Opening a new store is a giant juggling act. If you’re not focused on what you are trying to accomplish, then everything can fall apart fast! When going through the process of deciding what types of merchandise you will sell, and where you will sell it, don’t forget one of the most important decisions. The decision about your visual merchandising has a major impact on your sales.
There are several different types of retail stores, and we’d like to help you with a common check-list of store fixtures and store supplies you should add to your shopping list. Each type of store has its own unique set of store equipment to organize and merchandise your products.
1. Clothing Racks
Clothing racks come in many different configurations. Most retail clothing stores use 4-way Racks and 2-way Racks to feature new clothing at the entrance of the store. In the rear of the store, clearance racks are often Round Racks or H-racks so that customers can browse close-out merchandise. In the stock room a rolling rack such as a Z-Rack is best for tagging and sorting new stock..
2. Hangers
If you’re going to have clothes hanging on racks, you’ll also need hangers to go with them. There are many choices from heavy-duty plastic clothes hangers to the more durable wood hangers. It is often one of the considerations when deciding on branding of a store and budget.
3. Mannequins
Clothing items that you really want to show off can really grab people’s attention if you place them on mannequins rather than shelves or racks. Mannequins come in many different forms such as dress forms, full-body mannequins and counter-top mannequins. Mannequins are best way to pull together an ensemble, encouraging the customers to see before buying.
4. Signage
Signage indicating departments, ideas or promotions are the best way to help navigate your customers when a sales person is not available. Signage is also important to conveying the branding for your store.
5. Shelve & Wall Fixtures
Shelving is the most basic display solution for a variety of products. Certain types of clothes, jewelry, and accessories can easily be displayed, giving customers an easy way to search for the products they’re looking for.
6. Pricing Gun
Unless you want to go through and individually write price tags for every single item in your store, a price gun is a must. Price guns allow you to input prices and easily print out tags for individual items. Use a fabric tagging gun to attach prices to your garments.
7. Bags & Packaging
Whether you prefer paper or plastic, you’ll need some kind of bag to offer customers upon completing their purchases. You can purchase generic shopping bags or order some with your store name and logo on them. Also, many retail stores will wrap small items in colored tissue paper or boxes as a special touch for customer purchases
8. Display Cases
For expensive items or things you just want to show off to customers, glass display cases offer a great solution. They protect and display your items and can even serve double duty as a checkout area.
9. Mirrors
Selling any sort of apparel or accessories when opening your first retail store means that you’ll need at least a few mirrors around so that customers can see the items they’re considering purchasing. Full-length mirrors should be mainly located near clothing items and smaller mirrors can go by accessories.
10. Counter Top Displays
Highlight jewelry with jewelry displays such as necklace forms or bracelet stands or use a handbag display or risers to display purses and shoes in your clothing store.
11. Shopping Carts or Baskets
Your shoppers will need a way to carry their purchases through the store if they plan on buying multiple items. If you offer large items, you might need to offer shopping carts. But for smaller items, shopping baskets should do the trick.
12. Banners or Posters
If you’re having a sale, grand opening or other event, you’ll need decorations that will grab people’s attention. Pennants, sale posters or banners are popular solutions to hang outside of retail stores or as part of your displays.