As we mentioned on Tuesday, one way to spruce up your shop for the season is to trade out your dark colored bags for bags that reflect the season.

Store Supply Warehouse recently updated our bag selection right in time for spring. Many of our bag lines have new spring colors that will brighten up any store.

• Color Plastic Handle Bags -Lime, Yellow, Blue
• Frosty Shopping Bags - Electric Blue, Hot Pink, Mint Green, Lemon Yellow
• High Density Plastic Merchandise Bags - Purple, Lime, Pink, Yellow
• Low Density Plastic Merchandise Bags - Purple, Lime, Pink, Teal

Any of these bags can be easily swapped with your normal plastic bags and will lighten up your store’s merchandise just in time for spring. Plus many of these colors work well for summer as well so out with the winter colors and in with spring. It’s time to update your bags.

What color bags are you using right now?

When creating displays that a targeted toward children, don’t forget that children want to see clothes on a figure their size just like older people like to see outfits on adult sized mannequins.

Child sized mannequins allow you to display complete outfits for children. They are an important display item for any store that sells children’s clothing.

One of the benefits of children’s mannequins is that they are about half the size of a traditional mannequin. So these types of mannequins can be easily used to build levels to any display since they can be either placed on the floor or higher like on a table without being too high.

Youth mannequins can also be integrated with main store displays so that coordinating outfits can be displayed in full family displays with an adult female, adult male, children’s boy and children’s girl mannequins. These types of displays are perfect for stores that want to cater to the entire family.

Many times, in department or larger stores, the children’s clothing sections tend to be in a more remote area of the store. If you have children’s clothing displays toward the front of the store, it will remind shoppers that you have a children’s section and will draw them in. We also recommend pairing accessories with apparel on mannequins such as backpacks, jewelry and hats.

Remember that youth mannequins are a great way to show off your best merchandise, so make sure you mix up what you have your children’s mannequins wearing and they will highlight your children’s merchandise.

How do you display children’s clothing?

When maximizing space, we often suggest that retailers think vertically for ways to make the most of every single inch of space. One of the most versatile store supply display units to build vertical interest in your store is wire grid.

Wire grid can be used against a wall similar to slatwall, but also can be placed independently in store windows or in the middle of the room to create diversity in your displays. Not only is grid lightweight, versatile and can be customized with a variety of accessories, but because it is transparent, your store will still be light and open even though you have displays in a variety of spaces. Other materials such as wood or metal can block light and appear cluttered and bulky if you have too many displays in a small area.

One of our favorite wire grid accessories is the mini grid basket. These baskets come in a variety of sizes and can be stacked together so they are on hand at all times. Wire baskets give you the ability to add merchandise to a small area in your display unit and then easily remove the basket when that merchandise sells out.

We recommend using wire baskets for the follow items:

• Accessories such as scarves, gloves and hats
• Small toys and stuffed animals
• Small clearance items
• Impulse items
• Snacks or candy
• And more

Grid baskets are also perfect when you run out of a certain item in a display and need a quick replacement. Just pop off the face out, hangrail or shelf that is currently on your wire grid, snap on a basket or two featuring small items and your display is once again complete.

What type of items do you sell wire grid baskets?

If you are thinking about different ways that you can effectively display clearance apparel, we have the perfect solution for you – round racks. These store fixtures are ideal for hanging marked down merchandise because there is almost not limit to the numbers of hangers they can hold, unlike faceouts that may only have 10 pegs.

Round racks are also very versatile because of their portability. They are stand alone store fixtures, so they can be placed in high or low traffic areas. With the option to add twin wheels or casters to round racks, you can effortlessly transport racks while the merchandise is still hanging.

Additionally, there are several top attachments you can add to your round racks that utilize the empty space above the rack. These handy toppers include:

• Glass Tops
• Wire Basket Topper
• Wood Tops
• Circular Sky Tiers

We recommend using plastic size labeler that will attach to your round racks. These hanging accessories are available in round and oblong shapes for optimal size viewing. You can also choose between S M L sizes, numerical sizes, or infant/toddler sizes.

Hats, scarves, ties and belts can be tricky to display and more difficult to keep organized. However, these can be great impulse purchases when displayed effectively. These fixtures do not take up very much floor space and can enhance other displays as well. Because hats, scarves, ties and belts are great gifts, think about featuring these accessories for Valentine’s Day.

Some great store fixtures are available that are designed specifically for displaying scarves, belts and ties in an eye catching way. The rotating belt/tie/scarf rack features 20 hooks and stands upright. Customers will be able to view these items from all angles. Ball spiral racks are also optimal for scarves, ties and belts. With 29 chrome balls featured in a spiral figure, no items will be hidden from a customer’s view. Additionally, these fixtures are easy to move and go along well with other retail displays. Try putting them in a high traffic area and see if your sales increase.

29-Ball Spiral Rack |     Rotating Belt/Tie/Scarf Racks

There are several varieties of hat displays available to meet your store’s needs. Free standing floor cap towers will add visual dimension to a boring wall. A 12 tier cap tower has the ability to hold 72 hats and a 6 tier cap rack will hold 24 hats. If you’re looking for a countertop hat rack they are available in 2-tier, 3-tier and 4-tier depending on how many caps you wish to display. A 4-tier countertop cap tower is also available.  The difference between racks and towers is that a tower has a front and back and the tiers are stationary, giving it the ability to stand against a wall. The tiers on a cap rack rotate, and therefore must be placed in an area where customers can use the rotating store fixture.

Countertop Cap Tower |     4-Tier Standing Cap Rack

If you have wire grid or slatwall, a cap display that attaches to those fixtures may be more suitable and space saving for your store. Additionally, cap sky tiers will save floor space because they attach to existing display racks. And extra revolving cap tiers are available if you want to add more caps to a rack.

Cap Sky Tier |          Extra Cap Tier

Hat racks keep your merchandise in the best selling condition possible. We wouldn’t recommend throwing hats into a dump bin because they could be damaged and will lose their shape.

Also, think about using these apparel accessories on your mannequin displays. For more about mannequins check out this previous blog post: Mannequins.

Some statistics out there have said that 10% of all engagements in the U.S. happen on Valentine’s Day. This number seems a little high, but the bottom line is that many use this romantic day to pop the big question and that means ring sales! Even if you’re not a diamond selling store, in today’s economy, it is not unusual for women to opt for a non-diamond engagement ring. And really, any store that sells rings can benefit from effectively displaying products. In addition to making rings standout against a flattering background, having ring displays keeps these small items in front of your sales associates.

Depending in your store’s needs there are several ring displays to choose from. And because each of these displays are available in either black velvet or faux white leather, store owners will be able to choose the best color backdrop for featured merchandise.

To display many rings at once we recommend using the five finger ring display, twelve finger ring display, foam ring insert with 72 slots, foam ring inserts with 36 slots or foam ring pads with 8 sections. To highlight a special ring or to let a customer view a ring alone, the single finger ring display is available with either a round or square base. If your goal is to add some interest to your displays, the polystyrene display hand or the horizontal display hand are great options that will make rings sparkle.  the horizontal display hand are great options that will make rings sparkle.

