Thursday, October 27, 2011

Tis the Season for Window Shopping!


            How can you quickly tell if a store has what you are looking for? By the window displays! Window displays are very important to the retail store; they are what first grabs the consumer’ attention and pulls them into the store. Window displays can make or break sales for any retail business. In this blog post we will be looking at two very different stores with two very different ideas for window displays.
          
  The first display we saw was from an adorable boutique in the heart of Lexington, Runway Couture. Runway Couture is part of a Central Business District located by DeSha’s in Victorian Square. If you haven’t been there yet, we highly recommend you check it out! This window display is very simple in its vintage styling. Vintage is taking a strong presence in fashion today, especially in boutiques, and Runway Couture does a great job of showing this in their products. The dresses are timeless classics; it’s the styling that gives the vintage feel. The props used in the windows add interest to the dresses and it’s as if they are telling a story and giving background to the dress. Keeping the window simple can be very beneficial as well. As you can see, everything from the lighting, background paint, and floor helps to keep this window display simple, even when the customer doesn’t realize it. This doesn’t distract the customer away from the intended product for sale. 

Our next shop with a great display is Inspired. Also located in Victorian Square, Inspired is a great place to go to get all your holiday decorations and other fun miscellaneous items. As you can see, their window display is ready for Halloween and is extremely busy! This catches everyone’s eye and could pull anyone into the store to see more of the Halloween excitement. Currently the store is full of unique Halloween decorations and costumes, as shown in the display. This will get every young child walking by excited, and mom will love the 50% off Halloween costumes sign shown in the display! Everyone will be tempted to see what other fun items the store has to offer. While some may think this display is a tad over the top and distracting, it really fits the vibe of the store and the customer they are trying to reach. This is very important in a window display. The display has to match the store to pull in their intended customer.
            We chose these windows because they were both fun and interesting, yet in different ways. Both stores are doing a great job attracting their unique customer through the design of their displays. Both stores also have a clear theme in mind for their displays, which is essential for not confusing the consumers. Whether your store is classic and chic or full of fun and exciting holiday accessories, your window displays have to represent that. Both Runway Couture and Inspired did an excellent job attracting their intended customer!

8 comments:

Paige Martin said...

I have never been to Runway Couture, and after reading this, it makes me want to! I don't really do much shopping in the downtown area, looks like I am going to have to change that! The dresses in the window give consumer's a very good idea of what to expect of that store. The Halloween-themed store looks fun! It does look a little crazy, but isn't that was Halloween is all about!? It looks like someone would have a good time walking around in that store; and also finding some interesting decorations I bet!

Kierra Harris said...

I agree that window displays can make or break your store. Especially during the holiday season when we doing always have all day to just go through every store. Often I look at the window displays and I think something is cute than I will go into the store to look for more stuff. During different holidays stores have to get really creative to be competitive with other stores. I really enjoyed the second displayed that was pictured of Halloween. It showed that they sold everything that you needed for Halloween; the costume, props, accessories etc.

Stacey Harris said...

I have always enjoyed window shopping in different areas of Lexington. The displays allow you to see the latest trends from clothing, shoes, to home goods. This article did an excellent job on showing how great displays can add to or take away from the growth of the store. The Halloween store looks very interactive and will draw business. During the holidays is when shoppes really step there game up on displaying their trendy products.

Jameal Reed said...

I agree that window displays are very important! I LOVE to shop and I always get ideas for my own personal style based on the displays in the store. Sometimes it's the window display that even attracts me to the store. When you love fashion and the creativity that is involved you almost always pay attention to window displays. If the displays are horrible then I'm less likely to go into the store (pending I've never been in before) and look around. I've been to Runway Couture and it was their window display that attracted me immediately.

Taylor Johnson said...

Runway Couture looks like such a cute shop to go to! Their window display kind of reminds me of J.Crew. I agree that window displays can make or break retail sales because they showcase what the store stands for and what type of merchandise the store has to offer. I know when I go shopping in downtown areas I look for the stores with the cutest clothes in their window displays because down town areas are more notorious for having boutiques I haven't heard of before. During holidays window displays are even more important because thats what draws customers into stores the most.

Grace Julien said...

It is very true that window displays can make or break a store. When I am shopping and walk past a store, what they choose to put on display is what draws me in. One store that always has great window displays is J.Crew. The thing that I love about their display is that they are neat and clean, which is so much more effective than some displays that can be too hectic and overwhelming. This post did a great job at pointing out the aspects that make great window display!

Unknown said...

Completely agree that window displays can boost sales. Interesting window displays are one important way to get people into your store. Especially stores that customers aren't familiar with. Seeing something you want in a window will make you go inside the store even if you've never shopped there before. Window displays also give customers ideas. A lot of times I walk into a store and I'm completely overwhelmed by the wide range of selection. Luckily window displays give customers inspiration by highlighting what's popular and how to wear the pieces.

Francis Baker

Kristen Wathen said...

Window displays give customers the first impression of what to expect inside the store. Thus, they are a very important sample of everything the store has to offer. I enjoyed the pictures and descriptions of the two different kinds of window displays in this wall post. The first one is simple, classy, and not distracting. I'll definitely have to check out Runway Couture next time I'm downtown. Though the second display is very busy, it's very exciting and fun, and targets the stores customers well.