Did you know Americans spend a staggering $225 billion on clothing and garments each and every year? That’s a pretty lucrative market. And when it comes to displaying clothing, there is no doubt about it: Mannequins are an excellent way to promote apparel in your retail store, from cocktail dresses to casual t-shirts. A compelling visual merchandising strategy is always key to ensuring that customers have a great experience in your store, and mannequins, when used efficiently, are an important tool to have in your visual merchandising arsenal if you are selling clothing. So how can you most effectively use mannequins in your retail store? Let’s take a look.
Avoid torso-only mannequins. As a general rule of thumb, a fully-body mannequin tends to be a better option than a torso-only mannequin. After all, customers want to envision how a garment will look on their entire body, not just their torso.
Lighting is key. Even the most meticulously dressed mannequin isn’t going to attract any attention if it is stuck in a dark corner. Make sure your mannequins are well illuminated in order to maximize their impact on your customers.
Don’t be afraid of pins. A garment probably isn’t going to fit a mannequin perfectly, but your job is to make every garment seem like it fits like a glove. Don’t be afraid to break out the pins and pin things in place. Remember, few things seem as tacky as a dress or shirt falling off the mannequin or sliding out of place.
Never underestimate the power of accessories. Even if your goal is to sell a garment like a shirt or a dress, accessories can go a long way in revving up the visual appeal of an item. Be sure to accessorize your mannequins with hats, jewelry, handbags, etc.
Don’t forget to shake things up. Don’t leave the same mannequin in your store window for months and months. The key is to shake things up. As a general rule of thumb, change your mannequin displays at least once a month.
