Successful Vintage Show Booth Design

Over the past twenty years, I've presented seminars to vintage vendors
at an antique show in the Pacific Northwest and at a vintage show in Southern California.
I've also written articles about vintage/antique shows for magazines,
AND participated as a vendor in some of the best vintage shows in the country.

After providing LOADS of information in my fast-paced one hour presentations, 
I provided the vendors with handouts filled with everything I spoke about [and more] 
so that they could refer to it later.
[the truth is, I talk so fast that they could never 'take notes' to capture everything I said!!]

A few years ago, I made that handout available here on my retail design blog.
Since it's always helpful for vintage and antique vendors to learn 
the principles of visual merchandising and display 
in a way that directly relates to their industry,
I am happy to share the information with you again!

 Click the 'read more' link for more info...

Vintage Show Booth Display Resources

I've been writing blog posts for nearly two decades, 

and have presented seminars at several vintage/antique shows, 

aimed at helping vendors think outside the box of what they've done before 

to expand their vision and approach to booth setup and layout.

Doesn't matter if you've been selling 'old stuff' or even newly-created 'upcycled' stuff for decades - 

shows are changing,  the what and why of collecting and buying is changing, customers are changing,

and you need to speak their language visually if you want them to buy. 

These posts and my seminars are aimed at teaching vendors HOW to do that successfully.

More about how I DO that after the Jump.....

Thank You, YMN Magazine!

I'd like to thank Erin Slonaker and Yarn Market News Magazine 

for the opportunity to be a speaker at this past weekend's Smart Business Conference in Seattle.

It was a great experience to share information and inspiration about visual impact in retail stores, 

meet so many people who are enthusiastic business owners,

and reconnect with people I met at the 2010 YMN SBC, as well!

More applause for some wonderful people after the jump....

January 2015 Seminar for Vintage Show Vendors

I am excited to partner with Christie Repasy and Rita Reade for an upcoming event 

in collaboration with The Vintage Marketplace Antique & Vintage Show in Rainbow, California:

I will be presenting a seminar
on retail styling and booth design for vintage show vendors.

More Information after the Jump...

Your Journey from Wonderland to Success!

 My friend Sharon Hughes is the founder of Launch Your Creativity,

an inspiring resource for women.
.
She hosts a women's business event each spring here in Southern California,

gathering a group of women speakers who share

their experiences, their struggles, their journeys, and their tips

with an audience of women hungry for support, encouragement, and helpful resources.
The women on the stage were once in exactly the place the women in the audience are now -
dreaming of starting a business, but not knowing WHERE to start -

so the stories told and the information shared really resonates with everyone.

Fall down the rabbit hole after the jump....

Re-Framing Your Dreams

On Saturday, I had the honor of being part of a remarkable event:
Launch Your Creativity.

This inspiring gathering is held each Spring in a gorgeous Parisian-themed tearoom, 

and attended by 45 women who are seeking guidance, support, and encouragement 

as they pursue their own creative dreams. 

Most dream of launching a new business – a store, a fashion line, a business service – 

and there are women who attend as a 'jump start' to a new life.

I am one of those women, too.

I joined seven AMAZING women on a panel of speakers:

LYC IV Speakers, from left:
me, Cheryl Turner, Tara Wilson, Sharon Hughes, Jenny Doh, 
Lidy Barrs, Jane Button, Debi Beard, and Christine Rose Elle.

Titled 'Re-Framing Your Dream', my presentation asked this question:
“What do you DO when your dreams don't work out the way you planned?”

Read the whole story and my presentation notes after the jump...

Deb In Print: Entrepreneur Magazine online

I was recently interviewed by writer Jane Porter 

for an article in Entrepreneur Magazine 

'Five Retail Design Myths Debunked'  

also includes input from other retail design experts - and it's great advice!

The article released today on the Entrepreneur.com website - 

click here to read

Included in Jane's article is Sarah Parker, 

owner of 'Wild Fibers' yarn shop in Mount Vernon, Washington.

I met dynamic young business owner Sarah at the Yarn Market News Conference in 2010, 

when I presented a seminar on retail store design and visual merchandising. 

Sarah hired me to help her with some details in her store...

and the girl did EVERYTHING I had suggested in my seminar

and my consultation with her. EVERYTHING!

