Store Fixtures

Retail planning that relies too heavily on retail psychology is to the shopper what fast food is to nutrition; the convenience is undeniable if we are content to forgo the notion of free choice and be reborn as retail-chain-clones. Most of us are guilty of it, at least from time to time, but to stretch the analogy, if we are seeking an evening of fine dining will we ever be happy with the fiberglass-booth and paper napkins experience? It is definitely practical and (possibly) even hygienic, but where’s the ambience and, for that matter, the nutritional content?

Shopping should be fun. We should not feel as though we are hacking our way through a jungle, but neither should we feel like lab-rats following a pre-determined pattern. Merchandise should preferably be displayed logically to present options and possibilities, but spare us from the overtly systematized.

In an increasingly samey world it is a tonic to encounter an environment imbued with personality and the unconventional. Corporate retail design committees today spend too much time looking over the shoulders of one another resulting in the same bland template appearing again and again.  It takes genuine character to ignore these conventions and to realize that they do not represent an empirical retail design principle.

Creating an appealing retail environment that will capture attention doesn’t mean sinking huge amounts of capital into retail design and custom-made fixtures. In fact some of the most interesting independent stores and boutiques have eschewed conventional store fixtures in favor of ad hoc improvised displays and in the process create truly memorable environments.

In-store retail design and display exert a powerful influence on customer behavior making it one of the most results orientated and cost effective forms of marketing for your business.

Keep in mind the following general guidelines when creating effective, eye catching points of sale displays for your store.

The assembled visual elements of your display should balance and integrate with the imaginative use of products, colors and visual props elsewhere in the store interior. If the products are to be touched or viewed close at hand it is important that your displays are sturdy enough to avoid accidents. A good display should also present merchandise at a variety of levels including table tops hanging racks and visual props so as to catch the eye wherever it may fall. Always remember it is important to find the balance – not to over saturate a display with products but to find the point where items can comprehend and interpreted at a glance.

Above all a visual display should be, if not memorable at least noticeable. The more fun and playful elements you are able to incorporate the more likely this will be.

Store Displays $1038 at subastralinc.com

At Subastral Inc you’ll find store displays that are expertly designed and constructed for retail use and which balance quality with affordability. 

This versatile modular assembly includes four units that allow for multiple configurations to suit your store floor design.  The store display grouping includes a 6ft display cabinet with adjustable height tempered glass shelves and locking doors, a pentagonal corner display case with adjustable glass shelves, a cash register stand with drawer and 4ft cash wrap counter with adjustable storage shelves. 

All items are available in a choice of durable melamine finishes and are an attractive addition to your retail environment.

Countertop displays are a vital merchandising tool to the retailer and every bit as important the free standing displays used to organize merchandise on the sales floor.  The countertop display is compact enough to be easily relocated when necessary and when it is optimally placed, ideally at eye level and at key points throughout a store, it focuses attention and condenses some very high value sales into a small area of retail space. It is especially effective when placed near the check out or cash wrap and is ideal for showcasing objects of impulse particularly small gift items and accessories.

The January 2010 edition of the National Jeweler Magazine featured a section on jewelry packaging and display in which it considered various aspects of branding and visual merchandising – a subject well worth emphasizing. (Particularly as we at Subastral Inc had our own wrought iron bracelet display prominently featured!)

The most accomplished merchants have long used the compelling power of visual display to attract customers. Regardless of whether they are selling at a craft fair or an exclusive Beverly Hills boutique; they know that utilizing the appropriate jewelry display can exert a powerful influence on the customers buying habits. Simply having the great merchandise in a competitive market is not enough if you fail to attract attention you will not communicate this fact effectively and sales opportunities will be lost.

Most commercial jewelry displays will do an adequate job in organizing jewelry so the differentiation lies in how they do this and the quality of the materials used. After all, a display should respect the merchandise and reflect its quality. In addition, the style of a display should be determined by the market niche, Jewelry displays should correlate with the quality of the merchandise being displayed.

White leather risers may perhaps be appropriate for fine jewelry but are not ideal for chunky Southwestern jewelry!

$166 available at subastralinc.com

Men’s fashion retailing has grown beyond the department store with the evolution of boutique-style shops catering solely to the demands of today’s style-savvy male customer.

Not so long ago men’s clothing suffered from limited selections with the most stylish brands only available through very rare haute boutiques and ‘gentlemen’s outfitters’. The expansion in this retail sector has created more options, higher expectations and greater demand. Fueling this growth are the glossy guy-lifestyle magazines as a result of which, men are turning into fashion aficionados and are now more likely to spend considerably more than $100 for a pair of jeans and over $50 for cool t-shirt.

The way in which the male customer shops, is still quite different from the female shopper. The male shopper usually knows what he is looking for and goes to a store specifically for that item, where a female shopper is more likely to browse until she finds something that peaks her interest. This is why the male dress form or suit display forms are so important to men’s clothing stores; the male shopper doesn’t spend a lot of time visualizing outfits and potential combinations. The male dress form allows clothing combinations to be fully dressed and taken in at a glance. These display forms can be placed throughout a store and in addition to being a compelling making tool, they help to simplify the male shopping experience.

This corner display case is purpose-designed to fit with other modular floor units where a corner configuration is required. The units can be assembled to create a point of sale ‘island’ incorporating additional retail counters and cash wraps this provides sales staff full control, freedom of movement and a greater degree of security and theft prevention.

Full spectrum halogen lights are a built-in feature in this corner display case to create the perfect lighting for your valuable merchandise and each display is standard fitted with anti-tamper locks to provide security and peace of mind.

The corner display case ideal for merchandising precious and fragile products including jewelry, accessories, beauty supplies and valuable gift items.

Wall display cases are commonly used to organize and present valuable or fragile retail merchandise. The large glass display cases are designed to stand against a wall and as such utilize the perimeter space without obstructing the through-flow of the retail environment.

The wood wall display cases pictured here are all craftsmen made in the USA. They are standard fitted with tempered glass, interior illumination and tamper-proof locks. The attractive design of these display units are exceeded only by their dependable utility and durability.

Subastral Inc’s wall display cases represent a graceful asset to any retailer where items of value are sold!

Child dress form displays allow retailers of children’s clothing the same merchandising possibilities as those used in ‘grown-up’ clothing store counter-parts.  The last 15 years has seen a boom in children’s clothing market, as parents more than ever prepared to dress their kids in the latest fashion trends and with the addition of the undeniable growth of the ‘tween’ spending dollar. 

 As this retail sector continues to grow, fixture companies are now offering children’s clothing displays including everything from newborn to pre-teen forms in various action poses and sizes.

Available at subastralinc.com

This exceptional quality glass showcase is perfect for use as a retail display and trophy display.  The tower style display case is built with finest workmanship, design integrity and traditional materials.

  The design composes a stripped down glass case on an elegant cabriole leg base presenting a design that is contemporary but with all the grace and finesse of a Queen Anne style cabinet.

 The full-vision cabinet is made with tempered safety glass, a locking door and is fitted with internal spot-lights to illuminate its contents.