Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

One of the easiest ways to make window ledge displays, displays on rack toppers, goods in a showcase and merchandise on shelves look better is to use risers to vary the height. It gives rhythm and life to any collection of merchandise.

The case full of jewelry, right, is not engaging. There’s nothing to hold the onlooker’s interest. Just a bunch of stuff. Now imagine that case with a little height, so that there’s different levels to look at, maybe even different colors and textures (several mirrored columns with special pieces on top…. a footed slab of marble perhaps holding 3-5 pieces…)

You can use just about anything to give height, depending on your shop ambiance and the point of the display. I’ve seen slices of logs, glass bricks, faux classic-column pedestals and many more ideas. Classy-brand shoeboxes in a show display, old-fashioned hat boxes in a lingerie display, statuettes and mini-furniture in jewelry cases. Even merchandise can function as risers... imagine that Coke crate in the shelf display left giving some height to this “country” collection.

You’ve seen real or mock suitcases stacked up to make a side table, I’m sure. What do you have that you could stack? Cookbooks in the kitchenware section? Cigar boxes on the menswear rack topper?

How about turning things upside down? An enamel pail, a sturdy basket, a natural clay flower pot.  That clear plexiglass box your kid’s toy came in. Think upside down for a change!

Imagine how much more intriguing this show/ accessories shelving unit would be with some white-wrapped boxes, about 1/3 the length of the shelf section and 1/4 the height. These could be blocks of wood painted with high-gloss paint or sturdy boxes carefully gift-wrapped with subtly-textured white wrapping paper. (I love the look of  naturally eco-looking kraft paper, too.)

Here’s a fun way to turn books into unique risers. (I love that blog.)

Not the artsy type, or simply too busy to fiddle? Our friends at Store Supply Warehouse have risers readymade, like these.

Let your merchandise rise up and say to your customers Look at ME!