when i opened my first boutique, i was on a super low budget (and really, who isn’t?). thankfully, i was dating a really creative carpenter at the time who was wonderful in creating fixtures based on my imagination.

one of my favorite projects for the shop was my cash wrap.  it was sort of an “L” shape – but with a curve at the corner instead of a hard edge.  the long part of the L included 4 drawers for jewelry display and the short part was where my computer sat for sales.  but the surface was spectacular. with a teeny, tiny lip around the edge  – we had about a 1/4″ inch of depth.   we  then mixed a self-leveling resin compound with green dye and gold glitter and poured.   a beautiful glossy surface emerged.  the next day – we did the same thing – adding one more layer.   you wouldn’t believe how the glitter sparkled!  it looked like it went on for miles.

anyway  – i’ve been researching fixture options for my new store – and was reminded of how much i love the sparkle when i saw a similar cash wrap surface at a new shop in Portland, House of Lolo.  i wish i had some photos to share – but i don’t.   here’s some glitter resin tables and floors from a company in the UK.

i’d love to hear more creative ideas for cash wraps! send suggestions my way.

It’s that time of the month again!  Our resident Merchandising Maverick, Carlo Casareo has some tips on working with flowers – faux flowers.  your immediate reaction may be “ick!  fake flowers!  gross!”.  naturally, we all adore fresh flowers – but for window displays – the poor things may wilt too quickly under all those hot lights.  so let’s see how we can whip up magic even if the flowers are not real.

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ARTIFICIAL BEAUTY
Special events, special holidays, and special celebrations – they all call for special displays to entice and excite the shopper. Artificial Flowers and such are like old, familiar friends; they announce and explain themselves.  Real or not, flowers have been a great display symbol that many visual display persons often use to make the shopper aware that some special “day” is on the calendar and that “day” is rapidly approaching. Unlike the real deal, many imitation flowers (plants and/or fruits) will make people do a double take and ask “are those real?” 

 Although faux flowers can be pricey, one thing for sure is that these true-to-life flowers will never dry up and shrivel and plants will stay green throughout the years.

What to look for: 
Petals and leaves should appear and feel waxy, velvety, or filmy – like their counterparts in nature. The best stems feature vinyl-coated wire and natural details (i.e. thorns). Opt for plants and branches with leaves or twigs of various lengths set at different angles. They should contain wire so you can easily bend and shape them. Avoid super-shiny versions – the best ones have a matte finish.  Inspect leaves for shading and don’t forget to check the weight and texture when buying fruit imposters, it should feel “real” (to the touch at least).

How to care:
Because these beautiful imitations can be used over and over again, the best way to clean them is simply by using feather duster or a hair dryer set on cold. Keep them covered and stored in a safe area if not in use. A “How to” guide book on floral arrangements can come in handy, if you’re up for a creative challenge.  

Where to get:
Please be advised that it is wise to wait for these flowers to go on sale before purchasing. Also, know what you want and need for particular events in your calendar – it’s best to shop around to get the flowers at the price you want. Be resourceful! Check for fallen branches or twigs in your backyard (pinecones are easy to find) or call some local flower shops for branches they may no longer need and can be donated. Below is a list of places to check:

        -          Silkflowers.com

-          Michael’s Store / Michaels.com

-          Pier 1 imports

-          Qualitysilks.com

-          Crate and Barrel

-          Bloomingdales (kitchen dept)

-          Pottery Barn

Say bye-bye to watering your plants. Give yourself a break and stick to the fakes.

i know many of you are likely thinking about the holiday season (i hope it’s a realllly good one for everyone!).  i know i used to bring in more jewelry items – because men love to buy jewelry for the ladies (and the ladies like to buy it for each other and themselves).  no one has to worry about sizes and fit – and it’s romantic besides.

so if your cases are full and you’re looking for creative ways to display additional merchandise – here are a few tips:

1.  cocktail glasses.  use them from home, flea markets, goodwill or home stores.  they’re lovely for draping a necklace, hanging earrings or filling with pretty beaded things.  light shines through – so everything sparkles!  plus- the right sort of glass adds a festive touch to your displays.

(by the way – these earrings are from J. Balducci - i don’t know if she still makes these – but they’re fab.  check out the rest of her pretties!)

2.  picture frames.  i’m visiting my sister-in-laws in St. Louis as i type and of course i’m checking out the local shops.  i went in one yesterday that had a boat-load of jewelry and they had hot pink baroque frames filled with jewels by each designer laying flat on a table.  i thought this is great if you have the space.  also cute hanging from a wall.  you can use any style of frame that suits your look, paint it any color you like and use cork or canvas or mesh screen to hang your jewels.  cover in a paper for an original look (but try not to make it too busy – you don’t want the jewelry to compete with the paper).

here’s one from a cool site i discovered called Cut Out + Keep:

3.  plastic shapes:  i used to go to Tap Plastics and have them cut blocks of clear lucite into different sized squares.  Carlo – my window wonder man – taught me this trick.  Once you have your blocks, you can cut out paper to fit and tape on the bottom – you’ll see a hint of color through the top and lots of light will shine through.  then you can place one item or small groupings on top – depending on the size and shape.  i love a tiny square with one ring.  very chic, classy and modern.

