With summer holidays now over Christmas is almost here! York-based shop display expert is urging retail businesses to prepare now to make the most of the forthcoming festive season.
Helen Goodwin, who co-owns visual merchandising company Made You Look, says “It’s never too early to start planning to attract festive trade! With times still hard for many people, budgets for Christmas shopping are sure to be limited again this year. However, retailers can give themselves an edge over their competitors by ensuring that their window displays look as attractive as possible. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways of advertising your business and persuading people to spend their money on the high street rather than online. Eye-catching displays also invite visitors to stop and explore, which has a knock-on effect for tourism-based businesses”.
Helen and her London-based business partner, Janet Billings, each have almost 30 years’ experience in the retail industry and have designed and installed eye-catching Christmas displays for a huge variety of clients selling all kinds of merchandise, both in the UK and overseas, from major shopping centres to independent stores. They also pass on their wealth of retailing display knowledge to smaller businesses by running workshops all around the country, advising retailers on how to create the most effective interior displays and shop windows.
Made You Look’s clients have included Camden Markets, Wedgwood, fashion retailer East and Calendar Club. The company has also been involved with the Portas Pilot scheme, an initiative involving retail guru Mary Portas to revamp high street shops, as well as working with various town councils and local authorities on a range of regeneration projects. Made You Look was recently commissioned to run a workshop for retailers in Bedford, emphasising the importance of good window display and the crucial part it plays in keeping the high street looking alive and inviting. Following the workshop Bedford Council held a Best Dressed Window competition that is now set to become an annual event.
Helen continues “Many high street retailers are now struggling in the face of internet-based competition. If they are to survive they need to entice potential customers away from online competitors by creating an engaging shopping experience. An interesting window display will attract people into a store, but it’s also important to have a clear floor layout and appealing interior displays to encourage people to make those all-important purchases!”.
Made You Look have a Taster Day timed perfectly to fit in with Christmas preparations on Thursday 17th October…hurry, don’t miss your opportunity to attend!
Taster Day
Understanding the basic golden rules of display and what makes a window display work and attract sales.
Demonstration of ‘building’ (grouping) a basic display using Pyramids, Height, Focal Point, Space, Flow, Colour, Backdrops….
Hands on practice: You create a small simple display using these golden rules.
You will leave full of inspiration and enthusiasm, and with an understanding of the fundamentals of good basic grouping. Your Christmas displays will be fabulous!
For more information visit www.madeyoulookmadeyoustare.co.uk or call 01904 654933 for more details.