Ideas to help merchandise hardware and housewares

More glamour and style are being used as a means of improving sales. Image-building is vital not only to increase the movement of merchandise but also to the reputation of the store. When rapport is established in a customer's mind it not only means repeat sales but good word of mouth, the best advertising any store cannot buy.

One way to increase bathroom vanity sales is to put ./'ancy mirrors over them, such as gold or silver leq/ oval styles. Fancy lightingJixtures on either side o.l' the mirrors also give cuslomers ideas o.l' how to update bathrooms with a minimum o.f'work and a lot of imagination.

An area set aside for browsing is one way to add sparkle and the feeling gf a "child being in a candy store" to an otherwise dull anil trafficless corner. In this area place all kinds of housewares gift ideas including knick-knacks for bath, kitchen, and all around the house.

For an outdoor .feeling, especially when displaying such outdoor .t'Lrn items as gas braziers and accessories, use redwoad paneling in the style o./'a .fence to.fbrm the display bockground ql the equipment. Add someAstroturl .lbr the grass ell'ect and set an immetliate mood oJ customer identiJication lbr many good evenings qf'entertaining.

Every aisle of every store can be an "action aisle" if products are so attractively displayed that they catch customers' eyes and then sell them with their performance qualifications. How can a store tell which are the action aisles? The action aisles always mean more action at the cash register.

With the craze.fbr vintage automobiles at its all-time high, an eye-cotching display o.l'everyday auto needs can be rlramatized by topping it o./l' wirh sketches qfold-tine outos. Once the cusloffier is attracted to the display, he's just an eye-blink away .fi'ont the items o./ sa./'ety, cleaning, and maintenance./br his own car.

When floor space is at a premium, the new flexible, adjustable display fixtures are a must. For example, if your store sells both bicycles and tricycles, a bountiful display can be assembled by putting the "trikes" on a shelf above the bikes.

Matching hardware collections arranged in aftractive displays multiplies the potential sales ticket total bv the number q/ related items in eattlr display. This is particularly true v;here bathroom or kitchen./ixture grou pi n gs are shown.

Sfory at a Glance

Self-adhesi ve wallcoverings used behind merchandise, especially in gondola-end displays, accents everything in the display. What often is a dull, empty store spot can be a bright sales spot with the use of justa little bitof effort and wallpaper.

A touclt o/ the lbrest alrtr('ts tlte eye when logs are used irr a di.;pla.v showing axes, glot,es and (hain sayts.

Back-to-back gondola ends are a perfect way to compactly offer customers a variety of how-toinformation. Craft books, cook books, gardening books, and house plant publications can all be grouped for easy browsing and customer enlightenment.

Even a .fex, srluare ./eet ol utility shelvitrg and peiboat'd devoted to a home plant and horticulture departntent ca n lurn orer an atna:ittg ittvetttory ql nerchandise. Even the ceiling above the display can be usetl lor hanging planters.

Color at the ceiling level, used in bold horizontal or vertical stripecl graphics, call attention to neat dis- plays underneath when emblazoned with 3-D signs rhar prominently announce the department.

Lighting fixtures, when mass displayed in a cloud effect over related merchandise, not only utilize all floor and ceiling space effectively, they also give customers ideas while brightening up the store.

Blinking, colored lights around signage not only calls attention to the area they are advertising but adds a lestive nole lo shopping.

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