 4.  beans and bowls.  if you go to your local grocery store, you’ll find a treasure trove of great jewelry display items:  dried peas, white beans, black beans, lentils – you get the idea.  simply fill up a bowl or tray and lay out your lovelies.

that’s all i have for now.  please share your great ideas for jewelry display!

handbags.  you gotta love em.  and you’d be wise to sell them! almost every woman uses one almost every day!  now that’s a cost-per-wear that can be wonderfully justified.  and we need many bags for many reasons.  you have your work bag, park bag, weekend bag, dress-up bag, your clutches, your totes, your hobos, your satchels.  i could go on and on, but you get the picture.

and there are tons of amazing bag designs to carry in your store.  from whimsical fabric bags to luxe leather.  to itty bitty chain mail bags to shimmery clutches with rhinestone clasps.  mmmm…  but how do you display them?

the easy ones have a gusseted bottom that allows you to prop up on a shelf with no more than a few wads of paper.  but what about a shoulder bag with a long strap?  how about a flat clutch?  there are many ways to display them without them falling down (i used to hate that!) – and here are a few simple ideas.

knobs & hooks

knobs are great – you can put them anywhere on the wall and then just hang a bag on it.   and there are so many wonderful knobs – that it’s easy to find something to match and enhance your decor.  if nothing else – you can simply paint a basic wood knob to match your color scheme.

here are a few that i think are extra special.

1.  Anthropologie   = they always have lovely vintage inspired hooks and the like.  they tend to have a feminine flair too.  a lovely grouping of these would be quite attractive.

2.  cool knobs & pulls – a huge inventory of choices.  i like the shape of this cherry knob (again – this could be painted) and the price is right!  many of these knobs are less than $3.

of course, there is always the option of your local hardware store  – where i’m sure you could find something simple and functional.

plate stands

decorative plate holders are a clutches best friend.  not only do they get the props they deserve – but they are elevated off the shelf/table – which automatically makes them feel more special.

there exists a huge variety of these – but i think a simple lucite or metallic frame works best.  The Plate Lady seems to have everything you could ever want to order in this category.

vintage shops are another great place to find these.  once again  – you could paint the wooden stands to match your decor or provide a pop of color (i’m getting this idea of all black bags displayed on colorful knobs and stands).

coat racks

there is no reason why a handbag can’t hang out on the coat rack.  it’s a great place for all sorts of things to hang on (scarves!  chunky necklaces! actual coats!).  Chiasso has some nice modern standing and wall racks.  i think this one pictured is very sleek and sexy.  Coat Rack Shack has a nice selection as well.

and of course  – these can be  wonderful for hats & umbrellas too.

Purse Hangers

i’m sure you’ve seen those amazing little doo-dads that allow you to hang your purse on the table at a restaurant or bar? well – there’s no reason why you couldn’t use them to display bags are your store as well.  they’d be cute at the front of a center or side display table.  plus – you could sell them as well!  i know Hot Hang-ups can do custom and small batch wholesale orders.

And then there are the Handy Hold Alls  – from Sarah Shaw.  i actually bought a couple of these to hang on the wall and use as a display at ooma.  naturally – everyone wanted one – so i ended up carrying them year-round (they make really great gifts and sell like hot cakes).  it’s nice when you can sell a display!

any other ideas about how to display handbags?  please comment below and share!

For those of you who are new to my blog, i can’t say enough nice things about Carlo Casareo.  He was my brilliantly creative and resourceful window display artist at my former boutique, ooma.  He has agreed to impart his wisdom to my readers in the form of a monthly guest blogger.  So without further ado – introducing Carlo’s WOW!

DISPLAY IT WITH FUN

The least amount of display often makes the biggest statement, especially when you are challenged with everything but the available merchandise in stock.

 One way to let your customers know that you have new merchandise is to change your top shelf display presentations. I often find top shelf displays an important expression of your merchandise assortment, not only because it conveys a “show me” attitude but it is what your customers see from a distance.

 Props can be improvised from whatever is on hand – be creative and resourceful, and keep in mind: Display it with FUN!

 Below is a series of top shelf displays I created for an accessories department. Using some fresh fallen branches from the park and wooden blocks, I was able to effectively compose a display for hand-made silk scarves.

Think outside the box and give your merchandise some style, if it’s worth repeating – repeat it several times over and always provide some element of surprise. Below are some display samples I styled using scarves and neck ties.

Wow Carlo!  you’ve elevated the scarf to a form of art!  bravo and thanks again for the great tips and inspiration.