We canÔÇÖt get enough of this seasonÔÇÖs layering trend! HereÔÇÖs how to create a show-stopping display with this look.
1. Start with a statement piece. This can be a gorgeous pendant, a locket, or even a chunky bead necklace. It should be slightly shorter than your other layers and be different enough from the others that it catches the eye. This is the focal point around which you will build the other necklaces.
2. Add the remaining necklaces. These should be a mix of thin beaded necklaces or various chain necklaces. At least two of them should be the same length to give the look some width, and there should be at least two or three different lengths of necklaces for a complete layered look.
3. Tada! You have a beautiful layered necklace display. This type of necklace looks best on a tall display, such as our wood hand-carved necklace displays (shown above), or one of the 14ÔÇØ necklace busts.
Image courtesy of nokhoog_buchachon at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Imagine walking past a jewelry booth display at an art show. The decor catches your eye, and you see warm colors with tastefully placed vintage props. YouÔÇÖre already imagining the beautiful jewelry that will match this boothÔÇöpearl necklaces, drop earrings, and classic pendants. You step inside the booth, ready to feast your eyes on the jewelry youÔÇÖre expecting to see, except….instead of the traditional pieces you thought youÔÇÖd see, the booth is full of brightly-colored, modern and eclectic jewelry! Although the pieces are beautiful, they’re not what you were expecting to see based on the props and colors of the booth.
Image courtesy of Master isolated images at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
How would you feel if this happened to you? Confused?
Knowing how wonderful you all do with your displays, we know it’s an unlikely scenario. However, it should help you think through how important it is to make certain that youÔÇÖre sending your customers a consistent message through your booth and your jewelry. People looking for a specific type of jewelry will be looking for a specific type of display (even if itÔÇÖs subconscious). In other words, coherent messages throughout your displays and your jewelry will help give your customer the ÔÇ£feelÔÇØ of your work and will make selling easier for you.
Whether or not your boothÔÇÖs decor gives your customers a picture of your jewelry is something to consider when youÔÇÖre putting together the colors, design, and props for your booth. You want to think about the picture youÔÇÖre painting in your customers minds before they even see your jewelry. ItÔÇÖs part of the branding process, and if your customers have an instant ÔÇ£feelÔÇØ for what your style is, they wonÔÇÖt have to think as hard about your jewelry style, because they automatically assume itÔÇÖll be in line with how your booth appears. Keeping things as simple and consistent as possible takes away some of the difficulty in shopping for your customers. RememberÔÇöthe less work you make for them, the more likely it is that they will buy something.
For example, a bright, colorful modern display setup with quirky and fun props would complement eclectic jewelry in a way that a muted, soft display would not. Simple jewelry would do best with something like natural linen displays and a booth with earthy elements.
What are your favorite ways to keep your booth and your jewelry style consistent?
Image courtesy of jackthumm at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Are you making shopping easy for your customers?       (Image courtesy of adamr at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
Do you want more sales and wonder why they’re not coming in? There’s a chance you might be making your customers work too hard!
ItÔÇÖs no secret that people who are out shopping donÔÇÖt want to work hard at finding things. But are you doing all that you can to make things easy-as-can-be for your customers so that your sales will increase? Follow these simple tips to make buying so easy for your customers that they wonÔÇÖt be able to resist!
1. Keep your products at eye-level or lower. People donÔÇÖt like to look up more than they have to (or bend too far over, for that matter). It might sound silly, but watch your behavior the next time youÔÇÖre browsing through a store or booth, we bet youÔÇÖll find yourself looking at the lower items more than the higher ones!
2. Display products in such a way that customers can try them on. If a customer can easily try a bracelet or ring on, theyÔÇÖre more likely to buy it because they become familiar with and attached to it as they wear it. This also cuts out the step of, ÔÇ£Hmm, would that bracelet look good on me? Would it match my style?ÔÇØ When your customers can see themselves in your products, they wonÔÇÖt have to do any guesswork about whether or not theyÔÇÖll like it. Design your displays so that customers feel comfortable enough to try something on if they like it, not as if theyÔÇÖre going to mess up your display if they touch something.
A portable folding mirror makes it easy for customers to see how your products look on them. Make it easy for them to fall in love with your jewelry!
