Pin It Up

Know your alternatives to mannequins, and be an innovative visual merchandiser!

Gucci (Source: High Snobiety)

When someone mentions a window display, what is the first thing that pops up in your mind? A mannequin. Majority of displays incorporate a mannequin of some form. But, this can become boring to the consumer eye because it is what they expect. Also, mannequins can be very expensive, and take some time ship from their manufacturers. So, visual merchandisers (and store displayers) must be informed on mannequin alternatives. With alternatives, you can: have a unique display, stay within your budget, and save time.

Keeping consumers interested in your displays requires switching things up, so mannequin alternatives is a great option. Alternatives were first thought of when small shops or boutiques, mainly in Europe, needed a way to fit display’s in their tiny windows. An actual mannequin would not fit, so they created new techniques. You can choose from the Lay-down, Pinup, or Flying Technique. Any of these techniques can effectively show a color theme, present various merchandise options, and attract your target consumer.

A great example of a mannequin alternative used effectively is shown in this Gucci display in Milan during 2016. The alternative used is the Pinup Technique. With this technique, you can make use of any vertical surface (panel or wall), to pin, shape, and add dimension to garments. Usually, straight pins are used. But, if the retailer wants to protect their garments, they can use hooks and hangers. This is what Gucci did in this display, and it is still attractive. They not only show how to combine their jackets with their shoes; subtly, they show how great their merchandise would look in the consumer’s closet (jackets on hangers, shoes on the ground).

Takeaways

So, don’t worry about mannequins being too expensive, fragile, sensitive to ever changing trends, or hard to maintain. Think about the wide array of alternatives you can use for your display. With creativity, you can “wow” your consumer’s eyes with a unique display (and save money). Gucci knows what it is doing!