It seems like the neutron bomb has fallen on many consignment, resale, thrift shops…leaving everything intact except for people.
Least, that’s how it looks when I see shop photos many times. Lonesome. Unoccupied. Empty. Deserted. Cheerless. Forlorn. Desolate.
Where’s the subliminal “community acceptance” message? The in-your-face “boy this is a popular shop they must have great stuff”? Or even the “gosh, will I look like THAT if I shop there?” wishful thinking.
People, people. Put people in your photos. Even just one can make all the difference.
Or failing that, mannequins.
Liven it up! Make it look like it’s fun to shop in your store. Befriended. Cheerful. Together. Popular.
Make it seem like THE place to BE.
Here’s an idea: invite all your Facebook fans over one evening. (Might as well get SOME use out of them.) Ask them to dress in white tops, black or khaki bottoms (you want your shop to shine; the fans are really only props but we won’t tell them that.) Use them as your models. When you’ve got the shots you want (and only then!), break out the pizza and beer or raspberries and champagne.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
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Great idea!
I think this would even work with my cousin and possibly other wannabe models!! 🙂
There are lots of people online with fashion blogs (wearing retro stuff too!!) rocking the trend and looking absolutely fabulous – there could even be contests to link to the shop etc? (They mostly just say ‘secondhand’ or ‘thrift’ or such??)
Just tell ’em if they have a blog or post on a fashion forum to link to the site and maybe you’ll give’em a coupon or post the pic on shop site or Facebook fan site?
Of course, that would probably work better in bigger cities?
I’d ask people for permission to use online or in shop or promo material, some may be shy and some may be thrilled about it?? (Especially if they look really great on photos!)
[…] nice of these “models” to wear coordinating, and neutral, outfits (see today’s Auntie Kate The Blog entry about neutron bombs and their […]
I never thought of the permission slip. We use people in our email campaigns all the time.
I have a furniture consignment shop, and we like to say our furniture is “nap” tested. Our candles are “burn and scent” tested by team member Cindy. And we like to showcase the Home Enhanced furniture and decor with pictures submitted by our customers. That way they can see how it was displayed in the shop and how it is used in someones home.
Love the pic idea. Thanks
Oh my, I never thought about this! I sometimes have a dozen people in the shop at once. That would look great!!
I have wished many times I would have remembered to ask to snap a pic when someone appears from the fitting room looking awesome in their outfit.
Do they mind if you snap photo’s? Do you ask each and every one and advise them you will publish it on fb or web?
Do you use friends & family? haha!
Sorry – lots of questions, but I am excited.
Jan
HaHa Kate! Most people run like crazy when you have a camera about! But, you are absolutely right. I hadn’t thought about the wearing black on the bottom of people in photos. Great idea.
But folks, if you are going to use the photos in your advertising, don’t forget to have them sign an authorization form that that is okay. I actually had to take a photo down from our web site once when a customer objected to her photo being on the site without her permission.