How to Create Holiday-Inspired Merchandise Displays

The holidays are a busy time for nearly every kind of store and other business owner, and if your business sells any kind of merchandise – whether it’s the kind you wear, play with, read, or eat! – it only makes sense for you to spice up your displays to reflect the season.However, because the holidays are a busy time, not every store and business owner is going to have much time to dedicate to rearranging his or her merchandise displays. Before it starts to feel like there’s no solution, though, check out the three simple steps below designed to help you turn your usual merchandise displays into festive arrangements in no time!Step One: Choose Your Display FixturesFortunately, because of their neutral designs, most merchandise display fixtures lend themselves to holiday-inspired displays. You won’t necessarily have to purchase new display fixtures to create holiday-inspired displays – chances are, the ones you already use will work just fine (especially when you follow the second and third steps, below).Of course, you can also choose display fixtures that are designed with the holidays specifically in mind. For example, you can find plastic containers shaped like Christmas trees and Santa Claus boots! Plus, you can choose certain kinds of plastic containers and acrylic bins in holiday colors like red and green. If you already have these, you’re in luck; if not, you can find them at reasonable bulk prices from a variety of wholesalers.Step Two: Manipulate Your MerchandiseThis step isn’t actually as sneaky as it sounds. When you “manipulate your merchandise” – for purposes of this goal – you choose merchandise that is either already holiday-related or merchandise that you can make “look” holiday related.For example, if you manage a convenience store, you might choose to create a display using merchandise with holiday-related “themes,” such as lighters, key chains, or pens with holiday pictures printed on them. Or, if you manage a candy store, you could create a gumball display using only red and green gumballs. If you manage a specialty restaurant such as a bakery, you could create displays that showcase holiday-themed baked goods like cookies shaped like gingerbread men, Christmas tress, and Santa Claus. Step Three: Don’t Forget to AccessorizeKeep in mind that not every part of your display has to be either a piece of merchandise or a fixture. You can use additional items purely for decoration. For example, if you create merchandise display on tables or counters not holding your cash register, you might want to cover them in red, green, blue, silver, or gold table cloths, or clothes with festive prints on them. You might even want to use holly, tinsel, or pinecones to add visual appeal to your displays, or you might want to line your display racks with greenery and lights.If you manage a restaurant, you can take your decorations a step further and add holiday charm to your tables and booths with fixtures like holiday votives – small candleholders with Christmas, Hanukah, or winter pictures on them!