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Swing Shops: Perfect for SO many reasons... and seasons

Right now, we're moving from one season to another in our shops, and it can be difficult to get a shoppable look to your merchandise. This situation is just one reason to develop your swing shop.

In this excerpt from Shop Sizzle, we'll get you started on the knack of highlighting just exactly what your customer wants NOW.

Why feature something special in your store? For starters, a swing shop can capitalize on a thought already on your customers' minds: "It's cold out, it’s chilly at home in the evenings" means they will take a look at warm afghans, cozy robes, and novels. If the fashion article in the paper featured polka-dots, your customer will think you stylish if you gather polka-dot items.

Another good use of a swing shop is to emphasize a category you normally don't have. Use your swing shop for unusual incoming goods such as salesman’s samples.
And a swing shop gives regulars something new to look at. "Look at all the baskets!"

A swing shop says to your customer: "We have what you want, we have a good selection of this item, we're always changing, and it's fun to shop here!" What more could you ask for?

3 reasons YOU need a swing shop:

1- You can focus attention on specific categories or styles to keep them moving

2- A swing shop keeps your merchandise looking fresh and exciting, whether there’s a lot of incoming items or not

3- These featured items build your reputation as a fashion-forward shop and increase turnover

A quick and simple swing shop:
Using an adjustable-height double rack, arrange it diagonally on an area rug. Set one side noticeably higher than the other, and place related merchandise thereon.
Visually anchor the rack with an oversized basket, tilted against one leg, overflowing with accessories or shoes to enhance your selected items.
Against one end of the rack, place a small shelving unit or round table with more coordinated items or a half-form display. The other end can be “rounded off” with a two-way, showing coordinated outfits composed of the individual items you are highlighting.
For a smaller grouping or smaller shop, use a 2-way or 4-way in place of the double rack.

Home-decor swing shop:
Gather tables or shelf units of varying heights into an “island.” Group your categories (all the pewter and wood? A wonderful mishmash of floral decorative items?) and add like-minded table coverings as needed.
Allow space on every side for
people to get close. Arrange items in a pyramid: highest/ tallest items in the center, tapering artistically down to tabletop height.

Read the rest...and 9 other topics...in ShopSizzle.

Real-life examples of Swing Shops.

Resources

On Auntie Kate The Blog:

Love this Swing Shop "prop"

On TGtbT.com:

Our Swing Shop Gallery

Swing Shops are just one professional merchandising tool you can use in your shop. If you want to gather ideas on increasing the perceived value of your goods, I suggest:

Windows that Sell! more...

SHOW it to SELL it more...

Display Ideas A to Z more...

Using All Your Space more...

Perceived Value? What's THAT? Auntie Kate blogs...

Shop Sizzle's 10 Topics, written especially for resale shops, can help your shop look as good as those "new" stores...at a fraction of the original cost!

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