72 Ring Foam Display |   5 Finger Ring Display |  Polystyrene Display Hand |   Single Ring Display

Also, don’t forget a plastic ring size measuring stick and a finger size measuring ring set with 25 plastic rings on a chain so customers know exactly what will work for them.

Ring Size Measuring Stick | Finger Size Measuring Rings

How do you display rings you sell? Do you display single rings? Multiple rings? Or both?

We listed five helpful tips earlier in the week for store owners to effectively display jewelry. Instead of hanging jewelry by itself on a peg, we recommend using jewelry display cards for several reasons that include:

• Jewelry cards keep items neat and from tangling easily. This aspect will save your employees and customers time and frustration by not having to hassle with knotted merchandise.
• It is easy to mark prices on jewelry cards. By putting the price on the card, you will not have to strategically figure out a way to label the price directly on jewelry items.
• Because jewelry cards fold over and adhere to themselves, jewelry is never harmed by adhesives or connectors. This is a perfect way to avoid annoying sticker residue on items.
• Jewelry cards are perfect for display racks.

Self-adhesive necklace fold-overs will hold any size necklace, bracelet or even hair ties. With convenient inserts, you will be able to display merchandise on racks or counter stands. Available in cases of 100 these jewelry cards come in white or black.

Self-Adhesive Necklace Fold-Overs

For earrings you can choose between black or tan velour imprinted earring cards with “FASHION EARRINGS” on the front, black velour plain earring cards, or white plastic earring cards. Available in cases of 100, these earring cards will hold pierced or clip on style earrings.

Plastic Imprinted Earring Cards

Special pin cards with “FASHION PIN” printed on the front are available in cases of 100. Barrette cards in black and white feature slits for displaying barrettes and the ability to hang on wire displays and peg displays.

Barrette Cards

Because jewelry is a top seller for Valentine’s Day, offering jewelry boxes with purchases is a nice touch for buyers. Jewelry boxes are great for keeping purchases safe, secure and unharmed from the time of purchase to when the recipient opens the box. They help keep necklaces and bracelets from becoming a tangled mess, as well as add an extra element of surprise when opening.

Many women also keep the original boxes their jewelry comes in as a way to neatly store and organize jewelry. Plus, many times stores put their brand name on their boxes so it is a good way to remind customers where they purchased their favorite jewelry items. You can easily brand boxes by adding custom sticker labels with your company name and contact information.

For many stores that carry jewelry, cotton-filled jewelry gift boxes will suffice with customer purchases. These boxes come in silver, white, kraft and gold to match any other packaging materials you offer. Many shapes and sizes are available to accommodate necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watches, pendants and rings. Additionally, they come with a piece of cotton that is sized to the box, so these are great for packaging other small, fragile items as well.

Cotton-Filled Jewelry Gift Boxes in silver, kraft, white and gold.

Jewelry stores that want to create a dramatic presentation with their products, faux leather and black velvet boxes are perfect for creating the WOW factor. These not only look great but because they close tight, items will be stored safely wherever they go. Boxes for rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants and watches are available in black velvet with gold accents, faux leather white and faux leather black.

Black Velvet Earring Box | Faux Leather Necklace Box | Faux Leather Watch Box

Since many retail stores have cut back budgets and do not offer gift boxes with purchases, your store will standout above the competition when you have these items available.

Happy New Year’s!

Wow its 2010 already. Is your store open today?

More and more stores have kept their doors open on the first day of the New Year, advertising extra savings to rake in shoppers looking for a deal.  Along with the tips from Tuesday about how to maximize after holiday sales, changing the look of your labels along with the discounted price will highlight reductions.

An easy way to draw attention to lower prices on price tags is with a one line pricing gun or a two line pricing gun. Pricing gun kits come with white labels, fluorescent red labels and sale labels. These sticker labels are perfect for going over a paper price tag or another sticker. With a wide selection of pricing gun accessories, stores will be able to find labels that will meet their needs.

1-Line Labeler Kits |        Regular Tagging Gun Kits

If you are having a storewide sale, an efficient way to mark all discounted merchandise is with a system using color labels, discount labels or sale labels. For example, you can mark all items that are 30% off with a green colored label and items that are 50% off with a red label. Likewise, you could use discount labels that have 20% Off, 30% Off and 50% Off already printed on for easy markdowns.

Blue Color Labels |           Discount Kit + Labels |           Sale Labels

To totally change your tags use a tagging gun that connects a paper tag to an item with a plastic fastener, refer to previous Friday Feature Product Post Tagging Guns and Accessories.

Coats and outerwear are too bulky to keep folded. You may be able to lay these items flat on a table, but for larger, higher priced merchandise it would probably be optimal to hang coats and outerwear.

Because these items can be heavy, you will need durable hangers that are specially designed to handle the extra weight. Coat and outerwear hangers come in different materials, colors and price points to meet any retail store’s needs.

Natural wood coat hanger | Molded plastic coat hanger | Walnut wood coat hanger | Clear plastic coat hanger

These 17” hangers will hold up for many uses. To add a nice touch to the end of the sale, consider offering customers a garment bag or clothing cover with the hanger. For more information about garment bags refer to the “Friday Feature Product: Garment Bags and Clothing Covers” blog post.

Along with the tips from Tuesday about how to resell shoes, carrying some shoe specific store supplies will add to the selling tactics you are already using. Consider how some of these shoe retail options can increase the profits of your store.

If you have slatwall or wire grid in your store, specially made shelves are available to fit these display materials. The slatwall shoe displays are slanted to show the front view of shoes, while keeping shoes secure. The wire grid shoe displays show the side view of shoes and are versatile options to display other small merchandise. If you do not have slatwall or wire grid, the chrome shoe merchandiser includes eight shelves which holds 60-80 pairs of shoes.

Slatwall Shoe Display |       Wire Grid Shoe Display |       Shoe Merchandiser

Customers will thank you for having sewn bottom footlet-footies available for trying on shoes. Offered in beige for women and black for men, these economical booties will prevent inventory damage, as well as make trying on shoes easier and more comfortable for the customer. Also, a helpful instrument to have on hand is a Brannock device shoe sizer for customers who may not know their shoe size. Men’s sizers, women’s sizers and children’s sizers are available. These devices will measure the length and width of your customers’ feet to find the most accurate shoe size.

Beige Women’s Footlets |      Women’s Shoe Sizer

To really complete your shoe section, consider adding stools and mirrors that are made specially for selling shoes. The shoe fitting stool is an attractive chrome stool with black upholstery. It’s easy to move and features a rubber surfaced foot rest. Also, the shoe floor mirror is made to sit on the floor to view foot apparel with ease. The durable design is made to last and will look great for years.

Shoe Floor Mirror |         Shoe Fitting Stool

Finally, seal the deal with a plastic bag that is perfect for fitting bulky shoe boxes. These white plastic draw tape bags feature draw tape handles for convenient closing and transportation.

Plastic Draw Tape Bags

If you are opening a shoe store or just want to improve your shoe section, these shoe store essentials will impress customers, as well as add comfort and ease to their shopping experience.

