Visual Merchandising Review:
Spring store display themes and a display checklist, too!
Some of the most effective store displays are built around products grouped by theme. Here are some examples of effective use of themes in visual merchandising…
If you follow me on social media, you may have seen this one before. It’s an oldie but will forever be one of my favorite store windows at P.O.S.H. in Chicago. Lemons are a perfect prop or theme for spring and summer store displays for most any type of store.
Another theme for this time of year is Farmers Market and I love how Lockwood Shop ran with it for Spring 2025…
You can see their whole collection (and the clever use of produce cartons) on their Instagram reels feed.
You may recall a previous post about building displays around a color theme, but multi-color works, as well! If you have a few RAINBOW items in your store, you can create a colorful table display like this one at Wordshop Papery in Denver.
Here’s a previous display featuring mushrooms at Green Daffodil in Ferndale, Michigan…
If you are looking to involve your retail staff in creating displays, this mushroom display is a good example of what might be achieved. I suggest these simple instructions:
Gather all the in-store items with a single theme
Choose a fixture based on quantity and size of merchandise
Look for a common color or a contrast color to choose backdrop, prop or table covering
Insert “height builders” (In the mushroom picture above, these are the stool and the louvered shutter/door.) Sometimes these “lifts” are simply risers.
Arrange merchandise, grouping multiples to create depth and height.
If more merchandise is needed, add related or similar color products. (hints: add anything with texture; look for a book with cover art or words that relate to the theme.)
Inspect the finished display from all directions.
Create any signage needed.
Always photograph your displays for future reference, for training purposes and/or for use on social media and on your website.
Have the employees check on the display during every shift to be sure it stays adequately stocked. They should add solid color merchandise if the display begins to run low before time to disassemble.
Note on a calendar to do a display review in a week to evaluate how the products sold. Review results with staff.
Involving staff in store displays has great value. Not only does it increase their product knowledge, they sell more when they take pride in their participation in the retail process.
I’ll close with this beautiful display created by Michele Mangiacotti for her shop in Attleboro, Mass. Note the use of color, multiples, props, textures and especially the floral apron as a focal point that anchors the entire display.
From my small business to yours…
Stay display inspired, friends. ~Becky
Looking for more ideas? Quick VM Lesson #1 was about using color and contrasting colors in visual merchandising. Subscribe to visit the archives and read previous posts. If you find value in my newsletter posts, please subscribe today.