3. Pair matching or complementary products together. Again, donÔÇÖt make your customers have to look for matching earrings and necklaces, because they might not take that extra step. But if you do the work for them and display these items together, or suggest them while they are browsing, youÔÇÖre more likely to sell two or three items instead of one.
Make it easy for customers by giving them suggestions for which products go well together. Jewelry combination stands make this easy!
4. If you’re selling beads or gems, do your customers have to think about how to use your products, or are there examples in your display setup? If you’re selling gems, show customers how they’ll look when set in a ring or necklace. If you’re selling beads, show customers example of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings that can be made with your beads! This will help them envision the things they will be able to create with your product and make them want it.
What things have you found that make for smooth sales?
…have varied display heights? You want your customersÔÇÖ eyes to naturally move along your entire display so that they see all of what you have to offer, and you can make this possible by not having all of your displays be exactly the same height. Here’s a great example.
…have a focal point in your display? A clear focal point is vital to a successful display. This doesnÔÇÖt mean you have all the same type of jewelry or product; it simply means that you have key spot in your display and build everything around that. This is the spot that will catch peoples’ eyes before they scan through the rest of your display. If there is no focal point, it will confuse customers and could result in fewer sales.
Clear focal point. (Image courtesy of Feelart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
…choose display colors that enhance or distract from your jewelry? Color choice is very important. If you place white jewelry on a white background, it isnÔÇÖt going to stand out like white jewelry on a background. Similarly, if you have bright jewelry and bright displays, the effect could be overwhelming for your customers.
Notice how the beige background is light enough to make the necklace pop without taking away from the jewelry?
…frequently change the displays in your store? If you have repeat customers and they always see exactly the same thing in your store window or display cases, theyÔÇÖll quickly lose interest. Keep things fresh and new by changing your displays at least 6 times per year (about every other month).
Image courtesy of duron123 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Getting ready for a show can be a lot of work! There are so many things to remember as youÔÇÖre preparing for a long day (or weekend!) in your booth selling your products. In order to make things a little easier for you, we’ve put together a basic list of display booth tips to help make your preparation easier. Please feel free to add to this list (or detract from it) based on what you’ve found works best to streamline your display booth process.
-Carrying case and trays with appropriate liners (with your jewelry, beads or gemstones in them, of course!). Not only will this help with transportation, but by already having your products in trays, you’ll be able to save on precious set up time and get right to selling. DonÔÇÖt forget that ring foam liners placed on top of your jewelry will keep it from rolling around in the tray while traveling. This will really cut down on your set-up time when you arrive to the show! Have you seen our video on how to do this handy trick? Find it here!
-Mobile-friendly displays really help make packing and transporting easier. Look for displays that are lightweight, easy to transport, or that will pack flat. Folding necklace displays or pop-up displays are great options.
Pop-up necklace displays are ideal for traveling to shows because they pack flat.
-Tables that are lightweight enough to transport easily but sturdy enough to hold your products.
-Table covers that are a color or pattern that will add to the look of your displays and make your products stand out.
-Consider setting up small lamps on your tables to accent your products. Well-placed lighting can really draw attention to your products! You can find attractive, inexpensive, battery-operated lamps on Amazon, or at Target and Wal-Mart.
-Use risers or small objects placed underneath your trays to add height to your displays. This will give your displays dimension and make it easier for people to view your products.
-Backdrop. HereÔÇÖs an easy-to-make backdrop tutorial. This can be extremely helpful in keeping out any ÔÇ£background noiseÔÇØ from other booths or people walking around behind your booth.
-Large plastic containers can be extremely useful for storing mobile displays, table covers, risers, and lamps. It is helpful to streamline your display booth as much as possible by keeping everything organized and accessible.
-Booth emergency bag containing lots of water, healthy snacks, first aid kit, sunglasses (or an umbrella, depending on the weather!). We think chocolate is a good idea to have on hand. 😉
-If possible, try not to do a show alone. Not only is it helpful to have another person there, but it’ll make the day more enjoyable.
-Finally, bring a good attitude, even when you’re having a rough day. Your customers will really appreciate being met with eye contact and a smile. When they know you care about them being there, they are more likely to purchase something from you.
Happy selling! (Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
Without sales, it’s impossible to have a successful business. We’ve compiled a list of 7 tips for effective selling that will make the shopping experience better for your customers while making your life easier! What are your tips for great sales and happy customers?
