Visual merchandising is the art of using visualtechniques to increase sales. We say that it is an art because of theimagination and creativity you can use to boost interest in your store. Visualmerchandising can involve lighting, the use of space, signage, sales andpromotional events, branding and much more. While possibilities are reallyendless, we will give you some ideas on how you can use visual merchandising toincrease your sales.
Perhaps the most striking and effective methodof visual merchandising is the use of mannequins. Mannequins personalize itemsfor consumers. It gives them a much better environment of how an article ofclothing or an accessory will look when they put it on. For example, baby dolldresses are really popular right now. These dresses hanging on a hanger mightlook a lot like a sack. Some women are also under the impression that you haveto be sixteen to wear one, or you might look immature or silly. Your dilemma isthat you want to sell these dresses to everyone. Mannequins can be very usefulin this situation.
By putting the dress on a mannequin, you canshow how it looks on an actual body. This is a huge improvement over how itlooked hanging on the hanger. But, the benefits do not end there. You can givea mannequin whatever personality you want it to have. In a city scene, you canmake the dress look sophisticated. In a country scene, you can make it lookwhimsical and light. If you are targeting a teenage audience, you mightconsider having your mannequin in a school setting. What ever you come up with,use your imagination. Play around with it until you make that dress look good.
Shoppers want to feel a certain way when theywear new clothes. There is a lot more to buying clothes than just buying whatfits. We can boost our egos with what we wear, express individuality, project astyle or an attitude, establish our social standing, the list goes on and on.Determining exactly how your customers want to feel can be difficult and youcan not please every single person. If you target a certain group then it canget easier.
Consider the lighting. Do you want it dark andgothic, sophisticated and interesting, or bright and active? The colors,lighting and store displays need to work together to produce the feel that youare after. People have more positive reactions to items that are behind glass,under a spotlight or on a mannequin. You can really boost your sales byimplementing just these three techniques.
One last benefit of mannequins in visualmerchandising is the sheer number of items that you can display at one time.You are not only forwardly promoting a certain dress or outfit, butsubliminally promoting all of the accessories that go with it. Scarves,jewelry, shoes, tights, purses and hats are just the start of the list. Ifsomeone wants the look that they saw in your display window, then they are muchmore likely to buy the accessories that go along with your main item.
In short, mannequins can boost your sales andhelp communicate the theme and attitude of your store to your customers. Usingmannequins for visual merchandising is simple and effective.
The Author is the Vice President of S & LStore Fixtures, a leading provider of retail store displays and store fixtures,including slat wall accessories, mannequins and more.
Source:www.articlealley.com
FAQs
Purpose of Mannequins
Mannequins are used to highlight the unique collections of the store. Mannequins display the latest trends in fashion and influence the customers to buy the particular merchandise.
What are the 5 senses of visual merchandising? ›
To intrigue customers and create a powerful experience like these successful brands it is important to appeal to a customer's sense of taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing.
What is visual merchandising in apparel? ›
Visual Merchandising is the practice in the retail industry of optimizing the presentation of products and services to better highlight their features and benefits. The purpose of such visual merchandising is to attract, engage, and motivate the customer towards making a purchase.
What is the purpose of mannequins? ›
A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles.
How important are mannequins in a display? ›
Customers love to see what clothes would look like on them, and they can't get that from looking at a shirt hanging on a stand-still rack. Putting clothes on a mannequin creates a more realistic and intimate idea of what that item will look like on either the shoppers themselves or someone they are shopping for.
What are the 3 most important in visual merchandising? ›
Branding. Senses. Displays. These three words define the three most basic elements of visual merchandising and can help you win at the point of sale, no matter what type of merchandise you have to offer.
What are the 4ps of visual merchandising? ›
"4 P's of Merchandising: Product, Placement, Pricing & Promotion"
What is visual merchandising short answer? ›
Visual merchandising is a marketing practice that uses floor plans, color, lighting, displays, technology, and other elements to attract customer attention. Its ultimate purpose is to use the retail space to generate more sales. A visual merchandiser is the person behind the magic.
What is the most important thing in visual merchandising? ›
The most important aspect in visual merchandising is your store layout and the way customers can navigate through it. Always try to use most of the space to display your merchandise, while leaving enough room for customers to walk around the store.