I am really happy that Jane asked me for an example 
of how retailers can smash design myths successfully, 
and that Sarah received this 'nod' in print for all her hard work.

Read about what we did in Sarah's store in these posts in my blog archives.

Thanks for reading!

A Case for Creative Display

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS

 
A few years back, I presented a seminar to the vendors at a local Vintage show.

[ for those of you who don't know, a Vintage show is the new kind of 'Antique' show

where items can be made from vintage components or inspired BY vintage styles,

as well as being actual vintage & antique goods.]

My seminar was all about maximizing the visual impact that your booth has at a show.

Thing IS, before I ever took the stage to speak, I was impressed with what I saw!

It's commonplace for vendors in these shows to play with props, sets, 

and generally use some very theatrical methods to display their wares. 

I shared many of the tips & tricks I've used as a retail stylist

to help them get the most out of their efforts.

A great example is shown in the photos above...

This jewelry designer displays her beautiful pieces, 
made from various old components, in some creatively staged vignettes. 

The props of vintage suitcases, picture frames, books, mirrors,

textiles, and paper goods set off the lines and colors of her work to great advantage. 
The color of her backdrop and interesting props catch your eye as you walk past the booth, and draw you closer - so that the details of the intricate jewelry can be appreciated.

There's a Bonus to her merchandising method:

It shows that by using your jewelry as a decorative item in your own home, 

you're getting double duty out of your purchase!

I've created several posts about vintage booth displays - 
you can find them over in my RIGHT SIDEBAR >>>>

I've made my presentation outline available as a Google document: 

 click here to read

Please do not replicate, copy,  extract from, or otherwise use my original content.

It is copyrighted.

I apologize, but I no longer have the artisan's name... 

if you know it, please leave it in the comments here 

and I will gladly add it with a link to her site!

Name's Luxe. RotoLuxe.

The most jaw-dropping prop I used onstage for my YMN Conference seminar was a selection of plastic pots. Not just ANY pots, mind you! These are brand new to the market  - I discovered them at Seattle's Northwest Flower & Garden show in early February, and two weeks ago they were launched at the Las Vegas show. Fabulous shapes, intense colors, interior lighting, and waterproof construction make them perfect for SO many retail & event uses. They are bonafide superstars!

Take a look at the SIZE of that white one! 

The Vazon 'Methuselah' is 41" by 44" in size. MASSIVE in scale and impact. In the photo above, you can see me sitting in a chair onstage just to the left of the huge white pot. THAT's how big they are! The others are Vazon 'Magnum', 23" by 23".On the other side of the stage, a white Chumbo 24" by 12" size is shown in a lateral position on top of another table.

These illuminated pots acted like a magnet in the dimly lit conference room {hence the not-so-incredible photos here}, drawing attendees to the stage to oooh, ahhhh, and snap photos. Every last flier and business card provided by the company was snapped up in record time, as well - I think these very smart people knew a great thing when they saw it!

I'd like to offer a huge thank you to Hans Lammersdorf, owner of Rotoluxe and all-around generous guy, who lent me these to make my seminar stage displays really stand out. He didn't know me from Adam and yet he trusted me to promote his product and make his company look good. {I think you'll be happy, Hans!}

From outdoor decor to window displays to in-store displays or fixtures, these products are a no-fail way to catch the  eye of passers-by and customers in an instant. There are so many shapes, colors, and sizes available that they will meet a wide scope of needs for your visual merchandising. With a wide selection of colors available, you'll be able to find at least one of your 'Brand Palette' colors for your store!

For complete information on products and pricing, please visit the company web site at www.Rotoluxe.com.

There are a million ways to use these in a retail setting - from topping them with a glass round to create a tabletop surface, filling them with loads of product, tipping them to provide an optional storage or display compartment, or stacking them willy-nilly to attract attention - and they'll be workhorses for years of successful merchandising.

www.RotoLuxe.com

Telling MY Story....

Thank you to the wonderful staff at Yarn Market News & Soho Publishing, for including me in the YMN Smart Business Conference 2010 over the past few days. Karin, Jessica, and Gabrielle took such good care of me and everyone else at this event. It was an altogether enjoyable experience, meeting so many people who are creative, passionate, and headed for success in their businesses.

