i’ve always been obsessed with combining colors.  i enjoy mixing odd pairs, bright with subdued, jewel with neutral and so on.  inspiration for color combos can be found virtually everywhere –  wrapping paper, fabrics, gardens, toys, magazines, groceries, cosmetics, museums,  – and especially your own closet.

i used to paint one room in my bedroom a different color each season (yes – four times a year) and then change various accessories, throw pillows and the like.  i wanted my room to reflect my mood.  often my need to change came by seeing something that sparked an interest in a new color combination.

whether styling an outfit with your existing merchandise, determining unique color combos for your displays, or simply deciding on a color scheme for your store (logo, etc) – color is a very important and malleable trait.

because i’m so in love with color – i’m going to begin doing monthly posts about a scheme i dream up or that gets me excited.

so here’s my color palette for August:  chocolate, pumpkin, magenta, light mustard, graphite.

lovely things shown include:

• rowen pillow : Crate & Barrel
• feelin’ groovy : Flor
• acco wallpaper : Twenty2
• camille pendant : Seascape Lamps
• vintage orange chair:  eBay
• raindrop mirror:  pottery barn
• paints:  Benjamin Moore

this palette reminds me of candy, though it was inspired by the richness of impending fall and the aura of back-to-school shopping sweetness.  these colors translate beautifully in a room, a shop – and especially an outfit!

what do you think?  what color combos are you into right now?

i love pictures.  and i love picture frames.  but i have an odd aversion to nails.  i think it must have been from an old landlord who disallowed me to hammer a nail into the wall.  thankfully – there are products that get around that and still allow us the whimsy of our photo collections on display.  I happen to think the Butch & Howard Stickr collections are pretty rad (yes, i said “rad”).

i love these!!  i think they are so much fun and would have so many applications.  you could display a  customer of the month (with something they bought in your store, natch).  you could display ideas for how to style various items in your shop.  you could showcase your weekly favorites.  you could put up pictures of your family!  or you could use them to display a local artist who makes teensy art.   or for the more practical gal, how about using them for prices or name tags for designers?

use them over and over – move them around, that’s what they do.

but wait!  that’s not all!  you could sell them too.  i’d think they’d sell pretty darn well in many different stores – especially if you were using them as a chic example.

great for modern stores with an eclectic flair.  i also love the kids styles (in fact – i need these for Oscar!  what a great way to teach him the names and faces of his extended family).

Stickr packets wholesale for $9.95 – $12.45.  contact Butch & Howard for more info.  perfect for back to school and holiday gifts!

i love being me.  i have a great business acumen, i think i’m a pretty stylish and fun gal, and i’m thrilled that being a mom seems to come pretty naturally.  but oh how i wish i was a craftier person!  i get giddy when i see what other folks create and yet – i seemed to have missed the boat when those skills were passed out.  thank goodness for gals like Mallory aka MissMalaprop.  not only does she report on wonderful indie designers – but she has amazing creative skills to create DIY yumminess.  and did i mention she’s friend of the earth!  that makes me happy.  so without further ado – here’s MissMalaprop reporting on ideas for sustainable & eco-friendly displays.

I also love the idea of using vintage suitcasesfor displaying jewelry, small accessories, or even cards and stationery. Most vintage suitcases have some sort of fabric lining that’s great for hanging earrings on or attaching hooks and pins for hanging other jewelry pieces. If you’re going to be doing traveling shows or local events to help promote your business, suitcases do double duty as both display at the event and storage to and from. Both Etsy and eBay, as well as your local thrift stores and flea markets, can be great sources for affordable vintage suitcases. (note from Kate:  how cute are these for a kids store or area?)

Clothing racks are another fixture where the recycled possibilities are endless. I’ve seen great displays done with fallen tree branches strung up from the ceiling with sturdy chain. At home, my landlord used recycled metal piping for our closets, and it’s a subtle touch that I love. Most areas have hardware salvage stores where you can find unique fixtures taken from demolished older homes.

These salvage stores can also be a great location to find vintage chandeliers and lighting fixtures. The store I used to work for, Trashy Diva, used vintage chandeliers to bring a great retro ambiance to the shop, which specialized in clothing based on styles from the 1930s-1950s. I also found another ingenious tutorial on Instructables for building an  eye-catching lighting fixture using tumbleweeds or fallen branches and LED Christmas lights. Brilliant!

There really is no limit to what you can do with a little imagination. Vintage and recycled materials bring charm and can often be found for cheaper than new fixtures and displays. Keep an open mind while you browse your local thrift stores and flea markets, and you never know what you might find to transform your store!

thank you MissMalaprop for your great ideas!  i’d love to hear your ideas for recycled or DIY displays.

i was in one of my favorite consignment stores today and was talking to the owner about how to display shoes.  when you’re not a shoe store – it’s not always easy to find the space.  so the shoes typically end up on the floor (which is a dusting/sweeping/mopping nightmare!).  i’ve decided to do a little sleuthing to see if i can find some helpful solutions for apparel stores which carry a selection of shoes to supplement their inventory.

1.  closet shoe rack (expandable):  a little utilitarian – but would look nice under a rack that sits high above the ground.  add some shelves on top – and you’ll have a nice little display.  it’s quite affordable – less than $25. 

2.  Portis shoe rack (Ikea):  this is a nice looking metal rack with a little feminine flair.  reminds me of the Aaron Contemporary fixtures – so if you use them, this would be a nice complement (also less than $25)

3.  Bamboo stackable shoe rack:  i like this because the shoes are at a slight angle -and it’s just a wee step up from the floor – so doesn’t take up much extra space.  plus, you can paint it to match your decor (only $15.99 each).

4. raw steel shoe displays (singles):  for really special shoes – you may want to invest in some displays that set them off.  these are among the few i could find.  they’re not cheap!

now….what to do about the boxes!  if you’re short on storage and are unable to store them off the sales floor (it’s hard to run back and get shoes if you’re the only one on the floor!) – try this little tip.  i bought the IKEA curtain wire & clips and then sewed a simple little “curtain” to hide the boxes under my garment rods.  it’s a simple and inexpensive solution.  i didn’t use any racks – but i only carried a handful of styles.  i simply merchandised them on shelves and tables with other items.

how do you display shoes in an apparel store?  would love to hear your ideas and see pics.

need some cool, sleek shelves for your store, showroom or trade show booth?  My friend Tracy Matthews  (an amazing jewelry designer – you may want to check out her line too – though she is moving to create fine jewelry only) is selling hers! 

Here’s the scoop:

“ALU” autopole aluminum shelving units

Dimensions:

7” 3” Height of tallest pole

43.5” Length of 1 shelf/15” depth/1” height

9.5’ From Base to Base length

Base Diameter 19”

 These are in fantastic condition and break down for easy transport to shows or for the office. 

 Contact Tracy for details.