The Art of Display

My most popular published article ever,
'The Art of Display',
is available for reading online at Smartretailer magazine...
(link lower in post)

Visual Merchandising is an ART - and a science.

“The image is the most complete form of communicating,”
said Artist Claes Oldenburg, describing art as a technique of communication.

His words are also an apt description of the practice of retail display:

Visual images convey information, mood and ideas to the customer,

compelling them to purchase what you offer. 

For new store owners and seasoned veterans alike, 

visual merchandising is a vital component of retailing -

one that must be planned and updated continuously to obtain the best results. 

You don’t need to be a professional artist to understand how art works, 

as harnessing the power of art to communicate creatively with customers 

begins with the basics.

To understand the basic principles of how art relates to visual merchandising, 

think about how product displays are viewed by a customer 

just as they view art in a museum.

Read this article in its entirety on the SMARTretailer website HERE.

This content is mine, and originally appeared in Country Business Magazine in 2005,

and on their website in 2006. They re-branded as SMARTretailer in 2008.

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Goodbye, HollyWOOOOOD Montrose....

Today, I honor a purely fictional and yet highly representational character...

the actor who brought him to life has passed away, 

and I can think only of this way of sharing a nod to his talent, and his genius.

In the film MANNEQUIN,
the brilliant actor Meschach Taylor birthed 'Hollywood Montrose' -

a flamboyant and dramatic window dressing 'artiste'

who worked at Prince and Company department store, the setting of the film.
His over-the-top portrayal of a personality that many of us have encountered

was hilarious, touching, and entertaining
to say the very least.

I've always loved that film for shining a spotlight on the creative people behind store displays,

even though it's a cheesy 80's flick with very dated costuming and music.
I shared a 'virtual review' of the Prince and Company store in this post.

Enjoy...

Godspeed, mister Taylor.... and HollyWOOOOOOD.

More about the film here.

The 411 of a Vintage Booth Display

Last week, I headed out to the local wine country for a project....

My friend Rita Reade hosts The Vintage Marketplace 'antique' show there every three months.

Because she's so busy with show logistics, she's always rushing to finish her own booth setup.

Now she hires ME to design and style her booth!

It's a fun way for me to continue my involvement with the vintage industry that I so enjoy, 

and I love working with her...

 I thought I would take the booth design that I did for her last week

and share with you the process of what I did....

the 411 on how and why it works, so to speak. 

Click 'read more' to watch the design process unfold....