1. Greet your customers when they walk into your store or up to your booth. A friendly smile and eye contact let them know you truly care about them. Even when itÔÇÖs been a frustrating day, stay positive!
A smile goes a long way toward a happy shopping experience! (Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
2. Have a well-organized booth or store. Believe it or not, when customers arenÔÇÖt overwhelmed by too many products or extraneous things and are able to easily find what they want, theyÔÇÖre more likely to buy them.
3. Make certain products are clearly labeled with the price. Selling is a yes or no question, and if a customer canÔÇÖt find the price tag, their answer is far more likely to be “no”. Avoid an instant ÔÇ£noÔÇØ by performing the simple task of putting price tags on your products.
4. Not only is pricing important, but so are signs! Make things easy for your customers by using signs to direct them to key areas of your store or specific parts of your booth. Use signs as sales aids to show customers where to find things such as new products and special deals.
5. Attention to detail in your displays. Create displays that draw people in, paying attention to color choices, backgrounds, orientation, and other visual merchandising aspects. Product presentation matters! Arrange your items in an attractive, logical manner so that customers don’t have any trouble finding what they’re looking for.
Gems Tip: Try using jewelry trays and liners to keep items organized. And donÔÇÖt forget that trays arenÔÇÖt just for jewelry! They can be used to organize a whole range of items from ties to sunglasses (and much more).
6. Show them how to use your product. People like the experience of buying, and you can involve them in the process in a variety of ways. For example, do you sell beads? Have a display with a bead necklace on it so that customers can visualize how the beads will look around their neck. Are you going to an art show? Bring your jewelry making tools with you and work on something in your booth!
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
7. Listen to your customers. YouÔÇÖll learn a lot about what they want if you listen to what they say. After all, it’s important to remember that selling is all about giving people what they want. The easier it is for them to find what they want, the more you’re going to sell.
You donÔÇÖt ┬áneed to have an eye for color to be able to put together an eye-catching display!
There are a few simple guidelines to follow when dealing with the colors in your displays. Keep reading for a few quick color basics to keep in mind when youÔÇÖre putting together your booth, window display, jewelry displays, or even your packaging colors! The colors you use in your displays will help dictate your customersÔÇÖ moods, and influence them to buy (or not to buy), so itÔÇÖs worth spending some time learning about how to effectively use color in your displays.
1. Have a knowledgeable use of color. ItÔÇÖs important to remember that specific colors are associated with certain industries or holidays. Even if itÔÇÖs springtime and sunny, a combination of green and red is probably going to make your customers think about Christmas, so if thatÔÇÖs not your intention, itÔÇÖs probably not a good idea. An example of an industry that has a color associated with it would be the environmental industry. It is often paired with the color green, which (depending on the shade) can make customers think of things in terms of fresh, natural, and organic. Be aware┬áof choosing colors that match your intent, or at the very least, that do not cause an impression you never intended to create.
Image courtesy of zirconicusso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
2. ┬áBright and warm colors are attention-grabbers, while cool colors are more soothing and calm. This certainly does not mean you should never use cool colors in your displays; can you imagine only brightly colored displays? It would overwhelm the eye and confuse the customer. Carefully placed splashes of color, however, draw the eye to key areas and products. Displays should also have a good balance of neutral tones to avoid overwhelming customers. ┬áAlso, if youÔÇÖre not looking to excite your customers (you might be going for elegance, subtlety, or calm), cool colors might be what you want to use.
3. Colors affect peopleÔÇÖs emotions. When choosing colors for your displays, think about what emotions you want to bring out in your customers. How do you want your customers to feel so that they are more likely to buy your products?
My Visual Merchandising has an excellent color chart that explains the emotions colors evoke, as well as how and when to use them. This article also explains various color schemes and how they work.
4. How about background colors?┬áThese are just as important as colors utilized in the front of a display! The background color is oftenÔÇöbut not alwaysÔÇöa neutral color (white, black, and beige are very popular, especially for jewelry displays), and should be an unequal blend of both warm and cool colors for the best effect. Although backgrounds should have a dominant color, when creating a booth or window display it can be good idea to have more than one color to avoid a dull background. Your background should push your products forward and not detract attention from them. For example, if you have red jewelry and a red background, your jewelry is likely to get lost in the background instead of standing out.