What kind of store supplies do you use in your shoe store or shoe section?

Earlier in the week we mentioned that a key factor to maintaining a welcoming environment in any store is by keeping it clean. During the fall and winter months when there is more debris outside, dirt is sure to make it into your store. Vacuums are a store supply must have to keep your floors looking great. We recommend two Oreck models because of their durability and versatility that make them perfect for retail cleaning.

The Oreck XL2000 Commercial Upright Vacuum is built to handle virtually any commercial cleanup job. It moves with ease from carpet to hard surfaces. Featuring a light, fast and durable design, the Oreck XL2000 Vacuum is perfect for cleaning under furniture and fixtures, as well as up close to baseboards and displays. This vacuum includes a one year commercial warranty. Disposable bags and replacement belts are also available for the Oreck XL2000 Upright Vacuum.

As an alternative to lugging out a full size vacuum, a floor sweeper is perfect for quick cleanup jobs. The Oreck Hoky Wet/Dry Manual Floor Sweeper features a lightweight and maneuverable design. It works on carpet, tile, wood, concrete and vinyl. It picks up wet and dry substances such as fruits, vegetables, dirt, flour, thread, ashes, grass, sand, pins, paper clips, glass and even nails. Additionally, Oreck provides a 10 year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Keep vacuuming on your daily task list and don’t let a dirty floor become an issue in your store. Wait until you store is clear of customers to vacuum so you don’t interrupt anyone’s shopping experience.

Note: Oreck products sold for commercial use only.

Earlier in the week we talked about storing seasonal merchandise. For clothing items, a great way to keep them from being damaged is with Garment Bags and Clothing Covers. We recommend keeping these items hung if you can. A large bin or box where items can lay flat will also keep clothing neat.

Plastic Garment Bags come in rolls of up to 486 in each roll, depending on what size you need. They are available in white or clear. Garment Bags will keep clothing from dust, dew and other potentially damaging elements. Also, consider offering Garment Bags with a customer purchase as a nice touch and they will protect the product during transport from your store to a safe closet. Also, Clear Plastic Shirt Bags are great for keeping dress shirts looking their best. For easy application of Garments Bags use a Garment Bag Rack with Bagging Jack. This garment bag rack features adjustable hooks, which hold each garment while the bag simply slips down over the top.

For larger, more expensive or formal clothing, a plastic garment bag may not be the best choice. The following options are more durable and optimal for long term storage.

• Bridal Gown Cover - Zippered in Clear or White –Damage can be caused just by materials rubbing up against each other. Use these bags for storage or in-store display to keep them looking their best.
• Grip-Tite Garment Bags – Available in two sizes, these canvas garment bags are water resistant and great for moving. With a unique patented locking system that clamps garments tight without creasing or folding, you can enjoy worry-free storage.
• Suit Cover – Polyester Zippered – Featuring a reinforced hanger opening, full length zipper and cold crack resistance, these suit covers are available in two sizes and are ideal for storage and transport.

When you’re ready to take your merchandise out of storage, we recommend using a steamer to make items look brand new. For more information on steamers check out this past blog post, “Friday Feature Product: Steamers.”

A store has to watch out for theft and accidents for merchandise that is small, breakable or expensive. An easy, attractive solution to showing these items is a Glass Display Tower. These towers are very practical and can add a vertical dimension to your store.

Display Towers are available in three shapes to meet the needs of your store:
·    Stretch Hexagonal Tower Cases
·    Hexagonal Tower Cases
·    Square Tower Cases

Each style is available in four different colors to match your store’s décor:
·    Maple
·    Cherry
·    Black
·    Gray

All the towers come with a frameless door that is not noticeable to customers. You also have complete control of the contents because you can keep the tower securely locked. In addition, the tower will light up the room with included lights. With the combination of glass and light, products will really shine in the tower. All glass shelves can be easily adjusted for different sized merchandise.

How do you keep small, breakable or expensive products safe?

Mannequins can be a tricky store fixture because they come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. If you are not ready to commit to using mannequins in your store, Mannequin Alternatives are an economical way for you to feature your merchandise in the same way that a mannequin does.

You can display clothing and merchandise the way it is meant to be worn without having to worry about catering to gender, body type or ethnicity. There are different options available to meet your display needs.

For single garment hanging, Adjustable Singles Costumers and Chrome Hook Stand are ideal. These Mannequin Alternatives are best suited for merchandise worn from the waist up. They can be adjusted to fit any type of shirt, sweater or dress.

With the ability to hang pants, Multi-Form Adjustable Mannequin Alternatives and Adjustable Adult UniQuins are made for displaying full outfits. The Adjustable Child UniQuin is a shorter version that fits smaller clothing.

Alternative Mannequins are easy to move and store. They are perfect for highlighting merchandise in window displays, as well as on the floor or on a table. If you are looking for an economical way to display clothing, look into this versatile store fixture.

When I’m walking around in the mall one of the things I notice the most are the bags that people are toting around. This tells me which stores are in the mall and even if that store is having a sale. Your bags communicate a message to others, as well as reflect on your store’s image.

Think about what a white plastic bag says, and then think about a bronze metallic paper bag with handles and GUCCI in printed in gold letters. The message is very different. We’re not suggesting creating the most elaborate bag you can but do think about using a bag that means something.

Store Supply Warehouse’s online custom bag manager makes creating a branded bag easy, quick and affordable. Custom options include:

• Kraft Paper Shopping Bags
• Apparel Boxes
• Metallic Paper Shopping Bags
• Fashion Color Paper Shopping Bags
• Euro Totes
• Gift Boxes

Once you select the product you want to customize you choose the color of the bag/box, the foil color and if you want one or two sided printing. In addition, you can upload artwork and logos. The program suggests what items are ideal to fit in the selected bag/box, as well as gives a price per carton and will update the price as you change your options and quantity. Other design options include bag/box text, font, size, style, alignment and color. Below is an example of what the custom manager looks like.

Adding Tissue Paper and wrapping fragile items in Kraft Paper will accent your custom bag. Consider using different bags to promote a sale or holiday. If your bags stand out, your store will too!

Do you use cool, custom bags in your store? Tell us about your custom bag design.

Many people who order online want to have their purchase sent directly to the recipient for the holidays. Offering gift wrapping services for online sales is a good strategy for these buyers, making your online store a one-stop-shop for holiday customers.

There are many different pattern options of gift wrapping to match your customer’s tastes. The following are offered as half ream rolls measuring 24” W x 75’ L.

• Red-Gold Holly Leaf
• Candles
• Metallic Gold Pine Cone
• Metallic Poinsettia
• Metallic Silver Stripe
• Metallic Snowflake
• Ornaments
• Holiday Block Print

Offering customers different wrapping options will personalize the gift and experience for them. Usually people ship gifts to people they cannot see over the holidays, so any amount of custom options you can offers will be appreciated. We recommend stocking up on your packaging material such as stretch film, bubble wrap and Kraft paper.

For more information on packaging, refer to previous blog posts in the packaging category.