It was my pleasure to present a seminar to this marvelous group of people, I tell ya'. I speak to many varied groups of retailers and business owners, and can unequivocally say that the reception I received at YMN was among my very best experiences ever. If you are visiting my blog after being at my presentation, welcome - and thank YOU for such a warm welcome to your industry! You are all proof positive that good business is about good relationships.

It was also fun to reconnect with Linda Cahan, fellow speaker. Linda and I have known each other for eight years, through our involvement with gift shows on the West coast... we've been onstage together before and always have fun! Linda and I enjoyed the 'Panel Discussion' session, where we had the opportunity to answer questions and refer to slides brought in by local shops. So much inspiring information...

Speaking of inspiring, check out the cover of the March issue of YMN Magazine for Yarn Shop niche retailers. Look closer. Those aren't tomatoes, my dear readers. Those are made from YARN! Every issue of this to-the-trade magazine offers us stellar visual inspiration and loads of resources, info, and material for shop owners to use. I am blown away by the attention to detail here, and editor in cheif Karin Strom is the driving force behind these 'visual puns'... way to go, Karin!

You can find more of my thoughts on the use of color in a retail environment in this issue: Kristine Hansen interviewed me, along with other visual, design, & color experts, for her article 'The Colors of Money'. It can be found on pages 34-35 (continued on 43). 

I've posted more photos of my stage displays and presentation on my Facebook page. In the next week, I'll be creating new posts here with photos & info taken from my presentation - including where you can get those AMAZING props I used on stage!!! Stay Tuned...

StoryTelling

In March, 2009, I wrote a guest post for design*sponge. 

As part of their BizWomen series, my article offered advice on building your brand image to maximize your visual impact. Since I am preparing to speak about this subject in a few short weeks, I thought I'd share the information again. Here's a taste {and you can read the whole post on design*sponge}

‘Tell Your Own Story’ in all visual communications.

Make your brand an expression of your business’ individual mission, purpose, style, and products or services – and then leverage that brand by using it in every visual medium at your disposal. This is the main opportunity for you to show your potential customers why YOU are different than others - be proud of your individuality and build on it.

1. Be Consistent

Plan the components of your design and utilize them across all mediums. From your business card to your web site to your store or office, the same visual elements should appear - color, logos, fonts, taglines, etc. should all flow seamlessly. There should be no question that they all reflect the best things about your business.

Think of it this way: When a potential customer sees your ad, finds your blog online, or is handed your business card, what is the next step for them? Probably to check out your web site and get more info on you. Then they’ll come to your place of business. Will they see the same business image in all of those mediums? Does your image engender confidence?

When I work with clients to build their brand image visually, I help them choose elements that can be used in many mediums and materials to express a consistent image. We create a ‘brand palette’ that incorporates all of those elements to use in their brand expression. From the paint on the walls to the fixtures holding merchandise to the sign outside, it all plays off of their logo and business attributes. It’s experiential marketing because it immerses the customer into the brand – quite literally: When they walk into your place of business, your brand image surrounds them.

To read the other four things you can do, go here...

content of this post copyright DWK 2009; all rights reserved

no reproduction permitted - used by permision on design*sponge March 2009

{'Tell Your Own Story' is a DWK tagline}

image credit: www.bmpl.lib.me.us

Bloomin'

'Blooms, bloomin', Bloomies'...

Yeah, this image fits my current state of mind!

I've had my head wrapped around the yarn industry all morning, thanks to a very nice phone interview with Kristine Hansen at Yarn Market News. She's working on an article about color psychology for retailers for the March YMN issue. Since that coincides with the conference in Seattle - and I'm speaking on store design there - she wanted to include quotes from me in her writing. Thank you, Kristine, I appreciate that!

Immediately following that phone interview, I opened an email from Maxwell at Apartment Therapy, with an update on the ongoing Bloomingdale's Window Display Challenge. {I posted about his design the other day}. The windows will be revealed tomorrow, and you can see it all plus keep up with the action and vote on your fave HERE.

