The focal point of a shop, no matter how large or small, is its windows. This is the face that the shop portrays to the outside world, this is where you reveal your identity – the very essence that makes your shop unique. It is the first thing that shoppers notice and just like a book cover, your shop will be judged upon it, so getting it right is key. Whilst many shops will employ a professional window dresser, they do come at a price so many prefer to go it alone. It is possible to create a dynamic and exciting window display by yourself as long as you remember to follow a few key pointers. Themes It is essential that your shop has a theme, such as a boutique style or olde worlde sweet shoppe and no matter what time of year it is, you must not detract too

How you layout the inside of the shop is of vital importance if you want to guide your customer around your stock. There is nothing worse than a cluttered shop and customers will avoid stores that look too crowded. Accessibility also needs to be thought out, especially in relation to wheelchairs and buggies. Many new shops and those who just need a revamp cannot afford to spend money on professional shop fitters or designers. If you can find the extra cash, then many shops will say that it’s money well spent, but if you can’t then a few small ideas can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your shop. The key is to keep it simple. Don’t spend too much time focusing on the displays inside your shop when your attention could be put to better use on a fantastic window display or sprucing up the

How you choose to display your goods is equally important when it comes to maximising your sales potential. And with such an array of cabinets, shelving and tables available it can seem a daunting task to pick out the ones most suitable for your merchandise. But this is the key to a successful display – choosing cabinets that will show off your products to their best potential. Now depending on your merchandise some cabinets will suit more than others. For instance you are hardly going to display jeans in a glass cabinet! So let’s take a look at some of the cabinets and shelving on offer and explore how they could affect your sales. Gondolas No, not the boats! Gondolas are free-standing mid-floor fixtures that usually have shelving all around suitable for displaying household items. If you are using a gondola it is essential that you follow the simple rule

Good lighting should not only attract customers and display your shop prominently on the High Street, but it must also lure customers inside and draw them towards products on display. In today’s retail industry, lighting is used in a number of different ways and it pays to reflect a little on the lighting arrangements in your own shop to ensure that you are displaying your wares to their maximum potential. Window Lighting The first thing your customers will notice about your shop is your window. Take some time to study the lighting arrangements here and make sure that the light beams are directed into the shop and not outwards at the customer, blinding them. Swan neck lights are very attractive and have the added advantage of being flexible, so they can be directed either upwards towards your shop sign, or downwards to illuminate your window. Take note too, of which position

Creating a welcoming and inviting shop environment is great for getting customers through the door and keeping them but actually converting your customers and selling your products is what pays the bills and keeps the shop open. Having a logical layout and well-defined departments is instrumental in guiding your customers, but what else can you do? Create an aspiration display Actually taking your products out of their packaging and displaying them in a natural pose with other complimentary products is great for setting the scene and giving the customers how they could utilise the product, see it in it’s full glory and picture how it can make a difference to their lives. Take for example a kitchen or bathroom company, they don’t just line up all the toilets, the baths and the shower cubicles then let the customers wander around. The kitchen companies don’t just have rack after rack of