What are 3 examples of merchandise? ›
Merchandise is the term used for any product that you can sell or buy. Any good for sale is merchandise, some examples include groceries in a supermarket, clothes in a retail store, electronics on a website or raw materials in a manufacturing warehouse.
The five types of digital product displays are CRT, LCD, LED, plasma, and OLED.
What are the 5 types of merchandise? ›
The top five types of merchandising are product, retail, visual, digital, and omnichannel. Though classified into five different categories, they are primarily interrelated.
What's the difference between a mannequin and a mannequin? ›
So what's the difference between “mannequin” and “manikin”? The term is spelled with a “q” – that is, “mannequin” – when the human form is being used to model clothing for fashion purposes.
How are mannequins effective? ›
Mannequins Fill Void Areas and Awkward Corners
Empty corners, shop windows or any other kind of awkward space can be put to good use through the use of mannequin displays.
How do mannequins attract customers? ›
The customer takes the decision to enter the store on the basis of theinformation he can gather from the window display. Mannequins add value to themerchandise. They draw attention to the collection of the shop and lure thecustomers to buy garments and thus generate income for the store.
What are the advantages of mannequins? ›
Mannequins can have different sizes so you can make customers with any kind of body type feel welcome while also increasing the chances of purchase. They help customers get an idea of how the clothing item will look on them or the person they're buying it for. Easy to maintain and clean.
What is the rule of three mannequins? ›
The rule of three is exactly what it sounds like: grouping products together in sets of three. For instance, a store owner may set up three mannequins displaying apparel and accessories instead of just one or two. It may sound a little unusual, but this simple rule can yield yield more sales in a retail store.
What are the 4 most important element in VM? ›
While much of the choices revolve around your specific tastes and preferences, it is how you make those choices work within the five key elements of Visual Merchandising, color, landscape, texture, communication and decor that make for an effective display.
What are the 5ps of merchandising? ›
The 5 Ps of product, price, promotion, place, and people are the holy grail of business for retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) enterprises.
What are the 4 Ps of retail merchandising? ›
The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion.
Throughout our engaging conversation, we discuss the 4 main pillars of fashion marketing: product, price, position, and promotion.
What questions are asked in a VM interview? ›
General Visual Merchandiser Interview Questions
What can you tell us about yourself? How did you find out about the job opening with our company? What made you decide to become a visual merchandiser? Why do you want to work as a visual merchandiser with our company?
What is an example of successful visual merchandising? ›
For example, a high-end clothes chop can use essential oils to help create a calm and inviting atmosphere. Lighting – The use of appropriate lighting in visual merchandising helps to set the mood of the store. Bright lights create a modern feel while softer lighting gives stores a more intimate ambiance.
What is the key to successful in store visual merchandising? ›
Some of the fundamental ways through which retailers can attain success in visual merchandising are window displays, impactful store layout, informative display of products, and much more.
What is an example sentence for merchandising? ›
Example Sentences
She is the company's director of merchandising. The film made a lot of money thanks to strong merchandising. Most of the movie's earnings came from merchandising and not ticket sales.
What is an example sentence for merchandise? ›
We sell quality merchandise. The merchandise will arrive by truck at noon. He's developed his own brand of merchandise.
Which three purposes do mannequins serve in stores? ›
Mannequins serve which three purposes in stores? They offer an image that encourages shoppers to buy products. They can help personify a brand. They push customers to enter stores.
Why do fashion designers use mannequins? ›
Benefits of Using Mannequins for Sewing:
Allows you to see exactly how a particular garment looks on the human form. Even if a garment is unfinished, you can pin pieces of it to a mannequin to maintain its form and figure. Measuring a garment is easier when it's placed on a mannequin as opposed to a table.
Why do businesses use mannequins? ›
They allow new product, sales and hot trends to be featured visually in an instant. In addition, mannequins also work in window displays and can be used to lure clients into the store by displaying the store best and finest merchandise.
What is the job description of a mannequin stylist? ›
Responsibilities: Dress the mannequins in the assigned store area. Accessorize and style mannequins in collaboration with the Service and Merchandising Manager to create a unique and high-quality fashion impact. Showcase the Simons label's strength.