Perhaps one of the most important things you can do this holiday season is to use appropriate Holiday Signs to lure customers into your store. Because your store won’t be the only one with holiday signs up, sign placement and message are extremely important.

The Store Supply Warehouse website makes it easy for retailers to shop for holiday store fixtures with the holiday items listed together. With all the options as everyday store signs, holiday signs come in many varieties.

The 11 Piece Holiday Sale Promotional Sign Kit and Holiday Sale Super Sign Kit features “Holiday Sale” and friendly snowman. The Economy Burgundy Sale Sign comes in packs of 100, available in two different sizes and feature holiday present images. Economy Snowflake Sale Signs also come in packs of 100, available in two sizes and are printed with snowflake images. The Holiday Sale Companion Sign comes in packs of 50 with “Holiday Sale” and snowflakes.

These festive signs will let customers know that these are not your everyday sales. Special sale signs mean special sales and discounts. Because the signs are dateless, you can use them over and over again. Try pairing them with holiday displays and keep the discounted merchandise close by.

An efficient way to manage the high volume of customers you are expecting this holiday season is investing in some portable posts and barriers for easy crowd control. Avoid massive mobs of people blocking key walkways in your store and keep lines to the registers in designated areas. Not only will these items maintain order in your store, they also help protect against theft. Posts and barriers can deter people with un-purchased merchandise from going out of your store.

There are several options in this category to match any store’s needs and budget. We would recommend measuring how long you need your posts to stretch within your store. Also consider if you will need to use these posts for outdoor use, because plastic is a better material for outdoor use than metal chrome.

Available in black and white, Portable Plastic Posts and Plastic Chains are an economical option for interior or exterior access control. For maximum stability, sand should be kept in the base. The Plastic Chains are sold by the foot. A seven foot length chain is recommended to use with the Plastic Posts.

The Portable Post with Tape is a simple, no-nonsense solution for temporary or permanent control. The belt is self-retracting and connects slowly and safely when detached. A three year warranty is included with purchase. End a line with either a Beltway Portable Receiver post or a Retractable Tape Wall Receptacle.

A Chrome Metal Portable Post has a classic, sleek design for any interior application. This light weight post goes with any style hook or snap. The Velour Rope with Chrome Snap Ends matches perfectly with the Chrome Metal Portable Post. This six foot rope will add an elegant look to any décor.

Portable posts and barriers are your solution to keeping order, hosting an event or deterring people from certain areas. Try them out in your store and let us know how it goes!

An easy way to send messages to the community is by utilizing a bulletin board. You can send personal messages out to your customers, feature your organization’s future happenings and endorse causes and events you support.

Wall-Mounted Enclosed Bulletin Boards are perfect to hang anywhere in your store. They come with a lock so you have complete control over what is featured on your board. Brown cork board and black letterboard options are available. These boards have a sleek, contemporary appearance, featuring a rounded, slender frame for maximum viewing area. Letterboard letter sets are 142 piece sets with white letters, numbers and symbols.

Some key items you should think about including on your bulletin board:

• Store hours and holiday hours
• Your company in the news
• Sponsored events
• New departments or employees

Retail outlets including drug stores, gift shops, mass merchandisers, grocery stores and convenience stores are almost expected to carry greeting cards. Sometimes these are last minute items that people may need to pick up quickly. So, the key is to place greeting cards in a convenient spot in your store.

The Countertop Greeting Card Rack is great for smaller stores. It holds 12 cards and rotates for easy viewing. The 20 Pocket Countertop Post Card Rack is designed specifically for standard 4” x 6” post cards. Each pocket can hold up to 100 post cards.

The Pocket Greeting Card Rack holds 48 greeting cards and rotates. This standing rack will put your cards right in front of your customers for easy selection and increased impulse sales.

Strategically place your greeting card rack in a place where it is easy to find. Because people usually stand around reading cards, try not to clutter the area around the rack. If you have the space, place your rack away from the wall so more than one person may view the cards.

An easy way to break up lines of racks or shelves is by using tables for focal point displays. Our favorite table is the Three Tier Table because of its vertical interest and ability to easily separate products on three levels.

These tables are available in several sizes to fit your needs and room space. The Economy Tier Tables are perfect for smaller spaces with a tier base measuring 48” x 48”. The Premium Tier Table comes in two different sizes, one with a larger rectangle base table and the other is a smaller square base table. Choose between maple and cherry to match your store’s décor.

Another table option is Nesting Tables. These two piece tables conveniently fit into each other. Depending on how much space you have available, use separately or tier them out by fitting one slightly under the other.

The classic round table is always a store owner’s go-to displayer. The 30” Round Display Table with interlocking wood finger-grove legs is perfect for travel due to its smaller size and easy to set-up and store characteristics. The larger 36” Round Table with folding legs is durable and fit to hold 250 lbs. Dress up these tables with table clothes available in red, green and white and in three sizes.

Earlier this week we talked about using current trends as selling points in your store. If you decide to create a green or health section to your store, don’t let it go overlooked. We recommend featuring these products with lights. Lights are a simple, economical way to draw attention to your displays.

There are many different types of lights to choose from, so you can feature any type of product. Tube lights are perfect for glass display cases or outdoor use. These 12 foot long, weather resistant lights are available in Clear, Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Green and Red/Green. Consider switching up the colors to match the season or theme. You can also connect up to three tubes together for a 36 foot long strand. Add motion to your tube light with a Chase Speed Control. The controller lets you vary the speed of your chase sequence.

To drive traffic to a particular area of your store Rotating Sale Beacons are ideal. Offered in Red and Blue customers won’t be able to help stopping. Also, Mini Strobe Lights that come with a speed controller can flash up to 10 flashes per second. These lights will draw attention to any corner of your store and are ideal for Halloween displays.

If you want to highlight merchandise on slatwall or wire grid, attach a light for noticeable emphasis. Available in white or black, these lights include a 12 foot cord, 12 inch extension arm and adjustable swivel head. You can’t go wrong with easy and attractive lighting.

You work so hard to create beautiful displays, so shed some light on them. Try adding a light to a display and watch your profits glow.

How do you use lights in your store? What difference does it make?

Some great items to feature in the fall are hats, gloves and scarves. A person can never have too many of these functional accessories in the cooler months to come. Don’t let these items become overlooked in a messy bin.

A simple head form that sits on a display table or countertop will draw attention to fabulous hats. Or choose a mannequin with an extra long neck for scarves. To dress up your female head form displays, consider adding a wig from our large selection of different colors and lengths.

Hand forms also sit on display tables or countertops. They are not only ideal for displaying gloves, but you can also feature things like bracelets and watches. Female and male hand forms are available depending on your retail needs.

Hats, scarves and gloves are not only fall and winter accessories. You will be able to use these displays year round. For the future, think about things such as sun hats, light scarves and biking gloves.

Wood displays are very versatile, giving store owners several options to display merchandise. If you are going for a natural, crafty look it can be the perfect backdrop for your products. Also, because wood is lighter than other materials such as metal and glass, it is easy to change and transport. All wood displays are unfinished natural pine, however it is simple to stain or paint them to match any store décor.

