Retail Merchandising & Display Tips – Atlanta Market July 2014

If you didn’t make it to our showroom at AmericasMart in Atlanta this July, we’ve got all the highlights for you right here. Our visual merchandising team did a fantastic job once again. The showroom looked phenomenal and shoppers were stopping in their tracks to ooh and aah over the eye-catching displays. Our team let me in on some of their secrets for creating these masterpieces, and I can’t wait to share them with you! So, without further ado…

To jump to Gypsy Garden displays, click here.
To jump to Art Pole displays, click here.
To jump to Art Coaster displays, click here.

Gypsy Garden – Mossed Couch

Yep! That’s real, live moss. Spritzed with water each night to keep it looking fresh. This couch-turned-mini-garden was definitely a showstopper. A not-so-mini miniature garden planted on a couch covered in moss is certainly not something you see everyday. When you’re putting together your own displays, keep an eye out for one-of-a-kind pieces like this couch. Items like this create interest and draw shoppers in to see what you have to offer.

This couch didn’t always have the appeal that it had in our showroom. Let’s just say it had been through a lot when we found it… but our merchandising team saw its potential and was able to use it to create something beautiful. With a fresh coat of paint, lots of moss and hot glue, and a little planting help from our friends at Batson’s, this couch took on a whole new life. You know what they say… one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

The mini garden appears to be planted directly in the couch, but to give ourselves a little more flexibility and extend the life of our garden, we planted in plastic under-the-bed storage containers. This way, we can easily move the containers and use them in another display if necessary. You could use any size container to do something like this – when you’re finished planting, just hot-glue some moss onto the edges, and voilà!

 

Gypsy Garden – Snowmen

The Gypsy Garden snowmen displays were another huge hit. Mini garden items are small and could be easily missed by shoppers. This is a great way to make a big statement and really draw some attention to these tiny pieces.

To recreate this display start by finding a few bubble bowl vases in different sizes (you could also use fish bowls). Create mini gardens in the largest two vases – lay some floral foam on the bottom (so you have something to stick your pick items in), cover it with fake snow, add in some moss, tiny evergreen trees, and mini garden items. You may want to use fake plants for these gardens to avoid the condensation that would occur if you had to water any real plants. The smallest vase can be filled with virtually anything white that you have laying around. We used white packing peanuts, but you could also use cotton balls, marshmallows, etc.

Next step – accessorize! Get out your hot glue gun and give that snowman a classic, cheerful face and some other accessories like a hat or scarf. We used charcoal for his eyes, flat black vase gems for his mouth and (we steered clear of any potential rotting noses here…) a rubber costume carrot nose to complete the look.

Last, but certainly not least, build your product display around the snowman. To create a festive look, paint a few differently-sized terra cotta pots red, green, white, gold, etc. We finished by laying down some polyester pillow stuffing to create a snowy landscape on the display table. This holiday display will make your product pop right off the shelf and inspire your customers to get creative with their own mini gardens!

 

Gypsy Garden – Lemonade Stand

Our lemonade stand display was perhaps the most refreshing one in our showrooms :) Its bright yellow color made it hard to miss and the theme was carried out very well – from the lemons strung under the sign to the mini garden planted in a beverage dispenser. Our visual merchandising team really nailed this one. I loved the idea of building a life-size version of one of our mini Gypsy Garden items and turning it into a display. So creative!

We used plywood and printed vinyl to build this lemonade stand, but you could recreate this look in your store using something as simple as cardboard and paint. (Plywood is more sturdy and might last longer, but cardboard would do for a short term display.) Using a table you already have, cut pieces of cardboard to fit around it like a lemonade stand and paint on the stripes. You could build the “Lemonade” sign out of cardboard too, just make sure you reinforce it well enough so that it stands up straight.

String some fake lemons under the sign with a piece of twine, paint a few terra cotta pots with bright, whimsical colors, and your lemonade stand display will be complete! If you want to create a display with a different theme, choose another Gypsy Garden piece to base your structure on. Get creative and do what works best for your store!

 

Art Poles – Painted Peace Collection

Art Poles and Peace Poles make a bold statement when they stand alone, but create a much larger impact when there are many shown together. Their brightly colored artwork and varying heights make for a beautiful display that cannot be ignored by shoppers. By pulling together your entire offering of a certain product type, it makes it a lot easier for customers to see what their options are, and an easier shopping experience is definitely a plus.

 

Art Poles – Dog & Cat Memorial Poles

Another one of my favorite Art Pole displays was the one featuring our new Dog and Cat Memorial Art Poles. These poles are the perfect gift for someone who has lost a beloved pet. To pay homage to the dogs and cats we have lost, we got a variety of simple, wooden frames from the local craft store and placed them over pictures of our pets that have passed on. This gave our display a special, sentimental quality that supported the message of the Memorial Art Poles.

 

Art Poles – Birding Display

Another great way to approach a display is to base it on a theme or hobby – like birding! Our team did a great job with this display, bringing in elements like the metal tree branch and bird, a bird-watching guide book, tree stumps, and birdseed. These subtle props don’t take any attention away from the Birdhouses and Birdhouse Art Poles, and they help to make the products feel like they’re in an outdoor setting. I love the way the “Love to Garden” MatMate is framed in weathered wood. It got a lot more attention hung on the wall than it would’ve if it were laying on the ground, and it’s a great way to cross-merchandise coordinating products.

 

Art Coasters – Bar

Pull up a stool and let me pour you a drink! This bar-themed display looks like a good time just waiting to happen. Our visual merchandising team did a lot of crafting to make this display look its best, and they showed that there are more ways to use our Art Coasters than just as condensation catchers :) The letters that spell out “ART COASTERS” are made of… you guessed it, Art Coasters! They draw attention to the product, quickly communicate what’s on display, and showcase many of the different bar-themed coaster decks that we offer. This theme also communicates to shoppers that these coasters are the perfect party item – whether you’re hosting the soiree, or you’re attending and are in need of a hostess gift.

Keep in mind that you could tailor this idea to fit any themed display, and use the coasters to create a word that communicates it best. With over 120 decks in a variety of themes like floral, coastal, sports, holiday, etc. you’ll find just what you need to create the perfect display.

 

Art Coasters – Holiday

Art Coasters are ultra-giftable. With such a wide variety of themes, there really is something for everyone. Shoppers will start looking through the display and see one deck after another that makes them think of friends and family members. It’s the kind of gift item that doesn’t necessarily need an occasion – it’s a “just because” present. So why not communicate this with customers via your display? Our display happens to be holiday themed, but yours doesn’t have to be. Just  drop a coaster deck into one of our white or black holders and tie a piece of ribbon around it. Customers will see the bows and instantly think, “gift idea!” without you or one of your employees having to suggest it to them.

Hopefully these photos gave you some inspiration to create beautiful, unique displays in your own store! Thanks for reading, and make sure to check out our Facebook page for more display ideas and pictures from our showrooms. Let us know in the comments which displays were your favorites!

Tags: Art, Art Coasters, Art Poles, Display, Garden, Gypsy Garden, Merchandising, Mini Garden, Peace Poles, Retail, Studio M, Tips, Trade Shows