirrers, and whisks shows that items are meant to be used together.

Sometimes you may find yourself displaying an assortment of items that that may not be related – yet shows a story. Below is a book that is also a good companion for a kid’s toy.