Many wood displays fold flat and feature removable shelves and accessories, so they are easy to store. Also for business owners who take their store on the go, wood displays are substantial, attractive, easy-to-move pieces that will make viewing products simple and enjoyable.

There are no limits with wood displays. You can hang, stack and feature merchandise as you see fit. With many accessories for slat panel wood displayers and pegboard screens to choose from, there are endless ways to customize your product displays.

Pegboard screens are ideal for hanging awkward products because you can choose from several accessory fixtures. Slat panel wood displayers give store owners the ability to customize units with shelves and accessories including Peg Displays, Waterfall Peg Faceouts and Corner Shelves. Basket and crate displays are nice accents, breaking up shelf units.

Wood displays can create a cozy, at home feel for your store. Consider using wood for functional and eye-catching displays.

Clothes do not look their best when they come straight out of a box. They are usually wrinkled and smashed. A great appliance to have handy is a steamer that can give clothes a fresh look. There are many benefits you can enjoy with steamers as opposed to irons.

• Steamers are gentler on clothes than irons because heat is not directly applied.
• Steamers are designed to use on clothes that are on the hanger or even on mannequins.
• Steamers are safe to use on fabrics such as silk, cashmere, velvet and wool.
• Steamers can also be applied to hanging curtains and table clothes.

There are a variety of different steamers available depending on your needs.

• The Jiffy Esteam Handheld Professional Steamer is perfect for a smaller shop.
• The Reliable Steamer is an economical full-featured steamer.
• The Jiffy Model J-2000 is perfect for full-scale garment shops carrying items such as wedding dresses and formal wear. *
• The Jiffy Model J-4000 is an upgraded version of the J-2000 and features a fast heating thermostat, over 1.5 hours of steam per filling and more. *

* These Jiffy models are backed by at 12 Month Factory Warranty plus an additional six Month Store Supply Warehouse Warranty FREE of charge.

It is important to keep your steamer in the best condition possible for lasting use. Liquid Cleaner for Jiffy Steamers will clean out scale and deposits. We recommend applying this liquid cleaner every six months to keep your steamer performance high.

If you ever have a problem with your Jiffy Steamer, Store Supply is a factory authorized Jiffy Repair Station. You can send us your Jiffy Steamer for repair and order Jiffy replacement parts.

When you are out at local events, make your business stand out from the rest by creating eye catching displays in your designated spot or booth. Some things to find out before the event are how much space you will have, if tables and chairs are provided and the set up and pack up times.

Traveling with displays that are easy to store and move will make things much easier when you are at events. Salesman Rolling Racks are perfect for keeping clothing items organized and visible. The racks feature industrial casters so you can simply roll and lock them in their place. They are durable for everyday use and easy to transport.

Dump tables and other large display items are usually too heavy and bulky to take on the go. A Wire Folding Dump Table is a great alternative. It easily folds and wire is much lighter than other materials for transport. Other wire displays like baskets and shelves are also great for events.

Also, countertop displays and risers can help create eye catching table displays as well. These displays create height layers that enhance the real estate on the back of your table in order to maximize your space.

Just remember that you should have an extra set of hands to help you load and unload so that you don’t have to leave your merchandise behind while you are in the middle of transporting it.

What type of display fixtures do you use when you’re out promoting your store?

With so many different products for the back-to-school season, it is the perfect time to get creative with your displays. However, this can be difficult when items are so varied. Combination racks are an ideal solution to display different items in one store fixture.

Combination rack options include:

• H Shelf Racks – These racks have a sturdy metal frame that is supported in the middle of the rack and on the sides. The result is a two sided rack that can be customized with different shelf types.
• Hanging Rolling Shelf Racks – These racks combine hanging racks with stacking shelves and feature wheels so that they can be easily rearranged in your store.
• Hangrail Shelf Racks – These racks feature a hang rail in the middle and two side shelf racks, making it an efficient and attractive use of space.

Combination racks, shelves and racks ship the same day your order (on orders placed before 3 p.m.). So it isn’t too late to spice up your back-to-school displays.

Have you ever been in a store, with your arms full of merchandise, wishing you had a shopping basket or cart? Don’t let this happen to your customers. Eliminate the frustration a customer can feel in this situation by offering these simple supplies in your store.

Shopping baskets come in either blue or red, to match the décor of your store. You can keep these at the front and the back of the store for customer convenience. Baskets are not only beneficial to your customers, but they will increase the number of items a customer buys which will increase your profits.

The mini shopping cart is another carrying option, perfect for any size store. It is ideal for carrying larger items and breakable goods. This can protect merchandise by decreasing accidents up to the register and out to the parking lot. The blue and red baskets fit perfectly on the bottom of these shopping carts, allowing for maximum purchases.

Things to keep in mind with shopping baskets and carts:

• Shopping will be easier with wider aisles.
• Cashiers will have to be extra careful that the customer has unloaded and paid for all items from the basket or cart.
• Warn your customers that putting children inside the baskets and carts is unsafe.
• Do a parking lot check each day, making sure that all your baskets and carts have made it inside.

Have baskets or shopping carts made a difference in your business?

Your countertop display can be a focal point in your store and it is a great way to highlight smaller products. Every retailer should make good use of their countertop. You might be surprised that just by moving a product in front of your customers’ eyes will increase impulse sales.

Choosing the right display can make merchandise more visible and add interest to your countertop. There are many great display options out there, depending on what products you want to feature.

• Rotating Jewelry Displays
• Easels – for books
• Ballot Boxes
• Literature Displays - for brochures
• Cap and Hat Displays
• Eye-Sun Glass Displays
• CD and DVD Displays
• Countertop Forms
• Peg Spinner Rack
• Mirrors
• Risers
• Wire Countertop Racks

Assess what products you think would sell the best on your countertop. We recommend switching out products and strategically placing these display fixtures. They can stand alone or as a group display. Light accents such as tube lights can add emphasis. If you are not using one of these displays on your countertop, try moving it to another location in the store. It will keep you and your customers from getting bored.

When you suspect an employee of stealing, sometimes it can be hard to gather enough evidence to fire or prosecute them. Stopping theft before it starts is always the ideal situation, but what do you do when you know it is occurring? Speculating and firing someone without proof could be unfounded and you could potentially lose a good employee. Sometimes you need to install security cameras in order to stop a thief in their tracks.

Sometimes employees just need a little reminder that you can always be watching. If you just want cameras as a reminder to be honest, you can install simulated security cameras. These cameras look exactly like functioning security cameras, they just don’t actually record. Many of these models even have function blinking red light. They even can work off of standard AA batteries so you do not need wiring. Simulated cameras come in a variety of models including dome cameras, mini cameras and weather resistant outdoor cameras.

If you need a working system, new cameras work off a DVR system, allowing you to keep footage electronically. You can automatically set these systems to record at certain times. They can be backed up on USB and connect to any computer. Plus you can even monitor the footage from any smart phone, allowing you to literally be in your store at any time.

Hopefully you will never need to use this footage. But just in case, having a surveillance system will help keep your store safe and may help reduce theft.

