I have always known that display is the key factor in selling an item in any business and definitely one like mine that is creative. Ever since I was a little girl I loved putting things together. I would spend hours rearranging items in my room. Then, when I grew up and even as a student living in a tiny room I would always make sure that I surrounded myself by objects that I loved and always had something or another hanging on my wall or displayed on a shelf. In all the properties I have rented before owning my own , I would always ask the landlord if I could paint and first thing would paint each room in the colors that I loved and those that made me feel good and then go on to decorate it as if it were my very own and not a rental.
So, when I opened my shop, I absolutely opened myself up to the challenge of using each and every inch of the space I was renting. I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted and followed that to the end. Here are some ideas I want to share in how I turned some everyday objects into something that catches the eye and fits in with my product as part of a display... take a look.
As I mentioned I used every inch of space available to display stock even on the top of my display units the roll of ribbon are piled high up to the ceiling.I also decided to color coordinate every shelf.
No piece of wall has been left untouched..
Hand drawn mural between displays on the wall.. and down the staircase..
I was given a collection of FOB watches that were my grandfathers and so instead of tucking the away somewhere where noone could enjoy them, I framed them and hung them in a collection on the one wall..
In keeping with the look I wanted I found items that were not necessarily made for display but used them that way...
I filled a glass cookie jar I bought with little candy colored seed beads ...
I love all these glass ginger jars I found to display buttons , beads and trim..
Wire fruit baskets I found to display millinery flowers..
A wonderful three tier wooden stand I found for the rest of my millinery flowers..
and then there are the stands I found that I covered with earrings or buttons to make a statement..
and lets not forget the wired body forms I love embellishing and using for different displays..
This one I covered with different dress clips.
I even found a "vintage" style mirror with a lace detail to hang on the bathroom door..
..and tried my hand at decopauge to embellish chairs and display tables..
This chair I covered in a baby themed paper so I could use it to display hand embroided linen we had in from South Africa..
.. All these different displays were all inspired by the constant eye candy that surrounds me day after day at Accessories of Old.
So, for all of you that think you have to pay a fortune for good display think again. All you have to do is keep your eyes open for interesting items that made a statement. If you keep in mind the idea and look you want to bring across you will know what you are looking for.. I recommend stores like Home Goods, Marshalls and TJ Max - you will be amazed what you can pick up and re use in display form.. and if you do not have these stores close by there are always the garage sales and flea markets that are loaded with great finds.
xx