Credit for the beautiful image in this post goes to JuteandJackfruit from this post: 
http://juteandjackfruit.net/2010/01/kick-off-2010-with-warm-cozy-style-in-indigenous-designs-flower-power-knits-accessories/ - and I highly recommend reading their blog. Excellent resource, great information, terrific products & ideas.

Knit One, Purl Two - and Deb, Too!

It's official: In March, 2010, I'll be speaking at the Yarn Market News Smart Business Conference in Seattle at the FABulous W Hotel!

The 2010 Yarn Market News Smart Business Conference is a three-day conference featuring speakers and sessions devoted to providing the tools yarn retailers and business owners need to thrive in today's marketplace. Sponsored by Yarn Market News and SoHo Publishing, the goal of the event is to help savvy retailers learn how to innovate, how to sell and how to thrive - providing specific seminars focused on bolstering retailing skills and lots of peer-to-peer networking.

My seminar presentation is entitled 'Tell Your Own Story: Express Your Brand Image in Your Store Environment' and will help yarn shop owners make brand-centric and budget-wise choices for their store fixturing, lighting, decor, and more. This helps build a rock-solid image for a brand and business, lifts it above the competition, and literally envelops customers in the brand experience. 

Look at this subject from the perspective of my audience at the conference.... as fiber artisans (knitters, crocheters, and other needle arts), they already know that each choice made for a project - yarn weight, color, and texture, as well as needle size - affects the outcome of the final product. I'll show them that as a retailer, each choice made for their store's environment - color, paint, textures, fixtures, lighting, layout - similarly affect the image their business presents, and the way it is perceived. I have a plethora of tips, tricks, helpful information and copious resources to share on this subject that will help each and every attendee maximize their visual impact and Build a Better Business.

Following my seminar on Tuesday morning, my friend and former gift show seminar cohort Linda Cahan will be speaking on the topics of visual merchandising and sensory marketing. More great info for retailers! The conference will have many speakers addressing a variety of topics relevant to retail, and the keynote speaker for the event is Cinda Baxter of The 3/50 Project.

I am really looking forward to speaking at this conference.... not only is it a whole new group of retailers to meet, educate, inspire, and share with, but these are all CREATIVE people! I've been told they will sit and knit the entire hour that I am onstage speaking.... and that I shouldn't let that bother me. ;0) Good thing I always have handouts of my notes!

If you are a retailer with an interest in attending this conference, get more information here. (And if you're just wondering if there is anything more to yarn than knitting, check out this post on the YMN Blog. Creativity knows no bounds!)

Image Credit: YMN, used with permission. Some text (description of conference) originally appears on the YMN site.

Upcoming Events

Well, it's impossible to read at this size (and Blogger isn't letting me enlarge it), but this is a page-shot of the upcoming 'Country Pleasures' Magazine. Linda & Dixie, the 'Funky Junk Sisters', sent it to me today to let me know that their upcoming show has garnered a mention in the mag. The article also referenced me and the seminar I am presenting at their show in June.

On Friday evening, during setup, I'll be sharing some fabulous info with the show vendors. My goal is to inspire them to amp up their merchandise presentation in their booths at shows - this one, and others to come. My hour-long seminar will include lots of insider tips, stylist tricks, and retail secrets to arm them with helpful information that they can use immediately to make a big visual impact FAST. And after that, there's the Q&A session.... which has been known to last over an hour as I answer questions and solve dilemmas for audience members. (They kicked me out of the seminar room in Denver one year....two hours after my presentation was over, I still had fifty people sitting there asking me questions about their stores & displays!) Hey, I didn't mind staying....but the cleaning crew needed to reset the room!

Many years of working & speaking and creating award-winning designs for vendors at international gift shows and industry trade shows have given me an incredible wealth of information that can help 'the little guys' compete in a big marketplace. My 'job' is helping independent merchants succeed in building better businesses by teaching them how to coordinate their visual presentation - and I really love what I do. To say I am looking forward to this is an understatement, and I am so thankful that Linda & Dixie have extended the invitation and the opportunity for me to speak at their event. My thanks to you for the additional press, as well, ladies.

For information on the show, check out www.funkyjunksisters.com My seminar is for show vendors only, however we are working on creating a video of it so that the content will be available here on my blog soon after the show. If you are attending the show, there will be other speakers presenting seminars for attendees on Saturday, so don't miss them!