The presence of security devices in a retail store is proven to help prevent thefts. Security devices such as mirrors and anti theft door security systems will help keep your merchandise from walking out the front door.

You want things to fly off your shelves. But those items need to stop at the register instead of going straight into a purse or backpack. By installing certain items that increase the presence of security devices, you can keeps theft at bay. And you don’t need to break the bank.

Security mirrors placed in corners and around high priced items will allow you to see these areas from the counter area and will make customers aware that you are watching them. Security mirrors are fairly inexpensive and have no carrying costs, so we would recommend that almost every store use these.

Another way to protect your merchandise is through anti theft door systems. These sensors detect when items are removed from a store when the accompanying tag on an item has not been removed or deactivated by a sales associate.

Door sensors are extremely effective, but for some stores they may be cost prohibitive. There are alternatives such as simulated door sensors and tags. These faux sensors appear to function exactly like the real version, so they have the same theft deterrent value as the real thing. However, if someone is courageous and still walks out the front door, it will not activate the alarm.

Small items such as simulated door sensors and corner mirrors will help keep theft in check and keep you from losing merchandise.

What security products does your store use?

Stores need to be versatile. Some stores have unpredictable merchandise. Consider the antique business; depending on the items you purchase for you store, you could have completely different items from week to week. As a result, store owners should consider having some display elements that can be easily modified to meet your current inventory’s needs.

One of the best systems for versatility is slatwall. Slatwall can turn any wall into a multipurpose selling wall. Or effectively utilize interior space by using slatwall towers or gondola shelves. But the thing that makes slatwall so functional is the types of accessories that can quickly transform slatwalls.

Here are some of the most popular accessories for slatwall.

• Wire Baskets
• Faceouts
• Peg Hooks
• Shelf Brackets
• Shelves (Plastic and Wood Varieties)
• Brochure Holders
• Literature Holders
• Trays
• Sign Holders
• Necklace Busts
• Eyewear Displays
• Jewelry Displays
• Mirrors
• Cap and Hat Racks
• Hang Rails
• Display Lights

With all of these accessory options, your space can be completely changed over as often as needed. So as your merchandise changes, so can your space.

A buyer always wants to try on items before they purchase them. For jewelry and apparel retailers like Kerry Cottage, key supplies to have in your store are display mirrors.

You should strategically place mirrors next to jewelry counters, hat displays, clothing, sunglass displays and anywhere you have wearable merchandise. These are especially important if you do not have dressing rooms in your store.

Tilting mirrors and easel mirrors are ideal for sitting on counters. Tilting mirrors can adjust to the customer’s height whereas easel mirrors stay stationary. You should keep the height of your counter in mind when choosing a mirror. If the counter is very short, a tilting mirror might be more effective than an easel mirror.  If you sell shoes, we recommend a floor easel mirror to make shoe merchandise easy to view.

Hanging mirrors come with a convenient, universal mount that fits slatwalls or wire grids. These mirrors should be on walls or columns next to clothing. People try on jackets, sweaters and anything they can fit over their clothes in the main part of a store. Don’t just have these mirrors on the outside walls of your store. If you can, try and incorporate them within the store for easy access.

Turntable mirrors bring immediate attention to your gifts, jewelry, cosmetic or any small, light weight merchandise. There are no messy wires and can operate for days on a single D-size battery. This is a way you can feature special products and sales. We recommend switching out your merchandise on the turntable. Don’t let an item become stale.

Remember to think like your customers. Look at every area of your store from a customer’s prospective. Anywhere that someone may be tempted to try something on, make sure there is a mirror close. By having mirrors placed strategically throughout your store, you will entice customers to buy extra items such as jewelry, sunglasses and jackets.

Nail salons are not the only retail organization that could benefit from using glass display cases to brighten up a room and effectively display merchandise. Almost any retailer could utilize a glass display case.

Display cases serve many purposes, there is a perceived value associated with items that are displayed under glass. On a similar note, display cases protect valuables. Display cases can be used individually or as part of larger display arrangements.

There are many options of glass display cases that a business owner has to chose from depending on your needs.

• Glass counter top display cases often double as a front counter for stores. These cases are perfect for small items or expensive items you want to keep within reach of your sales associates.
• Glass tower display cases add vertical appeal to a room and are available in shapes such as hexagons and squares.
• Jewelry display cases showcase necklaces, rings, bracelets and other jewelry items while securing them from theft.

If you are displaying expensive merchandise it would be a good idea to install a ratchet lock on the sliding doors of your countertop display case. This way a customer will have to ask for assistance to purchase the items. Also, the use of lights in glass displays can be an effective way to feature merchandise.

Many sales counters are made of groupings of display cases. For jewelry stores, clothing stores, electronics stores and more, display cases are an extremely effective way to store, exhibit and secure merchandise.

Displays are usually put together using many pieces that fit together to make one unit. Basic display case components include:
•    Full Vision Glass Front Display Cases
•    Gondola Units With High Bases and Glass Shelves
•    Glass Front Wall Unit Displays
•    Well Top Register Stands
•    Flat Top Register Stands
•    90 Degree Open Front Shelf Corner Filler
•    Service Counters
•    Jewelry Display Cases

For many new stores, or stores looking to revamp their current counters, we have a few packages of display cases that piece together full vision display cases, corner displays and register stands to create one cohesive unit that will fit in your space effortlessly.

For stores that want a U-shaped station, Store Supply has a package that includes two 70″L Full Vision Display Cases, two Open Shelf Corner Fillers, one Well-Top Register Stand, and one 70″L Service Counter. A smaller option includes two 70″L Full Vision Display Cases, two Open Shelf Corner Fillers, one Well-Top Register Stand, and one 70″L Service Counter.

L-Shaped arrangements include either two 70″L Full Vision Display Cases or one 70″L Full Vision Display Case with one 48″L Service Counter plus an Open Shelf Corner Filler and a Well-Top Register Stand.

All showcases feature tempered glass throughout, easy sliding rear hardboard doors, finished deck and doors, anodized aluminum frame extrusions and matching steel interior standards and brackets.

Keeping jewelry organized and well displayed is a key to success in the jewelry sales industry. Especially when carrying jewelry from site to site, you need items that will not only keep your items organized, but that can double as displays.

Tray carrying cases are a jewelry salesperson’s best friend. These portable kits allow for jewelry to be organized onto trays. The trays can be pulled out and used to display items. One idea is to organize trays either by style, color or by price point.

One of our favorite carrying cases is the 12 tray aluminum carrying case. This case not only holds 12 black fabric lined trays but the best part is that it has an extendable handle and rolls like a rolling suitcase. Plus the sturdy aluminum exterior keeps your merchandise safely intact.

Other materials to keep in mind when doing jewelry sales are displays like bar displays and earring displays. Also, make sure you keep plenty of plastic or velvet bags around to bag up your merchandise after it is sold.

Remember, the ability to set up and pack up easily is crucial when doing jewelry events. So with some organization tools such as a tray carrying case, you are sure to have an easier time traveling with your merchandise.