Notice the difference of effect between the black and white display background?
For a jewelry displays, if you have brightly colored jewelry, and you really want it to pop, a black or white display will help the jewelry to stand out.
Notice the picture to the right and how different a white pearl necklace looks on the black and white backgrounds. It creates a different feel on each display!
If we were to place the pearl necklace on a beige display, the look would be different, too! The beige and white would give it a feeling of beauty and elegance since they are colors similar to the pearl necklace, while the black really makes the white pearl stand out and catch your eye since it is a darker color.
For some great examples of color in displays visit us on Pinterest! 
How is visual merchandising used to attract customers? Or, before we answer that question, what IS visual merchandising?Visual merchandising means creating an atmosphere in your store through displays, sensory messages, colors and lighting, product placement, floorplan, etc., that will attract customers and keep them interested. ItÔÇÖs about creating an environment that logically flows and is aesthetically pleasing at the same time; itÔÇÖs setting your store up in such a way that it generates more sales. Put differently, visual merchandising is the silent salesperson in your store that shows your customers where products are, how to use them, what to pair with them, and how theyÔÇÖll feel when they use them. It can be as simple and basic as the cleanliness of your store showing customers how much you care about having their business, or dig deeply into how they think and will respond to where product is placed on the shelf.
(Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
ItÔÇÖs important to give time to visual merchandising because not only has it been proven to increase sales, but also helps you build a customer interest and engagement. The easier it is for people to navigate your store and find what they want (or find things that are interesting), the more likely they are to buy something.
Since visual merchandising is a vast topic, weÔÇÖre going to break it down into a few posts to be able to go more in depth on these topics that are so vital to the retail world. To begin, here are a few key areas to focus on for effective visual merchandising:
1. Sensory messages. How does your store smell? What music do you have playing? WhatÔÇÖs the overall ÔÇ£feelÔÇØ of your store? Most importantly, are all of these things in line with what youÔÇÖre selling? For example, if youÔÇÖre selling elegant, high-end jewelry, chances are youÔÇÖre not going to have Hello Kitty posters on the wall, boisterous pop music playing in the background, or the scent of bubblegum in your store. However, if your product is jewelry for young teenage girls, it might be the sensory feel you need. Be careful to send your customers the right sensory messages!
Color is also a sensory input and can influence moods just like smells and sounds can. (Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
2. Show them how your products will look at home. Especially for jewelry or fashion stores, itÔÇÖs important for your customers to be able to see how theyÔÇÖll look in your products or how they will use them at home. Otherwise, why buy them? Use displays that accurately depict how a product is used or worn, keep mirrors handy for seeing items they try on, and make sure lighting is conducive to good viewing.
Have a jewelry store? Display jewelry sets with a combo display so that customers will get a feel for how items will look paired together.
3. Change displays often. At a minimum, changing display themes every other month (6 main themes per year) is recommended. ┬áIf you can manage it, itÔÇÖs a good idea to switch displays around weekly (or monthly, if weekly is too daunting) so that customers will always be seeing something new when they enter your store. Seeing new products when they enter your store will keep them coming back to see what else you have to offer.
4. Clear focal points. DonÔÇÖt overwhelm or confuse your customers by having a display that doesnÔÇÖt have a clear focal point or any visual balance (especially in window displays!). If they are having to look all over to find the point of a display, they wonÔÇÖt stick around. WeÔÇÖve read that the average customer only views a display for 2-5 seconds. While this may not be true, it does give us an idea of how little time people spend looking at a display. If they canÔÇÖt figure it out what youÔÇÖre trying to convey very quickly, theyÔÇÖll move on to a display that does.
Remember the rule of three. People tend to view things in sets, so if you have a tall display, have a "tall, "taller", and "tallest" element. Risers are perfect for helping to achieve this effect. 
Have you ever wondered what happens after you place an order with Gems on Display?
Step into the Gems on Display warehouse in this video and learn what happens between the time you place an order online or over the phone and when it gets to you! We take pride in carefully picking, inspecting, and packaging your order. We process all orders within 24-48 hours of being placed (except for holidays and weekends), and then FedEx quickly takes it to your door! (How quickly? Find out here.)