On Tuesday, we talked about ways to increase foot traffic. And one of our suggestions was to improve the signage at your store. Today, we are going to go into more detail about some effective signs to increase foot traffic.

Well, one of the easiest ways to increase traffic is to increase the number of eyes that look at your store. The simplest way to do this is through signage.

The first sign you should always have is an OPEN sign. While this sounds obvious, some stores forget this crucial sign. LED open signs are our favorite option because people can see that your store is open from a distance. These signs are especially popular for stores in strip malls or near a street.

If you are in an area with high walking traffic such as a mall or town center area, sidewalk signs are extremely helpful. They are also very useful for restaurants. Our favorite is the dry erase board sidewalk sign.  These come in a-frame or spring versions. The dry erase board sign allow you to easily customize the sign without having to purchase a new sign from a printer. They are great for sales, specials, menu items, promotions and special events.

Another type of sign that is perfect for catching attention is the moving message board sign. These signs are easily customizable and their vibrant colors are guaranteed to make shoppers stop and look.

Don’t be afraid to have some fun attracting attention. Pennant strands and promotional rope lights bring some color to your store front. Tube lights and promotional beacon lights will light the way to your store.

And don’t neglect the standbys. Traditional banners and window cling signs are sure to help bring in traffic.

These signs will ultimately increase the number of eyes that look into your store. By bringing attention to your store, you can improve sales and coveted foot traffic.

On Tuesday, we chatted about creating dynamic displays that are also versatile. One of the easiest ways to achieve a fabulous display that can be easily changed when you get new merchandise is with a wire grid unit.

Options are limitless when using a wire grid unit. There are so many accessories, plus the units can be used as free standing displays or as wall displays. They are also perfect display units for store windows, since they are partially see through so people can see your display items and the items in the store as well.

Grids can be set up in a variety of ways; from L shaped, triangle, U shaped, four way to gondola displays, the options are infinite.

And the accessories that can be added to the units really make these type of displays one of the most useful investments for a store owner. Accessories include:

• Baskets
• Faceouts
• Peg Hooks
• Shelf Brackets
• Hangrail Brackets
• Acrylic Bins, Displays and Trays
• Cap and Hat Racks
• Shelving
• Lights
• Brochure Holders and Literature Racks

By mixing and matching accessories, wire grid shelving units can fit any merchandise display needs and can help showcase items in order to increase sales.

In keeping with our sale’s theme this week, we wanted to highlight dump bins and their role in stores for sales and for regular merchandise displays. Dump bins are very good for holding sales items because of their elevated sides. Plus they are compact and easy to store, allowing you to keep them in your back room in a corner when not in use.

Folding dump tables are probably the most useful for sales. They have deep bins, yet the legs fold under for storage. One of the best parts about these tables is that they can be easily divided so each clothing size is kept separate.

To store everyday merchandise, we recommending looking into wire dump bins for their versatility and flexibility. Great for specials, closeouts, seasonal merchandise and everyday items. Ten eye-catching baskets invite browsing and buying and they are easy to stock and easy to reposition to take advantage of traffic. These types of bins include:

• Double sided merchandiser racks with 10 baskets
• Four Basket Spinner Racks
• Three Tier Wire Dump Bins
• Large Dump Bins with Adjustable Bottom Shelf
• Wire Folding Dump Table
• Wire Dump Basket

So feel free to stock stuffed animals and giant bouncy balls finally have a place. Look into purchasing some of these racks to help break up the monotony of shelving and standard racks in your store.

On Tuesday, we discussed the benefits of starting a gift certificate program at your store. But what about the person that purchases merchandise for their loved ones? Oftentimes, people are in a rush and would like to get a gift, packaging and wrap all in one place. So today we are going to discuss the different options in gift packaging.

First you need to decide if you are going to offer gift wrap as an additional or complimentary service. Many stores will offer it for free around the holidays to woo in customers. If you have the space, the resources and the man power, it might not be a bad idea to throw this service in on the house after a certain purchase point.

If you are doing gift wrap for free, the most cost effective solution is to purchase gift boxes in bulk and then have several large rolls of gift wrap on hand. The gift wrap you choose says a lot about your store. So it is better to err on the conservative side in higher end stores. We recommend solid gold or silver paper or even gold or silver striped paper. This style of paper is versatile for weddings, birthdays or shower presents. But don’t be afraid to have a little fun, especially if you are a store that caters to children. Choose paper the compliments your store’s logo and design.

Retail gift wrap comes in half ream rolls, so you will want to invest in a gift wrap dispenser. These stands protect your paper, make it extremely easy to measure and cut, and come in a variety of sizes to hold either one or multiple rolls. Then purchase ribbon and tags as the finishing touch to your packaging.

If you aren’t planning on offering gift wrap, another option is to stock wrapping supplies such as gift bags and tissue paper. Then keep these items near the counter and train your sales staff to ask customers if they would like to add gift wrapping supplies to their order.

Another way to do gift wrap is to having shopping bags that can double as gift bags. Victoria’s Secret has perfected this idea by placing every item in a gift bag with their signature pink tissue paper. Glossy euro totes and frosted shopping bags are both good options if going this route.

Just remember, by offering gift wrapping options at your store, you are helping your customers and keeping profits in your store.

How do you handle gift wrapping in your retail store?

At the heart of any clothing display is the mannequin. These faux-humans can bring an item to life. They are even so iconic that major brands such as Old Navy are now even using the mannequin in the center of a national ad campaign.

But let’s face it; mannequins become a representation of your customers. Your target clientele should walk into your store and be able to imagine themselves in your clothes because they can see themselves as that mannequin. So you need to select a mannequin that reflects your customers and your clothing type.

So what type of mannequin is right for your store? While there isn’t a perfect mannequin type, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing a mannequin.

• What hair style should they have? Standard mannequins either come with molded hair or wigs. Both have their advantages. Molded hair can be kept on the mannequin at all times. But mannequins with wigs have many hairstyle options. You can switch hair to coordinate with an outfit’s color and style.

• Ethnicity: Mannequins come in a variety of skin tones. By matching the ethnicity to your customer base’s main ethnicity, your customers will relate to your items. If nothing else, introduce some diversity in your mannequins to appeal to all ethnicities. If you want to completely avoid the skin tone issue, you can purchase cameo mannequins that are cameo white and generic.

• Do you really need the entire body? Many mannequins don’t even have heads. Some are counter top mannequins and have no legs. Others are made for wall displays and don’t have backs. Determine where your mannequins will be placed to decide whether you need to get the whole body.

• Size does matter: Not everyone is a size two. Not all clothing is made for size twos. So if your customers tend to be plus sized, there are mannequins for them.

• Don’t forget the boys: Men need to see clothes on them also, while there are more female mannequin options, there are definitely different male models also.

• Kids need clothes too: Girls, boys and babies all have their own mannequin types.

Of course, if traditional mannequins aren’t your thing, there are alternatives such as uniquins, ladder mannequins and jersey covered dress forms.

What types of mannequins do you use? How do you dress your mannequins to increase sales?

Earlier this week, we discussed essential supplies for an online retailer. As we were developing that list, we noticed that the most important element was in fact the box. So, this Friday we are going to break down things to look for when selecting your shipping boxes.

Shipping boxes come in a variety of sizes. They often range from about 4”x4”x4” to extremely large boxes. However, for most consumer retail stores, you won’t need to order boxes much larger than 12”x12”x12” because larger items will come packed one to a box and you won’t need to repack it.

We suggest ordering a variety of box sizes and then seeing what you go through before ordering a large quantity of boxes. The key to saving money is to ship items in the smallest box possible. At the same time, you should try to pack an entire order in one box in order to save on shipping costs.

Why is this? Well first of all, each individual box has a unique shipping/tracking code. So your customers would have to enter in two codes in order to track their packages. Also, there is usually a flat fee associated with shipping a box. Then fees are added onto the box for additional weight. So if you ship two small boxes, you pay the flat fee twice and then the weight fees. If you ship in one slightly larger box, you only pay that flat fee once.

When selecting a box, versatility is key. We suggest using a kraft colored box made of corrugated fiberboard. Unlike standard flat cardboard, corrugated fiberboard has multiple layers including the accordion-like corrugated middle layer. This extra layer of paper allows the box to have some give, which will help cushion your products and make them less susceptible to damage during the shipping process. The kraft color will make your boxes postal ready, so you won’t have to take the extra step to cover them with paper prior to shipping.

Then don’t forget to keep some bubble wrap and stretch film on hand to wrap packages and fill the empty space in those boxes in order to ensure that those packages make it safely to their final destination.

What type of boxes do you typically use? Do you have to repack your items, or can most of them be shipping in their original packaging?

In keeping with our theme this week of the economy, we wanted to feature price tagging guns and accessories. Price tagging guns can help increase sales, decrease loss and help with inventory control.  There are many different types of pricing guns available. You need to select the model that suits your needs.

The two most prevalent pricing guns are the labelers that print a sticker that is placed on an item and tagging guns that attach tags with plastic fasteners.

Labeling guns often come in one line and two line versions. One line versions speed up pricing, encourage self-selection and discourage price-switching. These labelers print up to eight characters in one line. Two line labelers print two lines with up to 7 characters per line for clear, sharp labels. Labeling guns are often used for boxes, books, kitchen items and other solid items that need a price tag adhered to it.

Tagging guns connect a paper tag to an item with a plastic fastener. This type of tagging guns is ideal for clothes and other soft items such as pillows and stuffed animals. As a unique touch, fasteners come in many shapes and colors include hot pink and orange plastic fasteners. One thing to keep in mind, some materials will snag or tear using a standard tagging gun. As a result, there are fine tagging guns made especially for this purpose.

What type of pricing gun do you use?

Earlier this week, we discussed some tips on how to green your store. One tip was to switch to eco friendly bags. For this week’s Friday Featured Tip, we are going to take a closer look at eco friendly bags and how they can help your store.

Retailers go through a lot of bags. Plus, they go through different sizes of bags. Many times, these bags end up in the trash. Occasionally they are recycled. Groceries stores have historically tried to reduce this waste by offering bag drops at the store’s entrance for easy recycling. But this is not feasible for many independent retail stores.

Our suggestion is to try and use a more eco friendly product to begin with to ensure that your store is reducing the amount of trash that it produces. Store Supply Warehouse offers a variety of eco friendly bags.

One variety is the eco friendly frosted plastic shopping bag. These durable bags are made with 25% post consumer and post industrial products. And they are 100% recyclable. The bags are ideal for packing a shopper’s purchase or adding colorful tissue for simple, yet elegant gift bags. Each frosty bag is made of high density plastic for durability and features loop handles. Not only are they great for gifts, but because they are so durable, they can be reused more often than typical bags.

The other main variety is eco friendly kraft paper bags.  These bags are made from 100% post consumer material. These bags are also extremely versatile and can be re purposed as gift bags. They are tear resistant and can be used multiple times.

So give the earth a second chance and go green with any of these environmentally-friendly bags.

What other products does your store use to help it “go green?”

Earlier this week, we discussed how to choose the right hanger for your store. Now that you have selected a hanger type, it is time to start accessorizing! Hanger accessories are essential for adding functionality and organization to your display racks. Here are some essential hanger accessories for any independent retailer.

Clips

• Piggy Back Clips for 2-Piece Garments: Keep suits, twin sets and coordinates together using a piggy back clip. These clips slide over both hanger tops keeping separates as a bundle.
• Hanger Clips: These clear plastic clips have a hanger top, but a clip on the bottom making them perfect for use on racks, hang rails or counter stands for smaller items.
• Display Hanger Strips: Clear coordinate display hanger strips keep two-piece garments and coordinates together for convenient apparel displays. Strong, flexible clear plastic connector slips over a hanger hook and second hanger just slips into another hole below.

Hanging Devices

• Foam Non-Slips: This self adhesive product can be added to the arms of a hanger to keep items from slipping. Just peel off the backing and apply.
• Hanger Covers: Garments stay neatly on hangers to help prevent spoilage and wrinkling with foam hanger covers. Each foam cover simply slips over hook and pulls over hanger ends.

Sizing Accessories

• Slip-On Mini-Markers: Make your selling floor more productive and end shopper’s confusion by keeping garments neatly sized with Slip-On Mini-Marker hanger markers. These size dividers snap onto hangers to clearly identify clothing sizes.
• Size Dividers: These dividers come in either round or oblong sizes. They fit round or dimensional hang rails to help organize clothing by size.

All of these hanger accessories will ultimately help you protect your merchandise by keeping them clean and organized. Additionally, they will help your customer easily locate the perfect garment.

Do you have a favorite hanger accessory? How have size dividers and hanging devices help you organize your store?

Shelving is a very important investment for any retailer. Choosing the right shelving can effectively display your merchandise and drive sales. Choosing the wrong shelving can make browsing difficult, hurting sales.

Gondola Shelving is one of the most common shelving displays in the industry. Unfortunately, this type of shelving can tend to be a little pricey. These shelves are heavy duty, and hold up to 500 pounds of merchandise, but some retailers don’t need all that muscle.

Luckily, there is an alternative for store owners who want the flexibility of Gondola Shelving but don’t need as much heavy lifting: the new economy line of gondola shelving from Store Supply Warehouse.

These units have a weight limit of 150 pounds, making them ideal for gift shops, specialty stores, museum shops and more!
The economy gondolas are made of high quality steel and are easily adjustable to fit any type of merchandise or space. The shelves hook into one inch slotted uprights in the aisle or wall gondola units. The shelves adjust to two positions: flat or a 15 degree slope. Units are available for aisles and walls and can be customized to any space with end caps, optional shelves and add-on units. Additional upper shelving is available in 12”, 14” or 16” depths. Starter wall unit pricing starts at $114.75.

For more information, visit http://www.storesupply.com/c-745-gondola-shelves.aspx

What type of shelving do you use in your store? Do you have any merchandise display tips for new store owners? What new shelving products would you like to see in Store Supply’s catalogs?